Effect of Ficus sycomorus and Azadirachta indica extracts on liver state of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni

The potential role of hepatoprotective and antipathological effect of Ficus sycomorus and Azadirachta indica extracts was evaluated for scavenging the reactive oxygen species [ROS] and reduced the oxidative damage and pathological changes in the liver of S. mansoni infected mice. The levels of alanine aminotransferase [ALT], asparate aminotransferase [AST] and gamma glutamyl transferase [GGT] were evaluated in the infected mice and treated orally with each plant extract 12 weeks post infection [P.I.] in a dose of 500 mg/kg of each plant extract for five consecutive days and sacrificed two weeks P.I. The infection of mice showed an elevation of ALT, AST and GGT. Treatment of mice with 70% methanol extract of each plant extract reduced significantly ALT, AST and GGT elevation. The highest reduction was with the methanolic extract of F. sycomorus [42%, 35% and 44% for ALT, AST and GGT respectively]. Fractionation of the methanolic extract of each plant was carried out. The effect of ethyl acetate and butanolic fractions of each plant was also evaluated. The result showed that the two fractions lowered the levels of the tested enzymes and decreased the number and size of granuloma diameters with an increased in the percentage of degenerated ova

Histopathological and electron microscopic study of the prostate after transurrethral microwave thermotherapy

The effect of transurethral microwave thermotherapy [TUMT] in benign prostatic hyperplasia [BPH] was studied. Histopathological and elecrton microscopic studies included the prostate of 36 patients with BPH, submitted to TUMT [using prostatron-technomed]. In addition, a group of 10 patients with BPH and treated by transurethral prostatectomy [TURP] served as control. Microscopic examination showed a well preserved urethra, epithelial necrosis and marked congestion. Vasculitis and oedema of the prostatic tissue are common findings. Damage and disappearance of nerve fibers was observed using special nerve fibers stain. Electron microscopic study showed degeneration of smooth muscle fibers, coagulated necrosis of the prostatic acinar cells, collapse and disappearance of myelin sheath around the detected nerve axon. We concluded that application of TUMT produces nerve fiber and smooth muscle degeneration. A significant improvement in the symptoms in BPH patients after TUMT due mainly to nerve damage and impairment of smooth muscle tone