Cardiac and renal protective effects of L-carnitine in hypercholesterolemic rats

This work was carried out in order to investigate the role of L-carnitine in protection against acute myocardial infarction as well as acute renal failure induced experimentally in hypercholesterolemic rats. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by feeding rats 5% cholesterol enriched diet for 30 days. The study included two main parts. In the first part, isoprenaline HCI was used [300 mg/kg I.P.] to induce acute myocardial infarction in rats. The results of this part revealed that, hypercholesterolemia significantly increased all the parameters which evaluate the cardiac necrosis [T wave voltage, CPK level and infarct size%]. Daily administration of L-carnitine [200 mg/kg orally] for 30 days induced significant decrease in serum total cholesterol, TG, LDL as well as significant decrease in all the indices of cardiac necrosis when compared to their corresponding values in the rats fed 5% cholesterol enriched diet but not treated with L-carnitine. In the second part of the study, acute renal failure was induced in rats by 1.M. injection of hypertonic glycerol [50%] in a dose of 10 ml/kg. The results of this part showed that hypercholesterolemia significantly aggravated the acute renal failure induced by glycerol. Daily administration of L-carnitine for 30 days normalized the lipid perofile [total cholesterol, TG, LDL and HDL] and significantly decreased serum urea, creatinine, Na+ and K+ compared to their corresponding values in Lcarnitine non treated glycerol injected rats. All the results of this work were also confirmed by the histopathologicat exmination of the hearts and kidneys of the tested rats. So, it may be concluded that 1- Hypercholesterolemia aggrevates the acute myocardial infarction as well as the acute renal failure induced experimentally in rats. 2- Daily administration of Lcarnitine for 30 days normalizes the lipid profile of the rats fed cholesterol enriched diet. 3- L-carnitine administration provides an evident cardiac and renal protective effects, 4- The cardioprotective and renoprotective effects of L-carnitine may be attributable to its lipid lowering and antioxidant effects and/or its role in improving fatty acids metabolism and energy production at the mitochondrial level

Chronic zinc administration improves endothelial cell function and vascular reactivity in experimentally induced diabetes mellitus in rats

An exaggerated oxidative stress has been postulated as the link between diabetes mellitus [D.M] and endothelial dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate the possible therapeutic effect of chronic zinc administration [0.5% in drinking water] on renal artery vascular reactivity and oxidative stress indices viz serum oxidized to reduced glutathione ratio [GSH/GSSG], trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity [TEAC] and lipohydroperoxides [LPO] in experimentally-induced D.M by streptozotocin [STZ] [60 mg/kg i.p single dose] in rats. Using Doppler technique in this study indicated that chronic zinc administration significantly [p<0.05] improved renal artery vascular reactivity to acetylcholine [Ach]. Such an effect which seemed to be mediated by two mechanisms: [1] Zinc restored plasma antioxidant defenses as it significantly [p<0.05] increased the GSH/GSSG ratio, the [TEAC] and significantly [Sp<0,05] decreased LPO. This resulted in lowering the quenching effect of free radicals on nitric oxide [NO] [2] Chronic zinc administrarion significantly [p<0.05] increased intracelular Mg 2+ concentration and significantly [p<0.05] decreased intracellular Ca 2+ content, thus protecting against oxidative cell damage and improving smooth vascular cell relaxation respectively

Free living amoebae as opportunistic parasites in immunocompromised hosts

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the opportunistic ability and the behavior of non-pathogenic or low virulent strains of FLA introduced experimentally into immunosuppressed mice. That may throw light on accidental infection by FLA in immunocompromised human cases

Comparative clinical trial of sodium valproate and carbamazepine in Egyptian patients with epilepsy

This study was carried out on 40 Egyptian epileptic patients, 20 on valproate [30 - 50 mg/kg oral/day] and 20 patients were on carbamazepine [20 - 40 mg/kg/oral/day]. Results of the present work demonstrated that some adverse effects higher in valproate monotherapy than carbamazepine monotherapy as tremors [10%], weight gain [20%] and appetite gain [10%], but others were higher in carbamazepine monotherapy than valproate monotherapy like headache [10%], rash [10%] and gastrointestinal troubles [15%]. Moreover some side effects occurred with carbamazepine monotherapy like decreased lipido [5%] but not with valproate. Also, there were no significant hematological changes either with valproate or carbamazepine, Moreover, SGOT, SGPT and total bilirubin were significantly elevated [p