ABSTRACT
Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of Terfezia claveryi crude extract on induced corneal ulcer in rabbit’s eye. Study Design: Study was carried out in Rabbits eye. Place and Duration of the Study: This study was conducted in the experimental laboratories at College of Applied Medical Sciences of Qassim University during the period from March to June 2013. Methodology: Crude aqueous extract of this truffle, in different concentrations, was introduced through intraperitoneal injection to rabbits for their safety dose. Corneal epithelial wound was induced in different groups of rabbit’s eye with sodium hydroxide and later this wound was contaminated with some selected bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Escherchia coli to produce iatrogenic infection. The healing power of different concentrations of T. claveryi crude extract was observed by different clinical findings. Results: We observed that 1.5% crude extract of this desert truffle significantly healed the corneal ulcer almost within 9 days. Delayed response in healing was observed with 3% T. claveryi, while 5% extract developed some extra corneal complications. The healing response of corneal ulcer to topical application of different concentrations of T. claveryi extract was compared with a synthetic antibiotic (Vigamox 0.5%) as a reference standard drug. Conclusion: It was concluded that aqueous extract of T. claveryi has no significant toxic effects against liver and kidney function parameters. The antibacterial activity of this desert truffle recommends as an alternative medicine for some corneal infections. However, the therapeutic role of some specific ingredients present in this truffle needs further investigations.
ABSTRACT
Aim: This work was aimed at studying the pathogenicity of bacteria causing infectious keratitis through experimental infection using different groups of rabbits that were inoculated with clinical isolates and assessed through biochemical and histopathological investigations. Study Design: This study was carried out on Rabbits. Place and Duration of the Study: this experiment was carried out at Med. Labs. Dept, Qassim Univ., in April 2013. Methodology: The isolated bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus from clinical corneal scraping swabs of patients suffering from infectious keratitis were experimentally inoculated through intraperitoneal injection in different groups of Original Research Article Article British Journal of Medicine & Medical Research, 4(26): 4470-4481, 2014 4471 rabbits (2.0-2.5kg) and were subjected to serum biochemical and histopathological examinations. Results: The experimental rabbits showed alterations in both liver and kidney function parameters that varied with the type of bacteria injected. The level of urea was nonsignificantly increased to a higher extent in rabbits within 3 and 7 days of infection. There was no marked change in the levels of uric acid and creatinine in all groups of rabbits. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) showed variable increased values but seemed also within limits of reference in all the groups of rabbits injected with either S. aureus or P. aeruginosa. Histopathologically, the internal organs (liver and kidneys) of the experimental rabbits showed inflammatory reactions with degenerative changes and/or necrosis while the cornea revealed oedema and leukocytic infiltration. The microscopic findings were varied in severity according to the type of the bacteria. Conclusion: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus experimentally induced infections revealed histopathologic lesions and disturbances in the functions of liver and kidneys of experimental rabbits together with proliferation of corneal epithelium and polymorphonuclear leukocytes infiltration in the corneal stroma. Therefore, strict measures are recommended to control and treat infectious keratitis to avoid visual complications and systemic disturbances among infected patients.
ABSTRACT
Aims: This study aims to determine the antioxidant enzyme EC-SOD polymorphisms in Egyptian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with and without retinopathy, and its association with other biochemical changes to assess whether decreased SOD activity is associated with the development of diabetic complications. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine Al-Hussein University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt, between May 2010 and April 2011. Methodology: The present study investigated the relationship among diabetes mellitus, lipid profiles, SOD activity, ESR, and CRP in the blood of 40 patients with type 2 diabetes with and without retinopathy and 20 healthy control subjects. The mean age of the diabetic patients was similar to that of control. The mean duration of the disease was 3.53 ± 1.17 years (1–5 years) in patients with type 2 diabetes without retinopathy and 18.7 ± 3.1 with retinopathy. Also we studied Arg213Gly dimorphism of the EC-SOD gene in type 2 diabetic patients with and without retinopathy and control persons using the PCR technique. Results: Superoxide dismutase (SOD) level was significantly decreased in diabetics and more markedly decrease in those with retinopathy. Total cholesterol (CHOL), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c) levels were significantly increased in diabetics and more markedly increased in those with retinopathy compared with the control level. Genotype distribution of the EC-SOD in diabetic patients with and without retinopathy differed from normal individuals, as the argentines-to-glycine amino acid substitution was higher in diabetic patients compared with the normal individuals. Conclusion: The present study revealed that hyperglycemia produced marked oxidation impact as evidenced by a significant increase in lipid profile, lipid per oxidation products, as well as a significant decrease in the total SOD activity. Moreover, it showed that the genotype distribution of the EC-SOD was differed as the arginine-to-glycine amino acid substitution was higher in diabetic patients with and without retinopathy compared with the control individuals. This report emphasizes the important role of superoxide dismutase and its genotype distribution in diabetic patients with and without retinopathy, and hence the need for antioxidant supplements to delay the severity of diabetic retinopathy.
ABSTRACT
Aims: To estimate the oxidant/antioxidant status in type 2 diabetic patients with retinopathy; and to correlate a number of independent variables (age, gender, education, body mass index, duration of diabetes, glycosylated haemoglobin, hypertension) to development of retinopathy. Study design: Case-control study. Place and Duration of Study: Research laboratories, Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University from April 2010 to April 2011. Methodology: One-hundred diabetic patients with retinopathy recruited from King Fahad Specialist Hospital- Buraidah were included in the study. The control groups were: control group 1 consisted of sixty type 2 diabetic patients without retinopathy recruited from Diabetes and Endocrinology Center, KFSH, Buraidah, KSA; and control group 2 consisted of sixty healthy "non diabetic subjects" recruited from public places, i.e. Estarahes (party lounges). Plasma, serum, and erythrocyte lysate were prepared from blood of each subject. Human serum 8-OHdG, plasma MDA, and erythrocyte lysate Cu-Zn SOD were estimated by using commercial kits supplied by Northwest, U.S.A. Data was analyzed using SPSS software and Win Episcope software. P- values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Age, education, duration of diabetes, poor glycaemic control, and hypertension were consistently associated with development of retinopathy (OR 5.891, 4.44, 10.420, 1.699, 1.820 respectively). Moreover, increased plasma MDA, increased serum 8-OHdG levels, decreased Cu-Zn SOD activity were observed in diabetic patients with retinopathy compared to subjects in control groups. In addition, negative correlations were found between plasma MDA and Cu-Zn SOD activity, HbA1c & Cu-Zn SOD activity as well in all subjects. Conclusion: This report emphasizes the important role of oxidative stress in the development of retinopathy in type 2 diabetes suggesting that blocking of oxidative stress is a crucial step for delayed progression of diabetic retinopathy and hence the need for antioxidant supplements to postpone the severity of diabetic retinopathy.