Potential therapeutic impacts of phyllanthus and costus aqueous extracts on CcL4 intoxicated rats

Bakground: Chronic liver damage is a worldwide common pathology, characterised by an inflammatory and fibrotic process that leads to a progressive evolution from chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. A major role of fats and oxidative stress has been recently demonstrated in the pathogenesis of liver diseases. It was a newly introduced plant from Mexico. In India, it is grown in gardens, especially in Kerala, where the fresh leaves are eaten raw by diabetic people

Objective: This work aimed to study the effect of phyllanthus and costus aqueous extracts on CcL4 intoxicated rats

Material and methods: Thiry mature male albino rats weighing 150 +/- 5g were obtained from Laboratory of Animal Colony, Helwan, Egypt. Rats were divided into 6 equal groups [n=5 rats each]; one group was kept as a control negative, while the other 5 groups were injected subcutancosly [s/c] by carbon tetrachloride [CcL4] in parrafin oil 50% V/V [2ml / kg b.wt.] twice a week for two weeks for liver intoxication then, one group of them was left as control positive group [C +ve] while the rest four groups were given orally two doses [250 and 500 mg/kg] of phyllanthus and costus aqueous extracts [250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg for the group. At the end of experimental period [45 days], blood samples were collected for serum separation to determine serum liver enzymes [AST, ALT and ALP], total cholesterol, triglycerides, atherosclerosis index, lipoprotein fraction [HDLc, LDLc and VLDLc], kidney function[Creatinine, Urea and Uric acid] and histopathological examination for the liver

Results: The obtained results demonstrated that phyllanthus and costus aqueous extracts caused significant improvement in liver enzymes, lipid profiles and kidney functions in CcL4 intoxicated rats

Conclusion: According to the results, phyllanthus and costus aqueous extracts could be tried on intoxicated patieats to improve liver and kidney function

Synthesis and characterization of laminated Si/SiC composites

Laminated Si/SiC ceramics were synthesized from porous preforms of biogenous carbon impregnated with Si slurry at a temperature of 1500[degree]C for 2 h. Due to the capillarity infiltration with Si, both intrinsic micro- and macrostructure in the carbon preform were retained within the final ceramics. The SEM micrographs indicate that the final material exhibits a distinguished laminar structure with successive Si/SiC layers. The produced composites show weight gain of approximately 5% after heat treatment in air at 1300[degree]C for 50 h. The produced bodies could be used as high temperature gas filters as indicated from the permeability results

Effect of organic manures and chemical fertilizers on foeniculum vulgare, mill and carum carvi, L

The effect of organic manures and chemical fertilizers on the vegetative growth and oil production and composition for both plants were studied. The experiments were carried out during two seasons of 2001/2002 and 2002/2003. Three concentration from each of farmyard manure, FYM [8,12 and 16 m[3] /fed], chicken manure, CM [0.8, 1.2 and 1.6 m [3] /fed] and mixed manures of FYM + CM [4 + 0.4, 6 + 0.6 and 8 + 0,8 m [3] /fed] were added at the time of soil preparation. The chemical fertilizers N and K were used as soil dressing two times after 50 and 75 days from planting. The results indicated that the use of FYM, 16 m [3]/fed treatment produced high vegetative growth and high fruit yield/fed in both plants as well as high values of NPK for fennel plant The high oil yield was produced from the use of the mixed treatment FYM + CM 4 + 0.4 m [3] /fed and by the use of CM, 1.2 m [3]/fed in case of fennel and caraway plants respectively. The dose of CM, 1.2 m [3] /fed with caraway also produce high values of NPK

Device-related nosocomial infection in intensive care units of Alexandria University Students Hospital

We studied the magnitude and determinants of device-related nosocomial infections in intensive care units [ICU] and identified the predominant microorganisms involved. Sputum, urine, blood cultures and chest X-ray were taken from each patient on admission and on appearance of any sign/symptom of infection. Out of 400 patients admitted to 3 units during the study, 45 [11.3%] developed nosocomial infections. The most important determinants of infection were previous admission to an ICU, whether in the same or another hospital, and duration of stay. Overall, 38 patients developed 43 device-related nosocomial infections [1.13 episodes per patient]. The main infectied association with invasive procedures were ventilator-associated pneumonia followed by catheter-related urinary tract infection and bloodstream infections

Long term follow-up of patients with hepatic hilar obstruction diagnosed and treated by endoscopic internal biliary drainage

This work presents our experiences in managing patients with hepatic hilar obstruction by internal endoscopic drainage. 29 patients 25 males and 4 females, with cholestasis secondary to hilar obstruction underwent endoscopic drainage using transpapillary stents. Their ages ranged between 55 and 65 years. The cause of obstruction was cholangiocarcinoma in 20 patients, carcinoma of the gall bladder in 6, sclerosing cholangitis in 2 patients and metastatic breast cancer in one patient. The success rate was 86.2%, cholangitis was the major complication [13.7%]. Analysis of the data indicates that in patients with hepatic hilar obstruction palliative treatment by endoprosthesis can provide relief of jaundice and improved survival

Classification and management of gastric varices

In this work eighty one patients with gastric varices alone or oesophagogastric varices were included for sclerotherapy of gastric varices. Gastric varices were classified to: 1- isolated gastric varices, fifty three patient 2- gastric extension twenty eight patients of them cord type included twenty five patients while the bulbous type included three patients. Gastric varices of the isolated type were injected histocary1 successfully. Gastric extension type was injected histoacry1 when presenting in active bleeding or when it is of the bulbous type. Complications were minimal in the form of recurrent bleeding, fever pleural reaction and pulmonary embolism. Recurrent gastric varices occurred in the patients during the period of follow up reaching 2 years we succeeded in controlling the bleeding in 92.85% of cases with early recurrence in 5.56% and late recurrence in 1.79% and the mortality due to rebleedig was 7.5%. this verify the crucial role of tissue adhesive in managing gastric varices

Oesophageal motility following endoscopic injection sclerotherapy: a scintigraphic study

Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy [EIS] is now widely used in the management of bleeding esophageal varices. Different studies have concluded controversial effects of EIS on esophageal motility. Esophageal motility was investigated in 15 patients belonging to 3 groups of patients following EIS. The first group was left with a scarred esophagus, the second group had a smooth esophagus and the third group was subjected to a sclerotherapy session during the week prior to the test. Patients were compared with controls with varices prior to treatment as well as to healthy volunteers. Esophageal motility was assessed using a sensitive scintigraphic technique which determines the total esophageal transit time as well as the transit time in each third of the esophagus. The results showed that the total and middle transit times are prolonged in group 1 and group 3 when compared with healthy controls but not when the comparison is made with patients having esophageal varices. This favors the concept that esophageal varices per se are a major cause of esophageal dysmotility. The proximal transit time was also significantly prolonged in the group of patients with varices examined immediately following sclerotherapy compared with controls indicating a transient dysfunction following each EIS session. The distal transit time was only significantly different from controls in groups 2 and 3 and in patients with esophageal varices prior to EIS. It can be concluded that judiciously performed EIS leaving a smooth esophagus can have little or no effect on motility