model for southern mediterranean research institute self-assessment: a SWOT analysis-based approach to promote capacity building at theodor bilharz research institute in Cairo [Egypt]

THEBERA is a project funded by the European Union [EU], as an ERA-WIDE FP7 project, aiming to strengthen the Theodor Bilharz Research Institute [TBRI] capacities. A SWOT [strength/weakness/opportunities/threats] analysis of human, structural and organisational existing resources was performed in light of an extensive analysis of liver disease research and clinical management in Egypt, for a full understanding of TBRI needs. Strength and weakness features were identified and analysed, so were actions to be implemented and targets to be accomplished, to develop a business plan gathering the required critical mass [political, scientific, industrial, social] to select investment priorities, to sacrifice non-strategic areas of research, to promote national and international connections and industrial innovations, to update diagnostics and research device technologies and clinical management processes at European levels, to implement fundraising activities, to organise and properly assess training activities for young researchers, physicians, nurses, and technicians. Research institute self assessment is a priority need for sustainable capacity building and for future build-up of a competent health care research institute. Sustainable capacity building strategies must be designed on needs assessment, involving salient requirements: clear strategy, leverage of administrative capacities, industrial support and connections, systematised training programmes and enhancement of mobility of health care staff implemented within ill-defined boundaries and continuously re-evaluated with multiple feedback loops in order to build a complex, adaptable and reliable system based on value

Schistosoma mansoni: IgG reactivity to soluble adult worm antigen preparation [swap] in sera of immunized mice with irradiated attenuated and virulent cercariae

The aim of this work was to identify the antigens, that elicit a greater or unique immune response in the immunized host against Schistosoma mansoni [Egyptian strain] infection. Moreover, the difference in immune response to this antigen between mice immunized with radiation-attenuated cercaria or immunized with virulent cercaria were investigated. Immunoblotting technique was used to monitor the fine specificity of host IgG to SDS-PAGE separated SWAP in the sera of different test groups immunized with either radiation-attenuated cercaria or low doses of virulent cercaria compared with non-immunized group

Hepatocyte nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid changes after repeated administration of oxamniquine and amoscanate in experimental schistosomiasis mansoni

Hepatocyte deosoxiribonucleic acid [DNA] content of Schistosoma mansoni [S. Mansoni] infected, oxamniquine treated and infected amoscanate treated mice, were compared to the median 2C "diploid" value and the upper diploid limit [P 90] of a reference control of normal mice hepatocytes. Each of the test drugs was given in a dose of 100 mg/kg for 5 days. Drug doses were repeated weekly for 4 weeks. S. mansoni infection alone did not result in a significant change in the hepatocyte DNA content and the frequency distribution histogram was diploid as normal mice, apart from some scattering of DNA values a 16.7% aneuploidy. Both oxamniquine and amoscanate increased the hepatocyte DNA content significantly by 51.9 and 136.9% respectively.% aneuploidy was 83.3% for the former and 100% for the latter drug. DNA frequency distribution histogram was "triploid" in oxamniquine treated animals and "aneuploid" with erratic scattering of DNA values in amosoanate treated mice. Histopathological examination showed hyperchromatic nuclei and mitosis with both drugs. Moreover, a microscopic area of altered hepatocytes cellularity with identified mitosis was found in the liver of one of the oxamniquine treated animals

Study of some immunomodulatory properties of the new immunoregulant adamantylamide dipeptide in schistosoma mansoni infected mice treated with praziquantel

The effect of the new immunoregulant adamantylamide dipeptide [AdDP] was studied in Schistosoma mansoni [S. mansoni] infected mice treated with praziquantel [PZ], using three parameters, worm and tissue egg loads, hepatic granuloma volume and percent lymphocytes forming EAC-rosettes, Three groups of mice were infected with S. mansoni cercariae: the first served as infected untreated control; the second received oral PZ [2 X 500 mg/kg] 45 days post infection; the third was given PZ as in the second group and 2 weeks later AdDP was administered [2 X 0.5 mg/mouse] intraperitoneally. Animals were sacrificed one week after AdDP therapy or day equivalent for the other groups. Significant reduction in hepatic granuloma volume was recorded after PZ alone [45.76%] versus 17.96% when AdDP was given after PZ, compared to infected untreated control. No signifcant change was recorded in the percent lymphocytes forming EAC-rosettes, or in the worm and tissue egg loads, between mice receiving PZ alone and those treated with PZ and AdDP, compared to infected untreated control. Findings revealed that AdDP could counteract PZ-induccd immunodepression of granuloma volume, but could neither enhance a non suppressed immunologic reaction [EAC-rosettes] nor help ridding the animal from an established infection after PZ therapy

Synthesis of novel 1,4-disubstituted piperazines as potential antihypertensive agents

Two series of 1-arylpiperazines linked to nicotinic acid moiety were prepared as potential antihypertensive agents. The first series [compounds II] was prepared via the Mannich reaction of N-nicotinoyl with 4-amino-benzoic acid to give N-nicotinoyl-4-aminobenzoic acid. The latter was treated with thionyl chloride to give the corresponding acid chloride which was reacted with 1-arylpiperazines to give IV. Preliminary screening of the synthesized compounds was performed for their antihypertensive activity

Syntheses and biological evaluation of zwitterionie opioid agonists

A series of zwitterionic B-oxymorphine derivatives were synthesized that contain a variety of acyl groups with terminal carboxyl group attached at the 6=NH2 group of B-oxymorphine [1a]. Compounds 1b-d were synthesized by reacting with the appropriate acid anhydride. The aspartic acid derivative le was prepared by reacting la with Bocaspartic acid monobenzyl ester using DCC and HOBt, followed by deprotection with HCI and hydrogenation over Pd/C. The fumaric acid derivative if was synthesized by reacting la with fumaric acid monoethyl ester using DCC and HOBt followed by hydrolysis with NaOH. Reacting oxymorphine [2a] with carboxy-methoxyl-amine gave 2b. Two of the synthesized compounds 1c and 1d were found to be potent reversible agonists as tested in the GPI preparation

Effect of specific chemotherapy on serum enzymes in patients with schistosomiasis

The morbidity of sehistosomia sis reflected on the electrophoretic and enzymatic liver functions was studied in patients with either S. mansoni or mixed infection. The reflection of specific chemotherapy [praziquantel] on the morbidity of the disease was studied 48 hours, one, two, and four weeks after treatment. S. mansoni infection produced a significant decrease in the albumin level with corresponding increase in the gamma-globulin fraction, alkaline phosphatase and transaminases. In mixed infection the pattern of changes was nearly that of single S. mansoni infection apart from a significant increase in the bilirubin level. Praziquantel normalized albumin globulin changes in patients with mixed infection, no statistically significant changes were recorded throughout the period of observation

Effect of combined low dose praziquantel and oxamniquine on different stages of schistosome maturity

The effect of combined low dose praziquantel and oxamniquine on different stages of schistosome maturity was studied in Schistosoma mansoni infected Swiss albino mice. The effect of combination therapy [1/3 the curative dose of praziquantel + 1/3 the curative dose of oxamniquine] was compared with the effect of each drug solely whether in reduced dose or in full dose. Comparison with infected untreated controls was also done. Test drug effects were evaluated on different stages of schistosome maturity by administering these drugs 24 hours before infection, four hours one, two, three, four and five weeks after infection. Animals were sacrificed eight weeks post-infection. Worm burden, distribution,tissueeggloadand oogram pattern were the parasitological criteria used in assessing drugefficacy. A synergistic activity was recorded on different stages of schistosome maturity in animals receiving combination therapy. Combination regimen was maximally effective four hours after infection [95.89% parasite reduction]. In addition, tissue egg load was very low in animals treated five weeks after infection and eggs were not detected in the tissues of infected mice treated four hours post-infection