Effect of combined and single hormonal therapy with testosterone and estrogen in experimentally-induced osteoporosis in rats

This study was designed to investigate the effect of 2 weeks treatment with estrogen, testosterone and combined estrogen with testosterone on ovariectomized and orchidectomized rats. Osteoporosis was induced in female rats by bilateral ovariectomy and in males by bilateral orchidectomy. Osteoporotic bone changes were detected 4 weeks after the induction by the use of biochemical markers [calcium, liver and kidney function and bone histopathological investigations]. The results showed that the administration of either estrogen or estrogen + testosterone in ovariectomized rats induced a significant decrease in serum alkaline phosphatase, AST, ALT, creatinine, urea and urinary calcium. Also, testosterone alone or in combination with estrogen in orchidectomized rats prevented the rise in serum alkaline phosphatase, AST, ALT, creatinine, urea and urinary calcium that were confirmed by histopathological changes. Its concluded that treatment with estrogen + testosterone resulted in beneficial effects on bone biochemical markers as well as bone histopathology in orchidectomized and ovariectomized male and female rats

Studies on the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of extracts from marine sponges

Two specimens of sponges collected from Red Sea, Egypt, were investigated for their contents of secondary metabolites. The crude extracts of the sponges were tested for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. The toxic effects of the extracts of the two marine sponges were studied. LD50 determination revealed that the investigated extracts of Iregnella and Ircinia sps were 4.69 and 134.7 mg/100g b.wt. respectively, when injected of intraperitoneally in mice. The toxic signs were recorded within the first 24 hrs after injection. Also the two marine sponges extracts showed significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects

Synthesis of novel 4-substituted and spiroglutarimide derivatives as potential anticonvulsants, sedatives and analgesics

New 2,6-piperidinediones 2[a-g] and 4[a-d] were prepared by initial condensation of aromatic aldehydes or cycloalkanones with cyanoacetamide to give alpha-cyanocinnamides 1[a-g] or cyclo-alkylidenes 3[a,b] which underwent Michael addition with ethyl cyanoacetate or diethylmalonate. Compounds 4[a-d] were alkylated by various alkyl halides to produce the N-alkylated 2,6-piperidinedione derivatives 5[a-m]. Some new selected compounds 2[a-c,f] and 4[a-d] and 5[e,h,j] were pharmacologically evaluated for potential anticonvulsant, sedative and analgesic activities. These compounds exhibited significant anticonvulsant and analgesic effects after a single I.P. administration 100 mg/kg b.wt. On the other hand all the investigated compounds induced hypnotic activity and prolonged the phenobarbital sodium- induced sleep as compared with the control group and the most potent compound was found to be 2[f]