RESUMEN
The available anti-inflammatory drugs exert an extensive variety of side effects. The search for new anti-inflammatory agents [obtained from natural sources such as plant extracts] has been a priority of pharmaceutical industries. It is worth mentioning that, plants represent one of the most important sources of substances with biological activities. Moreover, plants continue to be an important source of new chemical substances with potential therapeutic effects. The aim of the present study was to assess the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activities and histopathological changes of sage oil from Salvia officinalis in paw oedema model induced by carrageenan [Carr] in mice. Using carrageenan-induced paw oedema model, the experiment included induction of inflammation with injection of 2% carrageenan solution dissolved in 0.9% saline intraplantarily to the right hind paw. The examined pro-inflammatory parameters were nitric oxide [NO] level, interleukin IL-1beta in paw tissue infiltrate and plasma, total and differential leukocytes count and paw volume [thickness]. Some antioxidant parametres were examined such as: catalase [CAT], superoxide dismutase [SOD], and glutathione peroxidase [GPx] activities, in addition to, malondialdehyde [MDA] production in the paw tissue. The data indicated that, there were increase in the amount of nitric oxide level, interleukin IL-1beta in paw tissue infiltrate and plasma, total leukocytes count and that evidence of the occurrence of inflammation in this region. Furthermore, carrageenan administration caused increase in paw oedema volume. Also data indicated that there were decreases in the amount of CAT, SOD and GPx activities. On the other hand, an increase of MDA production in the paw tissue, these results demonstrated that there was an evidence of oxidative stress in the paw tissue after carrageenan induction. Pretreatment with sage oil extracted from the medicinal herb Salvia officinalis administered orally [20 ml/kg] body weight in a single dose 1 hr before injection with carrageenan solution resulted in significant increase of the antioxidant enzymes activity, in contrast, a significant decrease in the pro-inflammatory mediators; NO, IL-1beta and total leukocytes number compared to the treatment with diclofenac which used as a reference drug, administrated orally [50 mg/kg body wt.]. of paw oedema sections stained with Harris haematoxylin and eosin [H and E] revealed a significant increase in the infiltration of ploymorphonuclear leukocytes [PMNs] mainly neutrophils, a common occurrence with inflammation. However, pretreatment with sage oil showed a significant reduction in the thickness of oedema and inflammatory cells infiltration compared to the carrageenan inflamed group. The current results denoted that, sage oil may have significant potential for the development of novel anti-inflammatory and antioxidant drug and could be used as pharmacological agent in the treatment of some inflammatory disorders in which free radical formation is a pathogenic factor
RESUMEN
Background: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis [SBP], a common and severe complication in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis, assumed that can result from bacterial translocation from the intestine. Mutations in the Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2 [NOD2] genes contribute to bacterial translocation and subsequently increased susceptibility to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the NOD2 gene variants and SBP in Egyptian patients with post-HCV cirrhotic as cites
Patients and Methods: Overall, 90 patients with post-HCV cirrhotic ascites were genotyped for the three common NOD2 variants, 1007fs, R702W and G908R and underwent diagnostic paracentesis, the ascitic fluid was analyzed for polymorphonuclear leucocytic count [PMN] and bacterial culture results
Results: NOD2 risk alleles were detected in 13 patients [14.4%] and all patients were heterozygous for one NOD2 polymorphism. Patients with SBP were more often carriers for NOD2 risk alleles than patients without SBP [Odds ratio [OR] = 4.7, P= 0.027]. The NOD2 risk variant R702Wwas significantly higher in patients with SBP than other variants [OR= 6.2, P=0.021]. Univariate analysis revealed that predictors of SBP were a previous episode of SBP, recent variceal hemorrhage and the presence of a NOD2 risk allele. Multivariate analysis confirmed NOD2 polymorphism [OR = 3.7, p = 0.03] as independent predictor of SBP
Conclusion: NOD2 risk variants specifically R702W are associated with SBP susceptibility in the Egyptian patients with cirrhosis
RESUMEN
Background: Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder which is associated with increased expression of inflammatory cytokines in skin and blood. Interleukin-17 [IL-17] is a cytokine which exerts strong pro inflammatory activities and although considered a major mediator of tissue inflammation in several models of inflammatory diseases, its role in vitiligo is still under investigation
Aim: The aim of this work was to study the role of IL-17 in the pathogenesis of vitiligo by investigating its serum level and its gene expression in lesional skin in patients with vitiligo and compared with controls
Methods: Thirty patients with vitiligo and fifteen controls were enrolled in the study. Serum IL-17 level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and its skin expression was measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] in both groups. Their correlations with age, gender, disease duration, disease activity, type of vitiligo and family history were assessed
Results: A significant increase was found in levels of both serum IL-17 and skin IL-17 mRNA expression in vitiligo patients compared with controls [P <0.001]. In vitiligo patients, there was a significant positive correlation between serum levels of IL-17 and skin levels of IL-17 mRNA expression [r =0.978, P <0.001], and both of them were significantly higher in active than in stable vitiligo [P <0.001]. There was a significant positive correlation between disease duration and both IL-17 levels in serum [r = 0.413, P= 0.023] and its expression levels in lesional skin [r = 0.370, P- 0.044]
Conclusion: The increased serum levels and skin expression levels of IL-17 in patients with vitiligo may indicate an important role of this cytokine in the immunopathogenesis of vitiligo
RESUMEN
Hyperprolactinemia occurs frequently in patients with chronic renal failure and it persists despite dialysis treatment. Hence the study of the actual change in PRL level after a hemodialysis set is essentially reported. Thirty non diabetic male patients with chronic renal failure were selected from Dialysis Units of Port-Said and Ismailia General Hospitals where they underwent chronic hemodialysis [CHD] for all cases the following had been done: full medical history, full clinical examination. determination of fasting serum glucose to exclude diabetics as well as serum urea, creatinine, total proteins and PRL before and after a hemodialysis set. The results obtained showed: 1. There is a significant hyperprolactinemia among patients on CHD 2. PRL does not significantly change after the set [insignificantly increased]. 3. Some patients have sexual dysfunction and gynecomastia. Finally from our results we conclude that patients undergoing hemodialysis are prone to have clinically significant hyperprolactinemia that may impair their sexual function. Since this complication diminishes the quality of life and limits psychological rehabiltitation, we recommend treatment with bromocriptine [dopamine agonist] to chronic renal failure patients on hemodialysis with sexual dysfunction and exhibit high prolactin