Role of trichinella spiralis adult and larval antigen in immunomodulation of nitric oxide [NO] expression in intestinal and muscular phase of trichinellosis

Nitric oxide [NO] mediates regulatory events that play key roles in cellular function. NO is produced through the action of nitric oxide synthase [iNOS] it is considered to be the main factor able to kill or at least to suppress various pathogens, including intracellular parasites as Plasmodium, Leishmania major, Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of. spiralis Adult Antigen [TAA] and Larval Antigen [TLA] on the expression of iNOS in both phases of infection at different postinfection intervals using specific anti-iNOS antibody. Immunohistochemistry was performed among muscle and intestinal parts excised from three groups of laboratory mice [along with control groups] at different post infection intervals: Group 1, [G[1]]: T. Spiralis infected mice and none immunized, Group 2, [G[2]]: T. spiralis infected mice and immunized with [TLA] and Group 3, [G[3]]: T spiralis infected mice and immunized with [TAA]. NO synthase immunoreactivity was detected by using peroxidase-labelled streptavidin-biotin technique and the CD3 activity [anti T-cells] was detected using Clone FC3/188A Ab The study results showed that Trichinella antigen [TLA and TAA] had modulated the expression of NO in each phase of infection. TLA was more potent than TAA in activation of NO during the muscular phase and decreasing its activity during the intestinal phase. By the inverse effect of these antigens on [NO], the integrity of the intestinal and muscular tissues had been maintained

Maternal adaptation toward their children with chronic conditions

The present study is a descriptive analytic study aiming to assess maternal adaptation toward their children with chronic conditions, assess the factors that affect this adaptation and compare adaptation in case of sick children with chronic physical illness versus intellectual illness. The study was conducted in Port-Said city. The subjects of the study were from in and out-patient clinics affiliated to Port-Said General Hospital, El-Mebara for Health Insurance hospital, Asphor Center for Dialysis and a Governmental School Serving Mentally Retarded Children namely; EL-Tarbya El Fekrya. It includes 174 mothers of chronically ill children. Data were obtained through interviewing the mothers of chronically physically ill and mentally retarded children, using four tools namely; a structured interview questionnaire, a socioeconomic standards scale, a coping scale and an adaptation patterns scale. The results of the study revealed that 67.8% and 60.9% of mothers of mentally retarded and of physically chronically ill children had poor adaptation, respectively. It was found that socio-economic standards, maternal knowledge, coping mechanisms used by mothers

m possible role of vitamin C in ameliorating some adverse effects of iron overload on cardiovascular hemoddynamics in male albino rats

Iron overload is known to deteriorate some cardiovascular hernodynamics. This is mostly contributed to iron-induced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. The aim of this study is to elucidate the possible protective effect of vitamin C, as an important antioxidant, in ameliorating and preventing these deleterious effects. In the present study, 36 adult male albino rats were used and were divided into 3 equal groups. Group I [control group], in which rats were injected with intraperotenial [I.P] saline in a dose of 0.5 ml daily [5days/week] for 8 weeks. Group 2 [iron overload group], in which rats were injected with iron compound [Jectofer] I.P in a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight [B.W] daily [5days/week] for 8 weeks. Group 3 [Vitamin C-iron group], in which rats were concomitantly injected l.P Jectofer as in the second group and l.P vitamin C in a dose of 50 mg/kg B.W daily [5days/week] for 8 'seeks. Changes in some cardiovascular homodynamics were investigated including isometric ventricular contraction of isolated perfused heart, mean arterial blood pressure [MABP] and heart rate [HR]. In addition, plasma level of the enzyme creatine kinase [CK, lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], lipid profile, hematocrit [Hct%], plasma total iron, serum ferritin, total iron binding capacity [TIBC] and Malondialdehyde [MDA] were determined. The obtained results of this study revealed that iron overload deteriorated some of the myocardial functions as evident by a significant decrease of the peak developed tension and HR. meanwhile, MABP and the plasma level of CK and LDH were significantly increased compared to those of the control group. Moreover, serum triglycerides [TG], total cholesterol [TC], low density lipoprotein [LDL], Hct%, plasma total iron, serum ferritin, and MDA in iron overloaded group were significantly higher while TIBC and high density lipoprotein [HDL] was significantly lower when compared to their corresponding values in the control group. Interestingly. when vitamin C was concomitantly administered with iron, a significant improvement and amelioration of all the above mentioned deteriorated parameters was exhibited. In conclusion, iron overload deteriorated some cardiovascular hemodynamics and vitamin C seemed to play a protective role in preventing these deleterious effects, probably through its antioxidant effect

Pathophysiological implications of apoptosis, hormonal imbalance and immunological factor in first trimester abortion

The study aims were to look for the possible role of apoptosis in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of first trimester abortion and to highlight the hormonal imbalance, immunological factor and their possible relation to apoptosis. Placental and foetal tissue samples were obtained from 11 women with missed abortion, [group I], 10 women with inevitable abortion [group II], for detection of apoptosis. Blood samples were taken from both groups and from another 10 women with intact intrauterine pregnancy as [control group III] for detection of serum progesterone and anticardiolipin antibodies, [which is a marker of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome]. Placental and fetal apoptosis were significantly higher in women with missed abortion [group I] than inevitable abortion [group II] [enrichment factor 1.23, 1.37 versus 1.03, 1.03, P < 0.0005 and < 0.05 respectively]. Serum progesterone was significantly lower in missed abortion group and inevitable abortion group than in control group [7.06 ng/ml; 3.49 versus 18.64 ng/ml respectively] P < 0.0005. Anticardiolipin antibodies were significantly higher in missed abortion group. 65.3 GpL/ml and inevitable abortion group 60.3 GpL/ml than control group 22.55 GpL/ml. [P < 0.01] there was no inter-group significant differences as regards serum progesterone and anticardiolipin antibodies in both abortion groups. This study underlines the importance of apoptosis in abortion and reveals a new route for investigating the pathophysiology of abortion. Low serum progesterone should be considered in different types of abortions. Tissue hypoxia induced by anticariolipin antibodies may play a role in triggering aptopsis and consequently abortion

Surgical management of intra-articular fractures of oscalsis

In this study, 21 cases of displaced intra-articular fractures of oscalsis were treated by open reduction and internal fixation. Eighteen cases were available for the follow up period which ranged from 15 to 24 months with an average of 20 months. A clinical assessment was carried out using modified scoring system. Excellent results were obtained in eight cases, good results in seven cases, fair in two cases and poor in one case. The unsatisfactory results were noticed in cases with three part-fractures type III where an anatomical reduction was difficult to be achieved

protective role of flavonoids on the cardiac muscle during the development of myocardial infarction

In this study, three common natural flavonoids [sour orange, sweet orange and salvia] known to have positive cardiotonic effect were chosen and their ability to inhibit apoptotic death of cardiac muscles and the extent that they could protect them during evolving myocardial infarction were tested. The three flavonoids influenced the apoptotic cell death. The elevated creatine kinase isoenzymes [CK MB] and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] levels were significantly decreased. Also, the decrease in QRS volts and the increase in the heart rate, which were observed in cardiac infarction, were significantly improved. Thus, it was concluded that the three flavonoids, with variable degrees, influenced the apoptotic cell death in the cardiac muscle and protected the heart during evolving MI by decreasing the degree of tissue necrosis. Also, they can improve the performance of the heart and decrease the incidence of ventricular fibrillation

Evaluation of anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] reconstruction using bone-patellar tendon-bone graft

In this study, 30 athletic patients with torn ACL were operated upon. Patients with combined ligamentous instability were excluded. The main causative trauma was football injuries. All patients were diagnosed clinically and confirmed arthroscopically just at the time of the operation. The collected data were analyzed according to the modified Lysholm score system, which included eight parameters [knee instability, pain, swelling, stair climbing, limping, knee support, locking and squatting]. Excellent and good results were achieved in 77% of the cases, fair results in 20% and poor results in 3% of the patients]. The most common complications were knee stiffness in 10% of the cases and wound infection in 6%. The results of ACL reconstruction using autogenous bone patellar tendon-bone graft were assessed

Vitamin C: efficiency and safety

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of long-term vitamin C intake, either in recommended daily allowances [RDAs] or in high dose, on the serum levels of lipid profile, liver enzymatic activities, alkaline phosphatase [ALP], alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST] as well as creatinine and urea in adult male rats. Thirty mature male rats weighted 200-300 gm/rat were divided into three equal groups; one served as a control, while the other two groups were given daily an oral supplementation of vitamin C for eight weeks. The group received RDAs of vitamin C [27 mg/day/rat] induced a significant decrease in serum levels of all the studied parameters. Also, in the animal group received a high dose of vitamin C [55 mg/day], the serum levels of lipid profile, ALP, creatinine and urea were significantly decreased, but there was an increase in ALT and AST levels

Macro-and micromorphology of the leaf, stem and root of Heliotropium bacciferum forssk

The macro- and micromorphological characters of the leaf, stem and root of Heliotropium bacciferum Forssk are presented with the aim of finding their diagnostic characters by which the plant can be easily identified either as entire or ground forms

Macro-and micromorphology of the flower and the fruit of Heliotropium bacciferum forsook

The macro- and micromorphological characters of the flower and the fruit of Heliotropium bacciferum Forssk, family Boraginaceae growing wild in Egypt are presented with the view of finding out the diagnostic characters by which they could be identified in the entire and powdered forms

Simple photometric assay of nicotine in tobacco

Simple photometric assay procedure of the volatile tobacco alkaloids as nicotine is presented depending on the preparation of copper dithiocarbamate complex of nicotine after being reduced to a secondary amine derivative using Zn/HCl. The complex is extracted with benzene and measured photometrically at 445 nm. The measured color is stable for more than 48 hours, obeying Beer's law [20-600 ug] and the method is suitable for estimating nicotine in different tobacco preparations