Serum testosterone and aggression in schizophrenics and substance abusing subjects

This study had been carried out in psychiatric department of Zagazig University Hospital and Al Azazy Mental Hospital with the aim of studying the association between serum testosterone levels and aggression in some psychiatric disorders. 24 schizophrenics and Substance abusing who presented to the outpatient clinic with aggressire behaviour were subjected to the following; DSMII, R and clinical diagnosis, Brown aggressive scale and also measurement of free and total testosterone and sexhormone binding globulin [SHBG] by radioimmuno- assay and Enzyme immuno- assay teahniques. The results showed that substance abusing males had significautly higher serum levels of total and free testosterone than schizophrenics and controls. Also among schizophrenics the serum level of this hormone decreased significantly more with age compared to the other two groups, and correlated negatively with the duration of neuropleptic drug usage. The results also showed that the aggressive behavior of the schizophrenics were significantly lower than that of the drug abusing subjects, however there was no significant correlations between serum testosterone levels and the intenesity of aggression in either the schizophrenics or the substance abusing subjects

Plasma follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] level in some psychotic disorders

This study was done on 24 female patients and 8 control volunteers. The patients included 16 schizophrenics and 8 psychotic depressives, according to PSE Catego computer program. The study was based on measuring FSH level in plasma in both groups before and after therapy. The results showed that, on comparative assessment of basal FSH levels in control subjects vs. Groups of schizophrenics and depressives, there were significant decreases of basal FSH levels in both groups. While on comparing the basal FSH level in both schizophrenics and depressives before and after antipsychotic therapy, there were no significant differences between pre and post-medication states

Study of some psychological factors in relation to malignancies

This study was done on 30 patients with malignancies and 20 healthy control subjects were selected from the employees in Zagazig University Hospital. Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire [MHQ] was used in psychological assessment, in addition to clinical psychiatric assessment. The results revealed preponderance of the trait of extra- version in these patients. Also, past history of childhood and /or adolescence trauma revealed frequent incidence of only single event, that is parental death, past history of psychiatric disorders was not conclusive, yet past history of depression was more frequent than other disorders. Patients scored pathological levels on depression, anxiety and somatic scales of MHQ, proved an increase of obsession to a pathological level in these patients, that is not significantly different from controls

Seedlings dampling-off of mahogany, cassia and koelreutaria plants and some aspects to its control

Nigrospora phaerica, Fusarium oxysporum and Thanatephor-us cucumeris were isolated from damped-off seedlings of mahogany [Khaya senegalensis]. Nigrospora sphaerica, F. oxysporum, Sclerolium rolfsii and S.bataticola were isolated from infected seedlings of cassia [Cassia fistula] and Koelreutaria opiculata. Nigrospora sphaerica was the most destructive to seedlings of cassia and Koelreutaria, whereas T. cucumeris was the most pathogenic organism that induced mahogany seedling damping-off [80%]. Gibberellic acid [GA3], kinetin and cycocel [CCC] decreased the percentage of damped-dff seedlings of all tested plants than the control treatment. Increasing the concentration of CCC to 40 ppm level decreased infection down to 6-28%. The mixture of the tested fungi was able to initiate seedling infection [ranged between 8 and 64%] in four different soil types [namely, loamy soil, sand calcareous soil, sand calcareous + activated cotton seed hulls and sand calcareous + nonactivated cotton seed hulls; 1:1 w/w]. However, maximal seedling infection occurred in the loamy soil, and the least percentage of infected seedlings occurred in the sand calcareous soil, specially when seeds were previously treated with 40 ppm kinetin. Reducing sugars and amino nitrogen contents were increased either as a result of fungal infection or due to growth regulator treatment. The higher contents of both reducing sugars and amino nitrogen was found in seedlings treated with GA3. Whereas, CCC at 40 ppm increased the total phenol [s] content in both healthy and infected seedlings

Bacterial leaf blight of cowpea in Egypt: 1 Causal organism and factors affecting its growth

Naturally infected plants showed leaf blight and stem canker symptoms. Leaf inoculated plants exhibited irregular reddish brown blotches followed by leaf wilting, while stem or pod inoculated ones develop either cankers or brownish water-soaked spots, respectively, at the sites of inoculation. Diagnostic tests suggested the pathogen to be Xanthomonas campestris p.v. vignicola. Varietal response test showed that isolate varied as regards the severity of symptoms they initiated in a given variety of bean or cowpea. Host range studies revealed that the pathogen is able to initiate a hypersensitive reaction in tobacco, tomato, squash, braod bean and common apricot. Trials on antibacterial compounds revealed that Terramycin, Penicillin, Chloramphenicol, Streptomycin and Erythromycin as well as Marfazin and formaldehyde had the most pronounced inhibitory effect on growth of the bacterial isolates tested