Role of nigella sativa L. seeds against carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury in rabbit - an experimental study

To investigate the protective effect of Nigella sativa against carbon tetrachloride [CCl[4]] induced liver injury in adult male Rabbit model. Experimental/Analytical study. This study was carried out at the Animal House, Isra University from May, 2012 to October 2012. Thirty male Rabbits were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria and studied. Animals were divided into three groups Carbon tetrachloride was used to induce liver injury. N. sativa seeds were administered in experimental group. Blood samples were collected from peripheral veins. Sera were used liver enzyme detection. The animals were sacrificed by over-dose of Ketamine and liver was removed for histological study. The data was analyzed on SPSS version 16.0 for Windows release [Chicago, IL, USA]. A p-value of

Teratogenic effects of different concentrations of retinoic acid on chick embryonic heart cells cultured in vitro

To detect the possible teratogenic effects of various concentrations of retinoic acid [RA], in chick cardiac cells cultured in micromass culture. Experimental study. This study was carried out at the University of Nottingham, UK on chick embryonic hearts for a period of six months from Jan. 2010 to June 2010. Embryonic hearts were dissected from 5 day old white leghorn chick embryos to produce a cardiac cell suspension in DMEM culture medium. Cells were either exposed to culture medium or vehicle only or to different concentrations of retinoic acid ranging from1 micro M to 100 micro M. End points for cellular differentiation were observational scores at 24, 48 and 144 h following explantation. Cell viability was established with resazurin and kenacid blue assays. Statistical analysis of the results was via one way ANOVA and Kruskal Wallis tests and P value < 0.05 was considered significant. Retinoic acid significantly reduced cellular differentiation at and above 1 micro M [P value < 0.05], at concentrations 50 micro M and above no single focus was observed to be beating. The resazurin assay for viability showed decreasing viability of cardiac cells with increasing concentrations of retinoic acid. Same trend was observed with kenacid blue assay which determined the overall protein content. However the cells exposed to only culture medium or vehicle did not show significant differences in terms of viability, protein content and beating ability. The potential of retinoic acid as teratogen is proved in this in vitro study and it is recommended that the pregnant ladies should avoid the use of these drugs during early developmental period

Evaluation of chick in ovo culture as screening method for detection of teratogens

Congenital malformations are the leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Out of all birth defects, congenital abnormalities of the heart are at the top. There are many etiological factors responsible for such defects. Environmental agents or teratogens are the factors which could be detected by certain screening methods and may be controlled at an early stage to minimize the chance of mortality. This study was conducted to detect the efficacy of inovo culture system as screening system for teratogenecity testing. Experimental study. This study was conducted at the Department of Anatomy, Isra University Hyderabad for a period of six months. White Leghorn Chicken eggs were incubated for 3 days and after 3 days eggs were injected with ethanol 10% and 20%, PBS, neutral red dye and some were left untouched. The eggs were again incubated back until day 9. On day 9 the embryos were taken out and examined for gross malformations. The hearts were then fixed and processed for H and E staining and examined under microscope. The results showed that addition of alcohol [ethanol] to chicken eggs produced many gross malformations and examination of hearts under microscope also showed malformed hearts. However other chemicals used did not show any malformations. This study confirmed the teratogenecity of ethanol in chick embryos and can be used as an alternative method for screening of teratogens and toxins

Effect of Nigella sativa extract oil on granulation tissue in cutaneous wound: an experimental study in a rabbit model

The present study aims to observe the effect of Nigella Sativa [NS] oil extract on the granulation tissue formation on induced cutaneous wounds in a rabbit model. Experimental study. This study was conducted at the Department of Anatomy, Isra University Hyderabad from May to October, 2012. Twenty male adult Wistar rabbits were studied according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The rabbits were divided into two groups; Group I. [n=10] skin wounds were treated with 1% pyodine daily and Group II. [n=10] Nigella sativa extract oil was applied on inflicted cutaneous wounds. The animals were sacrificed by over-dose of Ketamine and Xylazil as per protocol and skin wound area was excised. The tissue samples were fixed in marked containers, containing 10% formaldehyde as preservative. The tissue samples were embedded in paraffin, cut into 5 um thick sections and stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin and Masson`s trichrome and examined for histological findings. The data was analyzed on SPSS version 17.0 [Chicago, IL, USA]. The continous variables were analyzed by independent sample t-test. The p-value was taken at

Ethanol induced developmental defects can be prevented with supplementation of vitamin E

Alcohol exposure during intrauterine life produces spectrum of disorders collectively termed as fetal alcohol syndrome. Apart from craniofacial and brain defects this syndrome produces various cardiac abnormalities such as atrial and ventricular septal defects, teratology of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries, truncus arteriosus. The mechanisms behind these ethanol-induced deficits are unknown. This study was conducted to detect the preventive role of lipid soluble vitamin E in ethanol induced heart malformations in chick embryos cultured in ovo. Experimental study. This study was conducted at the in the school of Biomedical Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK for a period of 6 months. White Leghorn chicken eggs were incubated for 3 days in 37 Degree °C with relative humidity of 100%. Eggs were microinjected with 100 micro l of either PBS, vitamin E 200 micro M, SOD 2 micro M, 20% ethanol in PBS, or ethanol plus vitamin E and ethanol plus SOD dissolved in PBS. On day 9 eggs were cracked and examined in terms of their viability. The viable embryos were examined for growth retardation by measuring crown rump length, and any malformations or gross abnormalities observed including limb deformities, facial defects, heart defects and brain vesicle development. Ethanol-induced alterations occurred in craniofacial development, vitelline circulation, crown rump length, facial abnormalities, brain development, which were prevented by addition of vitamin E and superoxide dismutase. These results show that exposure of the chick embryos to ethanol during development result in structural changes in the heart that mimic malformations that occur in patients with fetal alcohol syndrome [FAS]. These findings may be prevented with addition of vitamin E

Clinical presentation and drug resistance patterns of Salmonellae typhi and paratyphi at a tertiary care hospital of Sindh

The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical presentation and drug resistance patterns of Salmonellae typhi and paratyphi. Observational Descriptive Study. This study was conducted at the Muhammad Medical Hospital Mirpurkhas, from Jan 2010 to April 2011. One hundred twenty six patients were studied, who satisfied the clinical and laboratory criteria of typhoid/ paratyphoid fever. The blood samples, 5-10 ml from adults were inoculated directly into blood culture bottles. Subcultures were also performed. Antibiotic sensitivity was tested by the Kirby-Bauer technique according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Statistical analysis was performed on SPSS version 10.9 [Chicago, Illinosis, USA], using the chi-square test and student's t-test for the qualitative and quantitative variables respectively. The identified organisms were S.typhi observed in 91 [72.22%], both S typhi/paratyphi in 18 [14.28%] and S.paratyphi A and B in the rest 17 [13.49%]. In 97 [76.98%] of patients, antibody O titers were >/= 1:160 and in 39 [30.95%] titers were <1:160. The overall multi-drug resistant isolates were found in >80% for the first line agent's i.e.; ampicillin, amoxicillin, cotrimoxazole and chloramphenicol. The highest sensitivity rate was found for the cefixime [98.41%] and the lowest one for the ampicillin [22.2%]. We found drug resistant and multi-drug resistant salmonellae in our study; this may be because of antibiotic use as self medication, medication by pharmacist and quacks