Inhibited thyroid function, impaired lipid metabolism and increased tissue oxidative stress in rats native to high altitude

To evaluate the effect of high altitude on markers of thyroid function, serum lipid profile and tissues oxidative stress in male Wistar rats native to high altitude [HA] with male rats native to low altitude [LA]. Randomized experimental animal study. Physiology laboratory, Medical School of King Khalid University. Male rats aged six months, weighing 250 gm were bred and maintained at low altitude [LA, 600 m above sea level, n=6] or high altitude [HA, 2800 m, n=6], under the same laboratory conditions and fed the same diet. Blood samples were obtained for thyroid hormones and lipid profile analysis. Livers, kidneys, lungs and testes were collected and used for determination levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS], reduced glutathione [GSH], Superoxide Dismutase [SOD] and Catalase Activity [CAT]. HA rats had significantly [P<0.05] lower serum T3 [17.14%], T4 [13.75%], TSH [39.29%] and total cholesterol [15.84%] and LDL [60.90%].There were no significant differences in TAG or HDL. All tissues from HA rats showed significant decreases in SOD and CAT activities compared to LA rats. These rats showed significantly higher oxidative stress in the lungs and the liver, but lower oxidative stress in the kidney and no difference in the testes. Living at high altitude environment results in impaired thyroid function and lipid metabolism and causes increased tissue oxidative stress

Preparation and evaluation of theophylline loaded bovine serum albumin microspheres

Theophylline-loaded bovine serum albumin [BSA] microspheres were prepared by an emulsion polymerization method using glutaraldehyde as the crosslinking agent. The study was designed to evaluate the effects of different formulation parameters as BSA concentration, surfactant concentration, hydrophilic lipophilic balance [HLB], dispersion medium viscosity and glutaraldehyde concentration on the extent of drug loading, size of microsphere and the in-vitro as "well as the in-vivo release rates of theophylline from such microspheres. Drug polymer ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5 and 1:6 were investigated. Span 80 was used as a surfactant at different concentrations. Moreover, Different span 80 / tween 80 blend concentrations; 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% w/v were used to study the effect of HLB. Also different dispersion media; isooctane, light paraffin oil, olive oil and Linseed oil were used for microspheres preparation. In addition, different glutaraldehyde concentrations; 5, 10 and 25% v/v were used. It was found that all micro-spheres were spherical with the mean particle size of 90-180 micro m. The results revealed also that: as the concentration of BSA increases, the drug loading is increased. Increasing surfactant concentration and viscosity of the dispersion medium has led to decrease the particle size, while increasing glutaraldehyde concentration nearly had no effect. Furthermore, encapsulation efficiency was found to be directly proprortional to albumin content, surfactant concentration, viscosity of the dispersion medium and glutaraldehyde concentration. Drug release from the prepared microspheres displayed a biphasic pattern characterized by an initial burst, followed by a slower release period, which may be attributed to the presence of theophylline material near to or onto the microspheres surfaces. The bio availability of theophylline from the prepared microspheres was evaluated in rabbits. The prepared microspheres were found to control theophylline release even up to 10 hrs. The peak serum concentrations of such microspheres were within the therapeutic level. The results indicate also that the previoiusly mentioned formulation parameters have a prnounced impact to control the release of the entrapped drug

Some biochemical and haematological alterations in hypocupremic ewes and a trial for treatment

A total number of 42 ewes [local breed], 2-5 years old, was selected from a flock containing 250 heads and used in this study. The animals were grazed in free pasture at El-Tall El-Kebir region, Ismailia Governorate. The pastures were improved using azotic urea and lime superphosphate as fertilizers. After the clinical and parasitological examination of the blood, feces and skin, the ewes were divided into two groups [20 healthy controls, group A, and 22 hypocupremic ewes manifested by alopecia and wool abnormalities, group B]. It was concluded that the biochemical analysis of the biological samples of sheep is a reliable tool for the early diagnosis of some nutritional deficiency disorders and cupric glycinate is an effective treatment for hypocupremic sheep

Treatment results of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced laryngeal carcinoma in upper Egypt

This study was carried out on eligible, previously untreated patients with local and advanced laryngeal carcinoma. A maximum of three cycles of chemotherapy was given, followed by local treatment according to the degree of response. This study included 31 eligible patients. Stage III disease was reported in 52% of the cases and stage IV reported in 48%. The assessment after neoadjuvant chemotherapy showed an overall response in 65% of the patients, a complete response [CR] in 23% and a partial response [PR] in 42%. Stable disease [SD] was found in 19% and progressive disease [PD] in 16%. Six patients underwent post-chemotherapy total laryngectomy and 20 patients had radical radiotherapy. After the completion of local treatment, CR was reported in 20 out of the 26 patients and PR in 6 patients. The preservation of larynx was achieved in 20 patients of the whole studied group. The disease free period [DFP] was significantly affected by the primary response to chemotherapy and tumor stage. The overall survival [OS] was not significantly detected by chemotherapy or method of local treatment

Pattern of HER-2 over expression in breast cancer in Oman and its prognostic significance

Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2[HER2] over expression in invasive breast cancer is associated with a faster rate of tumour growth and poor prognosis. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of positive HER2 receptors in our patients and its impact on prognosis. Fifteen patients diagnosed to have invasive breast cancer were randomly chosen from patients that were treated in the department of oncology, Royal Hospital from 1991 to 2000. The expression of HER2/neu status was examined by using immunohistochemical-staining methods [Hercep test]. Between the HER2-positive and HER2-negative patients, the disease free period [DFP] and overall survival [OS] were compared. Thirteen of the studied 15 patients were females [87%] and 2 patients were males [13%]. An over expression of HER2/neu receptor protein occurred in 8 patients [53%]. There was no significant difference in term of prognostic factors between HER2-positive and HER2-negative patients. The DFP for patients who had HER2-positive receptors was was 42 months versus 10 months for patients with negative HER2 receptors [p=0.0530]. the OS for HER2 positive and negative receptors was 69 months and 15 months respectively [p=0.008]. High incidence of HER2 positive receptors was found among studied Omani patients. Breast cancer over expressing HER2/neu protein tends to have a poor prognosis with short DFP and OS

Reduction of some organophosphate insecticides toxicity in mice by diphenhydramine [Research Note].

The effect of the antihistamine diphenhydramine on the toxicity of some organiphosphate insecticides was determined in female mice. The LD50 values of diazinon, methidathion, malathion and fenitrothion were 76, 10.5, 650 and 917 mg/kg of female mice, orally, respectively. Diphenhydramine [20 mg/kg] injected subcutaneously 5 minutes after dosing mice with these insecticides markedly increased their LD[50] values by 71, 114, 62 and 25%, respectively. The results suggested the usefulness of diphenhydramine in reducing the toxicity of organophosphate insecticides

role of 99m Tc-sulphur colloid in detecting the relationship between hepatic kupffer cells dysfunction and intrinsic asthma

This study was carried out at both Departments of Medicine and Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Ain Shams University Hospitals between January, 1992 and February 1993. It included 2 groups. The first group consisted of 20 patients having criteria suggestive of intrinsic asthma [6 males and 14 females], their ages varied between [31 and 55 years]. The second group [controls] consisted of 20 volunteers who were not complaining of any allergic manifestations. The study showed that there was a positive correlation between total half life of plasma clearance of 99mTc-sulphur colloid and Forced expiratory volume in one second [FEVl] among intrinsic asthmatic patients but there was no significant difference between intrinsic asthmatic patients and control group as regard total half life of plasma clearance of 99mTc-sulphur colloid denoting that hepatic macrophages Kupffer cells are functionally active in the intrinsic asthmatic patients

Plasma fibronectin in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. A prospective controlled study

Plasma fibronectin level was determined by radial immunodiffusion technique in 60 patients in labor. 20 of them were normal pregnant women as a control group, 15 patients as a mild preeclampsia, 15 patients with severe preeclampsia and 10 patients having eclampsia. The mean values of plasma fibronectin in mild, severe preeclampsia and eclampsia were significantly higher than that of the control group in both maternal and cord blood plasma. The increased fibronectin levels were considered to be the best predictor and highly sensitive test for preeclampsia

case of complicated anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Al Baha, Saudi Arabia

A complicated case of ACL, which showed feverish and widely disseminated ulcers over the face was successfully treated with systemic antibiotic and pentostam as intralesional injections

Two abnormal cases of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Al Baha, Saudi Arabia

Two cases of ACL which showed extreme variation of cutaneous disease encountered in infection with Leishmania tropica were reported. Biochemically, the two isolates proved to be L. tropica [Zymodeme LON 72, one isolate and 71 second isolate