Seasonal Study of Cu, Zn and Pb Accumulation and Distribution in Sediments and PhragmitesAustralisplanted in A Constructed Wetland "Lake Manzala Engineered Wetland Project", (LMEWP), Egypt

Lake Manzala Engineered Wetland project (LMEWP) is a constructed wetland that has been designed for treating drainagewater coming from Bahr El-Baqar drain. In this study, the concentration of heavy metals (Cu, Zn and Pb) in water, sedimentand different organs of Phragmitesaustralis collected from LMEWP seasonally. The aim of this study was to determine thedynamics of distribution of metals in different parts of phragmitesaustralis, and to determined the bioaccumulation factor(BCF) in different organs of plant phragmitesaustralis and Translocation Factor (TA), particularly to determine the time ofmaximum accumulation in the above-ground tissues and to assess removal capacity of phragmitesaustralis in LMEWP.Results revealed a high significant correlation between heavy metals concentrations in phragmitesaustralis with its locationin LMEWP vegetation cell; start cell> end cell. The highest concentration of metals is mostly found in phragmitesaustralisroot. All metals were accumulated in root over time until the end of the growing season after eight months. On the otherside, metal concentrations in stem and leaves increased even after the growing season of the plant. Overall, the resultssuggest to harvestphragmitesaustralis before six months IN the growing season in order to improve the accumulativeefficiency of phragmitesaustralis in LMEWP project.

Dexmedetomidine and propofol sedation requirements in an autistic rat model / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Autism is a challenging neurodevelopmental disorder. Previous clinical observations have suggested altered sedation requirements for children with autism. Our study aimed to test this observation experimentally in an animal model and to explore its possible mechanisms. METHODS: Eight adult pregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups. Four were injected with intraperitoneal sodium valproate on gestational day 12 and four were injected with normal saline. On postnatal day 28, the newborn male rats were subjected to the open-field test to confirm autistic features. Each rat was injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of propofol (50 mg/kg) or dexmedetomidine (0.2 mg/kg). The times to loss of righting reflex (LORR) and to return of righting reflex (RORR) were recorded. On the following day, all rats were re-sedated and underwent electroencephalography (EEG). Thereafter, the rats were euthanized and their hippocampal gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) and glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor gene expressions were assessed. RESULTS: Autistic rats showed significantly longer LORR times and shorter RORR times than did the controls (median LORR times: 12.0 versus 5.0 min for dexmedetomidine and 22.0 versus 8.0 min for propofol; P < 0.05). EEG showed a low-frequency, high-amplitude wave pattern 2 min after LORR in the control rats. Autistic rats showed a high-frequency, low-amplitude awake pattern. Hippocampal GABA(A) receptor gene expression was significantly lower and NMDA gene expression was greater in autistic rats. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the clinical observations of increased anesthetic sedative requirements in children with autism and our biochemical analyses using and glutamate receptor gene expression highlight possible underlying mechanisms.

Dexmedetomidine and propofol sedation requirements in an autistic rat model / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND@#Autism is a challenging neurodevelopmental disorder. Previous clinical observations have suggested altered sedation requirements for children with autism. Our study aimed to test this observation experimentally in an animal model and to explore its possible mechanisms.@*METHODS@#Eight adult pregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups. Four were injected with intraperitoneal sodium valproate on gestational day 12 and four were injected with normal saline. On postnatal day 28, the newborn male rats were subjected to the open-field test to confirm autistic features. Each rat was injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of propofol (50 mg/kg) or dexmedetomidine (0.2 mg/kg). The times to loss of righting reflex (LORR) and to return of righting reflex (RORR) were recorded. On the following day, all rats were re-sedated and underwent electroencephalography (EEG). Thereafter, the rats were euthanized and their hippocampal gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) and glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor gene expressions were assessed.@*RESULTS@#Autistic rats showed significantly longer LORR times and shorter RORR times than did the controls (median LORR times: 12.0 versus 5.0 min for dexmedetomidine and 22.0 versus 8.0 min for propofol; P < 0.05). EEG showed a low-frequency, high-amplitude wave pattern 2 min after LORR in the control rats. Autistic rats showed a high-frequency, low-amplitude awake pattern. Hippocampal GABA(A) receptor gene expression was significantly lower and NMDA gene expression was greater in autistic rats.@*CONCLUSIONS@#This study supports the clinical observations of increased anesthetic sedative requirements in children with autism and our biochemical analyses using and glutamate receptor gene expression highlight possible underlying mechanisms.

Amelioration of insulin resistance in rats treated with rice bran oil

Background: insulin resistance [IR] is a pathological condition characterized by inadequate peripheral tissue metabolic response to circulating insulin. It plays pathophysiological role in type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM]. High dosage of fructose in the diet [60 g/100 g diet] may induce insulin resistance accompanied by deleterious metabolic consequences including hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. Rice bran oil [RBO], is a rich source of antioxidants especially gamma-oryzanol, alpha-tocopherols and tocotrienols which contribute to high oxidative stability, longer shelf life than other edible oils and high antioxidant property against free radicals. The present work was undertaken to study if the addition of rice bran oil in rat's diets ameliorate the insulin resistance

Materials and methods: to achieve this target, plasma fasting glucose, serum insulin and calculated HOMA-IR, which assesse the presence of insulin resistance, was evaluated. Serum lipid profile [cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein- cholesterol [HDL] and low-density lipoprotein- cholesterol [LDL] was also evaluated. In addition, the oxidative stress was assessed through hepatic malondialdehyd [MDA] as an oxidative biomarker and the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase [SOD] was also estimated

Results: RBO ameliorated HOMA-IR, oxidative biomarker [MDA] and increased SOD activity

Conclusion: high fructose diet induced oxidative stress which lead to insulin resistance, this was ameliorated by addition of RBO

Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance [TEARS] a marker of oxidative stress in obstructive sleep apnea

OSA is a common condition that is primarily characterized by intermittent and recurrent pauses in respiration results in multiple cycles of hypoxia/re-oxygenation with an increased production of reactive oxygen species [ROS]. Is to assess TEARS as a marker of oxidative stress in obese patients with and without OSA. Study was performed on 51 obese subjects who had been referred to the Chest Department of Kasr Alaini Hospital with clinical suspicion of OSA in order to perform pol-ysomnography. They were classified into two groups; Cases: consist of 33 obese patients who were diagnosed as obstructive sleep apnea [OSA] and Controls: consist of 18 obese subjects, without OSA as a control group. The two groups were subjected to polysomnograpic study and serum TEARS. There was statistically highly significant increase in Epworth sleepiness scale [ESS] among cases compared to controls. As regards the polysomnographic data, there was statistically highly significant increase in AHI, desaturation index and duration of desaturation < 90% among cases compared to control subjects. While minimal O[2] sat% and average O[2] sat% were lower in cases than in the control subjects this reduction was statistically significant. There was statistically highly significant increase in serum TEARS levels among cases as compared to controls. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between grade of obesity and serum TEARS among studied cases. TERAS could be used as a marker of oxidative stress in OSA

Insulin resistance in obstructive sleep apnea

OSA is a common condition that is characterized by intermittent and recurrent pauses in respiration results in multiple cycles of hypoxia/reoxygenation with an increased production of reactive oxygen species [ROS]. Is to assess serum insulin level and insulin resistance in obese patients with and without OSA. Study was performed on 51 obese subjects who had been referred to the Chest Department of Kasr Alaini Hospital with clinical suspicion of OSA in order to perform polysomnography. They were classified into two groups; cases: consist of 33 obese patients who were diagnosed as obstructive sleep apnea [OSA] and controls: consist of 18 obese subjects, without OSA as a control group. The two groups were subjected to polysomnographic study, serum insulin by ELISA and assessment of insulin resistance by calculation of HOMA index. There was statistically highly significant increase in Epworth sleepiness scale [ESS] among cases compared to controls. As regards the polysomnographic data, there was statistically highly significant increase in AHI, desaturation index and duration of desaturation < 90% among cases compared to control subjects. Regarding minimal O2 sat% and average O[2] sat% were lower in cases than in the control subjects and this reduction was statistically significant. There was statistically highly significant increase in serum insulin, HOMA index among cases as compared to controls. Insulin resistance in OSA is related to sleep associated hypoxemia and hypoxic stress

New Approach of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Human Amniotic Epithelial Cells Applications in Accelerating Wound Healing of Irradiated Albino Rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Irradiated wound healing is a highly complex and dynamic process. The latest technology making a huge difference in this process is stem cell therapy. The goal of this study was to evaluate the use of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) or human amniotic epithelial cells (HAECs) in the healing of irradiated wounds. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty five male albino rats were subjected to whole body 6 gray gamma radiations. One day post irradiation, full-thickness incisional wound was created in the tibial skin. The rats were randomly equally divided into three groups. The incisions of the first group (gp I) were injected intra-dermally with saline before stitching and those of both the second (gp II) and the third groups (gp III) were intradermally injected with BM-MSCs and HAECs before stitching respectively. Animals were sacrificed after the third, seventh and fourteenth days postoperative. The healing process was assessed histopathologically. CXCL-5, SDF-1 and Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1) expression were also detected in biopsies from all wounds. Expression of TGF-beta1 in gp I was more than the other groups leading to severe inflammation, deficient healed dermis and delayed reepithelialization. SDF-1 expression was high in gp II while CXCL-5 expression was high in gp III causing accelerated wound healing. BM-MSCs showed a great effect on the quality of the dermis, while superiority of the epithelium and its appendages were achieved in HAECs group. CONCLUSIONS: Using BM-MSCs and HAECs could be used safely in case of irradiated wounds.

Effects of two different doses of melatonin on the spermatogenic cells of rat testes: a light and electron microscopic study

Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain that helps regulating other hormones and maintaining the body's circadian rhythm. There has been increasing evidence that extrinsic doses of melatonin cause certain pharmaceutical, biochemical and physiological effects on the mammalian genital organs. However, the histological and ultrastructural effects of melatonin doses on spermatogenesis have received little attention. The present study was carried out in order to investigate, at the light and electron microscopic levels, the effects of two different doses of melatonin on the spermatogenesis of the adult rat Rattus norvegicus. Thirty adult male white rats were divided into two main groups [groups I and II]. Group 1[6 rats] served as control and group II was used for treatment with melatonin. The latter group was subdivided into four subgroups [A, B, C and D], each of 6 rats. The rats of subgroups A and B were treated with a single oral dose of 0.05 mg/kg b.wt. of melatonin and killed after 48 hours and 10 days, respectively. The rats of subgroups C and D were treated with a single higher dose of 0.1 mg/kg b.wt. of melatonin and killed, similarly, after 48 hours and 10 days, respectively. Testes were examined histologically and ultrastructurally. Melatonin administration caused marked reductions in testicular weight and size. Testicular regression ranged from a decrease in the abundance of late spermatids in some tubules to an almost complete loss of spermatogenesis in others. Early spermatids exhibited acrosomes of abnormal shapes. Ultrastructural changes confirmed the histological damages and cellular degeneration of the different types of germ cells. The severity of the testicular damage was increased with elevating the dose and also with passing of time. This study proved that melatonin adversely affects the histological and ultrastructural features of rat spermatogenic cells

Study the efficiency of pinpoint and semiflex chambers for measuring the smallest field size required for intensity- modulated radiotherapy [IMRT] technique

IMRT is the logical continuation of conformal radiotherapy in the sense that, over the high-dose volume, the dose distribution itself rather than its geometry is actively controlled in three dimensions. Volume averaging and lack of electronic equilibrium complicate accurate dosimetry of small photon fields. To evaluate the performance of the PinPoint ion chamber for characterizing small fields used in intensity-modulated radiotherapy [IMRT] technique. A 6 MV photon beam [Siemens Primus Linac] has been employed. We used the PTW dosimetry system and MP3 water tank to compare beam character of PinPoint and Semiflex chambers. The build up region in pinpoint is 1.6 cm but in Semiflex is 1.7 cm. The penumbra regions in pinpoint is smaller than PinPoint. The pinpoint chamber has a high resolution. The smallest field size 2x2 cm or less should be measured using Pin Point chamber rather than semiflex chamber

Association of tumor necrosis factor-alpha polymorphisms with susceptibility and clinical outcomes of rheumatic heart disease

To examine the association of tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha] gene polymorphisms with rheumatic heart disease [RHD] and valve damage, and their influence on TNF-alpha production and disease outcome. We performed this cross-sectional study at Kasr El-Aini Hospital, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, from December 2008 to October 2009. Eighty children with chronic RHD and valve affection, and 50 controls were included. Patients with any other diseases or complications were excluded. Blood samples [5 ml] were collected. Genotyping for TNF-alpha polymorphisms was performed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Serum TNF-alpha was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum TNF-alpha was significantly increased in RHD compared with controls [p=0.00003]. The TNF-alpha-238 adenine [AA] [p=0.036] and-308AA [p=0.003] genotypes were more frequent in RHD patients than in controls, and were associated with increased production of TNF-alpha [p=0.00001 for 238AA] and [p=0.001 for 308AA]. Both polymorphisms contributed to increased susceptibility for RHD [-308AA and adenine guanine [AG], odds ratio [OR]=4.72 [95% confidence interval [CI] 2.03-11.05], p=0.0001]; [-238 AA and AG, OR=2.33 [CI: 1.05-5.19], p=0.035]. The presence of-308AA was associated with mitral [p=0.001] and multivalvular [p=0.003] lesions and was more prevalent in moderate [p=0.001], and severe [p<0.001] cases than in controls. The-238AA variant was associated with mitral lesions [p=0.04] and severe cases [p=0.05] as compared with controls. The TNF-alpha-238G/A and-308G/A polymorphisms were associated with susceptibility to RHD and increased production of TNF-alpha. Both polymorphisms were related to valve damage, and a more severe outcome of RHD

Zoonotic ectopic fascioliasis: review and discussion

Ectopic fascioliasis [EF] has direct and indirect effects on both humans and animals. The phenomenon of EF was individual cases in the period from 1950 up to the end of last century. From the period of 2000 up .to 2006, plenty of researches were on EF in the developed and undeveloped countries. Nineteen EF cases infected with the immature and few with the mature worms were 13 females and 6 males. Three cases of lymphatic, pleural and breast fascioliasis reached the adults and laid their eggs in a lymph node in the cervical region pleural cavity and breast tissues. Until recent, knowledge about the ectopic fascioliasis pathway is little. Fasciola hepatica was the commonest species in most cases. The effect of fascioliasis might be direct to liver as ectopic foci or indirect on other organs due to the metabolites and secretory excretory products. All ages and both sexes were EF infected. Watercress topped the list of water plants born encysted metacercariae followed by lettuce, mint, and alfalfa. Nearly 24 million Egyptians at risk and about 800.000 were infected. On the global scale, about 180 million are at risk of infection

Determinants of in-hospital cardiac catheterization in acute coronary syndrome patients in Kuwait

Clinical trials and practice guidelines have established the efficacy of early invasive strategy for high risk acute coronary syndrome [ACS] patients. This analysis was undertaken to detect the predictors of in-hospital cardiac catheterization [prior to hospital discharge] in patients with ACS in Kuwait and to assess if this use of early catheterization was according to published guidelines. We analyzed data from a prospective registry of 2054 consecutive patients admitted to all 7 general hospitals in Kuwait with the diagnosis of ACS over a period of 6 months in 2004. Citizens were more likely to receive in-hospital catheterization than expatriates [52.1% vs 38.6%; odds ratio 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4 to 2.2; p<0.001]. Patients with recurrent ischemia were more likely to undergo in-hospital catheterization than patients without recurrent ischemia [55.9% vs 12.2%; odds ratio 11.2; 95% CI, 8.6 to 14.5; p<0.001]. two coronary artery disease risk factors [hyperlipidemia and positive history] were associated with high rate of in-hospital cardiac catheterization [respectively, odds ratio 1.3; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2; p<0.001 and odds ratio 1.5; 95% CI, 1.3 to 2.3; p<0.001]. Although high risk patients benefit the most from an early invasive strategy after ACS, this strategy was persrvered for those with recurrent ischemia and citizens. Other risk factors were not determinants of in-hospital cardiac catheterization. Thus, there is substantial opportunity to improve the use of this effective therapy in high risk patients

Role of delayed phase multi-detector row helical CT [MDH CT] in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]

This study was carried out on 36 patients: 26 men, 10 women; mean age +/- SD [45.5 +/- 6.4 and 44 +/- 5.9] years respectively with suspected HCC after ultrasonographic examination underwent MDH CT of the liver. A quadruple-phase protocol that included unenhanced, hepatic arterial, portal venous and delayed venous phases was performed. A total number of 62 biopsy-approved HCC lesions were included in this study, 58 lesions were sonographically detected, and extra 4 lesions were detected only after triphasic MDCT scanning. Images were interpreted regarding the size, homogeneity, pattern of enhancement hypervascularity and washout, capsule, abnormal internal vessels, calcifications, fat and central scar. Most of the HCCs were hypervascular [91.9%] exhibiting mosaic pattern of enhancement on the hepatic arterial and portal venous phases [82.45%, and 78.94% respectively]. Portal venous phase washout accounted for 70.17% of hypervascular HCCs, capsulated lesions accounted for 27.1%; 37.5% of these capsules were identified on the delayed venous phase only. The dual-phase MDH CT detected 57 [91.9%] out of the 62 lesions compared with the triple-phase MDH CT where 59 [95.16%] lesions were detected. 2 HCC [3.38%] were seen only in the delayed venous phase as hypo attenuating nodules

Toxoplasma antibodies in complicated and uncomplicated pregnancy

This study was performed to evaluate the level of anti-toxoplasma antibodies among patients with miscarriage due to different causes as compared to un-complicated pregnant controls. It was carried out on 70 female patients with a history of complicated pregnancies and 30 ones with normal pregnancy as a control were selected, among those referred from Obstetrics and Gynaecology out-patient clinics and in-patient departments, AL-Azhar University Hospitals. Their ages ranged from 19 to 34 years . They were all Rh positive and free from brucellosis, syphilis and malignancy. Results showed that all controls [uncomplicated pregnancy] were IHA-IgG and ELISA-IgM negative. However, three of the controls [10%] were ELISA. IgG positive. As to the women with complicated pregnancy 59% were IHAT positive. When using ELISA, 57% were IgG positive and 43% were IgM positive. The results revealed a significant difference between the complicated cases and controls. The diagnosis of abortion, stillbirth, premature labour, or neonatal death due to toxoplasma infection needs careful and laborious evaluation. ELISA [IgG and IgM] is more sensitive and specific than IHAT. All premature born babies showed no signs of congenital toxoplasmosis. All these subjects were living in the same geographical area with more or less similar social and economical standard

Histopathological lesions of apparently normal skin in leprosy patients

This study was carried out on 50 patients with different clinical types of leprosy 38 males [76% and 12 females [24%], ages ranged from 14 -70 years with a mean age +/- SD 49.22 +/- 12.97 years. Mean disease duration was 5.65 years +/- SD = 9.27 selected to study a group of leprosy patients and compare the clinical parameters with histopathological findings and bacteriologic status of the skin to evaluate the relevance of their patients. Patients were subjected to full medical history taking including disease duration, type and duration of previous or current therapies. Complete clinical examination, for the determination of the clinical type of leprosy. Skin slit smear [SSS] and skin biopsies were taken and examined after staining for histopathological assessment and Acid fast bacilli [AFB]. SPSS package version [statistical Package for Social Sciences] was used for data analysis. The biopsy of normally looking skin showed classic histopathological features of leprosy in more than half of the cases [26 cases, 52%]. The histopathological types of leprosy diagnosed in such cases were as follows: indeterminate leprosy [IL] in 4 cases [15.38%], Tuberculoid leprosy [TL] in 2 cases [7.69%], Borderline tu-berculoid [IL] in 4 cases [15.38], Borderline Borderline [BB] i.e Query in 8 cases [30.76%], Borderline Lepromatous [BL] in 7 cases [26.92%] and Lepromatous leprosy [LL] in a patient [3.84%]. Other 24 cases showed either no evidence of leprosy in [9 cases, 37.5%], or query findings [in the form of sweat gland changes either alone or in combination with thickened nerves and superficial and deep perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltrate] in 15 cases [62.5%]. Histopathology of skin lesion biopsies showed TL in 3 cases [6%], BT in 8 cases [16%], BB in 8 cases [16%], BL in 14 cases [28%], LL in 12 cases [24%] and leprosy in reaction in 5 cases [10%]. In 16 cases [32%], histopathological type of leprosy detected by microscopical examination of biopsies from skin lesions differed from that diagnosed by clinical examination

Early stroke in patients with acute myocardial infarction: incidence, risk factors and clinical outcomes

Limited data is available about stroke developing after acute myocardial infarction [AMI]. We investigated the incidence, risk factors and in-hospital outcome of stroke after AMI in clinical practice with and without use of thrombolysis. We analyzed data from a prospective registry of consecutive patients admitted to the coronary care unit [CCU] at Mubarak Al Kabeer Hospital in Kuwait. Of 2481 patients admitted with AMI between 1999 and 2003, 29 [1.2%] developed stroke during their hospital stay. Age older than 60 years [OR 5.5; 95% Cl 2.4 to 12.5; P< 0.001] and systolic blood pressure higher than 160 mmHg [OR 3.2; 95% Cl 1.lto 9.5; P< 0.04], were identified as independent predictors for stroke among patients with AMI. Patients who received thrombolytic therapy were not at an increased risk for developing stroke [OR 0.7; 95% Cl 0.2 to 2.0]. Patients developing stroke were 12 times more likely to die during hospitalization compared with patients who did not develop stroke [OR 12.6; 95% Cl 5.4 to 26.7; P< 0.001]. Stroke is an infrequent but serious complication of AMI. Older age and high systolic blood pressure at admission are independent predictors of stroke

Image analysis for the role of pigmented macrophages in fully formed granulomas in the liver of Syrian hamsters experimentally infected with schistosoma mansoni

Pigmented macrophages [PMs] exhibited very prominent role in attacking schistosome eggs and regulating the histoarchitecture of granulomateous reaction during schistosome infection in liver of Syrian hamsters. Macrophages in response to soluble egg antigens [SEA] are attracted to the egg shell primarily then to alive miracidium. These cells also have a potential role in dissolving egg shell and opening the gate for other inflammatory cells to destroy the live miracidia. In some hosts, it has been found that PMs were the only cells attacking schistosome eggs in absence of other inflammatory cells. They also participate in formation of fibrotic capsule around granulomas formed and building the fibrotic scaffold in liver parenchyma. The massive number of PMs attracted to site of trapped schistosome eggs suggested the close relationship between PMs and SEA. The formation of collagen fibers belonging to the family of glycoproteins is stimulated by PMs which lost their roundness and became stretched and in cooperation with other inflammatory cells; they enhance the process of granuloma formation. Image analysis [IA] software program [2008] used herein revealed that average percent of PMs to total inflammatory cells were 2.1 and 6.3 in both control and infected hamsters respectively [P=0.001]. Differences between average values of length, width, perimeter, radius and height were more significant in infected hosts than non infected ones [P=0.001] for all parameters. The average percent of roundness of PMs in controls were 3.77 while it was 2.52 in infected hamsters by mean that some cells lost their roundness and became spindle shaped as well as collagen fibers [P=0.001]. This analysis may lead to better understanding for the processes of granuloma formation and the role played by PMs .The above findings suggest that PMs induce innate proinflammatory response and thus control the outcome of immunopathology in schistosomiasis

Effects of Fasciola Gigantica on kidney of rabbits [Lagomorpha]: biochemical, histopathological and electrophoretic studies by

The effect of Fasciola gigantica on kidney of the rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus was studied. Two animals died with mortality rate of 16.6%. All rabbits were successfully infected and all yielded fasciolid ova. Biochemical studies of infected rabbits revealed that levels of total billirubin, serum creatinine and serum urea were 5.43 mg/dl, 1.40 mg/dl and 72.88 mg/dl respectively [P>0.001 for all values]. Histopathological changes in the kidney of rabbits infected with F. gigantica involved pronounced mesamgio-proliferative glomerulonephritis and membranoproliferative glomeurolnephritis. Other glomerulopathies included atrophid glomeruli accompanied with eosinophilic infiltration around impaired glomeruli with sometimes marked increase in Bowman's space. Necrosis was also observed in different foci in the kidney of infected rabbits. Medullary region exhibited narrowing in renal tubules and so dilatation in renal veins by mean of renal enlargement. Nuclei of Bowman's capsule turned crescent shaped indicating starching of the capsule. Scanning of SPS-PAGE gels of kidney protein for both control and infected rabbits revealed that ten types of protein bands were detected. In control rabbits, the molecular weights [MWs] of detected proteins ranged between 94.55-12.57 KD. In infected rabbits, MWs ranged between 104.35-20.01 KD. All MWs without exception increased in infected animals and it is postulated that such increase was due to immune-complex took place in kidney due to deposition of metabolic products of the fluke among renal parenchyma. Percent amount of detected proteins ranged from 7.2-21.2 and amount in band 9 were the same for both infected and treated rabbits but increases in control rabbits in band number ten. It has been concluded that F. gigantica induced not only hepatic but also renal damage in infected rabbits

Adiponectin gene single nucleotide polymorphism 276 G>T associates with low levels of adiponectin in coronary artery disease

Adiponectin is an adipose tissue-specific protein that influences atherosclerosis by its anti-inflammatory properties though modulating cellular processes involved in foam cell formation and by affecting the balance of atherogenic and antiatherogenic lipoproteins in plasma; thus, the adiponectin gene is a potential candidate for the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease [CAD]. In the present work, we studied the association between a single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] in the adiponectin gene [+276 G>T] as well as plasma adiponectin levels and CAD in a sample of Egyptian patients. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism [PCR-RFLP] method was used to determine the distribution of genotype frequency of the SNP +276G>T in the adiponectin gene and an ELISA was used to determine plasma adiponectin levels, in the current study, we showed a significant difference between patients with CAD and controls as regard adiponectin +276 genotype distribution as well as plasma adiponectin level. Genotypes G/T and G/G represented 79% of CAD patients versus 35.7% of the controls [p<0.05] and plasma adiponectin level was significantly lower in CAD patients than controls [p<0.001]. A significant association between adiponectin SNP at locus 276 and adiponectin level in patients with CAD was observed, with genotype G/G showing the lowest levels, genotype T/T the highest levels, and genotype G/T intermediate levels [p< 0.01]. The adiponectin SNP as well as low adiponectin in CAD was associated with an atherogenic lipid profile and was not affected by the presence or absence of diabetes. In conclusion, the +276 G>T polymorphism can help to identify patients at increased risk of CAD, so that early preventive measures can be undertaken. Adiponectin can he also used as a screening tool, but further research is needed to assess the beneficial effect of modifying its level and its potential therapeutic role

new parasitic metacercaria from the land snail Monacha obstructa pfeiffer1842 with critical review on relevant metacercariae belonging to the genus brachylaima dujardin 1843

Out of 328 specimens of the land snail Monacha obstructa, 105 [32%] were infected with a new metacercaria belonging to the genus Brachylaima Dujardin 1843. The present snail is considered as a new host for this parasite in Egypt. Morphological and morpho-metric patterns were elucidated. Number of recovered infective meta-cercariae ranged between 4-35 per kidney of snail host. Metacercariae inhabited only the kidney of infected snails. Total length of mature metacercariae ranged from 1800micro-2050micro [1940micro]. The anterior extremity is dome shaped and ceca were highly expanded, undulating, and filled with masses of brown cells and renal tissues. Metacercariae were fully mature, unencyted and highly active. They were either roaming in pathways inside the kidney or firmly anchored to renal tissues via oral sucker. Oral sucker length/total body length is 1:8.5. The histopathological effects involved disintegration of renal lamellae and formation of numerous necrotic masses. Invading metacercariae faced no host resistance and they were surrounded by a parasitovorus vacuole as a mean of immune-evasion. SEM studies revealed that dorsal surface of ventral sucker area is covered with rows of minute spines, Oral sucker also is provided with a median tongue-like shaped septum. The rest of integument is aspinose. A critical review for relevant metacercariae of genus Brachylaima is provided