Molecular fingerprinting of the Egyptian medicinal plant Cocculus pendulus

The genus Cocculus belongs to the family Menispermaceae which comprises about 35 species of shrubs or woody climbers. Only one species, Cocculus pendulus is found in Egypt. This plant is reported to have good medicinal values in traditional system of medicine. Despite the wide occurrence of C. pendulus in the Egyptian deserts, attention was paid only to its distribution and morphological description ignoring the biochemical constitution, the genome makeup and environmental aspects which are not given due consideration. Since no information about the genome of C. pendulus is available, the current study deals with molecular investigation of C. pendulus expressed by DNA fingerprinting of the young leaves of this plant using amplified fragment length polymorphism [AFLP] technique with four primer combinations. The obtained results revealed a total of 228 bands with an average of 57 bands for each primer combination, of which 61 bands were polymorphic [26.8%] ranging in size from 59 to 570 bp. The number of amplicons/primer pairs ranged from 48 [E-AGG/M-CAC] to 72 [E-AAC/M-CAG] while the number of polymorphic amplicons varied from 13 to 21 with polymorphism percentage of 22.03-29.17%. Thus the average number of polymorphic fragments/combinations was 15. In this regard, the combination E-AGG/M-CAC was more efficient as confirmed by computing the discriminating power [D] of all primer combinations. Also, the AFLP marker gives a complete informative and highly discriminative picture about C. pendulus as shown by [PIC = 0.99]

Thyroid dysfunctions in Sudanese patients with vitiligo

Vitiligo is a chronic acquired skin condition that causes loss of pigment, resulting in irregular pale patches of skin. The precise cause of vitiligo is not fully understood. The autoimmune base of the disease is supported by the frequent observation that several autoimmune disorders particularly thyroid diseases, are associated with vitiligo. To determine the frequency of thyroid dysfunctions in Sudanese patients with vitiligo. Two groups, i.e. vitiligo patients and control, were collected with simple random collection. The control group included individuals free of vitiligo. 5 ml of venous blood was taken from every individual in both groups and the ELISA test was done for thyroid hormones, i.e. T3, T4 and TSH, using the DRG-USA kits. The number of patients with vitiligo in the study was 46, while the control group was 45. Nine [19.56%] patients were found to have abnormal levels of thyroid hormones. No abnormal levels in the control group. Mean T3 level in patients was 1.46 ng/l, while in control group it was 1.467 ng/l. Mean T4 level in patients was 102.761 nmol/l, while in control group it was 90.844 nmol/l. mean TSH level in patients was 0.841 micro IU/l, while in control group it was 1.50 micro IU/l. The t-test was done to determine the significance of difference between means of T3, T4, and TSH between the patients and control groups. The P-values were found to be significant. There is a strong pathogenetic relationship between vitiligo in Sudanese patients and thyroid dysfunctions

Evidence of enhanced trichodinids parasitic action in two Nile fish, oreochromis niloticus and clarias gariepinus, infected with gyrodactylids

Two different fish species [Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus] were examined to investigate the correlation of parasitism between trichodinids and gyrodactylids. Four parasites were isolated from skin and gills of the examined fish: Trichodina centrostrigeata, [Basson et al. 1983, Trichodina compacta, Van As and Basson, 1989, Gyrodactylus rysavyi, Paperna, 1973 [28%] and Macrogyrodactylus clarii Gussive, 1961]. The highest prevalence [34.66%], intensity [23] and abundance [7.90] of parasitic infestation of C.gariepinus are shown in infected fish with gyrodactylids. A synergistic effect was noticed among such parasites studied herein. In field application, a special approach of such phenomenon [mixed infection] should be considered. In the present study, the clinical signs, prevalence, abundance of parasites and relative condition factor were reported and discussed

6- [2-furylvinyl] -1,2,4- triazinone derivatives as a source of polyfunctional mono- and biheterocycles

Reaction of 6-[2-furylvinyl]-3-thioxo- 2,3,4,5- tetrahydro-1,2,4-triazin-5-one [1] with chloroacetone gave acetonylthiotriazinone derivative [2] and thiazolotriazinone [3]. 2,4-Bis- [2-furoyl]-6-[2-furyl-vinyl] triazinone [4], 3-amino-thiazolotriazinone [5] were prepared by reaction of 1 with furoyl chloride, dibromoacetonitrile, separately. Also, compound 1 was reacted with formaldehyde to give 6 and 7. Methylthiotriazinone [8] was prepared, thereafter transferred into the hydrazinotriazinone [9]. Compound 9 was reacted with aromatic aldehydes and formic acid to give dihydrotriazolotriazinones [10a,b] and triazolo -triazineone [11], respectively. Moreover, when compound 9 was refluxed with acetic anhydride, tetrabromophthalic anhydride, the products were N, N-diacetyl triazinyl acetate [12] and triazinyltetrabromo phthalazindione [13], respectively

Clinical and therapeutic aspects of typhoid fever in Upper Egypt

This study included 160 patients [97 males and 63 females, their ages ranged from 3 to 45 years with a mean of 14.66 +/- 7.62 SD] suspected clinically to be typhoid or paratyphoid fevers. They were classified into two groups: Group I, included 93 patients who were blood culture-positive for salmonella and group II, included 67 patients who were culture-negative for salmonella. The criteria of inclusion included patients presenting with fever five days or more with apparent toxemia, headache, coated tongue and with or without splenomegaly. The patients were subjected to full clinical history, general examination, abdominal examination, routine investigations [abdominal ultrasonography, chest X-ray, ECG, urinalysis and stool analysis, complete blood picture, liver function tests and kidney function tests] as well as investigations for the diagnosis of enteric fever, Widal and modified Widal tests to all patients. Serum chloramphenicol level was estimated in 43 patients in group I and in 29 patients in group II and no statistical significant difference was found in the mean level between the two groups. Concerning therapy in the two groups, the response to chloramphenicol was significantly higher in group II in comparison with group I. On the other hand, the resistance to chloramphenicol was significantly higher in group I compared with group II. The responses to antibiotics other than chloramphenicol were similar in the two groups

Coagulation inhibitors in patients with liver diseases

This study included twenty patients with acute viral hepatitis, forty patients with liver cirrhosis and twenty healthy controls matched for age and sex. It was found that the mean values of protein C were significantly low in patients with acute hepatitis and liver cirrhosis compared with controls. The mean values of AT III were significantly low in patients with acute hepatitis and liver cirrhosis compared with controls. There was no significant difference in the mean values of protein C and AT III between the group of acute hepatitis and the group of the liver cirrhosis. The level of protein C and AT III were significantly decreased with increased severity of liver cirrhosis. The mean values of FDP were significantly elevated in patients with liver cirrhosis compared with controls. A significant negative correlation was found between levels of both protein C and AT III with prothrombin time in patients with liver cirrhosis and acute hepatitis

[Adsorption of paracetamol on talc]

This work examines the adsorption of Paracetamol on talc, which is used as a tablet lubricant. The results of adsorption studies were plotted according to Langumir and Freundlich isothermes. It was found that the data are best expressed by Freundlich isothermes

Brain abscess in children with congenital heart diseases

45 children with congenital heart diseases, who followed regularly in the pediatric outpatient clinic, examined thoroughly to detect any neurological complications, particularly brain abscess. These children divided into two groups I-cyanotic congenital heart disease group; 24 patients [19 males and 5 females] with mean age of 5.3 years. II-Acyanotic congenital heart disease group; 21 patients [12 males and 9 females] with mean age of 5.6 years. We detected brain abscess in two patients in the cyanotic group with the incidence of 8.3% and no cases in the Acyanotic group. We concluded that in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease we have to suspect brain abscess if these children developed focal neurological deficits or seizures with deterioration in the level of consciousness and they have to be fully examined and investigated

Neuropsychiatric and haematologic manifestations in workers occupationally exposed to lead [Pb], mercury [Hg] and trinitrotoluene [TNT]

One hundred and four exposed workers to Pb, Hg and TNT in explosives industry and fifty non-exposed workers were subjected to this study. Environmental analysis for the level of atmospheric Pb concentration in workplace is double [280 ug/m] the TWA level. The Pb-B level of exposed workers ranged between 30.2 to 74.6 ug% [mean 43.14 +/- 10.14] and for the nonexposed between 15 to 35.5 ug% [mean 22.51 +/- 7.19]. More than 3/4 [78.8%] of exposed workers presented with more than one neuropsychiatric symptom in comparison to 16% among the non-exposed group. Numbness [60.5%], impotence [45.1%], muscle weakness [36.5%] and headache [15.4%] were the main symptoms of exposed workers. Neuropsychiatric signs were manifested among 71.2% of exposed and 10% among non-exposed workers. The main signs were peripheral neuritis, muscle weakness and mental changes. EEG tracing and fundus examination were normal for exposed and non-exposed workers. Haemoglobin concentration and RBCs and WBCs counts were significantly decreased among exposed workers

Nuclear heptylation and cyclopentylation of phenol and anisole

Thermal decomposition of 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-heptyl toluene-p-sul-phonates and cyclopentyl toluene-p-sulphonate in presence of phenol or anisole at 130-135 degree give different ortho- and para- substituted isomers. Skeletal isomerisatian of the heptyl group was observed where different isomeric 1-, 2-, 3- and 4 phenyl aromatics were obtained. The isomers were identified and estimated quantitatively by gas-liquid chromatography

Anticonvulsant effects of hashish in human epileptics

The possible anticonvulsant effects of a crude hashish material [containing 3.2% total cannabinoids by weight] were studied in 12 patients with idiopathic grand mal epilepsy which was not adequately controlled by phenytoin therapy. After a period of eight weeks of regular phenytoin therapy, the patients were divided into two equal groups. One group was maintained on hashish therapy and the other on combined hashish and phenytoin therapy for another eight weeks. Both groups showed a reduction in frequency and duration of their seizures. The results of the present study are suggestive of a potential therapeutic value of hashish or its constituents in human epilepsy

Ultrasound diagnosis of abdominal lymphadenopathy

In this work, the usefullness and limitations of U.S. as compared with lymphography, in the investigation of retroperitonial nodal disease were studied. 30 patients with suspected retroperitoneal nodal involvement were examined by both methods. The results and accuracy of each method was analyzed and discussed