Effect of nigella sativa oil on schistosoma mansoni mature worms in experimentally infected mice

The chemical drugs are safe and effective being the main tool in controlling schistosomiasis. Referring to the possibility of appearance of drug resistant parasites especially with retreatment regimens in endemic areas, search for new schistosomicidal is essential. Nigella sativa has been extensively studied for its biological activities and therapeutic potentials and shown to possess wide spectrum of activities including antihelminthic and antiprotozoal activities. The present report aimed to investigate the prophylactic and therapeutic effect of Nigella sativa oil in treatment of Schistosoma mansoni. Nigella sativa oil was administrated orally to S. mansoni infected mice in two different doses, a prophylactic dose [1.14g/kg] every day for 2 weeks before infection and a therapeutic dose [1.14g/kg] daily for 4 weeks starting from 2[nd] day post infection aiming to investigate its potential therapeutic role. Therapeutic treatment with Nigella sativa oil had a high significant effect on mature worm burden, as the reduction percentage was [57.5%]. Nigella sativa oil in prophylactic and therapeutic doses significantly increased the mean number of dead ova [14.75+/-6.5] and [21.43+/-3.64] respectively in comparison to control [5.25+/-1.71]. Nigella sativa oil therapeutic dose had a high reduction effect on ova count in intestinal tissue [81.45%] and a moderate reduction on ova count in hepatic tissue [57.86%]. Prophylactic dose gave a high reduction effect [78.76%] on ova count in intestinal tissue. As regard the size of hepatic granuloma, Nigella sativa oil treated group had the highest significant reduction on mean granuloma diameter; the reduction was 26.69% with marked improvement of hepatic pathology. N. sativa oil treated group showed obvious improvement of liver pathology with mild hydrobic degeneration and small sized fibrocellular granuloma accompanied by multiple malformations in both S. mansoni adult worms. These results showed that N. sativa oil has remarkable effect on mature S. mansoni which could be helpful for potentiating Praziquantel effect and thus reducing development of resistance

An analysis of micronuclei and DNA damage induced by methotrexate treatment of male albino mice

Background: Methotrexate is an antineoplastic, antipsoriatic and antirheumatic agent belongs to the group of antimetabolites and inhibits folic acid metabolism

Materials and methods: To investigate its possible effect, sixty male mice were randomly assigned to one of four groups [one control and three treated groups with different doses of methotrexate]. Mice of groups 1, 2 and 3 were intraperitoneally injected with 2.5, 5 and 10 mg /kg b.wt. methotrexate respectively. All the control and treated animals were sacrificed at 24, 48 and 72 hour by cervical dislocation post treatment

Results: Micronucleus assay results showed that methotrexate treatment induced genotoxicity in bone marrow cells, the number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes [MNPCEs] and the ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes / normochromatic erythrocytes was gradually increased significantly [P < 0.001] by increasing dose and time of treatment in methotrexate treated groups in comparison with the control group. An analysis of randomly amplified polymorphism DNA-polymerase chain reaction [RAPD-PCR] showed different ranges of DNA modifications in the treated groups after 24, 48 and 72 hour of treatment in comparison with the control group. Results of this study indicate that methotrexate treatment induced cytotoxic and genotoxic effect on bone marrow cells and DNA content of male albino mice even after a low dose and single treatment

Conclusion: Therefore, the therapeutic uses of methotrexate should be restricted to a very narrow range border

Genotoxic effect of methotrexate on bone marrow chromosomes and DNA of male albino mice [Mus musculus]

Aim of the work: Methotrexate [MTX], a structural analogue of folic acid, is an antineoplastic and antirheumatic agent which is used in a variety of clinical schedules and combination therapy regimens in man

Material and methods: Sixty mice of nearly the same age were randomly categorized into four groups [one control and three treated groups with different doses of methotrexate]. Mice of the treated groups 1, 2 and 3 were intraperitoneally injected with a single dose of methotrexate [2.5, 5 or 10 mg/kg b. wt. respectively] at the first day of the experiment. All the control and the treated animals were sacrificed after 24, 48 or 72 hour by cervical dislocation post treatment

Results: Methotrexate treatment induced structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations in male mice bone marrow cells which were significantly increased [P< 0.001] by dose and time. Structural aberrations were chromosomal gap, fragment, break, centromeric attenuation, deletion, centric fusion, ring formation, end to end association and beaded chromosomes. Numerical aberration was polyploidy. Also, methotrexate treatment decreased the mitotic index in bone marrow cells of all the treated mice in comparison with the control group by increasing dose and time of treatment. Comet assay results indicated that treatment with methotrexate significantly increased [P< 0.001] DNA damage in the blood leukocytes in dose and time dependent manner

Conclusion: It can be concluded that methotrexate induced genetic damage on the chromosomes and DNA content of male albino mice even after single treatment with low doses

Endoscopic band ligation of internal haemorrhoids versus stapled haemorrhoidopexy in patients with portal hypertension

Portal hypertension is common in Egypt as a sequela to the high prevalence of hepatitis C virus and bilharziasis. In portal hypertension internal haemorrhoids are frequently found. The aim of this work was to compare the outcome of endoscopic band ligation [EBL] of symptomatic internal haemorrhoids with that of stapled haemorrhoidopexy [SH] in Egyptian patients with portal hypertension. In this study, 26 portal hypertensive patients [with oesophageal and/or fundal varices] with a grade 2-4 internal haemorrhoids who had no coagulation disorders were randomised to treatment by EBL [13 patients] or SH [13 patients] after doing colonoscopy. Symptom scores of bleeding and prolapse were assessed before and after the intervention. Complications were recorded. Patients were followed up for 12 months. Goligher's grades of internal haemorrhoids improved significantly [p=0.018] 12 weeks after SH [from 2.9 +/- 0.8 to 0.4 +/- 0.5; p=0.001] and after EBL [from 2.8 +/- 0.8 to 1.1 +/- 0.8; p=0.001]. Symptom [bleeding and prolapse] scores significantly improved 4 weeks after both EBL [from 1.6 +/- 0.8 to 0.6 +/- 0.8; p<0.001 and from 1.6 +/- 0.9 to 0.5 +/- 0.5; p=0.002, respectively] and SH [from 1.8 +/- 0.8 to 0.2 +/- 0.4; p=0.002 and from 1.5 +/- 0.9 to 0.2 +/- 0.4; p=0.001, respectively]. The differences after 4 weeks between EBL and SH were not significant [p=0.168 and p=0.225]. Pain requiring analgesics occurred in five patients [38.5%] after EBL, compared with six [46.2%] after SH [p=0.691]. Minimal bleeding occurred in two patients [15.4%] after EBL but not with SH; urinary retention was observed in one patient after EBL compared with two after SH; and anal fissures were observed in one patient after EBL. During 1-year follow-up, increased frequency of stool occurred in one patient after EBL. Recurrence of symptoms was observed in three patients after EBL and in one after SH. For portal hypertensive patients with internal haemorrhoids and without coagulation disorders SH seems to be superior to EBL. However further studies are needed to evaluate EBL in different grades of cirrhosis

Association of MnSOD Ala16Val genotype and activity with hepatocellular carcinoma risk in HCV-infected Egyptian patients

Hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] is the most common primary malignant tumour of the liver. Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus [HCV] is a risk factor for HCC occurrence. HCV infection causes oxidative stress in hepatic cells through overproduction of reactive oxygen species [ROS] that cause carcinogenesis. Manganese superoxide dismutase [MnSOD] is an antioxidant enzyme that quenches free radicals. Ala16Val MnSOD polymorphism has been associated with cancer. It results from substitution of T to C at nucleotide 47 causing a change of valine to alanine on the 16th residue of 24-amino acid of mitochondrial-targeting sequence [MTS]of MnSOD. This work aimed to assess the relationship between MnSOD Ala16Val genotype and activity and HCC development in HCV-infected Egyptian patients. This study was conducted on 75 HCV-infected HCC patients, 24 asymptomatic HCV-infected patients and 58 healthy controls. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism [PCR/RFLP] analysis. MnSOD activity was measured using a superoxide dismutase assay kit. The HCC group included 56 males and 19 females. The mean +/- standard deviation [SD] of their age was 53.3 +/- 1.85 years. The Ala/Ala genotype frequency in HCC patients [36.0%] was significantly higher than that in asymptomatic HCV-infected patients [12.5%, p= 0.029] and in the healthy controls [18.9%, p=0.031]. There was a significant difference between MnSOD activity in HCC patients and those in asymptomatic HCV-infected patients and healthy control [p=0.000]. Moreover, there was a highly significant increase in MnSOD activity in HCC patients with Ala/Ala and Val/Ala than in those with Val/Val genotypes [p=0.007]. There is an evidence of association between Ala16Val MnSOD polymorphism and HCC occurrence in HCV-infected Egyptian patients. Furthermore, serum MnSOD activity was significantly higher in those patients compared to control subjects

Upper esophageal sphincter pressure in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease

The upper esophageal sphincter is a major component of airway protective mechanism against entry of gastro-esophageal refluxate into the aero-digestive tract. Upper esophageal sphincter function in patients with GERD is not completely elucidated. To study resting upper esophageal sphincter [UES] pressure in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease [GERD]. 24 patients with GERD were included in the study. 16 of them were males and 8 were females. Their ages ranged from 7 years to 35 years. Also, 10 healthy control subjects were included in the study. Upper endoscopy and/or 24 pH monitoring were performed to patients. Esophageal motility study was performed to all subjects. 24 patients had heartburn, 6 had regurgitation and 6 had epigastric pain. By endoscopy, 10 patients had linear erosions, 2 had confluent erosions and 12 had non-erosive reflux disease. The lower esophageal sphincter [LES] pressure was significantly lower in patients [11.95 +/- 5.28 mmHg] compared to control subjects [27.05 +/- 4.69 mm Hg]. The upper esophageal sphincter [UES] pressure was also significantly lower in patients [54 +/- 32.23 mm Hg] compared to control subjects [89.9 +/- 12.7 mm Hg]. UES motility disorder is found in patients with GERD

Study of colorectal polyps in Sharkyia, Egypt

In present work, location, histopathological features and complications of endoscopic excision of different colorectal polyps were studied. Data were collected prospectively during colonoscopic examination performed to 592 subjects at Endoscopy Units, Zagazig University Hospitals, Sharkyia, Egypt. The study was performed from April 2003 till July 2007. Colorectal polyps were found in 112 patients [18.9%]. 60 patients [53.6%] were males, and 52 patients [46.4%] were females. The age of the patients ranged from 3.5 to 68 years. 71 patients [63.4%] were children and adolescents. Bleeding per rectum presented in 84 patients [75%], hypochromic microcytic anaemia in 5 patients [4.5%] and bowel disturbances in 20 patients [17.8%]. Screening colonoscopy was performed in 3 patients [2.7%]. Polyps were located in the proximal colon in 23 patients [20.5%], distal colon in 83 patients [74.1%] and diffuse involvement in 6 patients [5.35%]. One patient [0.89%] had bleeding after polypectomy necessitating admission and blood transfusion. 53 patients [48.2%] had juvenile polyps, 22 [20%] had adenomatous polyps, 20 [18.2%] had inflammatory polyps, 5 [4.5%] had bilharzial polyps, 4 [3.6%] had pseudopolyps of ulcerative colitis, 3 [2.7%] had familial polyposis coli, one [0.9%] had malignancy inside adenomatous polyp, one [0.9%] was associated with rectal prolapse and one [0.9%] was associated with sutures of previous operation of rectal prolapse. Histopathological specimens were not available in 2 patients. Juvenile polyps were the most frequent polyps in our study. The low number of bilharzial polyps points to the decreasing prevalence of bilharziasis in Egypt nowadays. Polyps are located mainly in the distal colon. Endoscopic polypectomy had few complications

Abnormal glucose tolerance in beta-thalassemia patients: possible risk factors

In beta-thalassemia major, transfusional iron overload lead to impaired glucose tolerance [IGT] then diabetes mellitus [DM]. The pathogenetic mechanisms leading from siderosis to diabetes are still poorly understood. To assess the glycometabolic status in transfusion-dependent Egyptian beta-thalassemia patients and to evaluate the possible risk factors for abnormal glucose tolerance [AGT] in them. Oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT] was done to 54 multi-transfused thalassemic patients, aged 10.1-25.1 years, and 28 age-matched normal controls with measuring serum insulin level at 0, 120 minutes. Insulin sensitivity and insulin release index were calculated according to the homeostasis model assessment [HOMA], fasting insulin glucose ratio [FIG], insulin sensitivity index for glycemia [ISl gly] and fasting insulin resistance index [FIRI]. Indicator of iron overload and liver status were recorded. Thirteen patients [24.1%] were diagnosed to have variable degrees of AGT; either DM in 6 cases [11.1%] or IGT in 7 cases [13%] and normal glucose tolerance [NGT] was in 41 patients [75.9%]. Cases with AGT had significant higher mean postprandial insulin, FIRI and HOMA insulin resistance [IR], p=0.0001 for all, and significant lower mean HOMA beta-cell, p=0.007 if compared to the cases with NGT. By stepwise logistic regression analysis, the total blood taken per year was the independent risk factor for abnormal glucose tolerance, OR=0.49, p=0.03. Serum ferritin was higher in cases with AGT compared to cases with NGT, p= 0.04 and it correlated with fasting insulin level, FIRI and HOMA IR, p=0,003,0.001, 0.001 and r=0.4, 0.5, 0.5 respectively. Chronic hepatitis C was detected in 12 patients [92.3%] with AGT. Abnormal glucose tolerance is common in multi-transfused beta-thalassemia patients, which could be attributed to impaired beta-cell function, along with insulin resistance

Malaria in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Yemen: a clinical pilot study

Imported malaria is a health problem and needs continuous monitoring as many clinicians are not aware of it. In Yemen malaria is the main public health problem. Malaria cases were 16 in Almaza Military Fever Hospital, Cairo, 53 in Saudi Hospital at Pilgrimage, Yemen and in Saber Hospital at Aden, Yemen were studied. 9 cases [56.2%] of P. falciparum in Cairo were imported and 7 cases [43.8%] acquired P. vivax locally [October 2003 to July 2004]. They were all treated successfully by chloroquine. An imported case [6.3%] died by cerebral malaria due to delayed diagnosis. Five imported cases [31.3%] had severe malaria. In Pilgrimage, an infant [1.9%] had congenital malaria, 17 cases [32.1%] had severe malaria and 2 [3.8%] died by cerebral malaria. 43 patients [81.1%] had P. falciparum and 10 patients [18.9%] had P. vivax. All patients were treated by parenteral or oral quinine. In Aden, one patient [5%] suffered diarrhea without fever, early blood film was negative, and was positive later on. 18 cases [90%] had P. falciparum, 2 [10%] had P. vivax. 4 cases [20%] had severe malaria and a patient [5%] died by cerebral malaria. Patients in Aden severe cases were successfully treated by intramuscular artemether followed by oral Fansidar, and mild ones were treated by oral Quartem

Caspase 3 activity in monocytes and liver cell injury in hepatitis C patients

Hepatic cirrhosis is a frequent complication in chronic hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection which occurs via an unclear mechanism. Although apoptosis has been claimed to be associated in liver diseases, its relation to HCV-associated fibrosis is largely unexplored. We have studied the role of caspase 3 in monocytes in hepatitis patients with HCV infection using two caspase assays: blot assay and flow cytometry assay. Purified monocytes demonstrated caspase 3 activity by western blot at 0 timepoint in 12 patients with HCV infection [10 HCV patients with elevated liver enzymes and 2 out of 10 HCV patient with normal liver enzymes]. At the same time, purified monocytes from normal healthy controls showed caspase 3 activity only after 16 hr culture. Caspase 3 activation was also confirmed by flow cytometry analysis using the PhiPhiLux assay where in 12 hepatitis patients' samples caspase 3 activation was detected at 0 time before culture. Using the PhiPhiLux assay the differences were highly significant for both hepatitis patients groups in comparison to the normal healthy control [p** < 0.001]. The average mean fluorescence intensity was 222 +/- 63 in the hepatitis with elevated liver enzymes, 52 +/- 34 in patients with normal liver enzymes and 8.6 +/- 2.8 for the normal healthy controls. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between caspase 3 activity and liver enzyme levels in the hepatitis patients. This results show that caspase activation is associated with inflammatory reactions in chronic HCV infection and caspase 3 activation levels, especially in monocytes, might be reliable tools to detect high levels of liver injury in chronic HCV infection

Comparative study between partial obliteration and complete eradication of esophageal varices by injection sclerotherapy: outcome and complications

Background: Major variceal bleeding is a life threatening complication of portal hypertension

Patients and methods: To compare between partial obliteration and complete eradication of post-bleeding esophageal varices [EV] using injection sclerotherapy as regards effectiveness in preventing rebleeding; development of de novo congestive gastropathy or change of its severity if previously present, development of new gastric varices and hemodynamic changes of the portal circulation and its collaterals. Forty patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding in whom EV were proved to be the source of bleeding were included and randomly classified into two equal groups [I and II] matched for their variceal grade and Child-Pugh class as far as possible md subjected to injection sclerotherapy; GI [20 cases] [those who were subjected to repeated sessions of injection scierotherapy and the end point was reduction of the size of EV to grade I to II] and GI] [20 cases] to whom repeated sessions of injection sclerotherapy were done till complete eradication of EV. Color Doppler study of portal hemodynamics was done before starting sclerotherapy and repeated 6 and 12 months later afier the end of sessions including portal vein velocity [PVV], congestion index [CI]; and status of intra-abdominal collaterals. After reaching the end of treatment, regular endoscopic follow-up was done every three months and abdominal US and color Doppler follow-up examination every 6 months to compare with the previously mentioned parameters recorded before sclerotherapy

Results: There was a statistically significant difference [P < 0.05] in esophageal varices grade batman both groups after sclerotherapy endpoint by 3 and 6 months with more evident recurrence in group II. Regarding the impact on the hemodynamic parameters, there was no statistically significant differance [P> 0.05] between both groups after sclerotherapy. In each group there was no statistically significant correlation between the grade of esophageal varices, the portal vein diameter [before sclerotherapy] and the number of sessions needed for obliteration or eradication of EV

Conclusion: Recurrence of esophageal varices is early and more evident after complete variceal eradication than partial obliteration. Both partial obliteration and complete eradication can lead to secondary rise in the portal pressure with increase in the rate of new gastric varices development

In vitro studies of some detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes in cattle fasciolosis

This work was undertaken to investigate the effect of 15 and 50 micro g/ml Triclabendazole-sulphoxide [TCBZ-SX] the active metabolite of the fasciolocide TCBZ on the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase [SOD and CAT] as antioxidant enzymes and glutathione-S-transfers [GST] as detoxifying enzyme in the liver of normal and Fasciola gigantica infected cows and buffaloes. Of this study revealed that the drug when used in vitro had no effect on the activities of SOD and CAT in normal and fastciola gigantic a infected cows and buffaloes as well as on the activity of GST in normal and Fasciola gigantica infected buffaloes. This indicated that the changes noticed in the activates of the studied parameters were due to the effect of infection rather than the drug itself except for the GST in normal cows which showed a significant increase in the activity as a result of drug treatment. Differences in the levels of these enzymes between cows and buffaloes may be due to species variation. We could conclude that the drug didn't later the capacity of the three tested antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes

Oxidative stress in fishermen in El-Mex Bay

This study was undertaken to elucidate the biochemical and oxidative stress effects of some aromatic amines as water pollutants on fishermen in El-Mex bay through the determination of malondialdehyde as a measure of lipid peroxidation, blood glutathione content and glutathione peroxidase activity. The level of malondialdehyde was significantly elevated in the sera of fishermen group when compared with the control group. Both glutathione content and glutathione peroxidase activity were significantly lower in fishermen group than control one. Conclusively the present study emphasized that the pollution of El-Mex bay induce oxidative stress in the fishermen. This risk may persist due to lowered levels of the anti-oxidants glutathione and glutathione peroxidase