Lactulose and donepezil ameliorate thioacetamide-induced hepatic encephalopathy in rats

Hepatic encephalopathy [HE] is neuropsychological complication that is common in patients with acute or chronic liver disease as well as in porto-systemic shunting of blood flow. The pathophysiology of this disease is quite complex, as it involves overproduction and reduced metabolism of various neurotoxins, particularly ammonia. Thioacetamide [TAA]-induced HE is a reliable model of HE in which rats were given thioacetamide [TAA] 200mg/kg orally for 2 consecutive days. The TAA group showed lower motor activity than the normal group by using open field and forced swimming tests. Oxidative stress conditions were manifested by free radical production, lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione and nitric oxide contents. Alterations in the metabolism of monoamine neurotransmitters have been proposed to be involved in the development of the HE associated with experimental and human liver failure. Pretreatment with lactulose or donepezil could counteract these effects. The protective effect of both lactulose and donepezil can be attributed to their antioxidant and neuromodulatory potential

study of the antibacterial effects of siwak

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of antimicrobial activity of siwak chewing sticks [Salvadora persica] aqueous extracts at various concentrations both in vivo and in vitro. The study was conducted clinically using volunteers saliva and measuring the effect of miswak extract on bacterial viable count in the oral cavity. Eight subjects aged 25-50 years were included in the study. For the study, miswak extract [1 gm/dl] was used as a mouth wash. Bacterial viable count in saliva was determined in each volunteer before and one hour after the use of miswak extract. In vitro study using extracts of different concentrations of Salvadora persica in agar dilution test against both Gram positive bacteria [Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes] and Gram negative bacteria [Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeroginosa]. Experimental design to evaluate the antibacterial effect of Salvadora persica extract in skin infection. Twenty four male mice weighing 20-25 gm/animal were divided in three equal groups. Animals of the first group were injected subcutaneous [SC] with 10 micro l of nutrient broth/each. Animals of second group were injected [SC] with 10 micro l of 24 hours growth of Staphylococcus aureus in nutrient broth/each. Animals of the third group were treated as second group, then treated with Salvadora persica extract locally. Skin scoring was determined 48 hours after test. The shaved area was cut and preserved in formalin for histological study. Miswak chewing stick [Salvadora persica] extract significantly reduced the bacterial count in volunteer's oral cavity. The bacterial viable count before test was 4.36x10[7] +/- 1 18 CFU/ml. The count was 2.l9x107 +/- 0.21 CFU/ml one hour after test. The in vitro agar dilution test using Salvadora persica aqueous extract proved to have antibacterial activity against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. This effect was directly proportional with the concentration of the extract. The skin scoring was 4.57 +/- 0.92 in bacterial infected animals, the scoring was 1.67 +/- 0.53 in bacterial infected-Salvadora persica aqueous extract treated animals. It may be concluded that miswak has an immediate antimicrobial effect. Salvadora persica aqueous extract exhibited significant activity against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. This effect was excellent against bacterial skin infection

Immune response to corynbacterium cutis lysate vaccine in Schistosoma mansoni infected mice

The present study was conducted on male albino mice of 20-25 gm weight, divided into 5 main groups. These groups were infected with 0, 80, 120, 160 and 180 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae per animal, respectively, at seven weeks before sacrificing. Each of these groups was subdivided into Corynebacterium cutis lysate vaccinated group and a non-vaccinated group. The vaccine was given in a dose of 0.5 ml i.m./animal at 72 hours before sacrificing. Both Schistosoma antigen and anti-Schistosoma antibodies were detected in the sera using ELIZA technique. A panel of monoclonal antibodies [M Abs] was raised against Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen [SEA] and a pair of M Abs was employed in sandwich ELISA for the detection of circulating schistosomal antigens [CSA]. The vaccinated groups showed a significant increase of Ab [OD] and a significant drop of Ag [OD]. They also showed a significant increase in liver egg load and a very highly significant decrease in the intestinal egg load that was associated with a highly significant reduction in liver granuloma size as compared with the control non-immunized mice

Effect of non specific immuno-stimulant [isoprinosine] and linseed oil on some immunological aspects in rats

In this study, the effect of the immunomodulating agents, isoprinosine and linseed oil was studied in male Sprague- Dawley rats. The LD50 of Proteus mirabilis of both agents was 418 mul of 48 hours growth compared with 296 mul in the control group, accordingly the survival index was calculated and body temperature was recorded. The effect of both compounds on the total body weight, liver, spleen and thymus weights and on the L + S + Thy: T ratio in both the normal and bacterially-infected animals was studied as well as their effect on the total leucocytic neutrophilic, lymphocytic and monocytic counts was estimated. The level of serum TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma was measured in both normal and bacterially- stimulated animals. The effect of linseed oil and isoprinosine on cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-c and LDL-c were evaluated

Correlation between widal test and some liver function tests

34 patients [aged 15-40 years] with positive stool cultures for Salmonella typhi were included in this study. Their sera were tested by slide agglutination which proved to be positive for Salmonella typhi. Widal test was further done to determine the antibody titre. Some liver function tests were simultaneously done, aiming at finding any correlation between the antibody titre and liver functions. The results were discussed

Prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viral infections among schistosoma mansomni patients in Egypt

The Prevalence of hepatitis B [HBV] and hepatitis C [HCV] virus infections among Schistosoma mansoni patients was studied, Serum samples from 33 Schistosoma mansoni diseased patients were tested for antigen of HBV and antibody to HCV [anti-HCV] using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. Hepatitis B surface antigen was detcted in the serum of 8 patients [24.2%], compared with [5.2%] in the sera of control group of non infected individuals [2 out of 38], while hepatitis C antibodies were detected in the serum of 6 patients [18.2%] compared with [7.8%] in the sera of the control group [3 out of 38 non schistosomal individuals]. These figures illustrate the significant prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections in association with Schistosoma mansoni

Incidence of bacterial infections in the urinary tract in diabetic patients

This work aimed at evaluation of diabetes mellitus as a predisposing factor for bacterial urinary tract infections. A study was conducted on 49 diabetic patients and 120 non-diabetic persons. Of 49 diabetic patients, 19 showed bacterial urinary tract infections [36.8%], while of 120 non-diabetic persons, 11 showed bacterial urinary tract infections [9.2%]. All diabetic patients chosen for this study were having glucosuria