[ 14 KDa wound-healing peptide from the skin of the Frog Rana esculenta]

Contrary to organ regeneration which does not occur in nature, wound healing or tissue regeneration is a widespread event among all organisms. Wound healing in mammals is a multistep phenomenon. It consists of an inflammatory phase involving scavengering of damaged cells by macrophages and phagocytes whose recruitments to the site is induced by cytokines secreted by cells of wounded tissues. In the reparation phase, some differentiated cells [keratinocytes, granular cells, and fibroblasts] in the G0 phase of the cell cycle dedifferentiate, returning, along with local stem cells, to G1 phase; start dividing to ensure the needed number of differentiated cells. This mitotic activity is also regulated by specific growth factors, and a host of regulatory molecules of the immune system. These cells seem to secret a network of collagen fibers which guide their migration. The healing phase involves the formation of keratinized and apoptosing cells, forming a deciduous crust. In human, normal wound healing requires 7-8 days; in articulated regions twice this time. Here we report the purification and partial characterization of previously unknown peptide having a wound healing activity, from the dorsal skin of Rana esculenta. Isolation was carried out on column of CM-Sephadex C25. Skin proteins were eluted to peak A, B, C, and D. Peak C only has wound healing activity as demonstrated by the healing of experimental wounds made on the inner side of the rabbit's ear, covered by a thin layer of lyophilized peak C mixed with vaseline codex in ratio of 1 to 1000. The application of the ointment was done at the time of incision once only. Wound healing essays were also made on open ulcerated wounds induced on the back of rabbits injected by a mixture of known antigen with Freund adjuvant. Furthermore, wound healing essays also carried out on accidental wounds on human hands. All these wounds were treated as mentioned earlier. Further purification of peak C was carried out by FPLC on mono-Q column, and by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. It was found that peak C consisted of two subpeaks Ca and Cb. Ca was found to have the highest wound healing activity; banded at 14 KDa. In all wound healing essays, treated wounds by the C fraction or Ca 14 KDa peptide healed at half time compared to wound controls which did not show any apparent infection

Epidemiological study of school performance and asthma medications among asthmatic Egyptian school children

Childhood asthma is a major health problem in Egypt and worldwide. Barriers to reducing the burden of asthma include symptom-based rather than disease-based approaches, tendency of care to be [acute] rather than [regular] and cultural attitudes towards drugs and drug delivery systems. To measure the disease effect on school performance and to map asthma medications with respect to types, routes and course of use. This cross sectional study involved 206 Cairene asthmatic school children, enrolled from the school students' health insurance facility of El-Matareya Teaching Hospital and the pediatric outpatient clinic of Saint Mark Charity Hospital representing different social classes and residential locations. Their ages ranged between 5 and 15 years and they comprised 100 males and 106 females. They were assessed clinically and by peak expiratory flowmetry. Parents or caregivers were interviewed about disease symptoms, school achievement and attendance and medications used including relievers and controllers, route and course of use, whether continuously, intermittently and/or during attacks. Asthma had a strong impact on school achievement and school absence; 77.3% of study population reported school absence due to asthma and 41.3% reported weak to average school achievement. School performance was associated with asthma severity; the majority of moderate asthmatics [64.6%] had average and weak school performance. Number of days of school absence demonstrated highly significant relation with asthma seventy; 43.6% of moderate asthmatics had 5-6 absent days/month and 33.4% had 3-4 absent days/month. Combined beta 2-agonists andxanthines was the most commonly used [54.8%] reliever therapy followed by beta 2-agonists alone [44.2%] while corticosteroids were the most common controllers used [97.6%]. Therapy was taken mainly by oral than inhalation route. Other medications like cromolyns, anti-histamines, anti-leukotrienes and anti-cholinergics were rarely used. Both rectal and injection routes were rarely used also. Asthma has a social burden on asthmatic children as it affects both school achievement and school attendance. Medical management of asthma in Egyptian children still lags behind available medical knowledge. Patients' and health care givers' education is a cornerstone in improving the current status of asthma management in Egypt

Cantharides poisoning: another fatal error

An account of cantharides intoxication is presented in which traditional medicine practised by a local hakim proved fatal. The clinical features and laboratory investigations used to identify the toxin are described along with comments on the results. A second patient is mentioned who in retrospect had a similar history and clinical features to the confirmed patient but whose tissues had not been analysed for cantharidin. Thrombocytopenia and depression of the bone marrow are two features that previously have not been described as being associated with cantharides poisoning