Effect of various capital positions on hand grip strength in normal and cervical spondylotic subjects

This study was proposed to investigate the effect of variation of head position in normal as well as cervical spondylitic cases. In addition to examining the effect of the maintained position as one of the commonly assumed posture on hand grip strength. Sixty subjects participated in this study [thirty normal and thirty cervical spondylotic subjects]. Normal subjects were randomly assigned into male group with a mean age 26.2 +/- 5.09 years and female group with a mean age 24.13 +/- 7.08 years. Patient group was also classified into male group with a mean age 25.4 +/- 4.71 years and female group with a mean age 24.86 +/- 4.82 years. Jamar hand held Dynamometer, JA. Preston, [Inc. Jackson. Michigan] was used to measure the isometric hand grip strength. Each subject assume the same protocol concerning the starting position where the hand grip was measured in the standardized position for the arm, the head position was changed applying the neutral [normal] and non neutral; flexion and extension. Each position was maintained manually with the research staff for five minutes. The order of the tested position was randomized to avoid carryover from each position with two-minute rest interval. The results of this study revealed mean value of hand grip strength in female group lowered than in male and in the left hand compared to the right hand. The maintained position significantly lower the hand grip strength specially the maintained left flexion but the maintained extension still has a higher grip strength compared to flexion. The head position should be considered as an important factor that necessitate work station design that keep the head in the neutral position and the variation of posture or recovery time should be given for optimum hand function. Moreover, the neutral head position is a key factor in performance for normal or cervical spondylotic patient during hand function

Assessment of ground reaction force components in stroke patients

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ground reaction force components in stroke patients [mild and moderate spasticity] and to compare them with normal subjects' parameters. Fifteen normal subjects and thirty stroke patients were participated in this study. Stroke patients were assigned into two equal groups, group I with mild spasticity and group II with moderate spasticity. All components of ground reaction force [vertical and horizontal [anteroposterior and lateral]] were calculated both in normal subjects and stroke patients. Force platform with a computer system were used to calculate ground reaction force components. Results of the study showed varied significant reduction of ground reaction force in all parameters in both groups [I and II] of stroke patients compared with normal subjects. All ground reaction force parameters were significantly higher in patients with mild spasticity, compared to moderate once. So, assessment of ground reaction force should be considered as a useful evaluating tool for kinetic gait analysis of patients. It also helps in detecting the prognosis of stroke patients, by comparing the ground reaction force parameters of those patients with normal parameters

Antimicrobial activity of some Egyptian medicinal and aromatic plant waste extracts

A comparative study on the antimicrobial activity of some medicinal and aromatic plant wastes was done on a number of bacterial and fungal strains adopting the discdiffusion assay. Thirty extracts from Allium sativum L., Cympopogon sp., Nigella satival l., Ocimum basilicum L. and Thymus basilium were evaluated. Thymus basilium possessed the highest antimicrobial effect followed by Nigella sativa L., with respective average inhibition zone diameters of 4.7 and 3.8 mm. Fungal candidates were inhibited by plant extracts to higher extents as compared to bacterial strains, [inhibition zones measured were 5.9 mm for the former and 3 mm for the latter]. No remarkable variations were observed among the two methods used for extraction. The photochemical screening of plant waste extracts indicated the presence of carbohydrates, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols, saponins and coumarins

Gabapentin and sodium valproate: a comparative study

Gabapentin [GBP], a new antiepileptic drug with proven efficacy in the control of partial epilepsy, and is suggested to be a more favorable alternate to sodium valproate [SVP] in the control of generalized epileptic seizures as it has less side effects and a more favorable pharmacokinetic properties. In view of the gama aminobutyric acid [GABA] enhancing properties of GBP and SVP and the documented involvement of GABA in the control of cognitive functions, it is theoretically suggested that both drugs may affect the cognitive functions. To compare the anticonvulsant activity of SVP and GBP and compare the effects of both drugs on motor coordination and cognitive functions. The anticonvulsant effects of serial intraperitoneal [IP] doses of SVP and GBP were compared in mice using the maximal electroshock stimulation [MES] and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole [scPTZ] stimulation tests. The effects of serial IP doses of SVP and GBP on motor coordination were compared in mice using the righting reflex and the rotarod tests. The effects of single IP injection and of chronic oral administration of SVP, GBP or both were compared in rats using the passive avoidance test. Both SVP and GBP produced significant anticonvulsant activity in the MES test but the median effective dose [ED50], as calculated by Litchefield and Wilcoxon, of SVP [115 mg/kg] was significantly lower than ED50 of GBP [140 mg/kg]. SVP produced significant anticonvulsant activity in the scPTZ test [ED50: 110 mg/kg] while GBP didn't produce a significant effect. SVP produced significantly more impairment of motor performance in the righting and rotarod tests. The median toxic dose was [TD50] of SVP was 350 mg/kg, and for GBP was 750 mg/kg. SVP produced significant inhibition of learning and memory retention after acute and chronic administration. On the other hand, GBP didn't produce any observable effect on learning or memory. GBP is likely to be clinical effective as a single agent therapy in generalized tonic clonic convulsions but not in generalized absence seizures. GBP is less likely than SVP to cause impairment of motor coordination and cognitive functions

study of the effects of levamisole on some cardiovascular parameters of rats

In this study, the effects of the broad spectrum anthelmintic drug, levamisole, on the cardiovascular system of rats were investigated. Male albino rats weighing 160 +/- 15 g each were used. They were divided into four groups. Experiments were conducted under urethane anesthesia. The first group was intraperitoneally [i. p.] injected with saline, while the other groups were [i. p.] injected with 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg b. wt. of levamisole, respectively. The electrocardiogram [ECG] and the arterial blood pressure were recorded simultaneously. Treatment with either of the three doses of levamisole induced a significant increase in both heart rate and conduction velocity. Some cardiac disorders, such as sinus arrhythmias and nodal rhythm, were also noticed. Levamisole also produced a significant hypertension. It can be suggested that levamisole has a stimulating effect on the release of adrenaline from the adrenal gl and as a result of its ganglionic stimulating activity

study of the effects of the ecto-endoantiparasitic agent ivermectin on the blood pressure and electrocardiogram of albino rats

In this study, the effects of the broad spectrum antiparasitic drug Ivermectin on the electrocardiogram [ECG] and the blood pressure [BP] recorded simultaneously were studied at 3-hour session experiments. Both the therapeutic and double therapeutic doses of Ivermectin induced a significant prolongation of P-R interval, which represents the conduction time. It also induced alterations in the ECG in the form of sinus arrhythmias and AV nodal rhythm, especially with the high dose. Ivermectin also induced a significant decrease in the BP at both doses tested. It can be suggested that Ivermectin induced bradycardia and hypotension by a special mechanism rather than the cholinergic agonist activity or beta- and alpha-adrenergic blocking activity and could be attributed to its direct effect on the cardiovascular system

Effects of single and double-strain rhizobial inocula on some legumes under field conditions

Two field experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of winther [faba bean, pea, berseem miskawy and chickpea] and summer legumes [cowpea as well as two soybean cultivars, namely Clark and Crawford] to single - or double - strain rhizobial inoculation. Plant growth [height, dry weight and N - contents], nodulation [numbers and dry weights of nodules] and in vitro N2 - ase activity of intact roots and / or detached nodules were determined as paramenters for plant response to rhizobial inoculation. Uninoculated plants formed considerable numbers of nodules. Plants incoulated with double -strain inocula produced significantly higher numbers and weights of nodules. Nodule numbers and dry weights of faba bean either inoculated or not were markedly higher than those of the other legumes. The nitrogenase activity of intact roots of winter legumes increased due to rhizobial inoculation particulary with the copmposite inocula. In terms of the N2 - ase activity per unit dry weight, roots of pea were superior among the winter legumes. Plant heights, dry matter production and N - contents responded to inoculation and the response was more pronounced with double - strain inoculation. Inoculation increased the nodule production of summer legumes, although the effect was statistically insignificant in the majority of cases. The lowest N2 - ase activity of the excised nodules was recorded for the ruininoculated plants. Inoculation, with the double - strain inocula in particular, enhanced such acivity. Again, inoculation either with single - or douuble - strain inocula resulted in taller and heavier plants of higher N- contents

Survival of bradyrhizobium japonicum as affected by soil texture and sodium chloride concentration

Survival of three Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains [110, 118 and 209] in different soil types [clay, sand, calcareous, saline and alkaline] was investigated in laboratory experiment. Rhizobial numbers were increased with time reaching the maxima between the 5th and the 15th day of incubation at 30C then decreased in rates varied according to soil type and strain involved. Supplementation of soil with yeast mannitol broth stimulated the bacterial growth in all soils except in saline soil where counts were increased up to 4000 times of that recorded in soils received sterile tap water. In alkaline soil, B. japonicum strains could not grow when introduced into soil in low densities and were progressively decreased with time when inoculated in soil in higher densities. The multiplication of all tested strains was stimulated when sodium chloride was added to yeast mannitol broth medium in the level of 100 meq 1-1. Increasing the salt concentration seriously repressed the bacterial survival and no growth was observed in the presence of 1000 meq NaCl 1-1 in most cases

Effect of Tobramycin sulfate on pituitary-zonadal axis in male albino rats

The present study deals with the blood levels of luteinizing hormone [LH] and testosterone in association with morphopathological changes in testicular tissue and pituitary, at administration with tobramycin sulfate. Daily injection of tobramycin sulfate for 5, 10 and 15 successive days, resulted in a significant decrease in both LH and testosterone levels. This decrease returned back to normal levels after 10 days of cessation of treatment. The morphopathological examination of injected animals revealed alterations in testicular tissue and epididymis, while the pituitary gl and s were apparently normal. After 10 days of cessation of treatment, most of the testicular and epididymal tissue returned back to its normal. These results indicated that tobramycin sulfate has a transient adverse effect on fertility of rats as shown from hormonal profile and histopathological picture

role of oxfendazole [systamix] R in parasitic gastroenteritis in sheep

The efficacy and safety of oxfendazole were evaluated in sheep naturally infested with parasitic gastroenteritis. Oxfendazole was found to be an effective nematocidal drug without side effects under field conditions. Biochemical parameters as a criteria for liver, kidney and heart functions, did not show intoxication and /or cell disintegration in these organs. It is noteworthy to mention that, sanitary measures must be adopted beside the curative treatment in order to eliminate the parasite

Analytical investigations on cyclophosphamide

Polarographic and colorimetric methods for cyclophosphamide and its dosage forms are investigated. Both methods are based on the formation of nitroso derivative between the secondary amine, cyclophosphamide, and sodium nitrite. The optimum conditions of nitrosation process are investigated. Polarographically, a single, well-defined, cathodic, irreversible and diffusion controlled wave was used for the quantitative determination of cyclophosphamide. The linear relationship between the lemon yellow color of the nitroso derivative and the concentration of cyclophosphamide was used for its colorimetric determination