Maternal serum IgA as a predictor of congenital toxoplasmosis

Maternal seroconversion for Toxoplasma gondii during pregnancy is said to have a good role for diagnosis of congenital infection. To determine whether maternal serum levels of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii parasite are associated with definite fetal parasitic infection and consequent pathology or not. Maternal serum IgA levels against toxoplasma gondii were measured in 29 patients with strongly suspected congenital toxoplasmosis [maternal IgM seroconversion with fetal pathology] out of 200 patients with suspected pathology. Their pregnancies were complicated by hydrocephalus [Group I, n=17], hydropes fetalis and other congenital anomalies [Group II, n=6], and fetal loss [Group III, n=6]. They were compared with 17 women with negative IgM and normal pregnancies as a control group [Group IV]. All cases were examined by ultrasonography for obtaining amniotic fluid samples during pregnancy. After termination; if possible; fetal cord serum samples were drawn for measuring the same antibodies. Also, placental imprints, placental samples and umbilical cord samples were prepared for microscopic detection of the parasite. Hydrocephalic cases with or without meningornyelocele were treated by neonatal shunt operations with or without repair. Cases presented by maternal IgM seroconversion against toxoplasma gondii during pregnancy with suspected pathology [hydrocephalus, other anomalies, and abortions] showed significantly higher maternal specific toxoplasma IgA levels than the control group [166.7 +/- 27.2, 165.7 +/- 21.1, and 149.7 +/- 9.1 respectively vs. 127.2 +/- 15.3, p<0.001]. Microscopic parasitic detection was positive in 3/11 [27.3%] in the amniotic fluid and in 1/11 [9.1%] in placental imprints of these cases. Conventional serological neonatal testing for specific toxoplasma IgA revealed sensitivity and specificity of 77.8% and 100% respectively. The combination of the results of conventional serological neonatal testing for specific toxoplasma IgA with the results of parasitic detection [amniotic fluid and placenta] resulted in sensitivity and specificity of 94.4 and 100 respectively. Detection of specific toxoplasma gondii IgA antibody response by ELISA is more reliable than IgM level for diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis

Effect of high and low temperatures on the volatile flavor components of Egyptian rocket seeds and leaves

Egyptian Rocket seeds and leaves [Eruca sativa] were water distilled to obtain their volatile oils. The yield percents were 0.45% from seeds and 0.40% from leaves [on dry weight basis]. Chemical analysis of the seed showed that it is a rich source of proteins and lipids, 28.7% and 27.7%, on dry weight basis, respectively. GC- Mass Spec. analysis of the volatile oil of rocket seeds identified twelve components; 4-methyl thiobutyl isothiocyanate was the major one [94.1%]. The physico-chemical properties of the volatile oil of Rocket seed were also determined. When the seed was heat treated at 70°C for 15 min, the percent yield of volatile oil was increased to 0.56% with a significant improvement in its odor quality. GC- Mass Spec. analysis showed that this improvement was accompanied with an increase in the content of 4-methyl thiobutyl isothiocyanate. The percentages of other components were partially or completely decreased. In contrast, the seeds treated at higher temperatures; 100°C or 130°C for 15 min were suffered from off odor. Moreover, when the fresh leaves of Rocket was frozen at -20°C for 7 days, the undiserable flavor change was accompanied with the converted of 5 [methylthio] pentanitrile to the ketone 2-tridecanone. While the drying of Rocket leaves at 50°C for 6 hr, the acceptable and distinct flavor of leaves was completely lost due to the loss of the unique volatile component pentanitrile, 5 [methylthio]

Biological evaluation of Egyptian eruca sativa seeds and leaves

A total of 12 Albino rats weighing 70 to 80 g. fed with basal diet and diet contained 279mg/100g body weight daily of Eruca sativa seeds and 2.08g/100g body weight daily of Eruca sativa leaves for a period of 4 weeks. The changes occurred in body weight [g] of rats were determined. After 4 weeks of the experiment, the average weight of the control group [fed on basal diet] increased by 76.8% of its original value [g], while the increase of second group of rats fed with Eruca sativa seeds was 106.2% of its original value [74g]. Moreover, the body weight of the third group of rats fed with Eruca sativa leaves was significantly increased by 137.2% of its original value [80g]. At the same time, the protein efficiency ratio [PER] increased from 1.47 [control] to 1.62 and 2.65 for the Eruca sativa seeds group and the Eruca sativa leaves group, respectively. In addition, the serum content of total cholesterol [TC] for control rats increased by 2 1.6% of its original value [102 mg/dl], while it decreased by 6.9% with the rats fed Eruca sativa seeds and increased by 16.76% with the rats fed with Eruca sativa leaves The serum content of total lipids [TL] of rats was increased by 7.7% of its original value [224mg/dl] for the control group and by 30% for the seed fed rats and 27.7% for the leaf fed rats. But the results were not statistically significant different. Simultaneously, the blood serum content of glucose was changed from 110.0 mg/dl [control] to 105.0 mg/dl and 121.0 mg/dl with the seed and leaf fed rats, respectively .Since the Eruca sativa plant had an inhibitory action against the factors which cause heart diseases and diabetes, it is recommended to include it in the human diet

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Egyptian eruca sativa seed volatile oil

The percent yield of Egyptian Eruce sativa seeds volatile oil obtained by water distillation was 0.45%. The volatile oil components were separated and identified by gas chromatography / mass spectrometry. Twelve constituents were identified and found to be belonging to isothiocyanates group and nitriles group. The major constituent was 4- methyl thiobutyl isothiocyanates which represented 94.10%. Volatile oil was tested to evaluate its antioxidant activity.200 ppm and 400 ppm of Eruca sativa seeds volatile oil were added to sunflower oil. Stability of sunflower oil was determined by rancimat method, before and after addition of the volatile oil. Sunflower oil was also mixed with 200 ppm synthetic antioxidant agent [BHT]. oxidative stability was 6.8 hr, 16.8 hr, 7.4 hr and 14.9 hr for sunflower oil [control], Sunflower oil mixed with 200 ppm BHT, Sunflower oil mixed with 200 ppm volatile oil and sunflower oil mixed with 400 ppm volatile oil, respectively. The volatile oil was tested to evaluate its antimicrobial activity against some bacterial strains; namely Micrococcus spp.,Pseudomonas spp., Bacillus cereus and Enterobacter aerogenes. fungal Strains; namely Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus, as well as against the yeast, Sacchromyces cereviseae. The diameter of the zone inhibition was taken as a criterion of antimicrobial activity at different concentrations of the volatile oil, which had a significant effect against Micrococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp. and S. cereviseae

nutritive value of raw, decorticated, soaked and germinated and differently processed faba beans [Vicia faba L]

The effects of some pretreatments [i.e. decortications, soaking and germination] on the nutritive value of faba beans were investigated. Moreover, the nutritive values of four faba bean products widely consumed in the Middle East [Medammis, Falafel, Nabet Soup and Bissara] were also evaluated. Protein efficiency ratio [PER], digestibility co-efficient [D] and trypsin inhibitor unit [TIU] were estimated. Data revealed pronounced improvements of the nutritive value as a result of all pretreatments under study, especially germination being the most effective. The PER values for pretreated faba beans can be arranged in ascending order as follows: whole beans [0.41], decorticated beans [0.60], soaked beans [0.75] and germinated beans [1.37]. The PER values were 2.50, 1.83, 1.60, 1.01 and 0.94 for Casein, Nabet Soup, Bissara, Medammis and Falafel, respectively. Nabet Soup exhibited the highest D value [93.08%] while Falafel had the lowest [68.71%]. in contrast, Falafel contained the highest TIU [19.47], followed by Medammis [15.31], Bissara [11.98] and Nabet Soup [3.28]

Regulation of AD-D2 expression in schizosaccharomyces pombe

Great variability for xanthine accumulation was obtained among the strains of S. Pombe and among their derivatives by plating on LM medium supplemented with limiting amount, of adenine [10 mg/1] for one and 2 generations. They also showed great variability for induction and repression of the enzymes preceding the block. This variability was clearer at the lower concentrations of the end product. The diploids developed between different inducible and repressible strains in the adonine pathway showed that the majority of the regulator genes are dominant excluding the possibility of at least one recessive regulator gene and there are interactions among the adenine regulator genes. Tetrad and random spore analyses showed that the adenine reGulator genes are unlinked with probably similar effects on regulation of the adenine pathway enzymes. They also showed that there is no linkage between adenine regulator genes and other arg-1 or arg-10 which are unlinked