role of different photoperiods in the activation of the thyroid gland and ovaries of adult and aged rats [Rattus norvegics]

Many animals use the length of the day [photoperiod] to predict and adjust to seasonal changes in the environment through predictive changes in physiology and behaviour. The present work is designed to study the effect of different photoperiod regimes, i.e., short photoperiod 10L:14D, long photoperiod 14L:10D and 12L:12D light-dark cycle [LD] on the structure and hormonal secretion of the thyroid gland and ovaries in adult and aged female rats. The rats were divided into 6 groups, each group contained 6 adults [6 months old] or aged rats [18 months old] and maintained for one month under different photoperiod regimes. Short and long photoperiods increased the activity of the thyroid gland of the adult rats. This gland was full of small follicles lined with simple columnar epithelium. Serum thyroxin levels were extremely higher in long photoperiod group than that observed in 12:12LD and short photoperiod groups. In contrast short photoperiod induced an increase in serum thyroxin level in the aged rats. Short photoperiod and 12:12 LD cycle enhanced gonadal activity of the adult rats. The ovary contained clusters of primordial follicles, different stages of ovarian follicles, and, few numbers of atretic follicles. In the groups of the aged rats all the stages of the ovarian follicles exhibited signs of atresia in such groups. LH, FSH, progesterone and estrogen were increased mainly in the control group in adult and aged rats compared to the photoperiod groups. From the present result we could conclude that: 12:12 light dark cycle enhanced the structural and functional activities of ovaries in adult rats, while aging decreased their activities. In contrast, long photoperiod induced thyroid gland activities in adult rats while short photoperiods activated the gland of aged rats

Histopathological and immunohistochemical changes induced by contraceptive pills in the cervix of female rabbits

Oral contraceptive pills [OCPs] are the most popular form of hormonal contraception in young women. The present study focused on evaluating the effects of two different contraceptive pills including combined pills [estrogen and progesterone] and mini pills [progesterone only] on the cervix of female rabbit. After three months of daily oral administration of these contraceptive pills the animals were sacrificed. The excised organs were dissected, processed and stained with H and E, PAS reaction and Masson's trichrome stain and orcein stain. This was followed by morphometric measurements and statistical study. This study revealed that contraceptive pills administration - specially the combined one - caused marked alterations in the form of hyperplastic cervical mucosal cells and hypertrophied muscular layer. Also, there was a significant increase in collagenous and elastic fibres content in the muscular layer of the cervix. There was also a statistically significant increase in PAS positive materials in the lumina of the mucosal glands of the cervix. All these changes were less marked in the case of mini pill treatment. Pills of progesterone only showed marked histopathological change, in the cervix as a contraceptive mean, but in less manner than the combined pills [estrogen and progesterone]

Treg cells subsets in pediatric sle

Background: There are somehow conflicting data in the literature on whether Treg cells in human SLE are impaired

Aim of the work: to quantify CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3[+] T cells [Treg] in Egyptian children with SLE and to correlate these findings with their disease activity scores and drug therapy

Methods: We enrolled 37 Egyptian children with active SLE. The disease activity was assessed by measuring serum levels of anti-ds DNA antibody and by using scores of SLEDAL Twenty healthy children were also enrolled as normal controls

Results: The CD4[+]CD25[+] CD4[+]CD25[bright] and CD4[=]CD25[dim] cells in patients were significantly increased in comparison to controls. There was no significant difference in the Fax% gated on CD4+CD25[bright], CD4[+]CD25[dim] but on the other hand there was a significant increase when gated on CD4 CD25 and whole CD4[+] cells in patients than controls. There was no significant difference between different grades of activity, different lines of treatments and patients outcomes as regards all studied values. There was no significant correlation between any of studied parameters with SLED AI score except gated lymphocytes which showed significant negative correlation

Conclusions: There is increase in the expression of FoxpS in CD4 T cells mostly CD25 in Egyptian pediatric patients with active SLE under corticosteroid treatment without correlation with SLED AI score

Compliance with the guidelines of prescription writing in a central hospital in the West Bank

This retrospective, cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate the quality of 2208 outpatient prescriptions in a central hospital in the West Bank, Palestine. The physicians' handwriting was poorly readable or illegible in one-third of the prescriptions. The prescriber's name and signature and patient's name were mentioned in almost all orders whereas the patient's age was stated in 54.9%. The vast majority of physicians [95.5%] prescribed drugs using their trade [brand] names. Drug strength, quantity and dose/frequency were stated in 61.1%, 76% and 73.8% of prescriptions respectively. Only 33 prescriptions [1.5%] contained full directions for use for all drugs. Correlation analysis revealed that the presence of certain prescription elements was statistically significantly associated with the clinic of origin and the number of drugs prescribed. The overall poor legibility and incompleteness of the prescriptions is of concern.

Histological and immunohistochemical study on the changes induced by contraceptive pills in the female rabbit's kidney

The mechanism for the development of overt hypertension due to the oral contraception ingestion remains unclear. Experimental evidence favors a role for the renin-angiotensin system. The present study focuses on evaluating the effect of two different contraceptive pills including combined pills [estrogen and progesterone] and mini pills [progesterone only] on the kidney of female rabbit. After three month of daily oral administration of these contraceptive pills the animals were sacrificed. The excised kidneys were dissected, processed and stained with H and E, PAS and Masson's trichrome and anti-angiotensin II immunohistochemical stains. This was followed by morphometric measurements and statistical study. This study revealed that contraceptive pills administration specially the combined one caused marked alterations in the form of damaged kidney tubules with cell swelling and loss of brush border and enlarged glomeruli with hypercellularity. Also, a statistically significant increase in collagenous content peritubular and peri and intraglomerular was observed. There was also a statistically significant increase in the anti-Angiotensin II immunoreactivity in renal tubules as well as intra-glomerular and in the interstitial cells. All these changes were less marked after mini pill treatment. Progesterone only pills could be safer on the kidney as a contraceptive mean when compared to combined pills

[Isolation and characterization local salt-tolerant streptomyces producing antibiotics]

Forty bacterial isolates belonging to Actinomycetes were obtained out from 6 soil samples. These Samples were collected from Al-Muray'iyah Al-Thaleth and Hawijat Sageur sites both located within the lands of the Agricultural Research Center in Dair Al-Zour. A process of primary screening was applied on these isolates by studying their bioactivity against some harmful bacterial species both gram-positive [S. aureus] and gram-negative [V. fluvialis], K. pneumoniae, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa]. Results showed that there are 15 bacterial isolates [37.5% of the whole isolates] able to produce antibiotics, they caused an inhibition to tested bacteria. The isolates where clustered according of their effectiveness as following: 4 isolates were effective against gram-positive bacteria, 4 isolates were effective against gram-negative bacteria, whereas, 7 isolates showed bioactivity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria at the same time. 4 isolates was distinct by their high yield of antibiotics out of all the isolates. The potentiality of these 4 isolates were tested in order to recognize the most efficient one production of antibiotics, and to conduct further studies on it. The isolate MH11 preceded other isolates by their ability to produce antibiotics. Various morphological and biochemical essays showed, that this isolate belongs to the genus Streptomyces

Epidemiological studies on the role of fish in transmitting some zoonotic diseases to man

This study was performed for determination of the role played by fish in transmitting some bacterial and parasitic zoonoses to man. A total of 300 fish of Tilapia spp. were collected [50 from a farm in El-Fayoum Governorate, 100 from a farm in Beni-Suef Governorate and 150 from Beni-Suef markets]. In addition, 73 humans [60 fish sellers and 13 farm workers] were examined. Staph. aureus, Aeromonas hydrophila, Proteus spp., Shigella spp. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fluorescence were isolated from the examined fish at percentages of 4.3, 9.7, 3.0, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0, respectively. Among the isolated bacteria, Staph. aureus, Proteus spp. and Shigella spp. were found restricted to fish skin and gills, while Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas spp. were isolated from all the examined fish bodyparts [skin, gills, muscles and internal organs] with varying percentages. Out of the examined fish, 26.7% were harboring parasitic cysts including metacercariae of CHnostomum complanatum, Heterophyes heterophyes, Centrocestus armatus and Haplorchis pumilio. Examination of hand swabs obtained from humans demonstrated that 12.3% revealed a positive result for Staph. aureus. Among farm worker stool samples examined, 7.7% tested positively for Staph. aureus and 15.4% were Aeromonas hydrophila-positivQ. None of the parasites recovered from fish was detectable in humans. It was concluded that fish sold in the examined localities may occasionally represent a serious threat to public health as a result of its content of zoonotic fish pathogens

Preparation and evaluation of theophylline loaded bovine serum albumin microspheres

Theophylline-loaded bovine serum albumin [BSA] microspheres were prepared by an emulsion polymerization method using glutaraldehyde as the crosslinking agent. The study was designed to evaluate the effects of different formulation parameters as BSA concentration, surfactant concentration, hydrophilic lipophilic balance [HLB], dispersion medium viscosity and glutaraldehyde concentration on the extent of drug loading, size of microsphere and the in-vitro as "well as the in-vivo release rates of theophylline from such microspheres. Drug polymer ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5 and 1:6 were investigated. Span 80 was used as a surfactant at different concentrations. Moreover, Different span 80 / tween 80 blend concentrations; 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% w/v were used to study the effect of HLB. Also different dispersion media; isooctane, light paraffin oil, olive oil and Linseed oil were used for microspheres preparation. In addition, different glutaraldehyde concentrations; 5, 10 and 25% v/v were used. It was found that all micro-spheres were spherical with the mean particle size of 90-180 micro m. The results revealed also that: as the concentration of BSA increases, the drug loading is increased. Increasing surfactant concentration and viscosity of the dispersion medium has led to decrease the particle size, while increasing glutaraldehyde concentration nearly had no effect. Furthermore, encapsulation efficiency was found to be directly proprortional to albumin content, surfactant concentration, viscosity of the dispersion medium and glutaraldehyde concentration. Drug release from the prepared microspheres displayed a biphasic pattern characterized by an initial burst, followed by a slower release period, which may be attributed to the presence of theophylline material near to or onto the microspheres surfaces. The bio availability of theophylline from the prepared microspheres was evaluated in rabbits. The prepared microspheres were found to control theophylline release even up to 10 hrs. The peak serum concentrations of such microspheres were within the therapeutic level. The results indicate also that the previoiusly mentioned formulation parameters have a prnounced impact to control the release of the entrapped drug

Physicomechanical properties and release characteristics of ketorolac trometh-amine from chitosan films: effect of inclusion of different polyols plasticizers

The film-forming ability of chitosan polymer loaded with ketorolac tromethamine [KT] was evaluated. Films were prepared by a casting/solvent evaporation technique from plasticizer - free and plasticizer containing aqueous solutions. Glycerol, sorbitol, and 1-erythritol were used as plasticizers. Solid state of the films was studied by powder X-ray diffractometry [PXRD], and differential scanning calorimetry [DSC]. The plasticizing efficiency was evaluated by measuring the physicomechanical properties as modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, percent of elongation and swelling ratio. The medicated films - plasticized or free - were clear and colorless. A plasticizer concentration of 20% [w/w of polymer weight] was sufficient to obtain flexible films with all tested samples. X-ray diffration patterns and DSC thermograms indicated an amorphous state of the films independent on the type of the plasticizer used. The results have showed that, incorporation of different polyols as plasticizer s improves the consistency and the physicomechanical properties of the films. The plasticizers effect was dependant on the hydrophilicity and chemical structure of both plasticizer and polymer. The release profile of the drug was also significantly increased by addition of polyols as plasticizers. Moreover, the drug release pattern was found to follow Higuchi-diffusion model

Carbamoylethylated cassia gum as thickener in printing linen fabrics

Galactomannan gum isolated from the Cassia seeds was subjected to carbamoylethylation which involved the reaction of the gum with acrylamide along with sodium hydroxide as a catalyst. Four carbamoylethylated Cassia gum samples having different nitrogen content [2.78 to 4.28%] were prepared via changing the amount of the etherifying agent used [25 to 100g acrylamide/ 100g dry gum]. Modification of Cassia galactomannan gum via carbamoylethylation converts the gum into a water soluble derivative and increased its stability to storing. The results related with the rheological characterization of the carbamoylethylated Cassia gum derivatives showed that it exhibited non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behaviour irrespective of the degree of carbamoylethylation. Increasing the extent of carbamoylethylation was accompanied by an enhancement in the apparent viscosity. Storing of the pastes for three days caused a decrease in their apparent viscosties, which may be due to partial hydrolysis of the modified gum molecules. It can be concluded that carbamoylethylated Cassia gum derivatives could be used successfully as suitable thickening agents in reactive printing of linen fabrics

Biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis in textile workers and the role of sex hormones

Rheumatoid arthritis [RA] is a common systemic chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of unknown origin. There was an evidence of increased rate of RA in textile workers, and was higher among women. Fifty two textile workers [have worked for more than two years] and sixty two control subjects of both sexes were included in the study. The studied biomarkers of RA were rheumatoid factor [RF], specific immunoglobulins [IgM-RF and IgA-RF], anti cyclic citrullinated peptide [anti-CCP], C- reactive protein [CRP] and antinuclear antibodies [ANA], in addition to measurement of the sex hormones [estradiol, testosterone, and prolactin] in the two groups. The most prominent symptom among the examined workers was painful big joints. The percent of textile workers with positive CRP was significantly higher compared to their controls, but there was no significant difference according to the total RF positive test. The levels of ANA, IgA RF and anti-CCP of the workers were significantly higher than their controls. There is no significant difference between the workers and their controls regarding sex hormones

Impact of adherence to Asthma management guidelines in asthmatic patients: a primary healthcare center study

To study the effect of adherence to asthma management guidelines on the control of asthma symptoms and the results of peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR] in asthmatic patients Cross sectional study Asthma clinic at Khalidiya Health Care Center A convenience sample of 162 asthmatic Kuwaiti patients aged between four and 83 years were interviewed through a structured questionnaire. Out of 162 patients, 140 participants [86.4%] reported not using controller medication. One hundred and five participants [64.8%] fit in the category of uncontrolled asthma. Only 21 participants [13.0%] were on controller medication prior to the study. All participants who were on controller treatment, got their prescription by a specialist. The difference between the two proportions was significant at p < 0.0001. Of the 162 participants, only 28 cases [17.3%] did not require alteration of their management plan. The remaining 134 participants required changes to their original management plan either by adjusting the dose of their medication or adding controller medication in the form of separate or combined therapy. There was a significant improvement in the PEFR after applying the new management plan with median of actual PEFR 350 in comparison to 390 two weeks later, after applying the new management plan [p < 0.001]. Despite evidence that adherence to asthma management guideline improves outcome, general practitioners are reluctant to prescribe controller medication

Molecular identification and cloning of organophosphate degradation gene in some bacterial isolates

Seventeen local bacterial isolates which can hydrolyze a wide range of organophosphate [OP] insecticides were purified. They were reduced to ten different isolates based on their RAPD pattern and protein profile and termed as ASM-1 through ASM-10. Chemical assay and bioassay revealed that the isolate ASM-5 was the best isolate in chlorpyrifos degradation. The morphological and molecular identification characterized ASM-5 as Agrobacterium tumefaciens. A gene encoding a protein involved in OP hydrolysis was cloned and sequenced from A. tumefaciens ASM-5. This gene [named opdA] had sequence similarity about 98.7% with the A. tumefaciens opd gene. The coding sequence of the gene was sub cloned down stream an inducible expression promoter to evaluate the gene-enzyme system responsible for its OP-hydrolyzing activity. The biological activity of OPDA protein became more efficient compared to OPDA native protein

Formulation and characterization of biodegradable chitosan films for topical application of terbinafine Hcl

Chitosan biodegradable films containing terbinafine HCI [Tr.HCl] were evaluated for their potential drug delivery at a controlled rate. Terbinafine HCI could be loaded at 1.8% w/w of polymer in films, which were translucent and flexible. The effect of drug loading and nature of plasticizers on the in-vitro release of Tr.HCl have been examined, Physicochemical characterization of Tr.HCl via thermal, spectroscopic, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy techniques revealed information on the solid-state properties of Tr.HCl as well as chitosan in films. While chitosan was in an amorphous form, Tr.HCl seemed to be present in crystalline form in the films. It was found that the release rate of the drug was directly proportional to drug concentraton. Also medicated chitosan films plasticized with water- soluble plasticizers as glycerol triacetate [GTA], propylene glycol [PG], and polyethylene glycol 400 [PEG 400], produced fast release in comparison with water insoluble plasticizers as glycerol tributyrate [GTB], dimethylphthalate [DMPH], and diethyl phthalate [DEPH]. The characterizations of chitosan films conducted by IR, X-ray, and DSC, showed that no interaction occurred between Tr.HCl and chitosan polymer. The minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] of the drug against Candida albicans was investigated. Results showed that MIC of Tr.HCl was 1.4 micro g/ml. The inhibition zone diameter of Tr.HCl chitosan films was higher than that of Tr.HCl normal dressing. Also antifungal activity of Tr.HCl was enhanced in plasticized chitosan films. The results were promising for topical formulation of Tr.HCl in biodegradable chitosan films and have the potential to be used as a novel drug delivery

Effect of 50 Hz magnetic field with different intensities on some blood biochemical and hematological parameters

The present study has been undertaken to evaluate the biological changes that could be encountered in response to extremely low frequency [50 Hz] magnetic field with different intensities. The effect of magnetic field on oxidative stress [reduced glutathione [GSH] and total lipid peroxide [LPO]], hematological indices, total and differential leukocytes count, cardiac functions [creatinine phosphokinase [CPK] and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]], level of calcium ions concentrations [Ca[++]] and total protein content have been investigated in this work. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to the magnetic field for two hours. The blood samples were collected before and after exposure. The level of serum total lipid peroxide showed a significant increase while the level of blood reduced glutathione content and hematological indices showed a significant decrease at the level of p<0.05 after exposure to magnetic field. The total leukocyte differentiation showed a small reduction but with no significance. The reduction in neutrophils obtained after exposure was significant. The decrease in the counts of lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils was not regular as the magnetic field changes. The work also records that creatinine phosphokinase [CPK] and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] activities, the Level of serum calcium ion concentration [Ca[+2]] and serum total protein showed significant increases as a result of exposure to magnetic field

Effect of extremely low frequency magnetic field on seed germination, seedling growth and secondary metabolites of the medicinal plant Peganum harmala L.

Biologigal effect of short-term treatment of Peganum harmala L. Seed with extremely low frequency magnetic field [ELF-MF] was studied. The percentage of seed germination, growth and development of root and shoot system of the seedlings, wet and dry weights, total water content, total chlorophyll content and esterase activity were compared between seeds exposed to magnetic field [0.5 mT, 50 Hz] and the control. Germination percentage of Peganum harmala L. seedlings, which emerged in the low magnetic field, was slight higher [66.66%] if compared with the control [50%]. High total water content and low chlorophyll content, that, resulted in the formation of deformed seedlings, significantly characterized seedlings that have been grown in the magnetic filed. A higher esterase activity of seedling tissues exposed to ELF-MF was also recorded in comparison with the control. On the other hand, a lesser amount of beta carboline and serotonin alkaloids were found in the extracts of seedlings that grown in low frequency magnetic field, compared to sham treatment. Antimicrobial active metabolites were also decreased due to the exposure to low magnetic field. Photosensitizing potential of beta carboline alkaloids in the long wave UV light was lost from exposed seedlings and sustained in the control. The resulting effect of ELF-MF on seedling growth and secondary metabolites productivity might be attributed not only to the magnetic field but also to the induced electric field and the energy stored in the seeds due to the field

H-NMR spectroscopy of haemoglobin molecule in different anaemic illness

1H- NMR spectroscopy is an excellent technique for investigating the structure-function relationship of Hb. Due to the presence of the unpaired electrons in the high spin ferrous atoms in deoxy Hb and owing to the presence of the highly conjugated porphyrins in the Hb molecules, the proton chemical shifts of various Hb derivatives cover a wide range. 1H-NMR researches of paramagnetic hemoproteins have shown that the heme proton spectra can be used to probe the heme environment in three of anaemia