role of enchinacea purpurea against immuno - supressive effect of dimethoate on male albino rat

Dimethoate, an organophosphate pesticide, is used in controlling the pests of a variety of crops. Herbal medicine is the most widely used form of medicine in the world today where the medicinal plants contain many curative bioactive ingredients. The present work was planned to evaluate the potential protective effect of Enchinacea purpurea [EP] against the immunotoxic effect induced by dimethoate in adult male albino rats. Rats were classified into four groups [10 in each]. Rats in the 1[st] group received no treatment and served as control. Rats in the 2[nd] group were orally administered dimethoate 40%EC in a dose level of 3mg / kg bw. Equivalent to 1/10 LD50. Rats in the 3[rd] group were orally administered EP [Immulant] in a dose level of 2.5 ml/kg bw. The fourth group was treated with dimethoate 40%EC as in group II in addition to EP in a dose level as in the third group. Administration of tested substances was carried out daily for successive 7 days. Rats from treated as well as from control group were injected IP with [1-2x10[8]] sheep RBCs as non specific antigen. After 7 and 14 days from injection of sheep RBCs [SRBCs] five rats from each group were taken, blood and tissue samples were collected. The present data revealed a significant decrease in WBCs count [leucopenia], neutrophillia and lymphocytpenia with lower haemagglutination inhibition antibody titre [HI] and significant decrease in IgM in serum samples from dimethoate treated rats. Also in the same group there was a significant decrease in serum thymus were recorded in dimethoate treated group. EP supplementation induced appreciable improvement in all previous abnormal alterations observed in dimethoate treated rats. Therefore, this study revealed that EP exhibit marked protective role against the toxic effect of dimethoate on immune system of male albino rats

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of lung cancer cases in Qatar

This study documents for the first time the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of lung cancer cases in Qatar from 1998 to 2005. The age-standardized incidence rate was higher than that in many other Gulf countries: 8.95 per 100 000 [15.2 per 100 000 for males; 3.95 per 100 000 for females]. Mean age at diagnosis was 57.5 years. Most patients were current smokers or ex-smokers at the time of diagnosis [82.5%]. Unlike other Gulf countries, adenocarcinoma was the predominant type in both Qatari nationals and expatriates [43.9% of lung cancer types]. Many cases were in an advanced stage at diagnosis [64.2% at stage IV]. Incomplete information was available on mortality rate due to the migration of expatriates

Antihyperglycemic effect and nutritive value of opuntia dillenii [Ker-Gawl] haw. fruits cultivated in Egypt

The antihyperglycemic effect of the fruit juice of opuntia dillenii [Ker-Gawl] How [cactaceae] as well as that of the mucilage and pectin, was studied in alloxan-induced diabetic rats through actute and long-term [8 weeks] experiments The chemistry of the isolated mucilage and pectin Was also demonstrated by GC-MS. Chemical characterization, as well as investigation of the nutritive profile of the edible portion of the fruits were also carried out

Comparative study of superior oblique muscle of the orbit in goat and man

In goat the segment of the superior oblique muscle between the trochlea and eye ball is not completely tendinous as it in man, but its main bulk is fleshy, and its tendon of insertion appears close to the globe. The angulation at the site of the trochlea is more than 90 degrees in goat, but in man this angle is much less than 90 degrees. The insertion of the superior oblique muscle in goat is placed more anteriorly than it is in man. This makes the muscle in goat more efficient wheel rotators of the globe than it is in man. The difference between the anatomy of the superior oblique muscle in the animal and man is attributed to evaluation phenomenon which accompanied the shift of the human orbit to anterior position and development of binocular vision

Occurrence of some minerals in Egyptian buffaloes' milk

Random seventy five fresh raw buffaloes milk were obtained from small farms and analyzed for occurrence of some minerals such as Sodium [Na], Magnesium [Mg], Calcium [Ca], Copper [Cu], Zink [Zn], Iron [Fe], Lead [Pb] and Cadmium [Cd] using atomic absorption spectrophotometer method. The following averages were obtained Na 77mg/100g, Mg 36mg/100g, Ca 166 mg/100g, Cu 0.15mg/kg, Zn 5 mg/kg. Fe 2mg/kg, Pb 0.02 mg/kg and Cd 0.019mg/kg. The levels of Cu, Fe and Cd in buffaloes milk were slightly higher than the IDF standard while the level of Zn was in agreement with IDF standard

Influence of protein malnutrition on susceptibility to induction of cleft palate by cortisone in mice 1,2

The objective of the present work is to evaluate the possible influence of protein malnutrition on drug teratogenicity by utilizing the well established experimental model for cleft palate induction by cortisone in mice. The study was performed on 150 female pregnant albino Swiss mice. Animals were fed throughout pregnancy either by balanced normal diet [20% casein] or by low protein diet [5% casein]. Hydrocortisone acetate was administered intramuscularly in the dose levels of 2.5 and 5.0 mg daily from the 11th to the 14th day of gestation [vaginal plug marks day 1]. The outcome of pregnancy was examined at day 18th for implantations, resorptions, viability of fetuses, fetal body weights and external anomalies. The fetal palates were examined histologically. The obtained results showed that protein malnutrition increases the incidence of resorptions and decreases the fetal body weights. These effects were potentiated following cortisone treatment. The state of protein malnutrition did not induce cleft palates, but it increased the incidence of cleft palates from 77.5 to 97.0% and from 84.4 to 100% following the administration of 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg of hydrocortisone, respectively. Thus, protein malnutrition potentiates the teratogenecity of cortisone in mice. The possible mechanisms for this action are discussed

comparison between the rotational correlation times of a soluble protein obtained by electron paramagnetic spin resonance and fluorescence depolarization

Electron Spin Resonance [ESR] and Fluorescence polarization were used to study the rotational correlation times of a Histidine containing protein [HPr] isolated from Escherichia coli. HPr was derivatized with 3-[maleimidomethyl] 2,2,5,5, tetra-methyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxyl [TEMPO-maleimide] as an ESR probe and [4-phenylspiro [Furan-2 [3H]1- phthalon] 3,3' dione [fluorescamine] as a fluorescent probe. Different sucrose concentrations were used to increase the viscosity of the HPr solution. Fluorescence polarization data were taken at 10 degree and 20 degree to further effect the viscosity. Experimental data reflected the expected increase in rotational correlation times by increasing the viscosity. The differences between the experimental and the calculated data are explained on the basis that the derivatised probes rotate at faster rates which were independent from those of HPr itself or due to partial denaturation of the protein