Role of nigella sativa oil, thymoquinone with and without pyrimethamine in freund's adjuvant arthritis in rat

Nigella sativa oil and its active principal thymoquinone have been screened for their beneficialeffects that had been attributed to their cytoprotective, antioxidant actions and to their effect on many mediators ofinflammation. Similarly, pyrimethamine [PY], which is well known for its anti-parasitic action for a long time, hasbeen reported to have immunomodulating and apoptotic activities. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Nigella sativa oil [NSO] andthymoquinone [TQ] in Freund's adjuvant arthritis [AA] in rats, an immunological experimental model of arthritiseither by sole administration of each of them or by their combination with pyrimethamine. The pain response and polyarthritis index were scored. Certain biochemical markers of inflammation,namely, interleukin-6 [IL-6], leukotriene B[4][LTB[4]], Matrix metalloproteinase-9 [MMP-9] were measured.Oxidative stress indices; reduced glutathione [GSH], erythrocytic superoxide dismutase [SOD] activity andmalondialdehyde [MDA] were also assayed in the sera of studied rats. The study demonstrated secondary inflammatory reactions in adjuvant arthritic rats [AA] as compared tothe control non- arthritic group. The study also revealed significant suppression of these secondary inflammatoryreactions as guided by reduction in the mean values of both polyarthritis index and pain response score in AA-treated rats. Significant reduction in IL-6, LTB[4], MMP-9 in the serum of treated groups was observed. This wasaccompanied with a significant increase in GSH serum level together with reduction of MDA levels in the treatedgroups. SOD activity did not change with the observed protection obtained by the studied drugs. PY + TQ, then PY + NSO, TQ and lastly NSO had reduced secondary reaction to Freund's adjuvantinoculation when used in the day of inoculation up to 20 days. It can be also concluded that combination with PYenhanced the chemoprotective effects of both TQ and NSO. Further experimental and clinical trials have to bedone for further screening of such combinations

Augmentation of single rod with sublaminar wiring in treating adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

To evaluate the effects of single rod augmented with sublaminar wiring in correcting scoliosis. Special attention was. 25 adolescent patients with mean age of 12.9 years. These included 9 boys and 16 girls. All cases were examined clinically and radiologically before and after surgery. Surgery in all cases included the use of single rod fixed with transpedicular screws [except one case where kooks were used in the upper part of the curve]. Sublaminar wires were used to supplement the fixation. Moreover at the sites intended for screw fixation these openings were extended a bit laterally to facilitate screw fixation. The mean thoracic curve preoperatively was: 54.7 degrees, while that of the lumber was 37.3 degrees. Flexibility of the thoracic curve had a mean of 48.1% while that of the lumbar was 46.7%. The mean number of vertebrae included was 10.7 vertebrae. The mean number of screws was 5.1 screws and a mean of 4.4 sublaminar wires was used. The mean correction of thoracic curve was 59.9% that of lumbar was 55.5%. The factors that was significantly affecting the correction were the flexibility of the thoracic curves, the number of vertebrae included in instrumentation, number of screws used. The number of sublaminar wires used were positively but insignificantly correlated to the degree of correction

effect of antidepressants on gastric secretion and their possible protective effect on phenylbutazone induced ulcer in rats

The effect of amitriptyline and maprotiline [5 mg/kg body weight] on gastric secretory activity was studied in rats. Th2 volume of the gastric secretion, hydrochloric acid concentration and peptic activity were determined. The effect of the drugs on phenylbutazone induced ulcers was also studied. The results showed a significant reduction in hydrochloric acid concentration and peptic activity. Amitriptyline caused a significant reduction in the volume of the gastric secretion and imparted a protective effect on the gastric mucosa