Phytochemical and biological studies of Butia capitata Becc. leaves cultivated in Egypt

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Butia capitata (B. capitata) leaf extracts along with phytochemical analysis of the proposed bioactive constituents.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Different successive extracts of B. capitata Becc. leaves were prepared with selective organic solvents and screened for their anti-inflammatory activities in tested animals and in-vitro antioxidant effect. An extensive phytochemical investigation of the bioactive extracts through paper chromatography, thin layer chromatography, column chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), high pressure liquid chromatography and spectral analysis. GC-Mass, ultraviolet, hydrogen and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance, electron ionization-mass spectrometry, heteronuclear multiple bond correlation and heteronuclear multiple quantum correlation were carried out.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Results showed that different extracts possess promising antioxidant effect and significant anti-inflammatory activity with variable degrees. The results of the phytochemical investigation of the bioactive extracts revealed the presence of volatile substances, lipoidal matter, α-tocopherol, free sugars, polysaccharides and flavonoidal compounds.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>B. capitata leaf extracts were shown to possess variable antioxidant effect, the most promising was methanol extract. Both polar and non polar extracts were proved to have anti-inflammatory activity, the non polar extract was superior in this respect. The bioactivity of the extracts was ascribed to the presence of flavonoids, sterols and α-tocopherol.</p>

Phytochemical and biological studies of Butia capitata Becc. leaves cultivated in Egypt

Objective: To study the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Butia capitata (B. capitata) leaf extracts along with phytochemical analysis of the proposed bioactive constituents. Methods: Different successive extracts of B. capitata Becc. leaves were prepared with selective organic solvents and screened for their anti-inflammatory activities in tested animals and in-vitro antioxidant effect. An extensive phytochemical investigation of the bioactive extracts through paper chromatography, thin layer chromatography, column chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), high pressure liquid chromatography and spectral analysis. GC-Mass, ultraviolet, hydrogen and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance, electron ionization-mass spectrometry, heteronuclear multiple bond correlation and heteronuclear multiple quantum correlation were carried out. Results: Results showed that different extracts possess promising antioxidant effect and significant anti-inflammatory activity with variable degrees. The results of the phytochemical investigation of the bioactive extracts revealed the presence of volatile substances, lipoidal matter, α-tocopherol, free sugars, polysaccharides and flavonoidal compounds. Conclusions: B. capitata leaf extracts were shown to possess variable antioxidant effect, the most promising was methanol extract. Both polar and non polar extracts were proved to have anti-inflammatory activity, the non polar extract was superior in this respect. The bioactivity of the extracts was ascribed to the presence of flavonoids, sterols and a-tocopherol.

Bone marrow stem cells as a potential treatment of experimentally induced cartilage defects in the knee joint of adult male albino rats

Spontaneous proper healing of articular cartilage trauma in adults is rare and osteoarthritis might develop as a result. Cultured bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells [BM-MSCs] could differentiate into chondrocytes, and might thus be a good choice for treating such trauma. To assess the efficacy of an intraarticular injection of BM-MSCs derived from young albino rats in the repair of an induced chondral defect in the knee joints of adult albino rats. Six young male albino rats were used as a source of BM-MSCs. In addition, 30 adult male albino rats were divided into four groups. Group I served as a control. Group II served as a model of a chondral defect. Group III was subdivided into subgroups IIIa and IIIb, in which a cartilage defect was induced and sacrificed after 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. Group IV was subdivided into subgroups IVa and IVb, in which a cartilage defect was induced and injected intraarticularly by BM-MSCs suspended in hyaluronic acid [HA] in the right knees and HA alone into their left knees and then sacrificed after 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. Histological, immunohistochemical, and statistical studies were performed. Group III showed healing of the defect by fibrous tissue. However, BM-MSCs- injected knees healed by hyaline-like cartilage, whereas the HA injection induced healing by fibrocartilage. Intraarticular injections of BM-MSCs suspended in HA promoted healing of an articular cartilage defect by hyaline cartilage. Thus, it is recommended to treat a traumatic articular cartilage injury by BM-MSCs

Assessment of some biochemical parameters for early detection of protein energy malnutrition

Protein energy malnutrition [PEM] is a common health problem in developing countries. The mild form of PEM results in growth retardation while severe forms result in the syndromes of marasmus and kwashiorkor. Mild PEM was described as a condition in which specific or, nonspecific clinical signs, as well as nonspecific laboratory indices are present without any of the classical manifestations of nutritional deficiency. Objective of this work was to assess serum transferrin and fibronectin as a biochemical markers for early detection of PEM. We studied 42 children: 30 patients had PEM [15 cases were mild to moderate PEM and 15 cases were severe PEM] with their age ranged between 4 -36 months and the remaining 12 children were age and sex matched healthy children as controls. All studied children were subjected to: full history taking, thorough clinical examination including anthropometric measurements [weight, hight, body mass, index [BMI], and mid arm circumference [MAC]] as well as estimation of serum albumin, serum transferrin, fibronectin, Hb and urine analysis. Results revealed significant reduction in all anthropometric measurements in both mild to moderate and severe PEM patients as compared to control group . Serum albumin was significantly lowered in severe PEM as compared to control and still within normal level in mild to moderate PEM patients. Serum transferrin and fibronectin were significantly lowered in mild to moderate PEM as compared to controls and more reduction in severe form of PEM as compared to controls. Serum fibronectin and transferrin correlated positively with BMI [P <0.05] and serum albumin [P <0.001] in both mild to moderate and severe PEM. In conclusion serum fibronectin and transferrin are markedly reduced in patients with mild to moderate PEM and correlated positively with BMI and serum albumin. This represents an evidence for the role of serum fibronectin and transferrin as biochemical markers for early detection of PEM

Plasma histamine and serotonin levels in children with nephrotic syndrome and acute post streptococcal glomerulonephritis

Plasma histamine and serotonin concentrations were measured using fluorimeteric assay in 40 children with renal diseases. Minimal change nephrotic syndrome [15] focal segmental glomerulosclerosis [10] and acute post streptococcal glomerulonephritis [15] to determine the relation between plasma levels of histamine and serotonin and these various types of renal diseases in children. Plasma histamine level was significantly increased in-group of children with acute post streptococcal glomerulonephritis. Plasma serotonin levels were significantly increased in all 3 groups of patient, when compared with those of controls. Raised plasma histamine in acute post streptococcal glomerulonephritis group may be evidence of the acute immunological inflammation and defective renal excretion due to mild renal impairment in these children. Raised plasma serotonin in all 3 groups of patients may be due to diminished uptake and release of serotonin from platelets in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and due to defective renal execration in children with acute post streptococcal glomerulo-nephritis

study of low achievement on third grade primary school failed students in Minoufiya

This study was conducted on 374 students who constituted about one fourth of third grade primary school failed students in whole Minoufiya governorate and 100 never failed students from the same classes as a control group. Semi structured psychiatric interview and thorough, neurological examination, beside sociodemographic data sheet and psychometric assessment using children depressive inventory children's phobia scale and Anxiety scale for children, child behavior checklist and IQ assessment. 45.9% of failed students were founded to have psychiatric disorders in comparison to 27% of the control group. 9.1% of the repeaters were founded to be mentally retarded. and 34.3% of them were of border line IQ compared to 2% and 20% of the control group respectively. Epilepsy was present among 2.1% of failed students compared to 1% of the control group. The failed group were founded to be significantly different from control group as regard parental education, family size, make truancy from school. Abnormal behavior problems were more prevalent among failed students than control group. Learning problems as reading, writing and mathematics problems were founded to be more prevalent among failed students. No difference of significant value was detected between failed males and females students regarding the studied items, except for conduct disorder and [Aggressive, Delinquent, Hyperactive disorders "ADHD"]

Hepatitis E virus antibodies in multiply transfused patients

Hepatitis E virus [HEW infection is the leading cause of enterically transmitted hepatitis worldwide. Transmission of infection is via fecal route but the possibility of transmission by blood has been suggested, Data concerning anti-HEV prevalence among children who are exposed to risk of parenteral transmission are few and giving conflicting results. The present work studied the presence of anti-HEV antibodies [IgG and IgM], HBsAg, anti-HCV IgG, anti-HIV antibodies, serum ALT, prothrombin concentration and albumin level in 30 hemodialyzed, 20 thalassemic, 20 hemophilic patients as well as 25 matched age and sex healthy children as controls. The rate of anti-HEVIgG in hemodialyzed, thalassemic and hemophilic patients was significantly higher [43.3%, 35%, 25% respectively] than controls [8%] p>0.001, [0.003, [0.02 respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between the duration of hernodialysis and the number of patients with positive anti-HEV IgG [r = 0.87, pc0.001]. The rate of anti- HEV IgM in the patients groups was significantly higher [20%, 10%, 5% respectively] than controls [0%] p>0.004, >0.001, [0.05 respectively. There was no significant correlation between the frequency of blood transfusion and HEV reactivity in the studied patients groups. The rates of HBV and HCV infections in the different groups of patients were significantly higher [20%, 10%, 5% and 26.6%, 20%, 15% respectively] than controls [0% and 5% respectively] p<0.001, [0.007, [0.05 and <0.001, [0.03, [0.03 respectively. There was no significant correlation between HEV infection and neither HBV nor HCV infections in the studied patients groups

Conclusion: this study indicates a high prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in multiply transfused children, carrying a possibility of parenteral transmission in endemic areas. However further larger scale technically supported studies are needed to exclude other possibilities

Psychomotor development of children with congenital heart disease

Children with congenital heart disease [CHD] have an increased risk for neurocognitive deficits. As the mortality of neonatal and infant surgery for CHD continues to decrease, attention is now focused on long- term sequelae, especially later cognitive and neurological function, in survivors. The aim of this work is the early assessment of the psychomotor and cognitive development in children with CHD before two years of age and to evaluate the difference between cyanotic and a cyanotic CHD regarding this development. This could help in early management to minimize neurological injury and improve the intellectual function and academic achievement for such patients in the future. Thirty-eight children with CHD [25 males and 13 females] below two years of age were studied. Twelve of them were cyanotic [31.5%] and twenty-six were a cyanotic [68.5%] CHD. Twenty children of matched age and sex were included in the study as controls. All patients were neurologically free on clinical examination. Anthropometric measurements of patients and controls were recorded including weight, recumbent length, head circumference, mid-arm circumference and the body mass index. The anthropometric percentiles were recorded as well including head circumference for age, recumbent length for age, weight for age, and weight for recumbent length percentiles. The Griffiths developmental scale were used to assess the cognitive and psychomotor developmental status of the children. They covered locomotor skills, personal social skills, hearing speech, eye-hand coordination, and cognitive performance. Total intellectual quotients [IQ %] were calculated. EEG was recorded and Echocardiography was performed for confirming the diagnosis of the CHD, measuring blood flow velocities and the pulmonary pressure. Twelve out of thirty-eight children with CHD [12/38] were diagnosed as cyanotic CHD and included TOF, D-TGA, and DORV as well as [26/38] of patients were diagnosed as a cyanotic CHD and included VSD, ASD, and pulmonary stenosis. The anthropometric measurements and percentiles were significantly lower in patients than controls with no significant differences between cyanotic and cyanotic groups. The IQ% in the studied patients ranged from 68-105% [mean 83.9 +/- 10.6] with no significant difference between cyanotic CHD [mean 82.3 +/- 15] and a cyanotic CHD group [mean 83.7 +/- 10.5] and all were considered sub average [IQ% below 90%]. Hearing speech and eye-hand coordination were the most affected parameter in the two groups of patients. There was a significant positive correlation [r= 0.439, p<0.006] between 16% and head circumference for age percentile. No relation was detected between IQ % and the other anthropometric percentiles or measurements. There was a significant negative correlation [r=-0.826, p<0.001] between IQ% and degree of pulmonary stenosis [pulmonary blood flow velocity cm/sec] in patients with valvular pulmonary stenosis and TOF, a significant positive correlation [r= 0.722, p<0.0008] between IQ % and aortic blood flow velocity [cm/sec] in patients with cyanotic CHD, a significant negative correlation [r =-0.596, p<0.0001] between IQ% and systolic pulmonary pressure in patients with cyanotic CHD. EEG changes were detected in 68% of patients. There was a significant negative correlation [r = - 0.826, p<0.001] between the severity of EEG changes and 14% in the studied patients

Conclusion: psychomotor and cognitive development is likely to be compromised in children below two years of age with CHD with no big difference between cyanotic and a cyanotic groups. Failure to thrive is obvious in these patients. The IQ % is sub average and EEG changes were detected. The hemodynamic changes secondary to the cardiac defect and the feeding problems, leading to failure to thrive, can result in impaired development and intellect This finding can help much in paying attention toward the management of such cases and for the role of early surgical interference in correction of these cardiac defects to prevent the deterioration in psychomotor and cognitive development

Cholestasis in the newborn infants

The management of neonatal cholestasis continues to be a great task. The present study was designed to evaluate the methods of differentiation between intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholestasis to choose early medical or surgical treatment respectively. This study included 30 newborn infants [18 males and 12 females] with mean age 10.72 +/- 9.59 days. Patients were diagnosed as a cholesteric both clinically and laboratory [conjugated bilirubin more than 30 mmol/L]. Laboratory investigations including hemoglobin level, prothrombin time and concentration, liver enzymes: ALP, GGT, ALT, and AST, blood culture, serology for intrauterine infection [toxoplasma, rubella, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B and C] and alpha1antitrypsin serum levels were obtained. Abdominal sonography, radionuclide hepatobiliary scintigraphy [Tc-99m-HIDA], and percutaneous needle biopsy were done. Thirty percent of cholesteric patients had Idiopathic neonatal hepatitis [INH]; extrahepatic biliary atresia [EHBA] was detected in 33%, and other causes such as metabolic disorders, septicemia, and congenital infection were detected in 37% of cases. The results of liver biopsy were in line with scintigraphy in 81.8% in cases with extrahepatic obstruction. Patients with higher conjugated bilirubin level showed significantly higher levels of ALP, prothrombin time, higher prevalence of completely obstructed biliary passages and lower prevalence of patent and /or partially obstructed biliary passages defected by scintigraphy, as well as higher prevalence of extrahepatic obstruction detected by liver biopsy. In 100% of the patients, conjugated bilirubin carried very good relationship with scintigraphy in cases with complete biliary passages obstruction. Cases with relatively higher ALP level showed significantly higher prevalence of EHBA and in 85% of the patients, ALP carried very good relationship with scintigraphy denoting extrahepatic obstruction. A significant positive correlation was detected between GGT and ALP [r = 0.512 p<0.01] and a significant negative correlation was detected between prothrombin concentration and GGT, AST, and ALT [r = - 0.359 p<0.05; r = - 0.415 p<0.04; r= - 0.358, p<0.05 respectively]. The prevalence of complete biliary passage obstruction detected by scintigraphy was significantly higher in cases with relatively higher GGT [>100 IU/L] and the prevalence of patent and /or partially obstructed biliary passages detected by scintigraphy was significantly Iower than the rest of cases [p<0.03 for each]. The prevalence of extrahepatic obstruction detected by liver biopsy did not differ significantly between the two groups. Cases with INH showed a significantly higher prevalence of patent and /or partially obstructed biliary passages detected by scintigraphy, as well as significantly Iower prevalence of extrahepatic obstruction detected by liver biopsy. Scintigraphy and liver biopsy carried very good relationship with INH in 77.5% and 88.8% of cases respectively

Conclusion: Tc-99 m-HIDA may be a better method of assessing extrahepatic biliary passages obstruction than liver biopsy, as it is less invasive method and could rapidly differentiate between intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholestasis, so this can help in choosing the early medical or surgical treatment