Immunohistochemical and histopathological studies of effects of methotrexate on the pancreas of albino rats and the role of folic acid supplementation

Methotrexate is an antimetabolite that is widely used for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Even with the newer biological agents, methotrexate continues to serve as a reference point. However, its long-term clinical use is restricted due to its severe side effects and toxicity. A severe side effect of methotrexate may cause decrease or disruption of cancer chemotherapy. Therefore a better understanding of its histopathological mechanism is necessary to develop adapted curative strategies. Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin that is implicated in the synthesis of purines and pyrimidines, the essential precursors of DNA. The aim of this study is to investigate the toxic effect of methotrexate on the pancreas of adult female albino rats. It should be noted that there are relatively few studies that have addressed folic acid supplementation with the use of methotrexate on tissue which show a very active metabolic process such as pancreas. Therefore, the efficacy of folic acid against rnethotrexate induced exocrine and endocrine pancreatic cell injury was assessed. Rats were divided into four groups consisting of 10 rats in each group. Group 1, control group; group 2; the folic acid receiving group, group 3, the methotrexate-injected group and group 4, the methotrexate and the folic acid for 4 week. Tissues were removed while the rats were under ether anesthesia. Pancreatic tissues were processed for histological examination and stained routinely with Haematoxylin and Eosin for observing general morphological changes. Sections of the pancreas were stained with Masson's trichrome to demonstrate the collagen fibres. Histochemical PAS stain was also performed for glycogen detection. In addition, immunohistochemical investigation of different groups was carried out. So, pancreatic tissues from different groups were studied using a monoclonal antibody to insulin. In the current study, microscopic examination of control group stained with H and E showed normal architecture of pancreas. No pathologic changes in the pancreatic islets and surrounding acini were detected in the folic acid group [group 2], In contrast, the methotrexate-treated group showed that, acinar cell dissociation, marked vacuolation and congestion. There are broadly multiple cytoplasmic vacuoles of variable sizes in the exocrine pancreatic acinar cells. Moreover, Methotrexate induced damaging effects on pancreatic islets in rats as detected by immunohistochemistry While administration of folic acid and methotrexate, the combination group [group 4] displayed regression of acinar cell and pancreatic islets toxicity. The present investigation proved that methotrexate should be used with caution for fear of pancreatitis. The methotrexate long-term therapy requires maintaining a slight balance between benefits and risks. It was concluded that folic acid might be beneficial in preventing methotrexate induced pancreatic injury. Therefore, folic acid supplementation may be a promise as a therapy policy for every patient who receives methotrexate. Further investigation should be carried out to identify the precise mechanism underlying the protective effects of folic acid as well as the clinical interference to reduce methotrexate induced damage in pancreatic tissue

Genetic diversity among sorghum bicolor genotypes using simple sequence repeats [SSRs] markers

The technique Simple Sequence Repeats [SSRs] was applied to quantify the genetic diversity among nine Sorghum bicolor genotypes of different origins cultivated in Egypt using nine Sorghum bicolor-derived simple sequence repeat [SSR] markers. The total number of alleles detected by SSR was 70 with an average of 7.3 alleles per primer. The results indicate that 58% of the SSR markers were polymorphic. Cultivar-specific SSR markers characterizing different genotypes were used to generate unique fingerprinting for each genotype. Nine unique positive and negative cultivar specific markers were detected. The unique specific markers characterized 4 out of 9 cultivars. The cluster analysis of SSR data showed a wide genetic background in the examined cultivars. Based on the data reported here, SSR markers appear to be particularly useful for the estimation of genetic similarity among the relatively poorly characterized genotypes of sorghum of different origins

Transgenic canola plants over-expressing bacterial catalase exhibit enhanced resistance to Peronospora parasitica and Erysiphe polygoni

Transgenic canola [Brassica napus.L] plants expressing the bacterial catalase katE in the chloroplasts were obtained by the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method. Resistance and susceptibility of the transgenic canola plants were evaluated against the airborne pathogenic fungi, Peronospora parasitica causing downy mildew and Erysiphe polygon causing powdery mildew under artificial infection in the greenhouse. The bioassays of the transgenic plants demonstrated that the growth of both fungi and the development of disease incidence were significantly inhibited in the leaves of the transgenic canola plants compared to controls. Chemical analyses of the transgenic plants revealed constitutive expression of the enzymes catalase, peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase as well as higher levels of free polyamines i. e. putrescine, spermidine and spermine compared with the control plants. Together, these data indicate an enhanced resistance of the transgenic canola plants expressing the bacterial catalase to the downy mildew and powdery mildew pathogens

Genetic markers associated with salt tolerance in canola [Brassica napus L.]

This study aimed at elucidating the genetic variation between five selected canola cultivars grown under Egyptian environment for salt tolerance. Seedlings from three local and two German cultivars were subjected to salt stress for two weeks. Plant growth, leaf osmotic adjustment, peroxidase isozyme, protein banding patterns and RAPD analyses were performed. Salt stress decreased leaf osmotic potential in all cultivars. The results showed that the cultivar Masrri-L16 can maintain higher osmotic potential of the cells than the other cultivars, leading to enhancement of the ability to tolerate salt stress. Salt stress induces a new peroxidase bands and increases the band intensity, indicating the protective role of peroxidase enzyme. The genetic polymorphism between the cultivars was detected by protein and RAPD analyses. In total three [21.4%] and 78 [52%] polymorphic bands were detected for protein and RAPD, respectively. The comparison between the two protocols revealed that the latter gave more markers and more conclusive results. These molecular markers were sufficient to distinguish among five canola genotypes. The genotype-specific markers represent 12.3% of the total markers detected by both analyses, 94.7% of them were RAPD markers. Thirteen RAPD markers may be considered as markers for salt tolerance in the cultivar Masrri-L11 and five markers for the cultivar Masrri-L16. These markers can be verified as being RAPD markers associated with salt tolerance in the two canola genotypes that help in marker-assisted selection breeding programs

[Management of severe psoriasis: about 50 cases]

Background: With its varied clinical presentation, psoriasis is actually considered as a public health care problem. Severe psoriasis remains difficult to treat

Methods: Our study was retrospective involving 50 patient with severe psoriasis treated in the dermatology unit of military hospital of Tunis from January 1990 to December 2003

Aim of our study was to evaluate actual different therapeutic attitudes and new treatments in case of severe psoriasis

Results: During the 14 years studied the frequency of severe psoriasis was about 19,5%. Extended psoriasis was noticed on 64% of the patients. Arthropatic psoriasis was found on only 6% of the patients. Erythrodermic psoriasis, pustular psoriasis and palmoplantar psoriatic keratoderma were equally noticed in 10% of the patients. PUVA-therapy was firstly prescribed on 96,6% of the patient with extended psoriasis, bettering was noticed on 71% of all them during the 3 first cures. From the 20 patients that have received acitretin, 65% have noticed improvement. Methotrexate and RE-PUVA was secondarily used [only for the cases of psoriasic arthritis amd methotrexate] on respectively 18% and 10% of the patients. All our patients reported worsening on them quality of life

Conclusion: Cyclosporin is more and more used initially in cases of rebellious psoriasis. Actually therapeutic hope leans on biological therapies

[Pulmonary tuberculosis associated with cutaneous and mediastinal sarcoidosis - a case report]

The association of sarcoidosis and tuberculosis is rare and its differentiation is sometimes very difficult. We report a case of a 49 years woman presenting insidious erythematous and nodular lesions of the face that histologically revealed non caseating granulomas of the dermis and diagnosed as cutaneous sarcoidosis. We have concomitantly diagnosed evolutive pulmonary and nasal tuberculosis treated during 2 months with isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamid and streptomycin and for 6 months with isoniazid and rifampicin. The evolution of nasal obstruction was favorable and pulmonary bacteriologic examination was negative at two months treatment but mediastinal adenopathy and cutaneous lesions were unchanged. The patient was treated with Isotretinoin 60 mg daily during 6 months inducing regression of cutaneous lesions but adenopathy still unchanged. At 8-months follow-up the patient is still free of cutaneous recurrence. In our patient cutaneous sarcoidosis appeared concomitantly with evolutive tuberculosis raising further questions about the role of mycobacterium in causing this granulomatous disorder. In addition cutaneous nodules responded to isotretinoin suggesting that this drug can be useful in cutaneous sarcoidosis

new route for the synthesis of some quinazoline derivatives

S-methyl monothiomalonanilide hydroiodide 1 is a versatile compound for synthesizing the aimed quinazoline derivatives. Thus, compound 1 reacted with either anthranilic acid or ethyl anthranilate hydrochloride to yield 2. Also, polysubstituted pyranylquinazolinone was obtained by the reaction of quinazolin derivative 6 with p-chloro- alpha-cyano-cinnamonitrile 9. Chemical and spectroscopic evidences for the structures of the newly synthesized compounds were described

Some studies on potato common scab disease. Pathological studies

Three streptomyces isolates causing potato common scab disease [i.e., S1, S2 and S3] were successfully isolated and identified from the growing areas at Menia. Pathogenicity tests, either in the laboratory or pots, revealed that potato cultivars Alpha, Diamont and Spunta could be infected by all three S. scabies isolates. The tested isolates caused lesions on the root tips of radish, software, soybean, squash, tomato, turnip and wheat seedlings. Only isolate S2 induced lesion on the root tips of cowpea, Nicotiana glutinosa, and sunflower seedlings. None of the S. scabies isolates infected maize seedlings or storage roots of carrot and sweet potato. However, storage roots of radish were infected by the highly pathogenic isolate S2. S. Scabies isolates produced phytotoxic substances with most produced after five days at 25C

Studies on the dissolution of phosphate ore in mineral acids

The dissolution of Abou-Tartor phosphate ore in sulphuric acid, phosphoric-sulphuric acid mixture and hydrochloric acid was studied. The effects of time, temperature, acid/ore ratio and shaking were investigated. The results indicated that the dissolution of the ore in sulphuric acid was rather difficult; but the dissolution in H3PO4- H2SO4 mixture [76.1: 54.5 g] gave good result from 100 g of the ore at an acid/ore ratio of 1.4 after 30 min, at 70 degree and a shaking rate of 100-200 rhm. The optimum condition of the dissolution in HCl/ore ratio of 27: 1 was 80 min, at 25 degree and a rate of shaking of 120 rhm. The obtained results showed that the dissolution of Abou- Tartor phosphate ore in HCl is more preferable than other mineral. acids

Gastric lipoma: a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding

We report the case of a 58 year old lady, admitted to hospital with gastrointestinal bleeding. Oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy demonstrated a protrusion in the gastric wall with erosion of the surface epithelium. Further investigations using a computed tomography scan revealed that the protrusion was in fact a submucosal lipoma, which required surgical intervention. This case has shown that a patient presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding requiring urgent endoscopic examination may also benefit from further investigations such as a computed tomography scan to confirm the diagnosis

Preparation and characterization of some phosphate salts from crude phosphoric acid

Monosodium phosphate, MSP, di - sodium phosphate, DSP, and trisodium phosphate, TSP, samples were prepared both from partially purified and solvent extracted phosphoric acid fractions. Chemical analysis and preliminary tests showed that the degree of purity of the prepared samples from the solvent extracted acid were in good agreement with the standard samples. TGA confirmed the above findings. The x-ray diffraction patterns and IR- spectra showed that the prepared MSP [b,c], DSP [c] and TSP [c]possessed the same crystalline structures and specific IR absorption bands as the standard sample [S]. Preparations from partially purified phosphoric acid using step filtration and back-acidification, indicated that the orthophosphates obtained had satisfactory purity, but it was slightly less than those of samples produced from solvent extracted acid

Extraction and stripping of phosphoric acid from dissoluble phosphate or in hydrochloric acid

H3PO4, CaCl2, and some chlorides of impurities, derived from the phosphate ore, e.g. Al, Fe,... are formed when phosphate ore is dissolved in hydrochloric acid. Both iso-butanol and n-butanol are used to extract H3PO4 from the digestion medium, and H3PO4 is then stripped by water from the organic layer. Optimum conditions of extraction and stripping are studied. A stepwise process to improve the extraction and recovery is also applied. The chemical analysis of the stripped H3PO4 points out that the iron content is reduced to 0.79% and 0.13% and the fluoride content reduced to 3.8%, 4.2% of the original values of iso-butanol and n-butanol, respectively. The results are discussed in comparison with the literature data. They indicated that, the efficiency of extraction and stripping depends on the nature of the solvent, the ratio of the organic to the aqueous layers and the number of steps followed in the process

Comparative study of plasma lipid pattern in schistosomiasis patients and patients with essential hypertension

20 patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis, 20 patients with essential hypertension as well as 20 healthy control subjects were investigated. Their plasma lipid pattern including total lipids, total cholesterol, cholesterol ester, high density lipoprotein [HDL] and low density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol, triglycerides and non-esterified fatty acids [NEFA] were determined as well as apo A and apo B. In the schistosomal group, the level of serum total lipids, total and ester cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apo A and apo B were significantly lower when compared to both controls and hypertensive group. NEFA level was lower while HDL cholesterol was higher than the corresponding hypertensive group values. It could be concluded that the schistosomal group of patients was provided with many factors that diminish the possibility of atherosclerotic changes among them

Purification of wet-process phosphoric acid by solvent extraction

The purification of wet-process phosphoric acid [WPA] by di-isopropyl ether [DIPE] was studied. The partition coefficient, K, of WPA between water and DIPE at different temperatures was determined. The average value amounted to 4.7 X 10-2 at 25, decreasing as the temperature increased from 25 to 55. The extraction of WPA is apparently more favorable around room temperature. It was also found that the extraction of phosphoric acid in the organic layer increased the greater solvent/acid weight ratio. The batch-wise extraction and stripping of phosphoric acid from 200 ml crude acid yielded 39 g of pure phosphoric acid, 154.7 g of pure Na2HPO4, 7H2O and 215.2 g of pure Na3PO4, 8H2O beside 75 g of a precipitated cake during the chemical treatment of the raffinate

Protein and lipids of Peking duck's meat in relation to different diet treatments

Pekin ducks of four weeks age were fed on five differently treated diets, namely, standard diet [18% cereal protein], replaced diet [8% cereal protein + 5% ruman + 5% manure], replaced diet treated by boiling or 1% HCl or 1% NaOH. Feeding was undertaken for four weeks. Gross chemical composition, protein fractions by IEF, lipid classes and fatty acid composition were investigated for duck's meat. Data did not reveal significant differences regarding gross chemical composition, with ash content being the only exception. Electrophoretic patterns explored bands of higher density for diets treated with acid or alkali indicating more hydrolysis of protein and, thereby, elevation of the digestibility of diet. No clear cut trend was traced for lipid classes belonging to legs and breasts. However, all treatments applied in the present study exhibited higher triglyceride fraction as compared to control. It was obvious that treatment of diets by boiling or acid elevated the unsaturated fatty acids in ducks lipid, the effect which is in favor of producing better nutritional quality