Persea americana attenuates inflammatory response associated with hyperlipidemia in ovariectomized and irradiated rats by regulating MMP-3/TIMP-1 levels

Objective: To explore the effect of Persea americana supplementation on inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipid profiles in ovariectomized rats fed with a high-fat diet and exposed to radiation. Methods: The control group was sham operated, while groups 2-5 were ovariectomized and fed a high-fat diet. Groups 4 and 5 were exposed to γ-radiation (1 Gy/week for 5 weeks) after ovariectomy. Groups 3 and 5 were treated with 1 mL/250 g/day of Persea americana for one month. Serum levels of estrogen, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoproteins were measured. Additionally, hepatic oxidative stress, inflammatory and fibrogenic markers were evaluated. Results: Persea americana treatment reduced the oxidative stress markers as well as the levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which in turn lowered hepatic fat accumulation. Moreover, it suppressed hepatic inflammatory mediators (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and C-reactive protein) and downregulated pro-fibrogenic markers (transforming growth factor-β and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1). Conclusions: Persea americana provides protection against ovariectomy, and gamma radiation-mediated hepatic inflammation not only through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering effect but also by modulating the fibrogenic markers.

Adolescent abuse in a community sample in Beni Suef, Egypt: prevalence and risk factors

Adolescent abuse was studied in 555 school students [mean age 15.6 +/- 1.5 years] selected by multistage random sampling in Beni Suef in 1998. Each student received a general physical examination and a pre-coded questionnaire to identify determinants of abuse. Prevalence of abuse was 36.6%. Emotional, physical, sexual and combined abuse prevalence was 12.3%, 7.6%, 7.0% and 9.7% respectively. Significant predictors of sexual abuse were hyperactive child, disabled child, disinterested mother, low birth order child or wasted child. For physical abuse, significant predictors were maternal disinterest, maternal education and injuries. Significant predictors of emotional abuse were overcrowding, disease and mistreatment by a teacher. Violent behaviour was reported for more than 20% of the emotionally and the sexually abused

Incidence of rhesus isoimmunization in rhesus-negative mothers in Ramadi, Iraq, in the mid-1990s

This work was carried out in Ramadi, Iraq over the period 1993 to 1997. Of 487 rhesus [Rh]-negative mothers tested and followed up, 172 were primigravida, 1.7% of whom were Rh-isoimmunized. The frequency of isoimmunization increased with increasing number of pregnancies [4.9% for second pregnancies to 45.4% for fifth pregnancies]. Comparison of our results with other earlier studies shows that the incidence of Rh-isoimmunization in our study was considerably greater than the others

Studies on motile aeromonas septicemia infection in cultured carp in Egypt

The problem of Motile Aeromonas septicemia [MAS] among common carp [Cyprinus carpio L.] and the toxicological characters of the extracellular products [ECPs] produced by Aeromonas hydrophila [A. hydrophila] organism were studied. Bacteriological examination revealed the isolation of ten A. hydrophila isolates which were identified into three virulent isolates to common carp while the rest of isolates were less virulent

Activity of some diagnostic enzymes in bilharzial bladder and colonic malignant tissues

Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G-6-PD] and pyruvate kinase [PK] were determined in 11 malignant bladder lesions, 8 tissues with bilharzial infection origin, as well as 11 unaffected [healthy] tissues. Similarly, the two enzymes were evaluated in 10 malignant and 8 bilharzial colonic tissues, compared with 8 healthy unaffected tissues. The pyruvate kinase mean activity was decreased in malignant bladder carcinoma tissues compared to unaffected ones taken from the same patients. While, G-6-PD activity was increased in malignant bladder tissues compared to healthy [unaffected] tissues, and these differences were statistically significant. No significant difference relative to normal tissues was recorded in the activity of the two enzymes as assayed in the isolated colonic malignant tissues. It is evident that bilharzial infection causes a significant inhibition in the activities of both enzymes in bladder tissues compared to malignant tissues, while colonic bilharzial lesions had significantly lower PK and G-6-PD activity. This inhibition become statistically insignificant in colonic tissues comparing to unaffected ones. It was concluded that both enzymes are valuable biomarkers in prognosis of malignant tumors together with their diagnostic role in bilharzial malignant tumors

Therapeutic modulation of praziquantel on the renal functions among Egyptian bilharzial pregnant patents

This study included 66 women, 18 normal and normal pregnant women as negative controls, and 48 patients classified into four groups. Group 1 included pregnant-dependent bilharziasis patients. Group 2 included non-pregnant-dependent bilharziasis patients. Group 3 included pregnant bilharziasis patients receiving therapy treatment. And group 4 included non-pregnant bilharzial patients receiving therapy. The groups were subjected to a battery of renal function tests. Two-three months after antischistosomal therapy, these renal functions were reassessed. All renal function parameters, urea, uric acid and creatinine, were found to be significantly elevated above normal values due to pregnancy either in healthy [controls] or illness women. The communication was extended to attenuate the severity of bilharziasis through praziquantel treatment. The results revealed that the tested renal functions were significantly reduced secondary to infection. No significant correlation existed between drug treatment and simple infection cases which gives an acute evidence that the drug tended to normalize the inhibitory action of infection particularly in chronic cases, where there was a sharp decline in its concentration, but still slight higher than control normal levels. It was concluded that a part of the selected drug was excreted through the kidney, but the main site of its action was excreted through the liver

Histopathological and immunological studies on aeromonas hydrophila infection in common carp

The histopathological changes induced by Aeromonas hydrophila [A. hydrophila] organism among common carp [Cyprinus carpio L.] was investigated. The immune response of common carp inoculated with formalized whole culture and formal toxoid vaccines of Aeromonas hydrophila was also studied

Observations on the use of Durban as a molluscicide on some biochemical processes in biomphalaria alexandrina snails

The effect of Dursban as a molluscicide on the enzymatic activities of lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] and glucose-6-phosphatase [G-6-pase] in addition to its effect on total proteins and free fatty acids in tissue homogenate of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails were determined. The compound had a slight effect on the previously mentioned items at both 0.5 and 3 ppm concentrations, turned to significantly inhibition when 6 ppm concentration was added. The Dursban effect and its molluscicidal activity is discussed in details

Serum alkaline phosphatase activity during pregnancy and the post-partum period in bilharzial Egyptian patients

Serum alkaline phosphatase [ALP] activity was determined in Egyptian bilharzial patients at various stages of pregnancy and the eighteen months following delivery and compared with the levels found in non bilharzial pregnant women. As a control group, the enzymatic activity was determined in non bilharzial non pregnant women who were not nursing babies. There was statistically significant fall in mean enzyme activity in the second trimester, followed by a rise above normal in the third trimester. During the 18 months following delivery, the mean serum ALP activities were significantly raised. Increase in plasma volume which occurs during pregnancy is suggested as the cause of the fall in serum enzyme activity in the second trimester, whereas the rise in enzyme activity in the third trimester is attributed to the well-known increase in serum alkaline phosphatase of placental origin. The prolonged elevation of serum ALP activity in the postpartum months is most likely due to the traditional prolonged breast-feeding in Egypt. Concerning the effect of bilharziasis on the enzyme activity, there was a statistically significant increase in the enzymatic activity in all stages whether during pregnancy or postpartum periods. This elevation was attributed to tissue damage by the worms or to toxic substances elaborated by them