Functional and prognostic relevance of -173 G/C gene polymorphism of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in sepsis patients in Egyptian intensive care units

This study aimed to evaluate the association of plasma MIF level and -173 G/C single nucleotide polymorphism of the MIF gene with the occurrence, severity and mortality of sepsis patients. A study was conducted in adult surgical intensive care units of Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt on 25 patients with sepsis, 27 with severe sepsis and 28 controls. Gram-negative bacilli were the most common isolates in both severe sepsis [63.0%] and sepsis [56.0%] patients. A highly statistically significant difference was found in MIF levels between sepsis cases and controls and a statistically significant difference as regards MIF level in different genotypes of the studied groups. MIF level was significantly associated with mortality in sepsis cases. High MIF levels and MIF -173G/C gene polymorphism are powerful predictors of the severity of sepsis and its outcome

Epidemiological characterization of P. aeruginosa isolates of intensive care units in Egypt and Saudi Arabia

This study aimed to characterize Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in 2 intensive care units in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. P. aeruginosa isolates from patients' and staff hands and environmental samples were typed using antibiotyping and ERIC-PCR. In Egypt, isolates from suction apparatus tubing and drainage containers [A7] and AV tubing [A8] were linked to those from patients who had these antibiotypes. In Saudi Arabia, isolates from suction apparatus tubing [A6] and AV tubing [A7] were linked to patients with the same antibiotypes. In Egypt, patients' isolates had ERIC VII, VIII and IX patterns linked to suction apparatus tubing, AV machine tubes and drainage containers. In Saudi Arabia, patients' isolates had ERIC VIII and XI patterns linked to suction apparatus tubing and AV machines. In Egypt and Saudi Arabia, ERIC typing gave higher discriminatory indices [0.801 and 0.785 respectively] than the antibiotyping [0.7123 and 0.728 respectively]. ERIC was superior to antibiotyping and should be used in tracing sources of infection

Toxic effects of five insecticides and their mixture on male albino rats

Five insecticides namely; abamectin, carbosulfan, fenpropathrin, methomyl and profenofos were given by gavages to male albino rats. These insecticides were administered daily for 28 days with doses equaled 1/20 LD 50 either singly or in a mixture of all the insecticides together. The study revealed significant decreases in body and kidneys weights, while increases in liver weights in all the treatments. Most of the treatments induced significant elevations in serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST], while caused decreases in acetylcholinesterase [AChE] activities. Fenpropathrin and the mixture induced significant increase in total protein content of the serum, while the other treatments induced significant decreases. Creatinine concentrations recorded significant elevations in fenpropathrin and methomyl treatments, while significant decrease in case of Profenofos. Degenerative changes and granularity of hepatocytes with Kupffer cells activation were observed in the treatments with the mixture or and methomyl. Shrinking in Bowman's capsule and degenerative changes of epithelium lining renal tubules were observed in rats treated with the mixture. Moreover, necrotic changes associated with desquamation of epithelium lining tubules were shown in rats treated with the mixture, fenpropathrin and methomyl. From the biochemical data, the joint action was estimated for the mixture composed of the five insecticides. The mixture interacts antagonistically with most of the measured biochemical parameters

Comparative effects of some insecticides as technical and formulated on male albino rats

The present study describes the effects of certain technical and formulated forms of chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin and deltamethrin on some haematological and biochemical parameters in rats. The tested insecticides were orally administered in single and repetitive doses. In single dose treatments, haemoglobin [Hb], RBCs and WBC's were highly affected [p

Effect of some insecticides and their binary combinations, with and without antioxidant, on maternal and histopathological aspects in pregnant rats

The hazard effects of 3 insecticides [Avermectin [Av], Imidacloprid [Im], and Fenvalerate [Fn]] belonging to different chemical groups were tested on albino rats. Pregnant rats were orally administered these insecticides either individually or in paired combinations from days 7-21 of gestation in the absence and presence of vitamin C. Generally, the signs of toxicity in dams were tremors, convulsion, diarrhea, general emaciation and a loss in body weight gain. However, the internal organs of liver showed an increase in weight, while that of kidney revealed insignificant changes. The maternal and fetal toxicity were considered by average litter weight, average fetus weight and number of live fetuses/dam. All these parameters were significantly decreased as a result of insecticide applications. The ameliorating effect of vitamin C supplementation was clearly observed in treatment of Im+Fn; where the number of live fetuses/dam improved from 7 to 9, which nearly equals the number of control [10/dam]. Moreover, Kupffer cell activation, granular degradation, pyknosis and cloudy swelling were the major manifestation of liver toxicity, while the histopathological changes in kidney sections were glomerular tuft atrophy and degenerated epithelium lining renal tubules. The sections of ovary revealed stages of necrosis in the luteal cells and hemorrhages between the luteal cells as well. In addition, the brain also revealed signs of focal gliosis and mononuclear infiltration. Normal appearance was regarded in the liver of Av and Av+Im groups following the administration of the antioxidant. The overall results obtained highlight the importance of vitamin C supplementation for ameliorating some hazards of exposure to the studied insecticides

Botanical biocides. 8 impact of some plant extracts on Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and on Schistosoma mansoni miracidia and cercariae

The present work evaluates the molluscicidal, cercaricidal and miracidicidal activities of certain plants extracted by different solvents of increasing polarity [e.g., petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, ethanol and water]. The data obtained from preliminary screening tests conducted on 20 plant species belonging to 10 different families revealed that the highly potent extracts were obtained from 14 plants [e.g., Ambrosia maritima, Artemisia herba-alba, Nigella sativa, Cymbopogon schoenanthus, Mentha longifolia, Thymus capitatus, Acacia nilotica, Lupinus termis, Syzygium aromaticum, Piper nigrum, Quassia amara, Ammi majus, Ammi visnaga and Pimpinella anisum]. The toxicity results indicated that the petroleum ether extract of A. maritima was the most toxic to Biomphalaria alexandrina snails [LC50=56ppm], while M. longifolia ethanolic one was the least [LC50=500ppm]. The LC50 values of 38 different extracts from 12 plant species revealed the high potency of acetone extract of P. nigrum [LC50 = 37ppm] against cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni, while water extracts of P, nigrum and A. visnaga as well as acetone extract of N. sativa [LC50 = 100ppm] were of low potencies. The toxicity tests against miracidia of Schistosoma mansoni indicated that the petroleum ether extract of T. capitatus was the most toxic [LC50 = 27ppm], while chloroform one of A. visnaga was the least toxic [LC50 = 96ppm]

Synthesis of some benzothiazole derivatives of expected biological activity

Denzothiazole was long known to be effective as bacteriostatic, tuberculostatic, fungistatic and molluscicidal agents. The present work describes the synthesis of new 2-methylbenzothiazole derivatives and 2-p[cbloroacetamido] phenyl-6-methylbenzothiazole derivatives which is expected to possess bacteriostatic activity. Treatment of 2-methylbenzothiazolyl magnesium bromide with excess DMF, gave: 2-beazothiazolyl acetaldehyde [I]. The IR spectrum showed a stretching frequencies at 1670 cm[-1] corresponding to C = O group, and the fact that it gave a 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone with correct analytical figures. 2-methylbenzothiazolylmagnesium bromide reacted also with ketones and aldehydes to furnish the corresponding hydroxy and carbinol derivatives, [IIa, b] and [IIIa, b]. The IR spectrum showed a stretching frequencies at 3500 cm[-1] corresponding to free OH group