Hypoglycemic effect of the aqueous extracts of lupinus albus, medicago sativa [seeds] and their mixture on diabetic rats

The number of people suffering diabetes mellitus is increasing worldwide at an alarming rate. A huge number of populations in the world are entirely dependent on traditional medications. This practice may be due to their safety, effectiveness, and availability as well as their fewer side effects when compared to the synthetic hypoglycemic agents. The present study was carried out to investigate and compare the activity of Lupinus albus [seeds], Medicago sativa [seeds] and the mixture of both plants seeds on some biochemical, hematological and histological parameters in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Twenty-five male adult albino rats were divided into two groups: group 1: control group [five animals] and group 2: alloxan induced diabetic rats. Diabetic rats were further divided into four subgroups, five animals each. Subgroup1: diabetic untreated rats; subgroup 2: diabetic rates treated with aqueous extract of Lupinus albus seeds; subgroup 3: diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract of Medicago sativa seeds; and finally subgroup 4: diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract of the mixture of Lupinus albus and Medicago sativa seeds. After thirty days of treatment all rats were sacrificed, blood sample were collected to estimate some biochemical and hematological parameters. Liver samples were collected to determine their glycogen content and pancreatic samples were obtained and processed for microscopic and quantitative evaluation. In diabetic group, there was reduction in body weight's, hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia, significant increase in some parameters of liver and kidney functions as well as significant changes in lipids profile and proteins level with significant decreased liver glycogen content. All treated groups restored most of the mentioned parameters to their normal values. Moreover, these treatments recorded partial improvement in the histopathological changes produced by alloxan. The aqueous extract of Lupinus albus or Medicago sativa [seeds] or by their mixture has hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects by increasing insulin level and decreasing insulin resistance. In addition, they ameliorate most complications of diabetes

Intrathecal ketorolac injection in albino rats; pharmacological and histological study

Ketorolac tromethamine is a potent injectable non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug [NSAID]. Ketorolac provides successful analgesia after intrathecal or epidural injection. It is frequently used to manage post-operative pain, cancer pain, and arthritis either intrathecally, or intramuscular. However, its long term administration could induce renal toxicity and/or gastro-intestinal ulceration. The aim of this study was to assess the analgesic potency of ketorolac after intrathecal injection. Also, we aimed to study the histological effect of ketorolac on the spinal cord and the duodenum after treatment in an animal model. 40 adult male albino rats, weighing 250-350 gm, were used and divided into 4 groups, 10 rats each. Group S [control] received 10 microl normal saline intrathecally, group K50 received 50microg ketorolac intrathecally, group K50 + omeprazole [proton pump inhibitor] received 50microg ketorolac intrathecally plus 0.2 mg omeprazole orally, and finally, group K100 received 100microg ketorolac intrathecally. All animals were treated for four successive days. The rat tail flick latency was longer in K50, K50 + omeprazole, and K100 groups when compared to normal control [P = 0.002]. Also, the hind-paw withdrawal latency was longer in treated groups when compared to those of the control group [P = 0.0001]. Moreover, K50 group showed decreased phase II response by 61%, K50 + omeprazole group showed decreased phase II by 62%, while K100 group showed decreased it by 76%. Histological examination revealed no changes in the spinal cord of all treated animals. Also, examination of the duodenum showed normal duodenal mucosa in group K50 and those of group K50 + omeprazole. On the other hand, cellular infiltration as well as destruction of the mucous acini have been noticed in the duodenum of K100 group. Ketorolac could be a good alternative drug used intrathecally to manage pain

Cytogenetic study in couples with recurrent miscarriage

Recurrent miscarriage [RM] is a mysterious reproductive problem affecting a proportion of couples trying to conceive. Although spontaneous abortion occurs in approximately 15 to 20% of clinically diagnosed pregnancies of reproductive-aged women, recurrent miscarriage occurs in approximately 1 to 2% of these women. Many syndromes are involved in the aetiology of RM, where genetic factors appear to be highly associated. Indeed, chromosomal anomaly constitutes the single most common cause. About 7% of couples with RM have one partner with balanced chromosomal rearrangement. This study is a prospective study carried out to evaluate the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in couples suffering recurrent miscarriage. The present study included one hundred couples attending the antenatal clinic. They have been divided into two groups; the first, is a study group, included 50 couples with recurrent miscarriage. And the second, is a control group, included 50 couples with normal reproductive history. Conventional cytogenetic analysis was done for both groups. We have found four cases [8%] carrying chromosomal rearrangements [two reciprocal translocations, one Robertsonian translocation, and one with duplicated chromosome segment] among RM group, and no cases of chromosomal rearrangement among those with normal reproductive history. Statistically, there was a significant association between recurrent miscarriage and chromosomal rearrangement. We have concluded that chromosome analysis is highly important to evaluate such cases with RM

Histological study of the influence of bioactive glass on bone healing [an experimental study on rat femur]

The objective is to study the histological influence of the bioactive glass on bone healing in surgically created holes in rat's femur. The two wall holes were made in the right femurs by 2-mm drill, filled with bioactive glass in the examined rats. Another two wall holes were made similarly in the right femurs of other group of rats without filling with bioactive glass and used as the control group. Animals were regularly examined over a period of five weeks for bone healing. Histological examination of both control and treated sites showed newly formed bone. The newly formed ostoid tissue was significantly increased in the treated holes in the form of foci of newly formed bone around and within the glass particles. In the control group, the junctional epithelium migrated up to the base of the hole. The treated animals with bioactive glass had better healing than control. The bioactive glass particles have osteo-conductive property as well as osteo-stimulatory capacity. The graft material showed a promising inhibition of greater cementum deposition in the bone holes. We can use it in Osteosurgery as it can promote bone healing

Protective effect of simvastatin against adriamycin-induced nepherotoxicity in rats; biochemical and histological study

The usefulness of adriamycin [ADR], a potent anti-tumor antibiotic, is limited by the development of life-threatening cardiomyopathy and nephropathy. The cellular changes leading to these toxicities are suggested to be mediated by increased free radicals and lipid peroxidation. The current study was aimed to investigate the protective role of simvastatin [SIM] on adriamycin-induced nephrotoxicity in rat using biochemical, and histological approaches. Twenty eight healthy male Swiss albino rats were used and divided into four groups : CONT [control], ADR [adriamycin treated], SIM [simvastatin treated], and SIM+ADR [simvastatin plus adriamycin treated]. Blood samples were collected and used to determine the serum urea, creatinine, albumin, and total protein levels. Both kidneys were removed, one of them was prepared for histological examinations and the other was stored at -70 °C for subsequent measurement of malondialdehyde [MDA], glutathione [GSH] contents and phase II antioxidants enzymes activities. Glutathione [GSH] level, glutathione-s-transferase [GST] and DT-diphorase activities were decreased, while the lipid peroxidation was increased in kidney tissue. Administration of SIM [cumulative dose, 60mg/kg body wt] in 12 equal injections [PO], before and concurrent with ADR, more or less prevented these nephropathic changes, normalized kidney function, and eliminated ascitis. Treatment with SIM was also accompanied by an increase in kidney GSH level as well as DT-diphorase activities with a concomitant decrease in lipid peroxidation. Histological examination revealed extensive and marked tubular necrosis in the ADR-treated kidney. Administration of Simvastatin reversed kidney damage with a marked reduction in tubular damage induced by ADR. These data show that SIM can provide coma protection against ADR nephropathy. This protective effect of SIM may be related to the antioxidant status on the kidney