Therapeutic efficacy of seaweed extract (Ulva Fasciata Delile) against invasive candidiasis in mice.

Candida is the most frequent common causes of invasive fungal infections and associated with high morbidity and mortality. Most of available antifungal agents have side effects. This opened up new avenues to investigate the antifungal efficacy of active extracts from marine algae. So the aim of this study was to evaluate the protective and the curative effect of Ulva fasciata extract against an invasive candidiasis in mice and to study its underlying mechanism. The active ingredients of Ulva fasciata extract were evaluated using HPLC and GC/MS. Fifty mice were included in current work, and the level of inflammatory markers; Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-12, Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were determined using ELISA kits. Hematological, biochemical and oxidative stress parameters were determined using commercial kits. Moreover, the histopathological examinations were carried on liver, kidney and spleen for all groups. The results obtained showed that treatment with U. fasciata either before or after Candida infection significantly improved the hematological, biochemical alterations and antioxidant status caused by this infection. Furthermore, the U. fasciata reduced histopathological changes induced by Candida as well as it could increase the expression of IL-12 and IFN-γ while minimized the expression of TNF-α and IL-4 in all infected mice compared to infected untreated mice. These data propose that U. fasciata can ameliorate inflammatory reactions related to Candida albicans cytotoxicity via its ability to augment cellular antioxidant defenses by its active compounds.

Therapeutic efficacy of seaweed extract (Ulva Fasciata Delile) against invasive candidiasis in mice

@#Candida is the most frequent common causes of invasive fungal infections and associated with high morbidity and mortality. Most of available antifungal agents have side effects. This opened up new avenues to investigate the antifungal efficacy of active extracts from marine algae. So the aim of this study was to evaluate the protective and the curative effect of Ulva fasciata extract against an invasive candidiasis in mice and to study its underlying mechanism. The active ingredients of Ulva fasciata extract were evaluated using HPLC and GC/MS. Fifty mice were included in current work, and the level of inflammatory markers; Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-12, Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were determined using ELISA kits. Hematological, biochemical and oxidative stress parameters were determined using commercial kits. Moreover, the histopathological examinations were carried on liver, kidney and spleen for all groups. The results obtained showed that treatment with U. fasciata either before or after Candida infection significantly improved the hematological, biochemical alterations and antioxidant status caused by this infection. Furthermore, the U. fasciata reduced histopathological changes induced by Candida as well as it could increase the expression of IL-12 and IFN-γ while minimized the expression of TNF-α and IL-4 in all infected mice compared to infected untreated mice. These data propose that U. fasciata can ameliorate inflammatory reactions related to Candida albicans cytotoxicity via its ability to augment cellular antioxidant defenses by its active compounds.

Comparative study between laparoscopic and open repair of paraumbilical hernia.

UNLABELLED: This randomized prospective study compared the effectiveness of laparoscopic paraumbilical hernioplasty to the conventional open technique. Forty patients with paraumbilical hernia were randomly categorized into 2 equal groups. GL treated by laparoscopic paraumbilical hernioplasty and GO treated by conventional (open) umbilical hernioplasty. The mean length of follow up was 36 months. In GL, mean operative time was 58.1 +/- 15.5 minutes, in GO, it was 42.2 +/- 10.3 minutes (p = 0.0005). Postoperative pain score 6 hours after surgery was 2.95 +/- 1.19 in GL patients as compared to 6.10 +/- 1.74 in GO ones (p < 0.0001). Mean hospitalization time was 1.05 +/- 0.224 days in GL versus 1.25 +/- 0.550 days in G O (p = 0.14). There was one conversion (5%) to the open repair. Postoperative seroma occurred in 2 patients (10%) in GL and 3 patients (15%) in GO. Three patients (15%) in G O developed surgical site infection. Hernia recurrence was not seen in either 2 Groups. Mean patient satisfaction score for GL patients was 7.85 +/- 1.27 versus 6.00 +/- 1.69 for GO patients (p = 0.0004). CONCLUSION: Compared to open repair, laparoscopic repair is technically feasible, safe and effective, with good clinical outcome. It is associated with longer time for surgery but reduced postoperative pain, analgesic requirement, complication and infection rates with earlier return to normal activities.