Alkaloids from the bulbs of Crinum bulbispermum.

Two new alkaloids, namely 8-hydroxylycorin-7-one and 2-deoxylycorine were isolated from Crinum bulbispermum along with the known compounds vittatine, 11-hydroxyvittatine and hippamine.

Serum TPS versus TPA in Egyptian bladder cancer patients.

This study included 328 cases (106 with bladder cancer, 152 with non-malignant urinary tract diseases and 70 healthy controls). Serum TPA was determined using the Prolifigen TPA IRMA kit supplied by AB Sangtec Medical, Bromma, Sweden and serum TPS was determined using the TPS IRMA kit supplied by Beki Diagnostics AB, Bromma, Sweden. The results of this study revealed that serum TPA had better sensitivity than serum TPS while no marked difference was found in the false-positivity rates in the non-malignant urinary tract diseases. A correlation coefficient of 0.83 was found between serum TPA and TPS. No relation was found between either TPA or TPS and histopathological stage, grade or association of the tumor with bilharziasis. As regards the histopathological type of the tumor, serum TPS was slightly higher in squamous cell than transitional cell carcinoma but TPA showed no difference. In the follow-up of bladder cancer patients after surgery both TPA and TPS showed an excellent concordance with the clinical state of the patients. In conclusion, TPS does not seem to be an optimal test in Egyptian patients with bladder cancer but serial determinations of one of the two markers can be used in the follow-up of these patients after surgery.

Simultaneous determination of urinary CEA, ferritin and TPA in Egyptian bladder cancer patients.

Urinary carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), ferritin (Fer) and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) were determined in 328 cases (106 with bladder cancer, 152 with non-malignant urinary tract disease and 70 healthy controls). CEA was determined by the kit supplied by Roche Diagnostica (CEA EIA Doumab 60), ferritin by the Tandem-E Fer kit supplied by Hybritech and TPA by the Prolifigen TPA-IRMA kit supplied by Sangtec Medical. The results of this work revealed that combined determination of urine CEA and Fer, CEA and TPA or Fer and TPA showed higher sensitivity than determination of the individual markers. There was no significant difference between combined and individual marker determination with respect to false positivity in non-malignant urinary tract diseases. At 97% specificity, the sensitivities of urine CEA, Fer and TPA were 82.1%, 71.7% and 90.6%, respectively, while combined urine CEA & Fer, CEA & TPA and Fer & TPA showed sensitivities of 92.5%, 99.1% and 98.1%, respectively. When the specificity was related to the entire non-cancer group (patients with benign urinary tract diseases and normal controls), some reduction in the sensitivities of the combined markers was noted compared to the normal group only. In conclusion, combined determination of urine markers is superior to determination of individual markers in the diagnosis of bladder cancer.

The effect of undernutrition of beef cows on blood hormone and metabolite concentrations post partum.

Twelve Hereford Friesian cows were allocated to either a high plane (HP) or a low plane of nutrition (LP) post-partum. HP animals received rations supplying sufficient energy and protein for maintenance plus 10 kg/day milk yield. LP cows were offered approximately 70% of their maintenance needs for 63 days post-partum. Thereafter they received the same ration as the HP animals. A mineral vitamin supplement was included in all concentrates fed. Calves were only permitted to suckle twice daily and all animals were weighed once weekly. Blood samples were taken once daily and the levels of serum progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL) estimated. Once weekly blood samples and diurnal samples (once fortnightly) were measured for their content of insulin, non esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose, total protein, albumin and urea. Oestrus was detected by visual observation and by intra vaginal electrical resistivity and ovulation was confirmed by rectal palpation. After 110 days all animals were synchronized with two injections of prostaglandin. This was followed by fixed time insemination at 72 and 96 hours. Time from parturition to first ovulation was: HP; 39 +/- 8.7 days; LP, 65,3 +/- 33,2 days. All HP animals showed regular cyclic ovarian activity whereas only 3 of the LP cows were normal (LPR). The ovarian activity of the remaining LP cows (LPI) was almost completely suppressed. Of the animals that cycled normally there was no difference in progesterone concentrations between treatments. Average LH concentrations did not differ between HP and LP or between LPR and LPI cows. HP cows maintained their body weight post-partum whilst the LP lost 21.4 +/- 4.40% by day 63. Milk yield of the LPI animals was consistently higher than that of the LPR and it was found that the nine regularly cyclic animals had a lower milk yield to body weight ratio than those that failed to cycle properly (P less than 0.05). Differences between the HP and LP cows were found in relation to insulin, PRL, glucose, NEFA, urea and albumin concentrations. No variation in these parameters was observed that could explain the divergence in ovarian activity of the LPR and LPI groups.