Evaluating the Effect of Lactobacillus casei FEGY 9973 and Curcumin on Experimental Giardiasis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Giardia is a parasitic hard protozoan that causes a variety of parasitological and pathological changes in gastrointestinal epithelial cells and is resistant to a variety of disinfectants and treatments. This study used experimental animals infected with Giardia Lamblia to assess the potential therapeutic effect of Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus bulgaricus (Lactobacillus in yoghurt) and curcumin in comparison to one of the commonly used drugs (metronidazole). METHODS: The study included 54 Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) that ranged in weight from 80 to 100 g and were divided into six groups: The effect of the used preparations was assessed in terms of parasitological and histopathological aspects in Group I non-infected healthy control, Group II infected non-treated, Group III infected treated with metronidazole MTZ, Group IV infected treated with Lactobacillus casei, Group V infected treated with curcumin, and Group VI infected treated with, Lactobacillus bulgaricus (Lactobacillus in yoghurt). The number of G. lamblia cysts per gram of stool was counted during the parasitological examination. RESULTS: The difference between the infected non-treated group and all the treated groups was statistically significant (P0.05). When compared to the infected untreated group, Lactobacillus casei and, Lactobacillus bulgaricus (Lactobacillus in yoghurt) produced a 100% reduction in G. lamblia cyst shedding, curcumin produced an 87.80% reduction in number of cysts, and metronidazole produced a 78.4% reduction in number of cysts. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight the potentially effective therapeutic effect of different preparations of probiotics and curcumin against Giardiasis.

Enhanced blood lymphocytes apoptosis in children with inflammatory bowel disease.

The aim of this work was to measure peripheral lymphocyte apoptosis during IBD flare and remission. Subjects and Methods. Flow-cytometric assessment of apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was assessed in 30 children with IBD (16 with ulcerative colitis and 14 with Crohn's disease) compared to 22, age and sex matched, healthy children. This was carried out during a flare, whether in newly diagnosed or relapsing patients, and after achievement of remission. Clinical findings, complete blood count, liver transaminases, and kidney functions were assessed. Results. Early apoptotic and late apoptotic/necrotic lymphocytes were significantly higher during IBD flare compared to controls (P ≤ 0.01 and <0.01, resp., in ulcerative colitis and P ≤ 0.01 and <0.01, resp., in Crohn's disease patients). Remission values were significantly decreased but did not come back to the control levels. Early apoptotic values were significantly related to joint involvement in IBD patients (P < 0.0001). Conclusions. We can speculate a systemic nature of IBD as evident by enhanced peripheral lymphocyte apoptosis. This is related, to a great extent, to the disease process as it is more deranged in flare than in remission. Relation of this derangement to extraintestinal manifestations needs a special attention.

Toward the understanding of the metabolism of levodopa I. DFT investigation of the equilibrium geometries, acid-base properties and levodopa-water complexes.

Levodopa (LD) is used to increase dopamine level for treating Parkinson's disease. The major metabolism of LD to produce dopamine is decarboxylation. In order to understand the metabolism of LD; the electronic structure of levodopa was investigated at the Density Functional DFT/B3LYP level of theory using the 6-311+G** basis set, in the gas phase and in solution. LD is not planar, with the amino acid side chain acting as a free rotator around several single bonds. The potential energy surface is broad and flat. Full geometry optimization enabled locating and identifying the global minimum on this Potential energy surface (PES). All possible protonation/deprotonation forms of LD were examined and analyzed. Protonation/deprotonation is local in nature, i.e., is not transmitted through the molecular framework. The isogyric protonation/deprotonation reactions seem to involve two subsequent steps: First, deprotonation, then rearrangement to form H-bonded structures, which is the origin of the extra stability of the deprotonated forms. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of LD and its deprotonated forms reveals detailed information of bonding characteristics and interactions across the molecular framework. The effect of deprotonation on the donor-acceptor interaction across the molecular framework and within the two subsystems has also been examined. Attempts to mimic the complex formation of LD with water have been performed.

Nicotine restores monoamine neurotransmitter changes in the cortex and hippocampus of reserpinized rats as a model of depression.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A number of studies have shown that nicotine has an antidepressant-like effect. The prevalence of smoking is much higher in people suffering from depression. In addition, the administration of nicotine from transdermal nicotine patch can exert antidepressant activity in nonsmokers and the continuous infusion of nicotine to rats attenuates learned helplessness, a putative behavioral model of depression. The aim of the present study is to elucidate the neurochemical effect of nicotine on monoamine levels in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of reserpinized rats as a model of depression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, rats were divided into control animals treated with saline and reserpinized group which received a daily i.p injection of reserpine for 15 days to establish the animal model of depression. Starting from the 16th day, the reserpinized rats were divided into reserpinized rats, and reserpinized rats treated daily with nicotine (0.4 mg/kg) for 15 and 30 days. After decapitation, the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of each rat were dissected out. The levels of monoamine neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine) were measured in each area using a spectrofluorimeter. RESULTS: The daily i.p injection of reserpine induced a significant decrease in monoamine levels in the cortex and hippocampus. Nicotine administration restored the changes in monoamine neurotransmitters induced by reserpine in both areas after 30 days. DISCUSSION: The data of the present study suggest that the antidepressant-like effect of nicotine could be mediated by the effect of nicotine on monoamine neurotransmitters in the cortex and hippocampus of rat brain.

Relation between hypercholesterolaemia and vascular endothelial microinflammation.

We investigated the correlation between hypercholesterolaemia and oxidative stress and P-selectin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as markers for endothelial status. We studied 40 Egyptian adults with asymptomatic hypercholesterolaemia and 20 age- and sex-matched controls. Lipid peroxidation was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the study group and positively correlated with cholesterol (P < 0.001) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (P < 0.002). Glutathione peroxidase activity was also significantly higher (P < 0.001) with positive correlation with cholesterol (P < 0.001) and LDL (P < 0.001). Markers for endothelial cell function were significantly higher in the study group (P < 0.001) with a positive correlation with cholesterol (P < 0.001) and LDL (P < 0.001). Hypercholesterolaemia causes endothelial microinflammation, and P-selectin and IL-6 may also be risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Relation between hypercholesterolaemia and vascular endothelial microinflammation

We investigated the correlation between hypercholesterolaemia and oxidative stress and P-selectin and interleukin-6 [IL-6] as markers for endothelial status. We studied 40 Egyptian adults with asymptomatic hypercholesterolaemia and 20 age- and sex-matched controls. Lipid peroxidation was significantly higher [P < 0.001] in the study group and positively correlated with cholesterol [P < 0.001] and low-density lipoprotein [LDL] [P < 0.002]. Glutathione peroxidase activity was also significantly higher [P < 0.001] with positive correlation with cholesterol [P < 0.001] and LDL [P < 0.001]. Markers for endothelial cell function were significantly higher in the study group [P < 0.001] with a positive correlation with cholesterol [P < 0.001] and LDL [P < 0.001]. Hypercholesterolaemia causes endothelial microinflammation, and P-selectin and IL-6 may also be risk factors for cardiovascular disease

Synthesis and radiation stability of novel biologically active sulfur compounds derived from 1,2-bis(4-amino-5-mercapto-s-triazol-3-yl)ethane.

Some novel 1,2-bis(s-triazolo[3,4b][1,3,4]thiadiazino-3-yl)ethane (4-7); 1,2-bis(s-triazolo[3,4b][1,3,4]thiadiazol-3-yl)ethane (16a,b) and 1,2-bis(s-triazolo[3,4b][1,3,4]thiadiazepino-3-yl)ethane (17) were synthesized via reaction of 1,2-bis(4-amino-5-mercapto-s-triazol-3-yl)ethane (3) with different reagents. Identification of the new compounds was established by elemental analyses, IR, 1H NMR and mass spectral data. Compounds 12, 13, 16b and 17 were promising antifungal activity. The biologically active compounds 13, 16b and 17 were radioresistant retaining their structures unchanged up to 40 k Gy. Radiosterilization of these compounds in the dry state may prove to be applicable.

Availability studies on acetylsalicylic acid, salicylamide and phenacetin at different pH values.

The optimum partitioning rate of acetylsalicylic acid has been attained at pH = 4 and minimum partitioning rate was found to be at pH = 8. The maximum partitioning rate of salicylamide was observed at pH = 5 and the smallest one was found at pH = 6 or 8. At pH = 3 a maximum amount of phenacetin was found in the aqueous phase, while at pH = 6 a maximum amount was found in the octanolic layer. The maximum partitioning rate was found at pH = 6 and lowest one was observed at pH = 3. The gastrointestinal absorption of acetylsalicylic acid, salicylamide and phenacetin was significantly increased, as reflected by the urinary excretion data in presence of solid buffer components at pH values of 4,5 and 6 respectively.

Effect of certain additives on the diffusion characteristics through a cellophane membrane of acetylsalicylic acid, salicylamide and phenacetin. Part 1: Effect of certain surface active agents.

The diffusion rate (D. R.) of certain ionic and non-ionic surfactant concentrations through a standard cellophane membrane was studied. D. R. of acetylsalicylic acid significantly increased in the presence of 0.1% w/v Brij 35, Tween 20 or 40 respectively. The other tested surfactants slightly increased D. R. of acetylsalicylic acid, while that of salicylamide increased in presence of 0.1% w/v of either Tween 20, 40, 60 or 80; Myrj 52 or 59; Brij 58; benzalkonium chloride, cetrimide or sodium lauryl sulphate. The highest D. R. of phenacetin was observed in presence of either 0.01% w/v Tween 20 or 0.001% w/v Brij 35.