Search

The first solid phase synthesis of the important anthelmintic praziquantel is described. The synthesis is rapid and efficient. The method may be extended to the synthesis of libraries of urgently needed replacements for this drug.

Background Bladder cancer is the most prevalent cancer in Egypt and in most African countries. Two distinct types of bladder cancer exist in Egypt, namely the bilharzial and non-bilharzial types. Nitric oxide (NO) exerts several functions in benign and malignant human tissues. Many studies have proved significantly higher urinary NO levels, as well as presence of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in bladder tumors. Because tissue iNOS is responsible for the production of urinary and serum NO, it is possible that urine from bladder cancer patients includes high levels of NO. Aim of the work To study serum and urinary levels of NO as well as iNOS expression in bladder tissue of patients with different chronic schistosomal and non-schistosomal bladder lesions including malignancy to determine the possibility of using them as biological markers for early diagnosis and prediction of the clinical out come of bladder tumors. Patients and methods Sixty five patients; 40 with malignancy and 25 with chronic cystitis, were included in the study. Seventeen individuals with apparently normal urothelium served as controls. NO was assayed in urine and serum using the modified Griss reaction technique. Expression of iNOS in bladder tissue was determined by indirect immunohistochemical techniques. Results All controls were negative for NO in both serum and urine. The rate of positivity of NO in sera of the malignant group was significantly higher than in the chronic cystitis group ( p p p Conclusion Urinary and serum NO levels as well as iNOS expression in bladder tissue could be used as tumor markers for diagnosis of bladder cancer. Urinary NO could be also used as an early non-invasive predictive marker for the tumor behavior and prognosis.

To control spread of Schistosma mansoni infection, rapid investigation of infected Biomphalaria Alexandrina snails that surveyed from any suspected area of a field, must be evaluated before shedding of cercariae. Detection of S. mansoni antigens in snails hemolymph was exposed to be an accurate and rapid method for assessment of infected snails. In the present study, two murine monoclonal antibodies (MABs) against soluble egg antigen (SEA) were employed for detecting S. mansoni in the hemolymph of 143 infected B. Alexandrina snails and 88 normal control snails, by using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (sandwich ELISA). Also, 63 snails and 56 snails of B. glabrata and Bulinus truncularia respectively were examined. The optical density (OD) values of SEA were measured in the hemolymph of infected snails. A total of 143 infected snails showed 100% percentage of positivety. Optical density at intervals 1, 2, 3 weeks post-exposure (prepatency) was measured and percentage positivity was 7%, 35.3%, 82.6%, respectively. It is also measured at early shedding snails (4 weeks, i.e. early patency) and at shedding (5, 6 weeks or maximal shedding) and percentage positivity was 87.5%, 96.2%, 89.5%, respectively. Also, after stop shedding (late patency) the percentage positivity was 15%.The hemolymph of normal control group of snails were all negative against SEA. Hemolymph of B.trunculata and B. glabrata infected snails showed 0% positivity against SEA. Polymorphic DNA (RAPD-PCR) technique was used for molecular identification of the infected snails at the time of 2 weeks post-infection and at the time of snails shedding. Conclusion The use of monoclonal antibodies for early detection of S. mansoni infected B. Alexandrina snails, is considered as an accurate, rapid and specific method to facilitate the control of infected snails that randomly surveyed from different areas of a suspected fields.