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Schistosomiasis is one of the most important human parasitic diseases. One of the possible methods for the control is through the molluscan intermediate host of the parasite. Biomphalaria arabica, molluscan hosts to Schistosoma mansoni in Saudi Arabia were treated with sublethal concentrations (LC25) of dry powdered leaves Solanum nigrum. Effect of plant on ectonucleotidases (NTPdases) (ADPase & ATPase), sodium/potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na+/K+ ATPase) and creatine kinase (CK) was traced. The plant molluscicide was potent in inhibiting the four investigated enzymes giving a percentage inhibition range between 45-55%. The effect of the inhibited enzymes on the compatibility of the snail hosts to schistosome parasite was discussed. In conclusion, the use of sublethal concentration of S. nigrum to disturb the biochemical profile of the snail hosts could be a promising and safe strategy to control the disease.

Objectives: Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by social and emotional deficits, language impairments and stereotyped behaviors that manifest in early postnatal life. This study aims to clarify the role of selected ions related to energy metabolism as a consequence of oxidative stress in the deterioration accompanied autism., Materials and Methods: Malonaldehyde as measure of lipid peroxidation, Na(+)/K(+) ion pump (ATPase), together with the concentrations of Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+) and Pb(2+) were determined in plasma of 30 Saudi autistic patients and compared to 30 age-matching control samples., Results: The obtained data recorded that Saudi autistic patients have a remarkable higher activities of Na(+)/K(+) ATPase and high levels of lipid peroxidation compared to control. In addition, they have significantly elevated levels of K(+) and Pb(2+) while Ca(2+) recorded a significantly lower level compared to age-matching control subjects. On the other hand both Mg(2+) and Na(+) were non-significantly changed in autistic patients., Conclusion: Alteration of the selected measured ions confirms that oxidative stress and defective mitochondrial energy production could represent the primary causative factor in the pathogenesis of autism., (Copyright 2009 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)