Search

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the biochemical risk factors of kidney stones in diabetes. This includes the estimation of serum and urinary creatinine (Cr), albumin (Alb), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), magnesium (Mg++), phosphorous (Po4++), calcium (Ca++), uric Acid (U.A), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), reduced glutathione levels(GSH), urinary Oxalate, as well as citrate and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured. Subjects and Methods: The clinical study was performed on 100 patients that attended Suez Health Insurance Organization and Ain Elhyah Hospital. Patients were divided into four groups; 25 diabetic patients (D) (mean age 52); 25 renal stone patients (R, S) (mean age 49); 25 diabetic renal stone patients (D R S)(mean age 51) and 25 control subjects (C)((mean age 47) age-matched, randomly selected. Blood and urine 24 hr samples were collected. Results: Serum (Cr) and (Alb) levels showed a non-significant changes in all patients. However, the data showed a significant decrease in (Mg++) level of all patients groups, with a significant level in (D R S) than (D) and (R, S) patients. Moreover, a significant increase in (U.A) levels of all patients groups but higher in (DRS) than (D) and (R, S) patients groups, the data revealed a significant decrease in urinary magnesium level in(DRS) patients group compared to (C), (R, S) and (D) patients groups. Moreover, a significant increase in urinary (U.A) level of all patients was noticed, it was significantly higher level in (DRS) than (R, S) patients groups. Oxalate level in all patients was increased, significantly. Meanwhile, the oxalate level was increased in (DRS) compared to (R, S) and (D) patients groups. The citrate level was decreased significantly in the urine of all patients groups with a significantly lower level of (DRS) than (R, S) and (D) patients groups. On other hand, a significant decrease in blood GSH level of all patients groups was observed where; its level in (DRS) was significantly lower than the (R, S) patients groups. However, data revealed a significant increase in serum (PTH) level of the (R, S) and (D R S) patients groups compared to (C) one. PTH level in (R, S) patients group was significantly higher than (D) and (DRS) patients groups. The data revealed a significant increase in serum ALP level of (D) and (D R S) groups compared to (C) group with a higher significant level in (DRS) than (R,S) patients groups. Moreover, the urinary 24h (NO) level was increased significantly in all patients groups compared to (C) group.

Circadian and stress systems have a crucial role in adaptation of organisms to environmental challenges. This study investigates the ability of Oscillatoria brevis (O. brevis) β-carotene extract (β...

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are produced in high tonnage each year; they are widely used in consumer and industrial products, also now finding applications in bioimaging and drug delivery. In the present study, comparison between ZnO NPs (39 nm) and its bulk/micron form (particle size = 5 µm) on liver function of rats was determined. In our study, liver enzymes biomarkers, serum lipid profile, zinc concentration, and histopathological examination in liver tissues were used to evaluate liver injury. Moreover, lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde), nitric oxide, and reduced glutathione levels were determined to detect the oxidation–reduction process in liver tissue. The results showed dose-dependent toxicity of ZnO NPs. Three different dose levels (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg bw) were used, and the 100-mg/kg bw ZnO NPs group showed the most significant changes in liver enzymes and histopathological structure, as well as redox state. The dose of 100 mg/kg bw of ZnO bulk group showed no significant effects on liver function. The study concluded that ZnO NPs caused hepatic impairments.

Managing stress can prevent serious health problems. The present study aimed to evaluate the possible protective effect of β-carotene (βC), as a natural cyanobacterial product, against stress-induced alterations in biochemical and hematological circadian patterns. Male albino rats were subjected to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) for 21 days. Rats were randomly divided into four groups (20 rats/group), viz. control, CUS exposed, βC-treated, and βC-treated + CUS-exposed groups. Before CUS exposure, Oscillatoria brevis βC extract was administered (10 mg/kg), intraperitoneally. Blood samples were collected at four Zeitgeber times (ZT: 3, 9, 15 and 21), 5 rats/time point, to monitor circadian profiles of aspartate transferase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT), total protein (TP), glucose (Glu), urea, creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrite (HCV), red blood cell (RBCs), and white blood cell counts (WBCs). Results revealed that these parameters expre...

Cyanobacteria or blue green algae have become more world wide spread, Oscillatoria brevis (O. brevis) is one of the most toxic species collected from freshwater Suez canal during algal bloom condition and was grown in blue green medium (BG-11) under laboratory conditions. In vitro assessment of cardio-toxicity of O. brevis was carried out by recording Electrocardiogram (ECG) after direct perfusion of isolated toads' hearts with 5µg/ml of O. brevis extract. Moreover, the mechanism of action of O. brevis extract on myocardium was revealed by the pharmacological tests using muscarinic receptor blocker (atropine sulfate), propranolol hydrochloride and verapamil. Oxidative stress induced by O. brevis was estimated by incubation of mice blood with 1µg/ml of O. brevis at 37 0 C for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 hours respectively to determine the level of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants activities. Perfusion of isolated toads' hearts with 5µg/ml O. brevis extract significantly decreased the heart rate with an increase in the conduction time (P-R interval). Also, a remarkable increase in the power of ventricular contraction was observed, It was suggested that O. brevis could act through Ca 2+ channels where verapamil application abolished the increase in myocardial contractility noticed after 10 minutes of O. brevis extract application. Lipid peroxidation and blood catalase activity significantly increased while a pronounced decline of blood glutathione concentration and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity were noticed. Oxidative stress induced by O. brevis could underlying the cardiotoxicity which is represented by sinus arrhythmia, ectopic beats and heart infarction. Key word: O. brevis, ECG, Heart rate, Ca 2+ channels, oxidative stress.

Induction of hyperadrenergic activity was experimentally achieved in urethane-anesthetized rats using epinephrine (adrenaline). Acute administration of epinephrine (100 microg/kg) for 2 hours induced several cardiac disorders and vasomotor dysfunction. Pretreatment with natural wild honey (5 g/kg) for 1 hour prior to the injection with epinephrine (100 mug/kg) protected the anesthetized normal rats from the incidence of epinephrine-induced cardiac disorders and vasomotor dysfunction. Moreover, posttreatment with natural wild honey (5 g/kg) following the injection with epinephrine (100 microg/kg) for 1 hour showed several ameliorative outcomes to the electrocardiographic parameters and vasomotor dysfunction of anesthetized stressed rats. Furthermore, natural wild honey preserved the positive inotropic effect of epinephrine in both cases. Also, the total antioxidant capacity (AOC) of natural wild honey was found to be very pronounced. Levels of both reduced glutathione and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) were considered relatively high in natural wild honey. Activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was also high, whereas catalase activity was relatively low, especially when compared to the value of SOD activity. It would appear from the results of the present study that natural wild honey may exert its cardioprotective and therapeutic effects against epinephrine-induced cardiac disorders and vasomotor dysfunction directly, via its very pronounced total AOC and its great wealth of both enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants involved in cardiovascular defense mechanisms, besides its substantial quantities of mineral elements such as magnesium, sodium, and chlorine, and/or indirectly, via the enhancement of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor nitric oxide release through the influence of ascorbic acid (vitamin C).

Laboratory and field trials were carried out at Koom Hamada district and Etay El-baroud research station during 2004/ 2005 season to clarify the molluscicidal ac-tivities of the following: indoxacarb, lufenuron, Bacillus thurringiensis, kurestaci (Bt.) and methomyl against glassy clover snails Monacha cartusiana (Muler). Re-sults indicated that all tested pesticides decreased snails population compared with control. Under the field conditions, the efficiency of the tested compounds were 98.0, 93.4, 93 and 71.58% for methomyl, lufenuron, indoxacarb and Bt. after 5, 6, 13, and 28 days of treatment, respectively. Moreover the effect of LC50 and 0.5 LC50 of these compounds were investigated on some biochemical parameters in vivo. The activities of acetylcholinestrase (AChE), alanine aminotransferases (ALT) , as-partate aminotransferases (AST) and protein contents at different time intervals were evaluated. The specific activity of AChE reached 0.009, 0.002, 0.006 and 0.001 mole/ mg protein/ min for indoxacarb, lufenuron, Bt. and methomyl, respectively, after one day of treatment with (LC50 for each compound). In general, Bt. and in-doxacarb caused slight inhibition on AChE enzyme. All treatments decreased ALT and AST enzyme activity in the tested animals. However, Bt. Showed slight effect on the activity of aminotransferases enzymes.

Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br. (Asclepiadaceae) is a shrub or small tree that grows wild in Egypt. Calotropis acts as a purgative, anthelmintic, anticoagulant, palliative (in problems with respiration, blood pressure), antipyretic, and analgesic, and induces neuromuscular blocking activity. Little research has been done to study the electrophysiological effects of this plant's extracts on cardiac, smooth, and skeletal muscle activities.The present study was conducted to determine the phytochemical composition and the effect of the total alcohol extract of the shoot of the plant, which contains almost all of C. procera's cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, and saponins. Also, this study attempted to throw more light on the electrophysiological effects of the plant extracts on cardiac, smooth, and skeletal muscle activities and to clarify the mechanism(s) of their observed action(s).The aerial parts of the plant were air dried and their ethanol extracts partitioned with successive solvents. Cardiac, smooth, and skeletal muscles were used in this study to investigate the physiological and pharmacological effects of the plant extracts from different solvents. The data were analyzed by paired t-test.The phytochemical investigation of Calotropis procera revealed the presence of cardenolides, flavonoids, and saponins. The effects of ethanol, n-butanol, and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extracts were each evaluated on isolated toad heart and their mechanisms of action determined. Perfusion with 2 μg/mL ethanol, 0.2 μg/mL butanol, and 0.2 μg/mL EtOAc extracts caused a significant decrease in heart rate (bradycardia), significant increase in the force of ventricular contraction, and increase in T-wave amplitude. In addition, the effects of different extracts of the studied plant on smooth muscle and skeletal muscle were investigated in this study. The different extracts and latex of C. procera induced a negative chronotropic effect and decreased the heart rate (HR) of isolated toad heart. The different extracts increased the power of contraction of the duodenum (trace a). Pretreatment with atropine sulfate as a muscarinic receptor blocker abolished the stimulatory effect of the different plant extracts and latex of C. procera (trace b).The present data suggest that ethanol, butanol, and EtOAc extracts of Calotropis procera have negative chronotropism and positive inotropism. Verapamil could abolish the inotropic effect of ethanol as well as that of butanol and EtOAc extracts. Meanwhile, atropine did not abolish the observed negative chronotropic effect. The ethanol extract increased the power of contraction of rabbit duodenum, but atropine abolished this effect. It also decreased the skeletal muscle contraction; this effect could be through blocking of the nicotinic receptors. Butanol and EtOAc extract data for smooth and skeletal muscles are very close to those for the corresponding ethanol extract of the studied plant. The present data for C. procera indicate its direct action on the myocardium, its increase of smooth muscle motility, and its relaxation of skeletal muscle contraction. The chemical constituents could directly affect the cell membrane probably through receptors coupling to G proteins. They regulate the ion channel physiology as in the myocardium.The present data on the extracts of C. procera indicate a direct action on the myocardium, stimulatory effect on smooth muscle motility, and relaxant action on skeletal muscle contraction. Chemical constituents could directly affect the cell membrane probably through receptors coupling to G proteins. They regulate the ion channel physiology as in the myocardium.

1 The effect of crude honeybee (Apis mellifera)venom on the skeletal, smooth as well as cardiac muscles were studied in this investigation. 2 Perfusion of gastrocnemius-sciatic nerve preparation of frogs with 1 mg/ml venom solution has weakened the mechanical contraction of the muscle without recovery. Blocking of nicotinic receptors with 3 mg/ml flaxedil before bee venom application sustained normal contraction of gastrocnemius muscle. 3 The electrical activity of duodenum rabbits was recorded before and after the application of 1 mg/ml venom solution. The venom has depressed the amplitude of the muscle contraction after 15 min pretreatment with atropine nearly abolished the depressor effect of the venom on smooth muscle. 4 In concentrations from 0.5-2 mg/ml, bee venom caused decrease of heart rate of isolated perfused toad heart. This bradycardia was accompanied by elongation in the P-R interval. A gradual and progressive increase in the R-wave amplitude reflected a positive inotropism of the venom. Application of 5 mg/ml verapamil, a calcium channels blocking agent, abolished the noticed effect of the venom. 5 Marked electrocardiographic changes were produced within minutes of the venom application on the isolated perfused hearts, like marked injury current (elevation or depression of the S-T segment), atrioventricular conduction disturbances and sinus arrhythmias. Atropine and nicotine could decrease the toxic effect of the venom on the myocardium. 6 Results of the present work lead to the suggestion that bee venom is mediated through the peripheral cholinergic neurotransmitter system. General neurotoxicity of an inhibitory nature involving the autonomic as well as neuromuscular system are established as a result of the venom, meanwhile a direct effect on the myocardium membrane stabilization has been suggested.