Pramipexole protective effect on rotenone induced neurotoxicity in mice

Introduction: 
Pramipexole is a new dopaminergic drug which has been approved for PD treatment. However, we tried to find a new capacity for this drug rather than symptomatic effect. 

Materials and Methods: 
A chronic rotenone model with daily oral dose of 30mg/kg was induced in mice. Pramipexole was tried in a new approach where the treatment began in the middle of rotenone course with oral dose 1mg/kg/day of pramipexole. 

Results: 
Further analysis of behavioral tests and immunohistochemistry revealed success of pramipexole in improving the rotenone intoxicated mice. 

Conclusion: 
These results showed possible beneficial effects of pramipexole against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity

Serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as a biomarker of disease activity in pediatric lupus nephritis

Background: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is expressed in immature neutrophil precursors and in epithelial cells during both inflammation and neoplastic transformation. A recent prospective pediatric study demonstrated that concentrations of NGAL in urine and plasma represent novel, sensitive, and specific biomarkers for early identification of acute kidney injury following cardiac surgery. Objective: To assess the relationship of serum NGAL levels with disease activity in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with special emphasis on lupus nephritis. Methods: The study included 30 children and adolescents with pediatric SLE with a mean age of 16.48±3.524 years. Patients were clinically and laboratory evaluated and categorized into those with nephritis and those without nephritis. Activity was assessed using SLEDAI score, NGAL levels were measured in the sera of included patients and were compared to those of 20 matched controls using ELISA. Results: Serum NGAL was significantly higher in SLE patients in comparison to the controls (z=-5.962, p < 0.001). Furthermore serum NGAL was significantly higher in SLE patients with nephritis and in those without nephritis in comparison to the controls (p < 0.001 in both). Serum NGAL was higher in SLE patients with nephritis in comparison to those without nephritis, yet the results are borderline regarding statistical significance (p=0.05). Levels of serum NGAL correlated significantly with disease activity as assessed by SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) (r=0.485, p < 0.01). There was a significant correlation between serum NGAL and urinary protein to creatinine ratio, 24hr urinary protein and BUN of SLE patients. Conclusion: Our results suggest that serum NGAL represents a novel biomarker for disease activity in pediatric SLE patients, and a marker of severity of renal involvement.Keywords: SLE, NGAL, SLEDAI, lupus nephritisEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011;9(1):15-2

Real-Time PCR in the early detection of invasive fungal infection in immunodeficient infants and children

Background: Crucial to the diagnosis and effective therapy of invasive fungal infection (IFI) in the immunodeficient is the early identification of the causative agent especially in patients who lack clinical evidence of the disease. The standard methods for the detection of fungi in clinical specimens are direct microscopy and mycological culture. Microscopy often lacks a satisfactory sensitivity, whereas diagnosis by mycological culture often requires a long growth period. Studies have demonstrated the feasibility of detecting molds and yeast in a single reaction using the universal fungal primer. Objective: Evaluation of the role of real-time PCR in the early detection of fungal infection in immunodeficient patients with suspected IFI, who lack clinical evidence of the disease. Methods: This study included 30 immunodeficiency patients suspected of having IFI; 9 with primary and 21 with secondary immunodeficiency. All patients had at least one host factor, but no clinical criteria according to the EORTC-MSG definition of IFI. Twenty seven had fever and 3 had bronchopneumonia, both not responding to broad spectrum antibiotics for 96 hrs. or more. Blood samples were cultured for fungi and were analyzed with real-time PCR using universal fungal primers. For positive samples of fungal infection, aspergillus-specific primers were used for detection of aspergillus. Results: Seventeen patients (56.7%) proved to have IFI. Blood culture detected Candida in 2 patients only, while PCR detected Candida in another 9 and Aspergillus in 6, thus 15/17 patients with IFI (88%) were missed by blood culture. Blood culture for IFI diagnosis had a very low sensitivity (12%) but had a 100% specificity and positive predictive value. The results PCR did not vary with gender, degree of fever, immunodeficiency type, clinical presentation or current intake of antifungal treatment. Patients with proven IFI showed significantly increased CRP levels as compared to those without infection. Conclusion: Real-time PCR proved superior to culture in early diagnosis of IFI in patients with immunodeficiency before the appearance of the characteristic clinical and imaging signs. Reliance on blood culture alone at that stage would result in missing most of the positive cases with consequent delay in the initiation of specific treatment. Keywords: Invasive fungal infection, immunodeficiency, blood culture, real-time PCR, candida, aspergillusEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2012;10(2):67-7

Human-Induced Geo-Hazards in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Distribution, Investigation, Causes and Impacts

Different types of geological hazards are induced by human activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). These geological hazards include land subsidence and earth fissures, sinkholes, expansive soils, and flash floods. A wide variety of recent geological hazards have been reported in several areas, causing significant human and property losses. Human activities, most notably groundwater extraction, infrastructure development, and agricultural activities, have induced unstable conditions. This chapter provides an overview of the human-induced geological hazard in the KSA, mainly earth fissures and sinkhole, which represent a scarcely explored topic. This work identifies the main types of human-induced geological-hazard formations, distribution, causes, and impacts, illustrated through several case studies in the KSA

In vitro differentiation of human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells into functioning hepatocytes

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated by gradient density centrifugation from umbilical cord blood. Spindle-shaped adherent cells were permitted to grow to 70% confluence in primary culture media which was reached by day 12. Induction of differentiation started by culturing cells with differentiation medium containing FGF-4 and HGF. Under hepatogenic conditions few cuboidal cells appeared in culture on day 7. From day 21 to day 28, most of cells became small and round. The control negative cells cultured in serum free media showed fibroblast-like morphology. Urea production and protein secretion by the differentiated hepatocyte-like cells were detected on day 21 and increased on day 28. Protein was significantly increased in comparison with control by day 28. The cells became positive for AFP at day 7 and positive cells could still be detected at days 21 and 28. The cells in the control group were stained negative for AFP. The cells expressed albumin gene at the 14th day that became markedly increased at the 28th day of culture with HGF and FGF-4. No albumin expression was observed in the 7th day sample and the control. This study demonstrated that UCB-derived MSCs had the ability to differentiate into functioning hepatocyte-like cells starting from the 7th day after culturing under hepatogenic conditions and became well functioning at days 21 and 28. These data indicated that UCB-derived MSCs can be a promising source of cell therapy for intractable liver diseases.Keywords: Umbilical cord blood; Mesenchymal stem cells; Culture; Hepatocytes; HGF; FGF-

Influence of Plant Growth Regulators on Somatic Embryogenesis Induction in Seriphidium herba-album

Seriphidium herba-album (syn. Artemisia herba-alba) is a medicinal, aromatic, greenish-silver herb. It is used widely in folk medicine for treatment of diarrhea, abdominal cramps and in the healing of external wounds. It's also used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, neurological disorders as epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, depression and jaundice. In this study we assessed the protocol for callus induction, maturation of somatic embryogenesis, frequency of germination and conversion into plantlets for leaf explants of Seriphidium herba-album using different concentrations of PGRs. Highest induction frequencies of embryogenic calli occurred after 35 days on MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg L-1 2,4-D and 0.5 mg L-1 BAP. Optimum MS medium for higher frequency of matured somatic embryos was recorded using 5.0 mg L-1 BAP and 0.5 mg L-1 NAA and somatic embryos also induced young in vitro grown plantlets when cultured in the medium containing GA3 and kinetin. Hence, attempts to induce direct somatic embryogenesis have been achieved up to embryo regeneration and maturation

Intrauterine device is embraced by the placenta

The intrauterine device (IUD) is a contraceptive method which are tiny, T-shaped plastic, that is placed within the uterus and left there, is used all throughout the world with more than 99% effectiveness rate. Pregnancy with a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) in situ is very rare. Intracavitary pregnancy with an IUD can lead to a higher risk of infection and preterm birth. We described a case of a live birth with an IUD inserted into the placenta. A 27-year-old Syrian woman in G4P3 with a history of healthy vaginal deliveries arrived in our delivery room at 39+3 weeks gestation complaining of labor pain A vaginal examination revealed bulging membranes and a fully dilated cervix. She delivered a live baby boy, weighing 3100 g and being sent to the nursery with an APGAR score of 9 to 10. When the placenta was examined, a white foreign object that was embedded there was discovered to be an intrauterine device. Although intrauterine pregnancy is a potential problem that must be taken into account, ectopic pregnancy is a reasonably common complication of intrauterine contraceptive devices. Although several studies have shown that term pregnancies with excellent prognoses can occur after the removal of intrauterine devices, close monitoring is necessary to detect misplaced copper-T and prevent undesired births

PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF ZINGIBER OFFICINALE AGAINST CARBON TETRACHLORIDE INDUCED LIVER FIBROSIS

Objective: Liver plays a pivotal role in regulating various physiological processes in the body such as metabolism, secretion, and storage. It has a great capacity to detoxify toxic substances and synthesize useful principles. The current study was designed to investigate the possible protective effects of Zingiber officinale (ginger) extract on liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats.Methods: The animals were divided into four groups with eight rats in each. To induce liver fibrosis, Wistar albino rats received CCl4 (2 ml/kg diluted in corn oil) twice weekly for eight weeks. Rats were concurrently treated with Z. officinale extract at two different doses (300 and 600 mg/kg/day).Results: CCl4 ­­induced liver injury characterized by fibrotic changes, degenerated hepatocytes and focal accumulation of inflammatory cells. In addition, CCl4 administration produced a significant increase in serum aminotransferases, lipids, liver lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide. The hepatoprotective effects of Z. officinale extract were evidenced by the significant decrease in serum aminotransferases and liver lipid peroxidation. Further, concurrent treatment with either dose of Z. officinale enhanced liver glutathione and enzymatic antioxidant defenses.Conclusion: Z. officinale showed a marked hepatoprotective effect against CCl4–induced liver fibrosis and injury through the abolishment of oxidative stress and potentiation of the antioxidant defense system.Keywords: Antioxidant, Ginger, Fibrosis, Oxidative stres