CURATIVE EFFECTS OF GUM ARABIC AND BOSWELLIA SPECIES ON ACUTE RENAL FAILURE IN EXPERIMENTAL RATS

Acute renal failure (ARF) was induced by glycerol or paracetamol in experimental rats to evaluate the curative effects of gum Arabic and Boswellia sp. through different blood biochemical assays and hematological analyses. Results revealed presence of significant (P<0.05) increases in the levels of urea, creatinine, potassium (K+), sodium (Na+), chloride (Cl-) and blood acidity (H+), and significant (P<0.05) decreases in the levels of calcium (Ca+2) and bicarbonate (HCO3-) in the rats treated only with glycerol or paracetamol in the positive control groups compared to the negative control group. These results indicated that glycerol or paracetamol caused ARF in these groups of rats whereas the blood analyses illustrated ARF symptoms such as increasing of urea and creatinine, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, hypoglycemia, blood acidosis and anemia occurring in the positive control groups.  The blood analyses also illustrated recovery of these symptoms in the treated rats with gum Arabic and Boswellia sp. in drinking water (10% w/v) for 30 days. This indicated the curative effects of gum Arabic and Boswellia sp. against ARF induced by glycerol or paracetamol as evidenced by restoring the kidney function tests such as urea, creatinine, blood electrolytes and other parameters like serum glucose, proteins and hematological indices to their normal values during the experiment period. The therapeutic effects of both plants against ARF may be due to their antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory activity

A novel mathematical model for the effects of wall properties on pumping flow of a biofluid in a symmetrical three-dimensional curved duct

Most pumping actions entail a physical volume change of the duct, which is frequently achieved by having a compliant wall or membrane. To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first report on a mathematical model developed to analyze the peristaltic transport of a Newtonian fluid in a curved duct with rectangular face and compliant walls. Such geometries are most commonly used in clinical and biological equipment, where the walls of the duct need to be flexible. Flexible ducts are more useful than rigid ones because they do not require any extra modifications or accessories. Here, we have used the conditions of lubrication theory to construct an accurate model, and a common perturbation technique was incorporated to handle the Navier-Stokes equations with emphasis on various aspect ratios and curvatures. A system of curvilinear coordinates operating according to the principles of the cylindrical system was employed to represent the mathematical problem. No-slip boundary limitations were considered at the walls along with the extra constraint of compliant walls showing damping force and stiffness. Comprehensive graphical representations were made to illustrate the effects of all emerging factors of the study in both two- and three-dimensional formats. We found that large curvatures and flexure rigidity decreased the fluid velocity uniformly, but the aspect ratio and amplitude parameters could promote fluid velocity. Validation of the results was performed through the generation of a residual error curve. The current readings were taken again with a straight duct to make a comparison with the existing literature

Dystocia in Friesian cows and its effects on postpartum reproductive performance and milk production

A total of 1,243 records for 585 dairy Friesian cows from 1997–2004 were used to study the factors affecting dystocia and its effects on reproductive performance and milk production. The overall incidence of dystocia was 6.9%. The percentage of dystocia decreased with increasing live body weight, age, and parity of cows (P < 0.05); however, it increased with increasing birth weight of calves (P < 0.05). The highest percentage of dystocia was detected in winter season, but the least percentage was in summer season (P < 0.05). The percentage of incidence of dystocia was significantly (P < 0.05) higher with winter feeding compared to summer ration (8.2% vs. 5.1%). The percentage of incidence of dystocia was significantly (P < 0.05) higher with twinning than single calving (15.5% vs. 6.5%), while not significantly affected by the sex of born calves. Incidence of dystocia had adverse effects on reproductive performance and milk yield. The service interval, service period, days open, and calving interval were significantly (P < 0.05) longer in cows afflicted with dystocia compared to normal cows. The conception rate was lower (P < 0.05), but the number of service per conception was higher (P < 0.05) in cows afflicted with dystocia compared to normal cows (60.5% vs. 73.0% and 3.4 vs. 2.7, respectively). Average daily milk yield was lower (P < 0.05) by 1 kg for cows with incidence of dystocia compared to normal cows

Field Evaluation of the Toxicity of the Biopesticide Spinosad Against Spodoptera litoralis ( Boisd. ) Larvae on Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L. ), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Field experiments were conducted in the ARES ; Dierab Farm, to evaluate the insecticideal activity of Spinosad on alfalfa. Larvae ( 3th instar ) of a susceptible strain of Spodoptera litoralis ( Boisd. ), were used. Three rates of Spinosad were applied, in addition to the recommended rates of each of Bacillus thurengiensis ( Deflin WG ) and the pyrethroid Lambda-Cyhalothrin ( Karate ). Samples of the alfalfa were taken after several periods of times, and kept with larvae for one, two and three days respectively. Spinosad showed the heighest insecticidal activity, three days after its application, and showed toxic symptoms on the larvae, completely different to those of the tested insecticides

Supplementation of Microbial and Fungal Phytases to Low Protein and Energy Diets: Effects on Productive Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Blood Profiles of Broilers

To evaluate in possible use of phytases for improving the utilization of low protein and energy diets, 420, one-day-old chicks were distributed among 7 groups (5 replicates of 12 chicks/group). During the starter (1–35 day), grower (37–56 day), and finisher (57–64 day) periods, the control group fed diets containing 21.2% crude protein (CP)-2947 Kcal/kg metabolizable energy (ME), 19.6 CP-3023 ME and 18.0 CP-3100 ME, respectively. The three low-CP groups received diets isocaloric but with −1% CP than the control, while the three low-CPME groups fed diets with −1% CP and −100 Kcal than the control. In addition, the low-CP and low-CPME groups were supplemented with 0 (low-CP_uns and low-CPME_uns), 500 U/kg of an Aspergillus niger (low-CP_AP and low-CPME_AP) or 500 FTU/kg of an Escherichia coli phytase (low-CP_EP and low-CPME_EP), respectively. Low-CP and low-CPME diets decreased (p < 0.01) the intake of feed as well as the protein and metabolizable energy conversion ratios in comparison to the control group. In general, phytases lowered (p < 0.01) the intake of feed, protein, and energy, but bacterial phytase showed a higher (p < 0.01) effect than A. niger one. The diets with low-CP and low-CPME levels decreased (p < 0.01) the amount of the excreta nitrogen. The supplementation of phytases had similar effects on digestibility of nutrients, carcass traits, bone mineralization and blood biochemistry. The supplementation of A. niger increased abdominal fat deposition of compared low-CPME diet compared to low-CPME_uns diet. All diets showed similar production index allowing the use of low-CPME diet when phytases was supplemented

Adverse reactions among patients being treated for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis at Abbassia Chest Hospital

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, resulting in the greatest number of deaths due to any one single infectious agent. Drug resistance threatens global tuberculosis control efforts. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess adverse reactions of second-line TB drugs in patients treated for MDR-TB at Abbassia Chest Hospital from 1st of January 2009 to 1st of January 2012. Subjects and methods: This study included 107 patients admitted at Abbassia Chest Hospital; during the period from January 2009 to January 2012. The patients were resistant to at least Rifampicin and INH. All patients’ files were analyzed and the following data were discussed: meticulous history taking, complete clinical examination, drug susceptibility testing, and initial laboratory investigations, adverse reactions were determined by clinical criteria and/or laboratory data, severity code, management of side effects and fate of treatment. Results: 72.9% of the patients were males and 27.1% were females. The mean of age was 37.1 years. The special habits detected among the studied cases were tobacco smoking, drug addiction and alcohol intake. According to type of resistance, acquired resistance was 95.3% and primary resistance was 4.7%. The most common co-morbidities associated with MDR-TB in the studied cases were diabetes (29.9%) and chronic obstructive lung disease (11.2%). Side effects of drugs were; 57% GIT manifestations, 53.3% peripheral neuritis, hypokalemia 26.2%, irritable bowel syndrome 22.4%, ototoxicity 17.8%, skin reaction 10.3%, hypothyroidism 10.3%, hepatotoxicity 9.3%, hypoalbuminemia 5.6%, depression 3.7%, arthritis 0.9%, gynecomastia 2.8%, hyponatremia 5.6%, hypomagnesaemia 1.9%, dizziness 0.9%, nephrotoxicity 3.7%. Most of the drugs’ side effects started to appear within the first 3 months of treatment. The frequency of nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and hypoalbuminemia were significantly higher in diabetic than in non-diabetic cases. Elevations of liver enzymes began from the 3rd month after treatment and these elevations became statistically significant beginning from the 6th month. Also, elevations of creatinine levels began from the 3rd month after treatment and became statistically significant beginning from the 6th month, while there were no significant changes in potassium levels among the studied cases all through the follow up period. It was noticed that highly significant gain of body weight started from the 3rd month after treatment. 92.5% of the studied cases were cured, 6.5% died and 0.9% was defaulter. The predictors of patients’ outcome were sputum conversion, number of previous TB treatment and associated co-morbidities. Conclusions: There is a relation between both tobacco smoking and drug addiction, and MDR TB. The most common type of resistance is acquired resistance because of lack of adherence to treatment or inappropriate treatment. The most common co-morbidities associated with MDR TB are diabetes and chronic obstructive lung diseases. The most important predictors of patients’ outcome are sputum conversion, number of previous TB treatment and presence of co-morbidities

Long-Term Effects of the Treated Municipal Wastewater of the City of Riyadh on the Mosquito Culex pipiens L.

Studies of the effect of the secondary treated municipal wastewater ( SW ) on the longevity of the larval stage of the mosquito Culex pipiens L. were started in the year 1987 , and continued for more than three years . Two separate aquamedia were used for rearing a susceptible strain of the mosquito . In the first , SW was the sole liquid for the developmental stages of the first group of the insect, and fresh water ( FW ) was that used for the second . Susceptibility to chlorpyrifos insecticide , of the larvae of the two groups was evaluated periodically , in the form of percent mortalities , LC50 values and slope of toxicity curves. The results exhibited that longevity of the larval stage of SW-reared mosquitoes was less than those of FW-reared ones with 3.7 and 8.3 days in the years 1987 and 1989 , respectively. An increase in the susceptibility of the SW-reared larvae to chlorpyrifos was observed. Values of LC50 for the first group of insects ranged from 1.6 to 4.2 ppb; and those for the second were 2.25 to 4.10 ppb. Slopes of the toxicity curves ranged from 1.79 to 2.4 and from 1.7 to 1.9 for the first and second groups , respectively