Synthesis and Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity of Some New Heterocyclic Compounds Bearing the Benzo[B]Furan Moiety

New compounds were synthesized by the reaction of 3-acetyl-5- methoxy-2-methylbenzofuran (1) with cyanoacetylhydrazine which afforded the hydrazide hydrazone derivative 2. Compound 2 underwent a series of heterocyclization reactions to give the new pyrazole, isoxazole, cyclopentanothiophene, thiazole, triazole, 2H-chromene and pyridone derivatives (3-13). The elemental and spectral data (IR, 1H NMR and MS) characterized their structures. Screening for some selected compounds was carried for their potential antioxidant activities using ABTS. Among the tested samples compounds 9, 11, 5 and 10 exhibited promising activity

Design and Validation of New Data Acquisition System for Isolated Muscle Experiments: Application to Pharmacology Teaching and Research: Submitted: Jan 18, 2018 Accepted: Jan 30, 2018 Published online: Feb 7, 2018

In this paper we describe a new data acquisition (DAQ) system for pharmacology experiments involving isolated muscle contraction. The system is composed of hardware acquisition unit and computer software for analysis of signals representing muscle contractions. As compared to mechanoelectrical DAQ systems of other constructions, the advantages of the new system include a high sensitivity (in the order of 1 µN), a wide range of forces recorded (1 µN to 100 mN), linearity throughout the whole range, easy assembly, low costs, long-term calibration stability, good dynamic characteristics and full control graphical interface. The device can be readily adjusted to actual experimental conditions and a variety of muscle preparations. Experimental validation of our DAQ inside the Clinical Pharmacology Department at Mansoura University Faculty of Medicine showed that it can record contractions of isolated muscle preparations with good precision and accuracy. Accordingly, the DAQ system design presented herein with its dedicated software is largely suitable for isolated muscle experiments in both teaching and research in biomedical fields

Assessment of Global Methylation in Paraffin Embedded Prostatic Tissues and Cell Lines Using Flow Cytometry: submitted: Jan 20, 2018 Accepted: Mar 15, 2018 Published online: Mar 20, 2018

Background. The aim of this study is to measure global 5-methylcystosine (5MeC) methylation in paraffin embedded prostatic tissues and cell lines using flow cytometry. Methods. Cell/nuclei suspension from 10 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 10 cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma, and two prostatic cell lines (PNT1A and LNCaP) were prepared using modified heat pretreatment technique. 5MeC global methylation was assessed by flow cytometry of cell/nuclei suspension and immunostaining of tissue sections. Results. Higher percentage of positively stained cells (PPSC) and mean channel fluorescence (MCF) were detected in PNT1A cell line and BPH cell/nuclei suspensions as compared to LNCaP cell lines and adenocarcinoma cell/nuclei suspensions. Lower scores of 5MeC immunostaining were observed in all prostate adenocarcinoma tissue sections as compared to BPH sections indicating global hypomethylation in prostate adenocarcinoma. Two distinctive populations of cells were detected in histograms generated from most of the BPH cell/nuclei suspensions. Conclusion. The study developed a novel technique that could measure 5MeC global methylation in paraffin embedded prostatic tissues. This represents a rapid and objective assessment of methylation and when combined with tissue micro-dissection and cell sorting, this technique could be applied to larger tissue samples such as post radical prostatectomy and transurethral resected specimens

Diffusion of Myosin V on Microtubules: A Fine-Tuned Interaction for Which E-Hooks Are Dispensable

Organelle transport in eukaryotes employs both microtubule and actin tracks to deliver cargo effectively to their destinations, but the question of how the two systems cooperate is still largely unanswered. Recently, in vitro studies revealed that the actin-based processive motor myosin V also binds to, and diffuses along microtubules. This biophysical trick enables cells to exploit both tracks for the same transport process without switching motors. The detailed mechanisms underlying this behavior remain to be solved. By means of single molecule Total Internal Reflection Microscopy (TIRFM), we show here that electrostatic tethering between the positively charged loop 2 and the negatively charged C-terminal E-hooks of microtubules is dispensable. Furthermore, our data indicate that in addition to charge-charge interactions, other interaction forces such as non-ionic attraction might account for myosin V diffusion. These findings provide evidence for a novel way of myosin tethering to microtubules that does not interfere with other E-hook-dependent processes

Engineering seismological studies on the proposed location of Aswan New City, Egypt

The study area lies in south Egypt on the west bank of the River Nile about 12 km north to the Aswan City. The aim of the present study is a trial to investigate subsurface structure conditions, to determine the dynamic characteristics of the subsurface rocks and to study the effect of the near earthquake activities on the proposed location of Aswan New City. In this study nineteen seismic refraction P- and S-waves profiles were conducted. The output results include velocities of P-and S-wave and the thickness of each layer. The bulk density of soil layers was calculated from determined P-wave values.  The measured shear wave velocity and bulk density for each layer were used to compute the maximum shear modulus. These parameters for each layer are used as input data to compute the responses of horizontally layered soil profiles subjected to bedrock input motion from strong earthquake using EERA program. The obtained response values of soil layers are represented by the surface acceleration, from which response spectra with damping ratio of 5 % are obtained, surface Fourier amplitude spectra, amplification ratio between rock outcrop and free surface, and the shear stresses and strains characteristics at the sublayer No. 2 in all selected profiles sites. The output of this study is very important for solving the problems, which associated with the construction of various civil engineering purposes and for earthquake resistance structure design

Botanical and genetic characteristics of Farsetia aegyptia Turra growing in Egypt

Farsetia aegyptia Turra is a perennial woody desert shrub native to Egypt. It is used by native Bedouins as an anti-diabetic and antispasmodic. Study of the botanical features was carried out for the root, young and old stems, leaf, fruit and seed of the plant. F. aegyptia Turra was characterized by the presence of myrosin cells and non-glandular branched unicellular two-armed hairs in the stem, leaves and fruit, while the root showed sclereids with a wide or narrow lumen and lignified pitted walls. Furthermore, the DNA of the plant was extracted from leaf samples and analysed using ten random decamer primers. A total of 58 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were identified. Both the botanical study and the DNA fingerprint helped in the identification of the plant

Randomized double-blinded pilot clinical study of the antidiabetic activity of Balanites aegyptiaca and UPLC-ESI-MS/MS identification of its metabolites

Context: Balanites aegyptiaca Del. (Zygophyllaceae) fruits are traditionally known for the treatment of hyperglycaemia. Several in vitro and in vivo studies proposed some mechanisms of action. However, clinical trials in human beings were never reported to date. Objectives: To investigate the antidiabetic efficacy of the 70% ethanol extract of the pericarps of B. aegyptiaca (BE) within a nutritional intervention in elderly people. Materials and methods: Ultra-performance electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) analysis was used for metabolic profiling of BE which was incorporated in hard gelatine capsules (400 mg/day) and tested on 30 type 2 diabetes (T2D) Egyptian patients for 8 weeks. According to sex, age and body mass index participants were divided into two equivalent groups, placebo and treatment. Results: Thirteen compounds were identified in BE using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis among which five steroidal saponins, seven phenolic compounds and a sterol glucoside. At the end of the 8-week treatment, the treated group showed 26.88% decrease in 2 h postprandial plasma glucose relative to 2.6% increase in the placebo group, while fasting plasma glucose was reduced to 10.3%. Treatment with BE capsules for 8 weeks produced significant reduction in the plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 9.0, 12.76 and 21.35%, respectively, with 29.8% increase in the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Plasma alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase were reduced by 42.6 and 43.3%, respectively. Discussion and conclusion: Administration of the BE capsules to T2D resulted in significant improvements in the glycaemic markers and the lipid profile, without adverse effects or hypoglycaemia

HPLC Detection of Aflatoxin in Meat, Poultry, and Fish and their Products and Detoxification by Gamma Radiation

One of the most desired and promising diets in Egypt is beef products. It is an enriched media for mycotoxins. The occurrence of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species is inspected in commercial beef products, HPLC-quantitative amount of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2 excesses, and genetic identification of aflatoxin regulatory gene (aflR1) by conventional PCR. Two hundred and forty commercial products (minced meat, beef kofta, beef sausage, beef burger, beef luncheon, frozen meat, beef frozen liver, chicken luncheon, chicken burger, chicken frozen liver, mloha, and fesikh; n=20 for each) were collected from different markets at Aswan City, Egypt. Enumeration, isolation, and identification of mold species were carried to each sample. The amount of aflatoxins was measured using HPLC. Genetic identification of the aflR1 gene in Aspergillus was performed using PCR. Mloha samples recorded the highest total mold count whereas the beef luncheon recorded the lowest mould count. Four fungal genera were identified and Aspergillus spp recorded the main with an incidence of 25.8%. By PCR, the aflR1 gene was productively augmented in all the tested Aspergillus spp. The findings illustrated that among the samples that were examined; the prevalence of AFB1 was 65%, followed by AFG2 at 63%, AFB2 at 40%, and AFG1 at 30%. Additionally, mloha (724.2±14.6), poultry frozen liver (288±6.7), and beef frozen liver (91.6±12.2) had higher mean values of total aflatoxins contamination than other samples. Every sample that has been analyzed shows a positive correlation between the amount of reduced total mycotoxins found in the samples and the increased dose of gamma irradiation used to treat the samples. Conclusion: Aflatoxin is frequently linked to meat, poultry, and fish, as well as the products made from these foods. The production of aflatoxin in meat, as well as the products made from it, creates a danger to the public’s health. Thus, the most effective way to prevent aflatoxigenic mould contamination during the product’s production stages is to apply stringent hygienic standards when processing meat products and to use high-quality flavoring agents as spices.