The curative effects of methylsulfonylmethane against glycerol-induced acute renal failure in rats

The present study was performed to explore the curative effect of Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in an experimental model of myoglobinuric acute renal failure (ARF). In this experimental model, Rats were injected with 50% glycerol (10 mL/kg, im) followed by an hour later and daily in the next six days by MSM (400 mg/kg) or saline. Kidney’s function (urea and creatinine), and reduced glutathione were analyzed. A renal failure produced by glycerol injection, with a significant increase of blood urea and serum creatinine was observed. Rats that received MSM in addition to glycerol had significantly lower blood urea and serum creatinine levels compared to those receiving glycerol alone. However, glutathione has markedly increased after MSM treatment. The effect is probably due to the antioxidant activity of MSM. This may provide therapeutic opportunities for treating humans, myoglobinuric ARF

THE CURATIVE EFFECT OF METHYLSULFONYLMETHANE ON AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS IN RATS

Objective: Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease of unknown etiology that affects the mucosa and submucosa of the colon and rectum. It is associated with oxidative stress, neutrophil infiltration and production of inflammatory mediators. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in treatment the acetic acid (A) induced model for UC in rats were examined. Methods: Ulcerative colitis was induced by intra colonic administration of 2 ml of 4% acetic acid in adult male Wistar rats which were divided into 3 groups: normal control (N), acetic acid (A) control, and MSM (1000 mg/kg). Rats received treatment for six consecutive days. On day 7, the rats were sacrificed, the colon was removed, the body weight, colon weight/length ratio, tissue glutathione (GSH) concentration, and macroscopic evaluations, were performed. Results: The colon weight/length ratio was decreased significantly (P<0.05). The glutathione (GSH) concentration was increased significantly (P<0.05). The macroscopic parameters were decreased, but it didn’t reduce significantly in the MSM treated groups compared to group A. Contrariwise the parameters of group A. The levels of body weight were increased, and colon weight/length ratio was decreased significantly (P<0.05). The glutathione (GSH) concentration was increased significantly (P<0.05). The macroscopic parameters were decreased significantly in the MSM treated group, compared to the acetic acid-treated group. Conclusions: Methylsulfonylmethane is an effective, safety natural product with little side effects, has a good curative effect in a dose (1000 mg/kg) on experimental Ulcerative colitis induced by acetic acid

The Effect of Financial Leverage & Systematic Risk on Stock Returns in the Amman Stock Exchange (Analytical Study – Industrial Sector)

This study aims at evaluating the relationship between stock returns in industrial companies listed on Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) and each of the systematic risk and financial leverage. Stock returns (Rit) are measured through the equation of returns divided by acquisition period. Whereas, systematic risk is measured by beta coefficient (?) using the market model, while the financial leverage (Lev) is expressed by debt ratio. Data concerning the variables of the study were collected comprising 48 industrial companies listed in Amman Stock Exchange for the period between January 2000 and December 2009. This task was accomplished in order to determine the relationship between stock returns as a dependent variable, and each of the systematic risk & financial leverage as independent variables. It should be noted that the study shows a statistically significant relationship between dependent variable and independent variables, it also found that these independent variables explain the 4.4% percentage of variation in stock returns in the industrial companies listed in Amman Stock Exchange. The results revealed by the study model were contradictory, and do not match very well with the previous studies that have been conducted on more developed stock markets. Moreover, the direction of some independent variables and it relationship with the dependent variable were different from the hypothetical relationship, given the example of the relationship between systematic risk represented by beta coefficient and stock returns. However, these results correspond very well with studies conducted on developing markets. Keywords: Returns, Systematic Risk, Financial Leverage, Amman Stock Exchange, Industrial Sector

ASSESSMENT OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF PUNICA GRANATUM AGAINST ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS TYPE (D)

The search for new antibiotics and alternative products to solve the increasing number of bacterial resistance to customary antibiotics has become an urgent need. To investigate the effectiveness of the extracts prepared from different parts of Syrian Punica granatum Linn (family Punicaceae), against Clostridium perfringens type (D), which is resistant against many antibiotics, 684 samples were isolated from intestines and livers of death goats by using blood agar, and a selective agar for growing of Clostridium perfringens(SPS agar). The isolated bacteria were typed by using ELISA apparatus. Many parts of Punica granatum was extracted with water, absolute alcohol, then ether by using soxhlet apparatus and rotary evaporator. The Antibiotic susceptibility testing of many antibiotics was conducted by using disc diffusion method in anaerobic atmosphere and break points method. The alcoholic extracts prepared from many parts of punica granatum (pericarp, leaves, flowers, seeds) showed different antibacterial effect against Clostridium perfringens type(D),whereas the studied antibiotics had not shown any antibacterial effect, except Clindamycin which showed partial effectiveness.

SCREENING THE ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS AGAINST MULTIDRUG RESISTANCE ESCHERICHIA COLI TYPE (1)

The increasing number of Escherichia coli causing mastitis and of bacteria resistant to conventional antibiotics has become aserious problem in recent years. So the search for new antibiotics and alternative products to solve this problem is the question ofthe age. This research aims to investigate the effectiveness of the extracts prepared from different parts of the following plants:Olea europea Linn (Oleaceae) ، Myrtus communis Linn (Liliaceae)، Majorana syriacus Linn (Laminaceae)، Zingiber officinaleLinn (Zingiberaceae)، Achillea falcata Linn (Asteraceae) against resistant Escherichia coli Type (1). Investigation began forE.coli bacteria in 667 milk samples. The bacteria were identified culturally, morphologically and biochemically. Antibioticsusceptibility testing against E.coli by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method were conducted. Then using the blood agar,MacConkey agar, salmonella - shigella agar, and biochemical testing method [API 20 E testing Enterobacteriaceae] were made totype E.coli. Plants were extracted with water, absolute alcohol, then ether using a soxhlet apparatus and rotary vacuumevaporator. Then extracts susceptibility testing against antibiotic resistant E.coli Type (1) were studied. E. coli was defined asoxidase negative, indole positive, catalase positive. The studied antibiotics did not show any antibacterial effect against E.coli .By the results of the biochemical analysis (API20e) on resistant E.coli , E.coli type (1) was 33.35% of the total number ofsamples. The anti-bacterial effectiveness against E.coli type (1) of ethanol extracts prepared from different parts of the studiedplants were variant, whereas the Myrtus communis extract effectively has the most powerful antibacterial effect for these bacteria,while the Zingiber officinale extract has the lowest influence

ANTIBACTERIAL EFFICACY OF VARIETY PLANTS AGAINST THE RESISTANT STREPTOCOCCUS WHICH CAUSE CLINICAL MASTITIS IN COWS

Streptococcus is considered to be one of the most dangerous causes of Clinical mastitis in cows. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of extracts prepared from different parts of the flowing plants: Oleaeuropea Linn(Oleaceae), Myrtuscommunis Linn (Liliaceae) ,thymus vulgaris Linn (Laminaceae), Rosemery Linn(Laminaceae), Ficuscarica Linn (Moraceae), and Achilleafalcata Linn(Asteraceae) against resistant Streptococcus in 1371 Samples of milk. This work was achieved in four stages: First of all, the presence of Streptococcus in 1371 Samples of milk, by using blood agar, Bile Esculin agar, and some bio-chemical tests were investigated .Secondly, the antibacterial activity of many antibiotics on these bacteria by using disc diffusion method were determined.Thirdly, the plants were extracted with water, absolute alcohol, and petroleum Ether by using soxhlet apparatus and rotary vacuum evaporator. Fourthly, the antibacterial activity of the extractions on resistant Streptococcus was determined by using disc diffusion method. This study has shown the presence of different antibacterial effectiveness of the extracts prepared from different parts of those plants. The extract of thymus vulgaris is more effective when compared to the extract of Oleaeur opaea against resistant Streptococcus.

EFFECT OF AMLODIPINE ON ENTEROPATHY INDUCED BY INDOMETHACIN IN RATS

Objective: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have become well known for causing gastroduodenal mucosal damage. In addition, they are also known to affect the small intestine in humans. Amlodipine is a third-generation dihydropyridine-type calcium channel blocker; it can inhibit inflammatory cytokines and enhance antioxidant defenses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Amlodipine on indomethacin-induced enteropathy in rats. Methods: Enteropathy was induced by subcutaneous indomethacin (Indo) prepared in 5 % sodium bicarbonate administrated at a dose rate of 9 mg/kg for two days at 24h intervals. Amlodipine (10 mg/Kg body weight po) was administrated for seven consecutive days beginning 24 h after the first Indo injection. Rats were sacrificed under ether anesthesia on the 8th day. The small intestinal injury was assessed by body weight loss, small intestine weight/length ratio, macroscopic damage, histological study, as well as by biochemical measurement of reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxides and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the small intestine tissue. Results: The results showed that Amlodipine didn't decrease body weight loss, it decreased small intestine weight/length ratio, macroscopic and microscopic small intestinal damage scores caused by administration of Indo. It also increased SOD activity and decreased lipid peroxidation. The effect on the level of GSH wasn't observed. No statistical significance was observed when previous findings were compared to Indo induced enteropathy group (p>0.05). Conclusion: Amlodipine didn't produce an obvious enhancement in enteropathy induced by Indo in rats

Do entrepreneurship programmes raise entrepreneurial intention of science and engineering students? The effect of learning, inspiration and resources

Drawing on the theory of planned behaviour, this study tests the effect of entrepreneurship programmes on the entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions of science and engineering students. This is necessary in order to confirm (or disconfirm) conventional wisdom that entrepreneurship education increases the intention to start a business. The results show that the programmes raise some attitudes and the overall entrepreneurial intention and that inspiration (a construct with an emotional element) is the programmes' most influential benefit. The findings contribute to the theories of planned behaviour and education and have wider implications for a theory of entrepreneurial emotions and also for the practice of teaching entrepreneurship

Possible Hematological Changes Associated with Acute Gastroenteritis among Kindergarten Children in Gaza

Background: Gastroenteritis is considered one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children especially in developing countries. It is a major childhood problem in Gaza and one of the most common etiologic agents of iron deficiency anemia (IDA).Aim: This study was conducted to investigate possible changes in blood parameters that are associated with gastroenteritis infection among kindergarten children in Gaza.Subjects and Methods: A cross‑sectional case–control study was performed including kindergarten children suffering from gastroenteritis and matched healthy control group. Types of etiological agents were identified using standard microbiological and serological procedures. Blood samples were collected for estimation of complete blood count and for determination of serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and transferrin saturation. Independent sample t‑test was used for comparisons and performed using SPSS software version 17(Chicago Illinois USA).Results: The prevalence of enteric pathogens among cases (88.5% [85/96]) was significantly higher than in asymptomatic controls (11.1% [6/54]). The most common enteric pathogens isolated were Entamoeba histolytica (28% [42/91]) and Giardia lamblia (26.7% [40/91]). Blood tests revealed that 21.8% (21/96) of cases and 14.8% (8/54) of controls had IDA, which were not significantly different. Meanwhile, a significant difference was found between the TIBC and hemoglobin in cases compared to controls. Conclusion: This study indicates that gastroenteritis infection could be considered as a common health problem in kindergarten children in Gaza, and it is possibly associated with changes in hemoglobin concentration and TIBC.Keywords: Acute gastroenteritis, Gaza, hematological changes, Iron deficiency, Kindergarte

Detection and Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA Isolated from Healthcare Workers Nares at Gaza Hospitals, Palestine

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a significant cause of nosocomial morbidity and mortality and has been identified as an emerging problem in the community. Here we detect the carriage rate and antibiotic resistance pattern of S. aureus and MRSA isolated from 140 healthcare workers (HCWs) nares at Gaza hospitals.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on a total of 140 HCWs. S. aureus were recovered and identified from nasal swabs by conventional and molecular laboratory techniques. Susceptibility to 13 commonly used antibiotics against S. aureus infections was determined by disk diffusion test according to the CLSI guidelines. Testing by PCR for the presence of nuc, mecA, cap5 and cap8 genes was performed on all isolates.Results: The nasal carriage rate of S. aureus was 42.1% (59/140), of MRSA was 22.6% (32/140) and of MSSA was 19.3% (27/140), with the highest carriage rate of MRSA among HCWs from surgery wards. There was no significant difference between the gender or hospitals with regard to S. aureus and MRSA carriage rate. However, a statistically significant difference was found for ward type and work experience. All 59 strains of S. aureus were sensitive to vancomycin and doxycycline, while nearly all were resistant to penicillin and ampicillin. The antibiotic resistance among MRSA was much higher than that among MSSA with a statistically significant difference for most antibiotics tested. Nearly 61% of isolates were noted to be multidrug resistant with higher percentage in MRSA (24/32; 75%) in comparison to MSSA (12/27; 44,44%). All isolates were successfully genotyped for capsular polymorphism type 5 (55.9%) and type 8 (44.1%).Conclusion: This is the first study in Gaza Strip investigating the nasal carriage of S. aureus among HCWs. High number of MRSA isolates were shown to be MDR. These results highlight the critical need for screening and tracking MRSA among HCWs and to monitor and manage the usage of antibiotics in the hospitals and community.Â