Adenosine A2A Receptor Blockade Prevents Rotenone-Induced Motor Impairment in a Rat Model of Parkinsonism

Pharmacological studies implicate the blockade of adenosine receptorsas an effective strategy for reducing Parkinson’s disease (PD) symptoms. The objective of this study is to elucidate the possible protective effects of ZM241385 and 8-cyclopentyl-1, 3-dipropylxanthine, two selective A2A and A1 receptor antagonists, on a rotenone rat model of PD. Rats were split into four groups: vehicle control (1 ml/kg/48 h), rotenone (1.5 mg/kg/48 h, s.c.), ZM241385 (3.3 mg/kg/day, i.p) and 8-cyclopentyl-1, 3-dipropylxanthine (5 mg/kg/day, i.p). After that, animals were subjected to behavioral (stride length and grid walking) and biochemical (measuring concentration of dopamine levels using high performance liquid chromatography, HPLC). In the rotenone group, rats displayed a reduced motor activity and disturbed movement coordination in the behavioral tests and a decreased dopamine concentration as foundby HPLC. The effect of rotenone was partially prevented in the ZM241385 group, but not with 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine administration. The administration of ZM241385 improved motor function and movement coordination (partial increase of stride length and partial decrease in the number of foot slips) and an increase in dopamine concentration in the rotenone-injected rats. However, the 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine and rotenone groups were not significantly different. These results indicate that selective A2A receptor blockade by ZM241385, but not A1 receptor blockadeby 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, may treat PD motor symptoms. This reinforces the potential use of A2A receptor antagonists as a treatment strategy for PD patients

Prolongation of corrected QT interval in diabetic patients with ketoacidosis

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is the most common acute hyperglycemic complication of diabetes. According to a recent report DKA affects approximately 8 per 1000 diabetics annually. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, with a worldwide mortality rate of 2-10%.Objective: The aim of the work was to assessment of QTc interval prolongation among patients with DKA.Patients and Methods: This prospective observational cohort study included 100 patients who were diagnosed with DKA. The mean age of patients was 37.29±11.63 years, and 53% of them were males. All patients were subjected to detailed history taking, full clinical examination, laboratory investigations and 12-lead ECG.Results: Frequency of Prolonged QTmaxc amongst studied patients was 59%. Mean QTmaxc declined significantly after treatment to be 414.6±44.1ms compared to 482.45±63.56ms before treatment with p<0.0001 and Frequency of prolonged QTmaxc was significantly decreased with treatment from 59% to 20%. Anion gap was significantly higher for Prolonged QTmaxc patients compared to normal QTmaxc patients p<0.0001. While ABG (PH, HCO3) were significantly lower for Prolonged QTmaxc patients compared to normal QTmaxc patients p<0.0001. Logistic regression revealed that anion gap was significant independent risk factor for QTmaxc prolongation while.Conclusion: patients with DKA have a potential risk of QTmaxc interval prolongation due to acidosis regardless electrolytes abnormalities, and associated with a relative risk of 1.732-fold for mortality. Carful measuring of anion gap at time of admission can be used in diagnosis and prediction of occurrence of prolonged QTmaxc with high sensitivity and specificity

Synthesis and cytotoxicity evaluation of thiazole derivatives obtained from 2-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene-3-carbonitrile

Reactivity of 2-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene-3-carbonitrile towards thioglycolic acid resulted in thiazole derivative 1. The latter reacted with different chemical reagents to give thiazole, pyrano[2,3-d]thiazole and thiazolo[4,5-d]thiazole derivatives. Cytotoxicity effects of the newly synthesized products against six cancer cell lines, namely, human gastric cancer (NUGC), human colon cancer (DLD-1), human liver cancer (HA22T and HEPG-2), human breast cancer (MCF) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (HONE-1) as well as against a normal fibroblast cell (WI-38) were evaluated. The study showed that the 4,5,6,7 tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene derivatives 6a, 7, 8a,b, 9b and 10b,c were the most active compounds. Their potencies were attributed to the presence of the electron withdrawing groups

Study of Optical, Electrical and Photocatalysis Properties of SrMnO3 Synthesized by Solid-State Reaction

SrMnO3 was prepared by solid-state reaction method to obtain powder then thin films by a thermal evaporation method. XRD diffraction, Optical and electrical properties were investigated. Photocatalysis process was implemented as an interesting application of SrMnO3. XRD diffraction results were used to study the compound structure and to calculate some other parameters such as crystallite size, D, microstrain, e, and dislocation density, d. XRD results revealed that SrMnO3 has a polycrystalline structure such as hexagonal structure for SrMnO3 phase and tetragonal structure for MnO2 phase. The optical energy band for the powder and thin film were equal to 2.28 eV and 2.92 eV respectively, which candidates this compound to be a solar cell transparent window, especially for deposited thin films. The electrical resistivity behaved as semiconductor-like where it decreases with the temperature with electrical activation energy equal 0.960 eV when heating and 0.663 eV when cooling. The result of the Methylene blue absorption showed that the SrMnO3 powder does work very well as a Photocatalyst. The efficiency of the powder of SrMnO3 as a Photocatalyst increases with the illumination time and its best value is about 56% at 120 min

Study of Optical, Electrical and Photocatalysis Properties of SrMnO3 Synthesized by Solid-State Reaction

SrMnO3 was prepared by solid-state reaction method to obtain powder then thin films by a thermal evaporation method. XRD diffraction, Optical and electrical properties were investigated. Photocatalysis process was implemented as an interesting application of SrMnO3. XRD diffraction results were used to study the compound structure and to calculate some other parameters such as crystallite size, D, microstrain, e, and dislocation density, d. XRD results revealed that SrMnO3 has a polycrystalline structure such as hexagonal structure for SrMnO3 phase and tetragonal structure for MnO2 phase. The optical energy band for the powder and thin film were equal to 2.28 eV and 2.92 eV respectively, which candidates this compound to be a solar cell transparent window, especially for deposited thin films. The electrical resistivity behaved as semiconductor-like where it decreases with the temperature with electrical activation energy equal 0.960 eV when heating and 0.663 eV when cooling. The result of the Methylene blue absorption showed that the SrMnO3 powder does work very well as a Photocatalyst. The efficiency of the powder of SrMnO3 as a Photocatalyst increases with the illumination time and its best value is about 56% at 120 min

Some microbial treatments against the tomato leaf miner; Tuta absoluta (Merick) under natural field conditions

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Solar cells: Types, Modules, and Applications–A Review

The basic operating principle of photovoltaic (PV) devices is the conversion of solar irradiation into electricity. There are various applications of this principle in many countries such as Egypt, Nigeria and Denmark. Most of the solar PV projects are designed for street lighting, water pumping and water desalination. However, we hope about wide range of using the appropriate components and best technical procedures, standard PV projects with maximum performance output. The present systems now provide 20% to 40% only of the community's heat or lightness on annual basic needs. These include innovative and alternative ways to reduce material uses and module degradation, and opportunities to reuse and recycle PV panels at the end of their lifetime because of the installations of photovoltaic solar modules which are growing extremely very fast.   Keywords: Solar cells; renewable energy; photovoltaic; free energy; solar panel cost; solar battery

Liver function status in bacterascites versus spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with liver cirrhosis

Background: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a severe complication of decompensated cirrhosis, and the in hospital mortality for SBP ranges from 21.3% to 37%.Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical characteristics, microbiological findings, and clinical course in patients diagnosed with bacterascites in comparison with patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, regarding liver status.Patients and methods: This study was conducted on 50 Patients with ascites who were admitted at Internal Medicine Department, Benha University Hospital.Results: There was no significant difference between the two studied groups. There was no significant difference between the two studied groups regarding hemoglobin, total leukocyte count (TLC) and platelets. There was no significant difference between the two studied groups regarding liver parameters. There was a significant difference between the two studied groups regarding polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) count. There was a significant difference between the two studied groups regarding positive cultures and prevalence of isolated organisms from the ascitic fluid. There was a significant difference between the two studied groups regarding antimicrobial agents use.Conclusion: Bacterascites is a complication of cirrhosis comparable to SBP with respect to clinical background and prognosis. There is a significant difference between the two studied groups regarding positive cultures and prevalence of isolated organisms from the ascitic fluid. There is a significant difference between the two studied groups regarding antimicrobial agents use

Lymphocyte apoptosis in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus

Background: Beta cell apoptosis has been associated with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) onset in newly diagnosed diabetic patients. There is an emerging evidence that T cell-induced apoptosis is a dominant effector mechanism in diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1). Pancreatic β-cells derived from newly diagnosed type 1 diabetics were found to have increased cell surface expression of Fas (CD95) compared to β-cells from healthy subjects. Objective: The study investigates the spontaneous lymphocyte apoptosis via CD95 molecule expression to demonstrate activation induced cell death in children with high risk of DM1 and in type 1 diabetics under insulin therapy. Methods: This study comprised 90 children and adolescents, divided into 3 groups. G(1) comprised 40 type-1 diabetics, their ages ranging from 8.0 to 17.0 years and disease duration between 2.0 and 12.0 years. G(2) (prediabetics) included 30 euglycaemic subjects who were first degree relatives of type 1 diabetics, with normal fasting blood glucose and positive first phase insulin release (FPIR) and/or positive islet cell (ICA) or glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies. G(3) comprised 20 healthy, age and sex matched subjects with no clinical or laboratory signs or family history of type-1DM. Patients were subjected to clinical evaluation with special emphasis on signs suggestive of microvascular complications. The study measurements included random blood sugar (RBS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), urinary microalbumin assay and flow cytometric assessment of apoptosis by measuring CD95 percentage expression on CD3 lymphocytes. Results: The percentage of CD95 positive T-lymphocytes was significantly higher in prediabetics than in type-1 diabetics and controls (57.687±6.68, 45.01±6.648,16.75±4.98% respectively; p < 0.001). CD3 positive lymphocytes were significantly lower in prediabetics than type-1 diabetics and controls (52.93±11.64, 66.23±7.04, 63.910±3.4% respectively; p < 0.001). The percentage of CD95 on T-lymphocytes could not be correlated with age, insulin dose and RBS, but HbA1c was positively correlated with both CD3 lymphocytes and CD95% expression. Complicated type-1 diabetics showed higher CD95% expression compared to noncomplicated patients. Conclusion: Peripheral blood lymphocytes with CD95 antigen expression are increased in prediabetics. As CD95 is an important receptor for activation-induced cell death, CD95 mediated apoptosis could play a potential role in the pathogenesis of DM1.Keywords: lymphocyte apoptosis; CD95 system; type 1 DM; prediabetesEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2008; 6(2): 57-6

Arabic Documents classification method a Step towards Efficient Documents Summarization

The massive growth of online information obliged the availability of a thorough research in the domain of automatic text summarization within the Natural Language Processing (NLP) community. To reach this goal, different approaches should be integrated and collaborated. One of these approaches is the classification od documents. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to propose a successful framework for agricultural documents classification as a step forward for a language independent automatic summarization approach. The main target of our serial research is to propose a complete novel framework which not only responses to the question, but also gives the user an opportunity to find additional information that is related to the question. We implemented the proposed method. As a case study, the implemented method is applied on Arabic text in the agriculture field. The implemented approach succeeded in classifying the documents submitted by the user. The approach results have been evaluated using Recall, Precision and F-score measures. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.15017