Occult hepatitis B virus infection among hemodialysis patients

Hepatitis B virus is a major public health impasse all over the world. Recently a new form of hepatitis B infection named Occult hepatitis B Infection (OBI) has appeared globally. The OBI is defined as the presence of HBV DNA in the liver and/or blood in the absence of detectable serum HBsAg with/without anti-HBc or anti-HBs. The prevalence of OBI has been reported in hemodialysis (HD) patients in different regions of the world. Thus, this study investigated the prevalence of OBI among HD patients. The cross-sectional study was carried out on 84 HD patients. These sera were checked for HBsAg, HBc-IgG assessment using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The DNA was extracted from the sera samples and tested for HBVDNA detection using Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (Nested PCR). The liver function tests including serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were carried out for all the HD individuals. 52/84(61.9%) of HD were males and 32/84 (38.1%) were females. The patient’s age ranged from 25 to 64 with a mean age of 52.4±15.2 years. HBsAg and HBc-IgG were detected in 1(1.1%) female. 2 (2.4%; a female and a male) patients were positive for HBsAg. 14/84 (16.7%; 6 female and 8 male) HD patients were positive for anti-HBc but negative for HBsAg, among them 4(28.6%; 2 female and 2 male) cases were positive for HBV DNA, indicating the presence of OBI in HD patients. Even distribution of OBI among the HD was found in 2(2.36%) male and 2(2.36%) female (P>.0.05). In the present study the moderate rate of 4.76% OBI has been observed in HD patients. The prevalence of seropositive OBI among the gender was 2(2.36%) male and 2(2.36%) female. The seronegative OBI have not been detected in the present study but requires further investigation. In this study the affliction of OBI in HD patients is not clear

Preventive Effects of Ellagic Acid on Nucleus Tractus Solitarius Electrical Activity and Oxidative Stress Altered by Cerebral Global Ischemia/Reperfusion in Rat

ABSTRACT Cerebral ischemia commonly occurs when the blood flow to the entire brain or some part of the brain is disrupted. Global cerebral ischemia attenuates the nucleus tractus solitaries (NTS) EEG rhythm, increases the free radicals production and brain inflammation. Ellagic acid (EA) has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects against neural damages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ellagic acid on EEG power in the global cerebral ischemia.Rats were divided into four groups: SO (sham) received normal saline, EA+SO, I/R (normal saline + ischemia/reperfusion), and EA + I/R. EA (100 mg/kg, dissolved in normal saline) or normal saline was administered orally (gavage) for 10 days. Animal underwent to 20 minutes of ischemia followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion in I/R and I/R+EA groups. EEG was recorded from NTS and serum antioxidant enzyme activity was measured.Data showed that ellagic acid improved electrical power of NTS. Theta and delta bands frequencies in the ischemic animals were decreased in I/R group with compared to SO group significantly (P<0.001). Ellagic acid has beneficial effect on superoxide dismutase activity in the ischemic animals with compared to I/R group (P<0.01). In contrast, ellagic acid has no significant role on glutathione peroxidase activity in the pretreated ischemic rats in comparison with I/R group.These findings suggest that ellagic acid increased antioxidant enzymes activity that scavenge the ROS due to ischemia so that it may have neuroprotective effect on NTS neurons and consequently reverse its electrophysiology pattern

Effects of ellagic acid pretreatment on renal functions disturbances induced by global cerebral ischemic-reperfusion in rat

Objective(s): Global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (GCIR) causes disturbances in brain functions as well as other organs such as kidney. Our aim was to evaluate the protective effects of ellagic acid (EA) on certain renal disfunction after GCIR. Materials and Methods: Adult male Wistar rats (n=32, 250-300 g) were used. GCIR was induced by bilateral vertebral and common carotid arteries occlusion (4-VO). Animal groups were: 1) received DMSO/saline (10%) as solvent of EA, 2) solvent + GCIR, 3) EA + GCIR, and 4) EA. Under anesthesia with ketamine/xylazine, GCIR was induced (20 and 30 min respectively) in related groups. EA (100 mg/kg, dissolved in DMSO/saline (10%) or solvent was administered (1.5 ml/kg) orally for 10 consecutive days to the related groups. EEG was recorded from NTS in GCIR treated groups. Results: Our data showed that: a) EEG in GCIR treated groups was flattened. b) GCIR reduced GFR (