Comparative pharmacokinetics of cefoperazone following intravenous and intramuscular administration in goats

AbstractThe pharmacokinetic profile of cefoperazone was studied in goats following intravenous and intramuscular administration of 20mg/kg body weight. Cefoperazone concentrations in serum were determined by microbiological assay technique using Escherichia coli (ATCC 10536) as test organism. Following i.v. administration, the cefoperazone serum concentration–time curve was best fitted in a two compartment open model. Cefoperazone has moderate distribution in the body of goats with Vdss of 0.44±0.03L/kg. The elimination half-life (T0.5(β)), area under curve (AUC) and total body clearance (Cltot) were 1.97±0.14h, 149.63±8.61μgml−1h−1, and 2.17ml/min/kg, respectively. Following i.m. administration, the drug was very rapidly absorbed, with an absorption half-life (T0.5(ab)) of 0.12±0.01h. The maximum serum concentration (Cmax) of 30.42±3.53μgml−1 was attained at (Tmax) 0.58±0.02h, with an elimination half-life (T0.5(el)) of 2.53±0.11h. The systemic bioavailability of cefoperazone in the goats after i.m. administration was 83.62% and in vitro protein binding was 20.34%. The serum concentrations of cefoperazone along 12h post i.m. injection in this study were exceeding the MIC of different susceptible micro-organisms responsible for serious disease problems. Consequently, a suitable intramuscular dosage regimen for cefoperazone was 20mg/kg repeated at 12h intervals in goats. The drug was detected in urine up to 12 and 18h following i.v. and i.m. administration, respectively

Is there a Link between Human Herpes Virus Infection and Toll-like Receptors in the Pathogenesis of Pityriasis Rosea? A Case-control Study

Human herpesvirus (HHV) 6 and 7 are involved in the pathogenesis of pityriasis rosea (PR). Our aim was to evaluate the role of the innate immune response in PR through the detection of Toll-like receptors (TLR) 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9 expression in the skin of affected patients and to detect the possibility of being induced by HHV-6 and/or HHV-7 viral coexistence in these patients. Twenty-four patients with PR and 24 healthy controls were included in this case-control study. Biopsy was obtained from the PR lesion and from the healthy skin of controls for detection of HHV-6 and 7 as well as TLRs 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9 gene expression using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Significantly elevated expression of all studied TLRs and significantly higher viral load of HHV-6 and 7 in PR cases were detected. A significant higher expression of TLR2 and 4 in HHV-7 positive cases and a significant positive correlation between TLR9 and HHV-7 viral load were documented. HHV6 and 7 may also be involved in the pathogenesis of PR via TLR pathways  </p

Congenital trichofolliculoma: a very rare presentation

Trichofolliculoma is an uncommon hair follicle hamartoma. It usually appears during adulthood on the face or scalp as a single, asymptomatic, skin-colored papule/nodule with small protruding hairs. Histopathological features are diagnostic. Very rare congenital cases have been reported. Herein, we report a congenital trichofolliculoma in a 15-year-old girl

Expression of Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 in Vitiligo

Abstract Background: Vitiligo is characterized by selective destruction of melanocytes. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β 1) is the main product of regulatory T cells (Tregs) which are deficient in vitiligo. Thus, lower levels of serum TGF-β 1 are expected in vitiligo. However, TGF-β 1 is a keratinocytederived cytokine with inhibitory effect on melanocyte activity. Thus it may be expected to be higher in the sera of patients with vitiligo

Study of mast cell count in skin tags

<b>Background:</b> Skin tags or acrochordons are common tumors of middle-aged and elderly subjects. They consist of loose fibrous tissue and occur mainly on the neck and major flexures as small, soft, pedunculated protrusions. <b> Objectives:</b> The aim was to compare the mast cells count in skin tags to adjacent normal skin in diabetic and nondiabetic participants in an attempt to elucidate the possible role of mast cells in the pathogenesis of skin tags. <b> Participants and Methods:</b> Thirty participants with skin tags were divided into group I (15 nondiabetic participants) and group II (15 diabetic participants). Three biopsies were obtained from each participant: a large skin tag, a small skin tag and adjacent normal skin. Mast cell count from all the obtained sections was carried out, and the mast cell density was expressed as the average mast cell count/high power field (HPF). <b> Results:</b> A statistically significant increase in mast cells count in skin tags in comparison to normal skin was detected in group I and group II. There was no statistically significant difference between mast cell counts in skin tags of both the groups. <b> Conclusion:</b> Both the mast cell mediators and hyperinsulinemia are capable of inducing fibroblast proliferation and epidermal hyperplasia that are the main pathologic abnormalities seen in all types of skin tags. However, the presence of mast cells in all examined skin tags regardless of diabetes and obesity may point to the possible crucial role of mast cells in the etiogenesis of skin tags through its interaction with fibroblasts and keratinocytes

The impact of methotrexate therapy with vitamin D supplementation on the cardiovascular risk factors among patients with psoriasis; a prospective randomized comparative study

Background Controlling psoriasis with various systemic treatments, including methotrexate, may significantly decrease associated cardiovascular risk problems. Objective To assess the value of vitamin D supplementation on clinical response as well as changes in cardiovascular risk parameters in psoriasis patients treated with methotrexate. Methods This prospective randomized comparative study included 30 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis divided randomly to receive either methotrexate alone (Mtx) or methotrexate plus intramuscular vitamin D (MtxD) for 3 months. Lipid profile, HsCRP, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and blood pressure (BP) measurements were recorded before and after the therapy. Results At end of study period, significant clinical improvement in both groups was observed. CIMT and systolic BP decreased in both groups but only statistically significant in Mtx group. HsCRP decreased in both groups but didn’t reach statistical significance. We also observed, an increase in triglycerides and cholesterol levels in the Mtx group with the latter decreasing in the combined Mtx and vitamin D therapy group. Conclusion Treating psoriasis with methotrexate may decrease cardiovascular disease risk factors. Adding vitamin D supplementation to methotrexate may protect lipid homeostasis, specifically cholesterol and triglycerides

Psoriasis paradox—infliximab-induced psoriasis in a patient with Crohn’s disease: a case report and mini-review

Biologic drugs are therapeutic modalities designed to inhibit specific cytokine signaling pathways. The introduction of these drugs in the management of autoimmune diseases has dramatically changed the treatment paradigm of chronic systemic immune-mediated inflammatory disorders. However, despite their overall acceptable safety profiles, paradoxical reactions have been reported in some real-life cases including case studies and clinical trials. In this study, we report a patient with Crohn’s disease who developed infliximab-induced psoriasis vulgaris after starting infliximab treatment. In this case, infliximab was discontinued, and low-dose steroids and subcutaneous methotrexate were introduced to control both his psoriasis and bowel condition with satisfying responses

Predicting Dynamics of Soil Salinity and Sodicity Using Remote Sensing Techniques: A Landscape-Scale Assessment in the Northeastern Egypt

Traditional mapping of salt affected soils (SAS) is very costly and cannot precisely depict the space–time dynamics of soil salts over landscapes. Therefore, we tested the capacity of Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) data to retrieve soil salinity and sodicity during the wet and dry seasons in an arid landscape. Seventy geo-referenced soil samples (0–30 cm) were collected during March (wet period) and September to be analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP). Using 70% of soil and band reflectance data, stepwise linear regression models were constructed to estimate soil pH, EC, and ESP. The models were validated using the remaining 30% in terms of the determination coefficient (R2) and residual prediction deviation (RPD). Results revealed the weak variability of soil pH, while EC and ESP had large variabilities. The three indicators (pH, EC, and ESP) increased from the wet to dry period. During the two seasons, the OLI bands had weak associations with soil pH, while the near-infrared (NIR) band could effectively discriminate soil salinity and sodicity levels. The EC and ESP predictive models in the wet period were developed with the NIR band, achieving adequate outcomes (an R2 of 0.65 and 0.61 and an RPD of 1.44 and 1.43, respectively). In the dry period, the best-fitted models were constructed with deep blue and NIR bands, yielding an R2 of 0.59 and 0.60 and an RPD of 1.49 and 1.50, respectively. The SAS covered 50% of the study area during the wet period, of which 14 and 36% were saline and saline-sodic soils, respectively. The extent increased up to 59% during the dry period, including saline soils (12%) and saline-sodic soils (47%). Our findings would facilitate precise, rapid, and cost-effective monitoring of soil salinity and sodicity over large areas

miRNA-133 and lncRNA-H19 expressions and their relation to serum levels of PKM2 and TGF-β in patients with systemic sclerosis

Background and aims: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a common autoimmune disorder involving the skin, blood vessels, and internal organs with an elusive pathophysiology. SSc is believed to be a genetically prone T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease. miRNAs and lncRNAs were thought to be involved in the etiology of several immunological diseases including SSc. This work aimed to assess the expression of miRNA-133, lncRNA-H19, PKM2, and TGF-β levels in SSc in comparison to controls and their relationship to the clinical course and severity of disease. Patients and methods: Fifty patients with SSc and 40 healthy age and sex-matched controls were included in this study. miRNA-133 and H19 expression levels were detected using quantitative RT-PCR while serum levels of PKM2 and TGF-β were measured using ELISA techniques. Patients’ clinical data and treatments received were extracted and correlated with proteins investigated. Results: Our results showed that miRNA-133 was significantly downregulated in SSc patients in comparison to controls (Mean + SD of SSc = 0.61 ± 0.22, Mean ± SD of HC = 0.97 ± 0.007, p = 0.003). However, there was significant upregulation of the serum expressions of all other tested biomarkers in SSc patients in comparison to controls; H19 (Mean + SD of SSc = 10.37 ± 3.13, Mean ± SD of HC = 1.01 ± 0.01, p = 0.0001), PKM2 (Mean + SD of SSc = 28.0 ± 4.84, Mean ± SD of HC = 16.19 ± 1.32, p = 0.005) and TGF-β (Mean + SD of SSc = 150.8 ± 6.36, Mean ± SD of HC = 23.83 ± 0.93, p = 0.0001). We also detected several correlations between serum levels of the investigated proteins in patients with SSc. Conclusion: Along with TGF-β, our results show that miRNA-133, H19, and PKM2 seem to be potential contributors to SSc pathogenesis and could be promising biomarkers in the diagnosis of SSc patients. The lncRNA-H19 correlations with TGF- β, miRNA-133, and PKM2 suggest a possible influential effect of this RNA molecule on the pathogenesis of SSc