Preliminary Investigation on In Vivo Trypanocidal Activity of Hydroethanolic Extracts of Calotropis procera and Parkinsonia aculeata

Effect of extracts of Calotropis procera and Parkinsonia aculeata in the treatment of Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected rats was studied. The albino rats were treated for 7 days with 200mg of the plant extracts intraperitoneally (ip) after establishment of parasitaemia. No significant(p>0.05) changes in weights were observed in all the groups. The results showed that Calotropis procera (root) was 96.43% as effective as Diminazene aceturate (berenil) in clearing parasitaemia. Significant(p<0.05) improvements in parked cell volume (PCV) were observed in the rats treated with Calotropis procera (root) and berenil. However, Calotropis procera (leaf) and Parkinsonia aculeata (leaf and stem bark) depressed red blood cell production. Total white blood cells (WBC) and differential count did not change significantly (p>0.05) in Calotropis procera (root) and berenil (positive control drug) treated groups. These observations were reversed in leaf and stem bark and leaf extracts of Calotropis proceraand Parkinsonia aculeata, respectively. In conclusion only the root extracts of Calotropis procera has demonstrated effective treatment of  trypanosomiasis, possibly due to its phytochemical contents.Key words: <i>Parkinsonia aculeata, Calotropis procera, Trypanosoma brucei brucei</i>, Haematological parameter

Butyrylcholinesterase activity in Nigerian type 2 diabetics with and without metabolic syndrome

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic progressive disease typified by a loss of glycaemic control over time as the insulin secreting pancreatic -cells lose their ability to compensate for the prevailing levels of insulin sensitivity. Several abnormalities are associated with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Butyrylcholinesterase activity in diabetes and metabolic syndrome is generally under reported. Blood samples and demographic data were obtained from one hundred and five patients presenting atSpecialist Hospital Sokoto, Nigeria. These were screened for type 2 diabetes according to the guidelines of the American Diabetes Association. Based on anthropometric indices and clinical data, patients were stratified into to 4 groups: Control (n = 44), type 2 diabetics with metabolic syndrome (n = 14), obese type 2 diabetics without metabolic syndrome (n = 21) and non-obese type 2 diabetics without metabolic syndrome (n = 26). Butyrylcholinesterase was assayed by kinetic and colorimetric method,other biochemical and clinical parameters were according to standard methods. Type 2 diabetics with or without metabolic syndrome have significantly higher activity of butyrylcholinesterase than controlgroup. The higher activity of the enzyme may have been influenced by hyperglycemia, obesity and metabolic syndrome through enhanced transcription or catalytic mechanism of the enzyme or both.Butyrylcholinesterase activity may serve as marker to predict the development of type 2 diabetes and or metabolic syndrome

Long term functioning in early onset psychosis: Two years prospective follow-up study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There were few studies on the outcome of schizophrenia in developing countries. Whether the outcome is similar to or different from developed world is still a point for research. The main aim of the current study was to know if patients with early onset non affective psychosis can behave and function properly after few years from start of the illness or not. Other aims included investigation of possible predictors and associated factors with remission and outcome.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>The study prospectively investigated a group of 56 patients with onset of psychosis during childhood or adolescence. Diagnosis made according to DSM-IV criteria and included; schizophrenia, psychotic disorder not otherwise specified and acute psychosis. Severity of psychosis was measured by PANSS. Measures of the outcome included; remission criteria of Andreasen et al 2005, the children's global assessment scale and educational level.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Analysis of data was done for only 37 patients. Thirty patients diagnosed as schizophrenia and 7 with Psychotic disorder not otherwise specified. Mean duration of follow up was 38.4 +/- 16.9 months. At the end of the study, 6 patients (16.2%) had one episode, 23(62.1%) had multiple episodes and 8 (21.6%) continuous course. Nineteen patients (51.4%) achieved full remission, and only 11(29.7%) achieved their average educational level for their age. Twenty seven percent of the sample had good outcome and 24.3% had poor outcome. Factors associated with non remission and poor outcome included gradual onset, low IQ, poor premorbid adjustment, negative symptoms at onset of the illness and poor adherence to drugs. Moreover, there was tendency of negative symptoms at illness start to predict poor outcome.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Some patients with early onset non affective psychosis can behave and function properly after few years from the start of the illness. Although remission is a difficult target in childhood psychosis, it is still achievable.</p

The flavonoid constituents of Leucaena Leucocephala growning in Egypt, and their biological activity

Background: Leucaena leucocephala is native to Southern Mexico and Northern Central America, but is now naturalized throughout the tropics. The phyto-chemical data of L. leucocephala revealed the presence of terpenes, flavonoids, coumarins and sterols. Various parts of L. leucocephala have been reported to have medicinal properties.Materials and Methods: Flavonoids were isolated from the aerial parts of L. leucocephala. Antioxidant activity of the extracts and the isolated compounds was evaluated using (DPPH), as well as their cytotoxic activity using a single tumor [Ehrlish ascites carcinoma cells].Results: The flavonoidal constituents isolated from chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of the aqueous alcoholic extract of aerial parts of Leucaena leucocephala were identified as Caffeic acid, Isorhamnetin, Chrysoeriol, Isorhamnetin 3-O-galactoside, Kaempferol-3-O-rubinoside, Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside and Luteolin-7-glucoside. Chemical structures of the isolated compounds were identified by TLC, PC and spectral techniques (UV, 1H -NMR and MS). The ethyl acetate fraction and the isolated flavonoidal compounds showed high antioxidant activity compared to Trolox (standard antioxidant compound). The different fractions and isolated compounds of Leucaena leucocephala exhibited no cytotoxic activity against Ehrlich- ascitis carcinoma cell line at the tested concentrations.Conclusion: This is the first record of the flavonoids in the aerial parts of Leucaena leucocephala (L.) except Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside.Key words: Leucaena leucocephala., Flavonoids, Antioxidant, cytotoxic activity

Study on the conformation of insulin by solvent perturbation and ultraviolet spectroscopy

This study attempted to gain an insight of the conformation of insulin using solvent perturbation and ultraviolet spectroscopy. The effects of two solvents, mercaptoethanol and sucrose on the absorption spectrum of Insulin were studied; changes in ionic strength and pH were used to  identify the position of amino acid chromophores. The effect on the absorption spectrum of movement from a non-polar to a polar  environment indicates that tyrosine and phenylalanine reside on the surface of insulin protein. The results show that pH resolved spectral behavior of Insulin in the neighborhood of 290 nm is determined  predominantly by the ionization of imidazole – NH+ of histidine. The results, however, do not rule out the possible contribution of the phenol hydroxyl of tyrosine in the spectral behavior. © 2013 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Insulin conformation, solvent perturbation, ultraviolet spectroscopy

Effect of Guanidium Hydrochloride on the Stability of Horse Skeletal Muscle Myoglobin

The stability of the three dimensional structure of horse skeletal muscle myoglobin was investigated using visible spectroscopy. Guanidium hydrochloride (GuHCl) of concentrations 0.4 – 0.8M have no observable effect on the three dimensional structure as indicated by monitoring the absorbance at 420nm. However, higher concentrations (1.0-3.0M) resulted in unfolding of the protein as indicated by the dip in absorption from 0.535 to 0.350.The requirement for high denaturant concentration to perturb the structure of myoglobin indicates the high stability of the protein. We conclude that high concentrations of the denaturant GuHCl, disrupts the 3-dimensional structure of myoglobin causing its unfolding, in a two- state process, due to weak binding to the protein, which can be studied spectrophotometricall

Genotypic and phenotypic patterns of antimicrobial susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori strains among Egyptian patients

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is currently recognized as one of the most common chronic bacterial infections worldwide. Eradication of bacteria is effective in healing peptic ulcers, preventing ulcer relapses, and potentially decreasing the risk of progression to gastric carcinoma. For successful eradication of bacteria, it is imperative that the clinician be aware of the current antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of isolates within the region. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare the phenotypic and genotypic patterns of antibiotics’ susceptibility to H. pylori strains among Egyptian patients. 60 symptomatic cases were enrolled. H. pylori infection was diagnosed by upper endoscopy as well as biopsy. Antimicrobial susceptibility to H. pylori strains was assessed in all subjects by disc diffusion and Ellipsometer testing (E-testing) methods. Further molecular characterization of gene

IN VITRO ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF ABUTILON THEOPHRASTI MEDIK. (MALVACEAE) AGAINST EGGS AND L3 LARVAE OF HAEMONCHUS CONTORTUS

Objective: The present study was carried out to assess the in vitro anthelmintic activity of Abutilon theophrasti stem extracts. Methods: Simple maceration was employed for extraction. Solvents such as methanol, water, and hexane were used. Egg hatch test (EHT) and larval motility test were employed to check the anthelmintic activity of crude extracts. Concentrations of 500, 250, 125, 62.5, and 31.25 mg/ml were made. Levamisole and distilled water served as control, respectively. Results: All selected extracts displayed concentration-dependent inhibition except aqueous extracts. At higher concentration (500 mg/ml), stem extracts (methanol, aqueous, and ethanol) showed 74.39%, 72.5 and 70.03% of efficacy in EHT, respectively (p≤0.05). Meanwhile, inhibition of larval motility was seen higher with inhibition percentage of 79.79, 75.65, and 71.28 by methanolic, aqueous, and hexane extracts, respectively (p≤ 0.05). Conclusion: The presents study suggests active principles having anthelmintic efficacy in Abutilon theopharsti stem

Mining network-level properties of Twitter altmetrics data

© 2019, Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary. Social networking sites play a significant role in altmetrics. While 90% of all altmetric mentions come from Twitter, the known microscopic and macroscopic properties of Twitter altmetrics data are limited. In this study, we present a large-scale analysis of Twitter altmetrics data using social network analysis techniques on the ‘mention’ network of Twitter users. Exploiting the network-level properties of over 1.4 million tweets, corresponding to 77,757 scholarly articles, this study focuses on the following aspects of Twitter altmetrics data: (a) the influence of organizational accounts; (b) the formation of disciplinary communities; (c) the cross-disciplinary interaction among Twitter users; (d) the network motifs of influential Twitter users; and (e) testing the small-world property. The results show that Twitter-based social media communities have unique characteristics, which may affect social media usage counts either directly or indirectly. Therefore, instead of treating altmetrics data as a black box, the underlying social media networks, which may either inflate or deflate social media usage counts, need further scrutiny

Biochemical responses of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars subjected to NaCl salinity stress

This investigation was conducted to determine NaCl salinity effects on antioxidant enzyme s activities, reducing sugar contents and lipid peroxidation in two alfalfa cultivars. Plants grown in solution cultures were subjected to 0, 100, 150 and 200 mM solutions of sodium chloride. Yazdi and Diabolourde alfalfa were used as tolerant and sensitive cultivars, respectively, in a germination experiment under similar conditions. Results show that the amount of reducing sugars and the activities of peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes increased with the increase in salt concentration. However, SOD activities decreased at high salt concentrations. The increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes in response to salt treatments was higher in the tolerant cultivar. The results also show that salt treatment provoked an oxidative stress in both cultivars, as shown by the increase in lipid peroxidation. However, the level of lipid peroxidation was higher in the sensitive cultivar. The increase in antioxidant activities could also be a response to the cellular damage induced by NaCl. It seems that the tolerant cultivar has a better mechanism to cope with the deleterious effects ROS produced under salt stress.Key words: Alfalfa, antioxidant enzymes, malondialdehyde, salt stress