23 research outputs found
Adult Children of Problem Drinking Parents: Experiences of Relationships
Difficulties in interpersonal functioning have been consistently reported in the literature as a proposed negative outcome for adult children of problem drinkers. The existing literature has largely privileged the quantitative paradigm, which has conceptualised this group’s relationship functioning through theoretically driven categories and concepts. The result has been a predominantly negative picture lacking utility, as well as neglecting important contextual processes and the inherent complexity and fluidity of human relationships. The aim of this study was to gain a richer understanding through exploring adult children of problem drinkers lived experience of relationships. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six individuals who grew up with at least one problem drinking parent. Transcripts of the interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Four main themes emerged across participants accounts: ‘Moving from ‘bewilderment’ to seeking clarity and stability in relationships’, ‘Remembering feeling unsafe and finding safety in relationships’, ‘Moving from invisibility towards finding a sense of self’ and ‘Making a choice to change my relationships’. The findings offer an alternative understanding of this group’s experiences of relationships which are discussed in relation to the existing literature. Clinical Implications and suggestions for further research are considered
Effect of Calcium Soap of Fatty Acids Supplementation on Serum Biochemical Parameters and Ovarian Activity during Out-of-the-Breeding Season in Crossbred Ewes
This experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of calcium soap of fatty acid (CSFA) supplementation on serum biochemical and hormones and ovarian activity during out-of-the-breeding season in ewes. Twelve crossbred ewes, 2-3 years of age and weighting 45–55 kg, were allocated into two equal groups. The first group was control and the other was treated with 50 g/head of CSFA. All ewes were fed basal diet and treated with 60 mg of medroxy progesterone acetate intravaginal sponge for 12 day. At the third day of sponge removal, the CSFA-treated group was given 50 g/head of CSFA daily for two estrous cycles. During the estrus phase, ovarian activity was detected using ultrasonography in both groups. All ewes were then subjected to natural breeding and conception rate. Blood samples were collected from all ewes during treatment period. Results revealed significant (P < 0.05) increases in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, and progesterone levels with decrease in calcium and phosphorous levels in treated group. In treated group, normal-size ovaries and more than one follicle on the ovaries were detected and pregnancy rate increased. In conclusion, CSFA supplementation was effective to maintain the reproductive performance when ewes were out of the breeding season
Egyptian Propolis Alleviates Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of oral administration of ethanol extract of propolis against gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Oral administration of ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) at doses 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg.b.wt. orally/daily for 7 days) against gentamicin- (GM) at dose 100 mg/kg b.wt., i.p./daily for 7days) induced nephrotoxicity in six equal groups of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Blood was collected 24 h after the last injection for determination of serum creatinine, urea, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity. Rats were euthanized and kidney tissue specimens were collected for determination of oxidative/antioxidative biomarkers, gene expression for antioxidative enzymes and DNA fragmentation. Significant increase in serum creatinine, urea and AST activity at the same time, and a depletion of aspartate aminotransferase activity was recorded in renal homogenate of GM only–treated rats compared to control group. Lipid peroxidation in renal tissue showed significant elevation in GM-only treated group, however, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase and its gene expression were markedly decreased. DNA fragmentation was significantly increased in renal tissue of GM- only treated rats. Oral administration of EEP exhibited curative effects by reversing GM-induced alterations in serum biochemical and renal tissue oxidative stress biomarkers. In conclusion, propolis is effective in preventing or ameliorating oxidative stress of gentamicin
Role of evolutionary epidemiology in the determination of the risk factors associated with some equine viral diseases
The evolutionary epidemiology is crucial as it does not only help in tracking the origin, spreading, prediction, and control of viruses but also explains the failure causes of some vaccines and serological diagnostic tools. To keep animal welfare, it is essential to raise awareness of the multiple risk factors associated with the different epidemics. Arthropod-borne viruses like African horse sickness virus (AHSV) and equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV) are related to vectors multiplication. Accordingly, their seasonal occurrence was attributed to the environmental climatic conditions. While equine influenza virus (EIV) and equine herpes virus (EHV) were found to occur in winter and spring (foaling seasons), respectively. The management risk factors resulted in the occurrence and reactivation of latently infected cases. The RNA viruses are characterized by genetic assortment which results in increasing pathogenicity, and failure of the used vaccines. The EHVs able to establish infection in different host tissues adding to their immune evasion strategies. Most of the diseases occurred at the age over 2 years although the EIAV takes long time to appear. The hard work of males and other stress factors render them more liable for infection with equine viral arteritis (EVA), EIAV, and EHV. Genetically, some breeds of horses were at risk of AHSV, EVA, and EHV infection. Most of the donkeys, mules, and zebra develop subclinical forms that magnifies their role in the epidemiological situation. Different phenomena like overwintering in AHSV, hard work in EIV, virus hidden nature and latency in EHV should be more analysed
The cientificWorldJOURNAL Research Article Immunostimulant Effect of Egyptian Propolis in Rabbits
The present experiment was conducted to study the effect of ethanolic extract of Egyptian propolis given alone or in combination with inactivated Pasteurella multocida vaccine on rabbits challenged with a virulent strain of Pasteurella multocida. Fifty-six NewZealand rabbits, 6-8 weeks old and non-vaccinated against pasteurellosis, were randomly divided into eight equal groups. The first group was kept as a control for the experiment. The other groups received different treatments with propolis extract, inactivated vaccine, or both. The experiment continued for seven weeks during which clinical signs, body weight, and mortality rate were monitored, and blood samples were collected weekly for evaluating the leukogram, serum biochemistry, and immune response in all groups of animals. At the end of the seventh week, the animals were subjected to challenge with a virulent strain of Pasteurella multocida. Two weeks later, tissue specimens were collected from different organs for histopathological examination. Results showed that rabbits of the groups treated with both propolis and the vaccine by different routes appeared healthy after challenge. It has been concluded that alcoholic extract of propolis administrated in combination with inactivated Pasteurella multocida vaccine has no adverse effects on the general health conditions and enhances immune response in rabbits
ANTIVIRAL AND IMMUNE STIMULANT ACTIVITIES OF GLYCYRRHIZIN AGAINST DUCK HEPATITIS VIRUS
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of glycyrrhizin as an immune stimulant against duck hepatitis virus (DHV). In vitro study was carried out to determine cytotoxic and antiviral effects of glycyrrhizin in VERO cells. In vivo study was performed on 40 one-day-old White Pekin ducklings. –and the birds weres divided into 4 groups: control, glycyrrhizin treated, vaccinated with live attenuated DHV vaccine and glycyrrhizin treated and vaccinated; to investigate the changes in immunity and challenge test. Blood samples were collected from each duckling for evaluation of cellular and humeral immunity. The in vitro results revealed that glycyrrhizin had antiviral and no toxic effects till 106 dilutions. Higher antibody titer was observed from the 5th week till the end of experiment in glycyrrhizin and vaccinated group. Treatment with glycyrrhizin alone or with DHV vaccine demonstrated a pronounced lymphocytic proliferation response after 4 days post-inoculation till the end of experiment, while vaccinated group revealed a pronounced proliferation response after 24 days post-inoculation. Treatment with glycyrrhizin alone or combination with DHV vaccine revealed good immune stimulant and antiviral effect against DHV
Tegumental Effects of Methanolic Extract of Balanites aegyptiaca Fruits on Adult Paramphistomum microbothrium (Fischoeder 1901) under Laboratory Conditions
Background: Weak efficacy of different fasciolicidal compounds used for treatment of paramphistomosis has drawn the attention of many authors to alternative drugs. The purpose of this study was to assess, for the first time, the effect of the methanolic extract of Balanites aegyptiaca fruits (BAE) on adult Paramphistomum microbothrium.
Methods: The effect of BAE on adult P. microbothrium after 24 h incubating the parasites in RPMI 1640 culture medium containing 10, 50, 100 and 200 µg/ml BAE was determined by light and scanning electron microscopic studies.
Results: Differences in response to BAE action were concentration dependent.The major target organ that was highly affected was the tegument. Maximum anthelmintic activity was found with a dose of 200 µg/ml BAE, at which distinct damage to the whole body surface of the trematodes was very much distinct. Shape and structure of both suckers were deformed due to BAE. This damage would undoubtedly disrupt many of the physiological processes associated with the tegument. Besides, the damage of the tegumental folds of the acetabular region might disrupt its function in drawing the rumen wall tissue of the host into the acetabular cavity.
Conclusion: the use of methanolic extract of B. aegyptiaca fruits offers a new dimension and potential for control of such a neglected infectious disease in ruminants, at a time when paramphistomosis has emerged as an important cause of productivity loss
<b>Antiulcerogenic effect of some plants extracts</b>
258-263Methanol extracts were
prepared from aerial parts of 8 medicinal plants and evaluated for their
potential antiulcerogenic effects using ethanol and Aspirin - induced gastric
ulcerations in rats. Oral administration of the methanol extract (400
mg/kg-) of Bidens bipinnata Linn., Zygophyllum album Linn. f., Plantago major Linn. (leaves)
and Schouwia thebaica Webb.
significantly (P< 0.01) decreased the average ulcer index with a curative
ratio ranged
from 100% for B. bipinnata to 58.3%
for S. thebaica in the
ethanol-induced gastric ulceration. Mentha microphylla C. Koch., Conyza
linifolia Willd., C. dioscoridis
(Linn.) Desf., Cynanchum acutum Linn.
and
P. major (seeds) decreased the ulcer
index, however, their curative ratios were below 50% but higher than the
reference drug Ranitidine (curative ratio 38.9%). B. bipinnata, Z. album and P. major
(leaves)
in a dose of 400 mg/kg significantly
decreased the number of gastric ulcer and decreased total protein in gastric
juice in aspirin-induced gastric ulceration. The total acidity was significantly
(P< 0.01) decreased by all tested plant extracts. Based on the decreased ulcer
index, increased curative ratio, decreased number of gastric ulcers and
decreased
total protein and total acidity, B.
bipinnata, Z. album and P. major
leaves in a dose of 400
mg/kg produced
a potent antiulcerogenic effect against alcohol- and aspirin-induced gastric
ulcer. Moderate effect was produced by S. thebaica
Potential protective effect of some plant extracts against carbon tetrachloride – induced hepatotoxicity
Plantago major seeds, Diplotaxis acris and Schouiwa thebaica methanol extracts were evaluated for their potential hepatoprotective effects against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic damage model. Preliminary phytochemical studies were carried out to elucidate their components. Oral administration of the methanol extract (1000 mg kg-1) of Plantago major seeds, Diplotaxis acris and Schouiwa thebaica significantly (P< 0.05) attenuated the CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. This was indicated by the tendency of serum enzyme activities to return toward the normal values. Moreover the histopathological changes of liver tissues induced by CCl4 were moderate to mild in methanol extract-pretreated rats. No toxic symptoms were reported in rats receiving methanol extract at doses up to 2.5 g kg-1. Unsaturated sterols and/or triterpenes, tannins, flavonoids and carbohydrates and/or glycosides were the major active constituents of the tested plants. Keywords: hepatoprotective, medicinal plants, Plantago major, Diplotaxis acris, Schouwia thebaica African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Vol. 3(3) 2006: 1-
Immunostimulant Effect of Egyptian Propolis in Rabbits
The present experiment was conducted to study the effect of ethanolic extract of Egyptian propolis given alone or in combination with inactivated Pasteurella multocida vaccine on rabbits challenged with a virulent strain of Pasteurella multocida. Fifty-six New-Zealand rabbits, 6–8 weeks old and non-vaccinated against pasteurellosis, were randomly divided into eight equal groups. The first group was kept as a control for the experiment. The other groups received different treatments with propolis extract, inactivated vaccine, or both. The experiment continued for seven weeks during which clinical signs, body weight, and mortality rate were monitored, and blood samples were collected weekly for evaluating the leukogram, serum biochemistry, and immune response in all groups of animals. At the end of the seventh week, the animals were subjected to challenge with a virulent strain of Pasteurella multocida. Two weeks later, tissue specimens were collected from different organs for histopathological examination. Results showed that rabbits of the groups treated with both propolis and the vaccine by different routes appeared healthy after challenge. It has been concluded that alcoholic extract of propolis administrated in combination with inactivated Pasteurella multocida vaccine has no adverse effects on the general health conditions and enhances immune response in rabbits