High dose intravenous immunoglobulin in Rh and ABO hemolytic disease of Egyptian neonates

Background: Despite advances made in the use of phototherapy, and in order to avoid sequelae of kernicterus, the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia may require one or several exchange transfusions, an invasive therapy which is not without risk. Intravenous immune globulin treatment in isoimmune hyperbilirubinemia has been shown to be effective, but the response to treatment is variable. Objective: To evaluate effectiveness of high dose Intravenous immune globulin (HD-IVIG) in reducing the need for exchange transfusion, duration of phototherapy and/or hospitalization in neonates with isoimmune hemolytic disease due to Rh or ABO incompatibility. Methods: The study included 116 direct Coombs' test positive neonates delivered at Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital of Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. They were randomly assigned to receive phototherapy with HD-IVIG in a single dose of 1 gm/kg (60 neonates, intervention group) or phototherapy (56 neonates, control group). Results: Nine neonates in the intervention group (15%) and 23 (41%) in the control group required single exchange transfusion (p< 0.001). Multiple exchange transfusion was indicated in 15 neonates (26.8%) in the control group versus none in the intervention group (p< 0.001). Compared with control group, neonates in the intervention group had shorter mean duration of intensive phototherapy (9.97 versus 35.5 hours, p<0.001) and hospital stay (27.9 versus 103.5 hours, p< 0.001). No adverse effects of HD-IVIG administration were noted. Conclusion: HD-IVIG effectively reduced the requirement for exchange transfusion and duration of phototherapy and hospitalization in isoimmune hemolytic disease of the newborn.Keywords: Hemolytic disease of newborn; hyperbilirubinemia; exchange transfusion; high dose intravenous immunoglobulin

Establishment of Gypsophila paniculata root culture for biomass, saponin, and flavonoid production

Baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata L.) roots are valuable as pharmaceuticals due to the content of triterpenoid saponins and other bioactive phytochemicals. However, the long root harvest period and fluctuation of these constituent’s content are among the constraints to traditional agricultural production. The present study shows an efficient and reliable liquid root culture of G. paniculata cv. ‘Perfecta’ established in a shake flask system using different auxins, media, and sugars. Hairy root (HR) induction in G. paniculata through Rhizobium rhizogenes-mediated transformation was also investigated. α-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) was optimized for adventitious roots (AR) biomass, saponin, and flavonoid production at 1 or 2 mg/L compared to IBA. Full strength Gamborg’s medium (B5) recorded higher saponin content; however, the highest yield of total saponin and total flavonoids was achieved by full strength Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium. Sucrose was more essential for root growth and accumulated total saponins and flavonoids rather than fructose and glucose. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed that G. paniculata HR carried rolC gene of R. rhizogenes A4 strain in its genome but not virD2 gene. Compared to non-transformed root, saponin content of leaf and stem-derived HR was 2.7 and 2.3-fold, while total flavonoid content was 2.1 and 2.0-fold, respectively. The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity was also higher in HR extracts than in non-transgenic roots. This study established an efficient protocol for G. paniculata root cultures for sustainable production of important natural saponins and flavonoids

Establishment of Gypsophila paniculata root culture for biomass, saponin, and flavonoid production

Baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata L.) roots are valuable as pharmaceuticals due to the content of triterpenoid saponins and other bioactive phytochemicals. However, the long root harvest period and fluctuation of these constituent’s content are among the constraints to traditional agricultural production. The present study shows an efficient and reliable liquid root culture of G. paniculata cv. ‘Perfecta’ established in a shake flask system using different auxins, media, and sugars. Hairy root (HR) induction in G. paniculata through Rhizobium rhizogenes-mediated transformation was also investigated. α-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) was optimized for adventitious roots (AR) biomass, saponin, and flavonoid production at 1 or 2 mg/L compared to IBA. Full strength Gamborg’s medium (B5) recorded higher saponin content; however, the highest yield of total saponin and total flavonoids was achieved by full strength Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium. Sucrose was more essential for root growth and accumulated total saponins and flavonoids rather than fructose and glucose. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed that G. paniculata HR carried rolC gene of R. rhizogenes A4 strain in its genome but not virD2 gene. Compared to non-transformed root, saponin content of leaf and stem-derived HR was 2.7 and 2.3-fold, while total flavonoid content was 2.1 and 2.0-fold, respectively. The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity was also higher in HR extracts than in non-transgenic roots. This study established an efficient protocol for G. paniculata root cultures for sustainable production of important natural saponins and flavonoids

Glucokinase Gene Mutations: Structural and Genotype-Phenotype Analyses in MODY Children from South Italy

BACKGROUND: Maturity onset diabetes of the young type 2 (or GCK MODY) is a genetic form of diabetes mellitus provoked by mutations in the glucokinase gene (GCK). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We screened the GCK gene by direct sequencing in 30 patients from South Italy with suspected MODY. The mutation-induced structural alterations in the protein were analyzed by molecular modeling. The patients' biochemical, clinical and anamnestic data were obtained. Mutations were detected in 16/30 patients (53%); 9 of the 12 mutations identified were novel (p.Glu70Asp, p.Phe123Leu, p.Asp132Asn, p.His137Asp, p.Gly162Asp, p.Thr168Ala, p.Arg392Ser, p.Glu290X, p.Gln106_Met107delinsLeu) and are in regions involved in structural rearrangements required for catalysis. The prevalence of mutation sites was higher in the small domain (7/12: approximately 59%) than in the large (4/12: 33%) domain or in the connection (1/12: 8%) region of the protein. Mild diabetic phenotypes were detected in almost all patients [mean (SD) OGTT = 7.8 mMol/L (1.8)] and mean triglyceride levels were lower in mutated than in unmutated GCK patients (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of GCK MODY is high in southern Italy, and the GCK small domain is a hot spot for MODY mutations. Both the severity of the GCK mutation and the genetic background seem to play a relevant role in the GCK MODY phenotype. Indeed, a partial genotype-phenotype correlation was identified in related patients (3 pairs of siblings) but not in two unrelated children bearing the same mutation. Thus, the molecular approach allows the physician to confirm the diagnosis and to predict severity of the mutation

Cycloartane triterpene glycosides from Astragalus sieberi

Two new cycloartane saponins were isolated from the aerial parts of Astragalus sieberi. The structures were elucidated by 1D- and 2D- gradient-enhanced NMR analyses and enzymatic hydrolysis as 20(S),24(R)-epoxy-9 beta, 19-cyclolanostan-3 beta,6 alpha,16 beta,25-tetrol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and 20(S),24(R)-epoxy-9 beta,19-cyclolanostan-3 beta,6 alpha,16 beta,25-tetrol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

A cycloartane triterpene 3\u3b2, 16\u3b2 diglucoside from Astragalus trigonus and its non natural 6-hydroxy epimer

The detailed investigation of Astralagus trigonus DC roots, led to the isolation of a new cycloartan-3 beta, 16 beta diglucoside, whose structure was elucidated by extensive use of 1D- and 2D- high field (600 MHz) NMR techniques. The NaBH4 reduction of the natural 6-ore 3 beta, 16 beta diglucoside, previously isolated from the same plant, afforded the 6-epi-derivative of the new compound. The conformational preference of both these compounds has been investigated by high field H-1 NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling techniques

Cycloartane and oleanane saponins from Egyptian Astragalus spp. as modulators of lymphocyte proliferation

From the roots of Astragalus kahiricus DC., three known saponins, namely, astraversianin VI, astraversianin X, astragaloside VIII, and a new saponin were isolated and identified by spectral data. The structure of the latter was elucidated by spectral means and assigned as cycloastragenol 3-O-[beta-D-(2',3'-diacetyl, 4'-trans-2-butenoyl)-xylopyranosyl], 6-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (kahiricoside 1). From the aerial parts of A. hamosus L., the known compounds azukisaponin V and peregrinoside I were isolated. As judged by in vitro tests, the saponins isolated from Astragalus spp. endemic to Egypt were not cytotoxic against a variety of human cancer cells. However, dose-related modulation of lymphocyte proliferation was observed, and structure-activity relationships are described

Allelopathic Effects of Sorghum and Sudan Grass on Some Following Winter Field Crops

Allelopathic compounds are secreted into the environment by living plants or released from dead plant tissues. The basic release routes of allelopathic substances by donor plants are secretion from the roots, washing out of compounds by water, emission of volatile substances and destruction of tissues during the decomposition of plant material. These observations led to the principles of crop sequence. A two-year study was carried out at Sids Agric. Exp. & Res. St., ARC, Beni – Sweif governorate, Egypt, during 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 seasons to study the allelopathic effects of sorghum and Sudan grass on berseem, faba bean, fodder beet, onion, sugar beet and wheat crops. This experiment included 18 treatments which were the combinations of fallow, sorghum and Sudan grass as preceding crops and six winter field crops (berseem 'Trifolium alexandrinum', faba bean 'Vicia faba', fodder beet 'Beta vulgaris', onion 'Allium cepa', sugar beet 'Beta vulgaris' and wheat 'Triticum aestivum') as following crops. A split plot distribution in randomized complete block design replicated thrice was used. The results indicated that roots of sorghum or Sudan grass secreted biologically active chemical compounds which have a positive effect on the growth and development of berseem, faba bean and onion which led to increase in their yields as compared with the fallow treatment. The preceding crops tested appear to be promising for berseem, faba bean and onion production, some benefits included releasing compounds that activate growth of Rhizobia sp. in berseem field, accelerate growth of Bacillus sp. that inhibit Orobanche plant emergence in faba bean field, produce nematicidal compounds that reduce nematodes in onion field. On the contrary, fodder beet, sugar beet and wheat yields were depressed when the crops are grown after sorghum or Sudan grass as compared with the fallow treatment

A minor cycloartan-3 beta,16 beta-diglucoside from Astragalus trigonus

A minor cycloartan-3 beta, 16 beta-diglucoside has been isolated from Astragalus trigonus roots. Its structure has been elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments operating at 600 MHz, which provided detailed information about the aglycone and the saccharidic units