Anticandidal effect of Eucalyptus oil and three isolated compounds on cutaneous wound healing in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Poor healing is one of the major complications of microbial contamination of wounds. When the skin is damaged, microorganisms can quickly invade the underlying tissues and cause infections that are potentially life-threatening. As a result, effective therapies are required to handle such pathological disorders. Several bioactivities, including fungicidal and antibacterial properties, have been noted for Eucalyptus essential oils. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Eucalyptus oil (EO) and mixed oils (MO) of Eucalyptus citriodora, citronellol acetate, linalool, and α-pinene on the healing of C. albicans infected wounds in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Essential oils were extracted from the fresh areal parts of Eucalyptus citriodora, Lavandula stricta, and Rosmarinus officinalis then their active compounds were chromatographically isolated and identified using GC/Ms. The in vitro antifungal activities of EO and MO were evaluated against Candida albicans using the Agar well diffusion method. Further, their effect on the healing of C. albicans infected wounds was evaluated via the excision wound rat's model. Percentages of wound contraction, epithelialization period, wound Candida load, and the histopathology of wounded tissues were evaluated to confirm the progression of wound healing. RESULTS: Results of the in vitro tests showed that MO has a potent activity against C. albicans evaluated by an inhibitory zone (IZ) diameter of 23.4 mm and a MIC value of 0.24 g/mL, compared to EO's corresponding values of 13.4 mm and 15.63 g/mL. The beneficial impacts of MO creams in improving the percentage of contraction of C. albicans contaminated wounds were better than those of EO creams. MO 10% cream showed the greatest proportion of wound contraction and epithelialization rate. The beneficial effect of MO was further confirmed by a significant reduction of the fungal load of wounds in addition to histopathological improvement compared to the NC group. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested the potential of 10% MO cream in enhancing the healing of C. albicans infected wounds upon topical application.

Hepatitis C virus and other risk factors in hepatocellular carcinoma.

UNLABELLED: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) increased in Egypt in the past years, becoming the most common cancer among men. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are the known primary risk factors for HCC. This study describes the viral profile of HCC in a predominantly rural area in Egypt. We included 148 HCC cases and 148 controls from the Tanta Cancer Center and the Gharbiah Cancer Society in the Nile delta region. Serological (ELISA) and molecular (PCR) analysis for HBV and HCV infection were performed on plasma samples from each subject. Epidemiologic, environmental, and medical histories were collected by interviewing of subjects. Around 90.5% of cases and controls were from rural areas. HCV infection was high in both cases and controls (89.2% and 49.3%, for cases and controls respectively by serology). HCV was the most important HCC risk factor [OR 9.7 (95% CI: 3.3-28.0, P <0.01)], and HBV infection showed marginal tendency of increased risk [OR 5.4 (95% CI: 0.9-31.8, P <0.06)]. Ever worked in farming [OR 2.8 (95% CI: 1.1-7.2, P <0.03)] and history of cirrhosis [OR 3.6 (95% CI: 1.6-8.1, P <0.01)] or blood transfusion [OR 4.2 (95% CI: 0.99-17.8, P <0.05)] were also associated with increased HCC risk. This study in a predominantly rural area in Egypt supports previous reports from other parts of Egypt that HCV infection is the primary HCC risk factor in Egypt. Further understanding of the relationship between infection and other risk factors in the development of HCC could lead to targeted interventions for at-risk individuals. KEYWORDS: hepatocellular carcinoma; hepatitis; rural; risk factors; Egypt.

The effect of four coffee types on normotensive rats and normal/hypertensive human volunteers.

Coffee is a commonly consumed beverage. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the four coffee types on blood pressure (BP). The caffeine percentage was tested on one cup (250 mL) of each type of coffee (Arabian, Turkish, American and an instant coffee preparation) using two methods. 65 adult male rats and 400 healthy human volunteers were used in this study. Normotensive rats were treated orally with a single dose of normal saline with varying types of coffee. Normotensive and mildly hypertensive human volunteers were administered a cup (250 mL) of any type of coffee separately. Tail cuff and a strain-gauge plethysmograph were used to measure the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) of the rats, and volunteers, respectively before and 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2 h post administration. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) was calculated mathematically using SBP and DBP. The alkaloidal percentage of different types of coffee showed the presence variable contents and amount of active materials. The study showed that Arabian, Turkish, American and instant coffee all have the potential to cause a BP lowering effect. Variable antimicrobial activities were recorded for the different types of coffee when tested bacteria.

Hepatoprotective activity of Schouwia thebica webb.

Oral administration of alcoholic extracts of Schouwia thebica Webb showed that extracts are safe for human use. The studied extracts are considered safe, since they failed to induce death of mice in doses up to 4000 mg/kg body weight. Hepatoprotective activity was studied for the total alcoholic extracts. The total extract was fractionated in turn with diethyl ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol, respectively. These extracts were tested for possible hepatoprotective activity. It was found that the ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts of S. thebica Webb showed hepatoprotective activity. These extracts significantly reduced the increase in activities of ALT, AST, and GGT, and levels of glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol in serum of CCl(4)-treated rats. The extracts showing activity were found to contain flavonoids; one new compound, chrysoeriol-7-O-xylosoide- (1,2)-arabinofuranoside (2), in addition to another known four compound chrysoeriol (1), quercetin (3), quercetin-7-O-rhamnoside (4), and kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucoside (5). The isolated new compound was mainly found to be responsible for this activity when tested on animals in the laboratory. The structures were established by melting point, UV spectroscopy, EI-Mass, Fab-Mass, and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques on a 600MHz instrument.

Synthesis of new salicylamide derivatives with evaluation of their antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities.

A new series of pyridazine, pyrazoles, pyrazolidine-3,5-dione, Semicarbazide, thiosemicarbazides, hydantoin, thiohydantoins, 1,2,4-triazoles, S-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazoles incorporated indirectly into salicylamide moiety at position 2 were synthesized. Also the synthesis of novel series of 3-salicylamido-2-hydroxypropyl-amine derivatives were prepared. Several of these compounds were screened for antiinflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and ulcerogenic activities.

Tissue distribution and disposition kinetics of enrofloxacin in healthy and E. coli infected broilers.

Concentrations of enrofloxacin equivalent activity were determined by microbiological assay in the plasma of healthy and E. coli-infected broilers following single intravenous and oral administrations at 10 mg/kg. Tissue distribution and residue-depletion following multiple oral doses (10 mg/kg for 3 successive days) were investigated. Pharmacokinetic variables were determined using compartmental and non-compartmental analytical methods. Plasma enrofloxacin concentrations after intravenous dosing to healthy and infected birds were best described by a two-compartments model. Enrofloxacin concentrations in plasma of infected birds were lower than those of healthy ones. The disposition kinetics of intravenously administered drug in healthy and infected birds were somewhat different. The elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) was 4.75 vs. 3.63 h; mean residence time (MRT) was 6.72 vs 4.90 h; apparent volume of the central compartment (Vc) was 1.11 vs 1.57 l/kg; rate constant for transfer from peripheral to central compartment (k21) was 1.15 vs 1.41 h-1 and total body clearance (ClB) was 0.35 vs 0.53 l/h/kg in healthy and infected birds, respectively. After oral administration, the absorption half-life (t1/2abs) in the infected birds was significantly longer than in healthy birds, while elimination half-life (t1/2el) and MRT were significantly shorter. Bioavailability was higher in infected birds (72.50%) as compared to healthy ones (69.78%). Enrofloxacin was detected in the tissues of healthy and infected birds after daily oral dosing of 10 mg/kg for 3 days. It was more concentrated in liver, kidney, and breast muscle. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of enrofloxacin against E. coli was 0.064 microgram/ml. On the basis of maintaining enrofloxacin plasma concentrations over the MIC, a dose of 10 mg/kg given intravenously every 20.14 hrs or orally every 20.86 hrs should provide tissue concentrations effective against E. coli infection in chickens.

Effects of antiepileptic drugs carbamazepine and sodium valproate on fertility of male rats.

The effects of carbamazepine and sodium valproate on fertility of male rats were studied. The tested drugs were given orally to male rats for 30 and 60 consecutive days. Mating performance, sex organs weights, semen quality, plasma concentrations of sexual hormones as well as histopathological findings were the criteria used to evaluate the reproductive efficiency of treated males. Oral administration of carbamazepine and sodium valproate for 30 and 60 consecutive days significantly decreased the testicular weight, sperm cell concentration, live sperms and percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa. Both drugs significantly increased the percentage of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa. A decrease in plasma testosterone, FSH and LH and an increase in prolactin levels were observed in the treated groups. Histopathological examination showed mild to moderate degenerative changes in the testes of the treated rats while the prostate glands and seminal vesicles appeared normal. A recovery period of 30 days was accompanied by marked changes in the tested parameters towards initial values.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of diminazene in lactating goats and sheep.

The pharmacokinetic aspects of diminazene aceturate were studied in lactating goats and sheep after single intravenous and intramuscular administrations of 3.5 mg/kg b.wt. Plasma and milk concentrations were determined by use of reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after ion-pair extraction. Following intravenous injection, the disposition of diminazene in goats and sheep conformed to a two-compartment model with rapid distribution and slower elimination phases. Values of (t1/2 beta) were obtained indicating a slower final disappearance of the drug from plasma of sheep (21.17 h) than in goats (16.39 h). Diminazene concentrations were maintained for more than 4 days in the plasma of goats and sheep. In both species of animals, diminazene was rapidly absorbed following intramuscular administration of 3.5 mg/kg b.wt. The peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) were 7.00 and 8.11 micrograms/ml and were attained at (Tmax) 0.92 and 1.12 hours in goats and sheep, respectively. The elimination half-life (t1/2el) of diminazene after intramuscular administration was shorter in goats (16.54 h) than in sheep (18.80 h). Systemic bioavailabilities (F%) of diminazene after intramuscular administration were 94.94% and 82.64% in goats and sheep, respectively. Diminazene could be detected in milk of goats and sheep within 10 min post-injection. Milk concentrations of the drug were lower in goats than in sheep and were detected for 5 and 6 days following both routes of administration, respectively.

Effect of sodium methyl arsinate and imidocarb dipropionate antiprotozoal drugs on the pharmacokinetic of gentamicin in equines.

The pharmacokinetic behaviour of gentamicin sulphate (3.4 mg/kg bwt) was studied following its intramuscular injection to a group of horses and to another group of horses premedicated with sodium methyl arsinate (2 mg/kg bwt) or imidocarb dipropionate (4.8 mg/kg bwt). Considerable differences were observed in the pharmacokinetics of gentamicin in pre-medicated horses and in horses which had received the antibiotic alone. Peak serum concentration of gentamicin (9.85 +/- 0.05 and 11.15 +/- 0.15 micrograms/ml) were attained within 1.45 +/- 0.05 and 0.92 +/- 0.04 h in arsinate and imidocarb-medicated horses, respectively, but reached a level of 9.18 +/- 0.07 micrograms/ml at 1.87 +/- 0.12 h in non-medicated animals. Gentamicin elimination half-life (+/- 0.5(el)) was faster in arsinate (7.82 +/- 0.31 h) and imidocarb (6.12 +/- 0.14 h) pre-medicated horses than in non medicated horses (9.88 +/- 0.19 h). In addition, the interval between doses (lbd) necessary to maintain a therapeutic level were shorter in the pre-medicated animals. In summary, the hypothesis that the pharmacokinetics of gentamicin are altered by concomitant therapy with antiprotozoal drugs was confirmed by this study.

Studies on the efficacy of combined immunostimulant-antibiotic therapy against experimental Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection in chickens.

Josamycin is an antibiotic known to become selectively concentrated intracellularly and in respiratory organs, the habitate of Mycoplasma gallisepticum. The aim of this present work was to evaluate the efficacy of josamycin when given alone or combined with an immunostimulant Cornebacterium cutis ultralysate. Groups of chickens were given josamycin alone or Corynebacterium ultralysate alone or both agents or nothing immediately before induction of Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection. Birds were subjected to pathological examination to evaluate the incidence and severity of air-sacculitis, bacteriological examination for re-isolation of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and for immunological examination to evaluate the humoral immune response to the infection (haemagglutination inhibiting titre determination). The effect of treatments used in this study was to decrease the incidence and severity of air sacculitis. The magnitude of rise in haemagglutination inhibiting titres were greater and faster in birds given Corynebacterium ultralysate. Treatments failed to achieve complete elimination of Mycoplasma. No special advantage was obtained from the use of josamycin, its effects were rather similar to previously used chemotherapy.