Carnosol induces the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrowderived mesenchymal stem cells via activating BMP-signaling pathway

Carnosol is a phenolic diterpene phytochemical found in rosemary and sage with reported anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic activities. This study aimed to investigate the effect of carnosol on the lineage commitment of mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (mBMSCs) into osteoblasts and adipocytes. Interestingly, carnosol stimulated the early commitment of mBMSCs into osteoblasts in dose-dependent manner as demonstrated by increased levels of alkaline phosphatase activity and Alizarin red staining for matrix mineralization. On the other hand, carnosol significantly suppressed adipogenesis of mBMSCs and downregulated both early and late markers of adipogenesis. Carnosol showed to induce osteogenesis in a mechanism mediated by activating BMP signaling pathway and subsequently upregulating the expression of BMPs downstream osteogenic target genes. In this context, treatment of mBMSCs with LDN-193189, BMPR1 selective inhibitor showed to abolish the stimulatory effect of carnosol on BMP2-induced osteogenesis. In conclusion, our data identified carnosol as a novel osteoanabolic phytochemical that can promote the differentiation of mBMSCs into osteoblasts versus adipocytes by activating BMP-signaling.

Carnosol induces the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrowderived mesenchymal stem cells via activating BMP-signaling pathway

Carnosol is a phenolic diterpene phytochemical found in rosemary and sage with reported anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic activities. This study aimed to investigate the effect of carnosol on the lineage commitment of mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (mBMSCs) into osteoblasts and adipocytes. Interestingly, carnosol stimulated the early commitment of mBMSCs into osteoblasts in dose-dependent manner as demonstrated by increased levels of alkaline phosphatase activity and Alizarin red staining for matrix mineralization. On the other hand, carnosol significantly suppressed adipogenesis of mBMSCs and downregulated both early and late markers of adipogenesis. Carnosol showed to induce osteogenesis in a mechanism mediated by activating BMP signaling pathway and subsequently upregulating the expression of BMPs downstream osteogenic target genes. In this context, treatment of mBMSCs with LDN-193189, BMPR1 selective inhibitor showed to abolish the stimulatory effect of carnosol on BMP2-induced osteogenesis. In conclusion, our data identified carnosol as a novel osteoanabolic phytochemical that can promote the differentiation of mBMSCs into osteoblasts versus adipocytes by activating BMP-signaling.

General public knowledge and practices about the common cold

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and practices of the general public about the common cold in Taif, KSA

Methods: A pre-validated questionnaire was developed and administered to 1700 respondents using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. A total of 1487 completed and valid questionnaires were successfully obtained. All data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 22.0 at an alpha value of 0.05

Results: The majority of respondents demonstrated poor knowledge about the common cold. Forty percent of respondents believed that there was no difference between the common cold and the flu. Sixty-six percent of participants believed that antibiotics would cure the common cold. Only 24% believed that coughing and direct contact with patients suffering from the common cold would spread this illness. A small number of participants, after catching the common cold, took precautionary measures such as avoiding contact with other people

Conclusion: It can be concluded that the general public has poor knowledge about the common cold, which is reflected in their routine practices towards illness management. Healthcare policy makers should consider these findings in developing plans for improving public knowledge and practices

Antiapototic effect of captopril in cisplatin-induced kidney injury in rats

Aim of the work: captopril protects against cisplatin induced nephrotoxicitity; however its potential modulatory effect on hemeoxygenase [HO]-1, antioxidants, as well as inflammatory and apoptotic markers has not yet been verified

Materials and methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control [saline], cisplatin [5 mg/kg; i.p], and captopril [60 and 100 mg/kg] given 5 days before and after cisplatin [5 mg/kg; i.p] treatment

Results: Five-day pre- and post-treatment with captopril [60 and 100 mg/kg; i.p], for a total of 10 days, dose dependently, reduced blood urea nitrogen, as well as serum creatinine and gamma glutamyl transferase, but serum albumin and total protein levels were increased. Captopril restored renal pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance by activating glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase, and boosting the renal glutathione content. These effects were accompanied by the reduction in serum and/or renal HO-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, nitric oxide, endothelin-1 and caspase-3. Microscopically, captopril especially at 100 mg/kg dose level, prevented cisplatin-induced degenerative changes and inflammatory cell infiltration in the kidney

Conclusion: captopril protects against cisplatin nephrotoxicity by its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic potentials

Evaluation of polymethyl methacrylate resin mechanical properties with incorporated halloysite nanotubes

PURPOSE: This study inspects the effect of incorporating halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) into polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) resin on its flexural strength, hardness, and Young's modulus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four groups of acrylic resin powder were prepared. One group without HNTs was used as a control group and the other three groups contained 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 wt% HNTs. For each one, flexural strength, Young's modulus and hardness values were measured. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's test were used for comparison (P<.05). RESULTS: At lower concentration (0.3 wt%) of HNT, there was a significant increase of hardness values but no significant increase in both flexural strength and Young's modulus values of PMMA resin. In contrast, at higher concentration (0.6 and 0.9 wt%), there was a significant decrease in hardness values but no significant decrease in flexural strength and Young's modulus values compared to those of the control group. CONCLUSION: Addition of lower concentration of halloysite nanotubes to denture base materials could improve some of their mechanical properties. Improving the mechanical properties of acrylic resin base material could increase the patient satisfaction.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism in Saudi patients with rheumatic heart disease

To investigate the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] insertion/deletion [I/D] polymorphism and rheumatic heart disease [RHD] in Saudi patients. A case-control study was conducted in Saudi RHD patients. Genomic DNA was isolated from 99 RHD patients attending the Pediatric Cardiology Clinic at the Maternity and Children Hospital, Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia from March 2013 to June 2014, and from 145 age- and gender-matched controls. Patient clinical records were reviewed to report major and minor modified Jones' criteria for diagnosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by echocardiography. The ACE I/D polymorphism was identified by polymerase chain reaction. A significant difference in ACE D allele carriage [DD+ID] distribution between RHD cases and controls was identified [p=0.02, odds ratio = 3.6, 95% confidence interval: 1.2-10.8]. The D allele carriage was significantly associated with development of mitral valve lesions alone [p=0.03]. The ACE I/D polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of RHD in the Saudi population. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings and to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this association

Assessment of serum hydroxyproline and osteopontin as noninvasive markers of hepatic fibrosis in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Background: Hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection is a progressive disease that may result in chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]. Liver fibrosis is an essential factor that must be considered in the management of patients with HCV. Although liver biopsy represents the gold standard for evaluating the presence, type and stage of liver fibrosis, this technique remains a costly and invasive procedure. Therefore, several diagnostic methods for determining liver fibrosis, such as the detection of serum biomarkers, have been used

Objective: To evaluate the use of serum hydroxyproline [HYP] and osteopontin [OPN] as non invasive direct markers to assess the degree of hepatic fibrosis in Egyptian patients with chronic HCV infection in comparison to indirect markers such as aspartate aminotransferase platelet ratio index [APRI] and to determine the most diagnostically accurate non invasive marker of hepatic fibrosis, hoping to replace liver biopsy in the next few years

Methodology: This study was carried out on 48 patients with chronic HCV infection who had undergone liver biopsy and scored as mild fibrosis [F1], moderate fibrosis [F2], sever fibrosis [F3] and liver cirrhosis [F4] based on Metavir scoring system, and 12 age and sex matched controls. The serum levels of HYP and OPN were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]

Results: There was a highly significant increase in HYP, OPN and APRI in all patients groups in comparison to control group and their increase was significantly associated with the degree of hepatic fibrosis. Furthermore, HYP, OPN and APRI values showed highly significant increase in significant hepatic fibrosis [F2-F4] in comparison to mild fibrosis [F1], and in hepatic cirrhosis [F4] in comparison to hepatic fibrosis [F1-F3]. There was a highly significant positive correlation between serum HYP level, OPN and APRI. The receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve analysis revealed that OPN has the highest area under the curve [AUC] value for discriminating fibrosis stages, followed by HYP and lastly APRI

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that OPN was the most diagnostically accurate marker for assessing the severity of hepatic fibrosis and served as a prognostic index towards the progression of hepatic fibrosis to cirrhosis in patients with chronic HCV infection, followed by HYP and lastly APRI. These findings indicated that OPN and HYP could be used as non invasive markers of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis which would help to reduce the need for liver biopsy in chronic HCV infection

[Subclinical Involvement of hands and feet joints in psoriasis patients: ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging study]

Objective: To evaluate musculoskeletal ultrasound [MSUS] in the detection of subclinical hands and feet joint involvement in psoriasis patients by comparison with magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]

Methods: Thirty Patients with plaque psoriasis with no clinical or radiological signs of arthritis attending outpatient dermatology clinic of Assiut University Hospitals were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent clinical examination [including dermatological and rheumatological examination], MSUS, RI, X-ray evaluation of the hands and feet joints

Results: Both MSUS and MRI were sensitive in detecting subclinical joint inflammation [synovitis], and bone abnormalities in psoriatic patients with normal conventional radiographs. Of the total examined is [2520], synovitis was detected by MSUS in 23.69%, erosions in 9.04%, and bone proliferation in 22.14%. MRI detected synovitis in 15.83%, erosions in 0.75%, and bone marrow edema in 1.35%. A significant correlation was found between the subclinical psoriatic arthritis detected by MSUS with the presence of nail psoriasis

Conclusion: Both MSUS and MRI were sensitive in detecting significant prevalence of subclinical involvement in hands and feet joints of psoriasis patients, this suggests that PsA could be a much more common disorder than was previously suspected. When comparing MSUS with MRI, MSUS identified more synovitis and erosions, and osteoproliferation was only detected by MSUS, whereas bone marrow edema was detected only by MRI

Natural and experimental evidence of viscerqtropic infection caused by leishmania tropica from North Sinai, Egypt

Cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL] is a neglected clinical form that is quite prevalent in Eastern North parts of the country in Sinai Peninsula. Leishmania tropica was identified by previous reports as the causative agent responsible for viscerotropic infections in-patients and experi-mental animals. Here, we reported the viscerotropic infections from naturally infected rodent Gerbillus pyramidum floweri collected from North-Sinai. Footpad and tail lesions, spleenomeg-aly, and malformed dark-colored spleen were the characteristic CL symptoms. The spleen of the rodent found positive to amastigote impression smear. ITS-1 DNA was sequenced and revealed 100% identity of the strain in the current study to the other L tropica sequences identified from the patients with the suspected CL and inhabited the same study area. The current findings confirmed the susceptibility of gerbil to L. tropica, and raise the concerns for the role of rodents as accidental host suffering the infections. The susceptibility of wild and experimental rodents to the same tropica strain was also investigated; BALB/c and G. pyramidum were more susceptible to L tropica [2433 +/- 4.37 and 25 +/- 4.58 days post-infection, respectively]. Similar viscero-tropic pathologies were reported in experimental infection of only golden hamster [" 120 days post-infection], and G p. floweri [ 160 days post-infection]

General public knowledge, preferred dosage forms, and beliefs toward medicines in western Saudi Arabia

To measure general public knowledge, source of knowledge, preferred dosage forms, and beliefs toward medicines. A cross-sectional study design using convenience-sampling technique was used. A pre-validated questionnaire was designed and distributed to the general public through face-to-face interviews. All data were analyzed, and p-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. The study took place in the Clinical Pharmacy Department, Taif University, Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between August 2012 and February 2013. Nine hundred participants successfully responded to this study. Males represented two-thirds of the respondents [66.8%]. In addition, 52% of respondents were of high education level. Modern [74.2%] and alternative medicines [88.7%] were understood by most respondents. Tablets [69.6%] and capsules [37.6%] represented the highest preferred dosage forms. In addition, physicians [66.6%] and pharmacists [46.2%] were the main sources of information regarding medicines. In terms of beliefs, respondents showed wrong beliefs in many statements used in this study. There is a need to improve public knowledge and beliefs toward medicines as well as utilizing public preferred dosage forms. In addition, pharmacists should play a major role in these programs since they are experts on medicines and play a more active role in patient education and counseling

frequency of type 2 diabetes mellitus among diabetic children in El Minia Governorate, Egypt

Type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM] in children and adolescents is becoming an increasingly important public health concern throughout the world. This study aimed to estimate the frequency of T2DM among diabetic young people in El-Minia Governorate, Egypt, and to detect its risk factors. A total of 210 diabetic patients under 18 years old in Minia Governorate were included in the study and underwent a thorough history-taking, a physical examination and laboratory investigations. T2DM was present in 28 patients [13.3%]; it was significantly present in 18 females [64.3%] and 20 [71.4%] of them had a positive family history of DM. T2DM patients had significantly higher BMI and waist circumference centiles for age and sex than those with T1DM. Also, haemoglobin A1c%, serum C-peptide and cholesterol levels were significantly higher in T2DM than T1DM patients. Finally, there were weak significant positive correlations between C-peptide level and both BMI and waist circumference. T2DM is no longer a disease of adults but can also occur in children and adolescents. The results suggested that obesity, female gender and a positive family history of DM are risk factors for T2DM. Also, patients with T2DM had poorer glycaemic control and hypercholesterolemia than those with other types of diabetes

study of adiponectin in children with diabetes mellitus

Adiponectin is a hormone produced by adipose tissue. It is secreted exclusively by adipocytes and appears to play a role in the pathophysiology of obesity, diabetes mellitus [DM], and its comorbidities. The aim of this study was to assess adiponectin levels in diabetic children with type 1 DM [T1DM] and type 2 DM [T2DM], and to detect its prognostic role in them. This study was undertaken from April to July 2011 at Minia University Children's Hospital, Egypt, and included 314 children aged 2-18 years divided into two patient groups. Group I consisted of 164 pre-diagnosed diabetic patients, further subdivided into Group Ia which included 142 patients with T1DM and Group Ib, 22 patients with T2DM; Group 2 included 150 apparently healthy children as a controls; they were age- and sex-matched to the diseased group. Patients were subjected to a thorough history taking, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations including assessment of HbA1c percentages, fasting C-peptide levels, lipid profiles and fasting serum adiponectin levels. Adiponectin levels did not differ significantly between patients with T1DM and T2DM, but it was significantly higher in diabetic patients than in the controls. In T1DM, adiponectin had positive significant correlations with the duration of the disease and waist circumference, while in T2DM, it had a positive significant correlation with the dose of insulin given and negative significant associations with diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, and C-peptide levels. The results of the study suggest that adiponectin can play a protective role against the metabolic complications of DM

protective value of hesperidin in mitigating the biochemical perturbations and trace element alterations induced by acrylonitrile in rats

Acrylonitrile [a chemical pollutant] has been reported to induce harmful effects in humans. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of hesperidin, a natural bioflavonoid, against the toxicity induced by acrylonitrile [AN] in rats. This study includes determination of serum total scavenger capacity "TSC", liver enzymes [aspartate transaminase "ASAT", alanine transaminase "ALAT" and alkaline phosphatase "ALP"], total proteins, albumin, glucose, creatinine, urea and lipid profile. Moreover, liver and kidney homogenate glutathione content "GSH", catalase, superoxide dismutase "SOD", glutathione peroxidase "GPx", malondialdehyde "MDA" and some minerals were estimated. Revealed that administration of AN [orally 50mg/ kg b.wt.] induced alterations in TSC level as well as liver, kidney and lipid profiles. In addition, a decrease in GSH-content and catalase, SOD and GPx activities was observed with an increase in MDA levels in both liver and kidney. There was disturbance in certain minerals such as Cu, Zn, Fe, Se, Ca, Mg and Mn. Particularly, Hesperidin administration [orally 200 mg/kg b.wt.] ameliorates the oxidative stress induced by AN, consistent with the reported antioxidant activity of hesperidin

Provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling among tuberculosis patients in Kassala, Eastern Sudan

Because of the overlapping global incidence of tuberculosis [TB] and human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infections, collaborative efforts are required for successful TB and HIV control programs. The current study was conducted at Kassala Hospital in Eastern Sudan and investigated the implementation of provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling [PITC] for patients infected with TB. Using a cross-sectional study design, patients who had been recently diagnosed with TB between January and December 2010 were consecutively enrolled. A total of 858 newly infected TB patients were enrolled in the study. Of these patients, 152 patients [17.7%] were given counseling, and 109 patients [12.7%] underwent HIV testing. The overall HIV infection rate among those tested was 18.3%. From a multivariate analysis, female sex [OR =17.0, 95% Cl = 8.7-33.1; P< 0.001], education level below secondary education [OR = 2.6, 95% Cl = 1.6-4.1; P< 0.001], rural residency [OR = 1.7, 95% Cl = 1.3-2.9; P = 0.001], and non-governmental employee status [OR=10.4, 95% Cl = 6.7-16.3; P<0.001] were each associated with lower rates of PITC. Thus, in this setting, the frequency of PITC is low among TB-infected patients and is especially low for females, those of low educational status, and non-governmental employees. 2011 King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Epidemiology of tuberculosis in Eastern Sudan

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the epidemiological factors of tuberculosis (TB) in eastern Sudan.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The socio-demographic and clinical data was retrieved from the database at Kassala hospital during the year of 2011. The medical file of consequent patients who was discharged from the same ward in the hospital was reviewed to act as control for the TB patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 670 patients were registered at Kassala hospital with clinical, laboratory and radiological evidence proven TB. Pulmonary TB accounted for 73.4% while extra-pulmonary TB was reported in 26.6% of all TB patients. The mean age (SD) was not significantly different between the cases and controls (670 in each arm). TB patients were those who had less education, and the infection more likely common among male patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Intervention from outside the health field in particular awareness of associated risk factors and improvement of the educational level potentially will strengthen TB control.</p>

Treatment and converting of industrial wastewater into potable water

The objective of the study is to treat the textile wastewater and convert it into potable grade water in the laboratory scale. The study is involved a rigorous treatment procedure involving screening, coagulation, flocculation, aeration, biological treatment, filtration and ion exchange. From the analysis of the treated water. It Is found that the industrial waste water can be converted into potable grade water

Coronary artery bypass graft operation: the start and early experience of Assiut university hospital

Coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] surgery has been successfully introduced at Assiut university hospital. The purpose of this study was to encourage recommend other starting centers to do this by pass. In the initial feasibility trial 60 patients were selected to receive CABG, between January 2009 and December 2010, 55 of them underwent CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass and 5 patients were submitted to beating heart CABG. All patients were symptomatic for angina before surgery and had single or multivessel coronary artery disease. Overall the calculated preoperative risk for both groups was indicated by EUROSCORE. The patients were evaluated during operation, immediately postoperative during hospital stay by hemodynamic monitoring, serial ECGs, cardiac enzymes and echocardiography. Among 130 distal anastomoses, 55 were fashioned with single internal thoracic artery to bypass Left anterior descending artery [LAD] and 5 with radial artery to bypass left coronary branches. Saphenous vein was used in the remaining 70 anastomoses. A complete myocardial revascularization was achieved; an average of 2 grafts/patient was performed. There were two postoperative strokes [3%] and one case of renal impairment [1.7%]. Mean ICU and in patient-hospital length of stay were 3.4 +/- 2.2 and 11.9 +/- 5.8 days, respectively. Off pump coronary artery bypass grafting is an alternative method to conventional bypass grafting. As it is indicated in single vessel coronary disease, renal impairment and calcified aorta. In the overall, CABG surgery significantly had low incidence of complications resulting in a shorter ICU stay, hospital stay and lower mortality. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery in Assiut university hospital is well established technique with accepted results. The doctors at the hospital are dedicated to introduce new procedures for better treatment and quick recovery

Cardiotoxic effects of subacute therapy of nandorlene-decanoate and the protective role of trimetazidine: an experimental study

Anabolic androgenic steroids [AAS] are synthetic analogues of the natural androgenic male hormone called testosterone that is produced primarily in the testes in males and in the ovaries in females. Anabolic steroids are effective in enhancing athletic performance, in an effort to deliver a more optimal protein tissue building [anabolic] effect with less of the potential for musculinizing [androgenic] side-effects that are characteristic of testosterone itself. To shed light on the possible role of anabolic steroids in the induction of cardiac lesions; and experimental study as conducted on 30 male Wister rats divided into three groups, 10 per each group. The group 1 served as a control, group II [Nandorlene decanoate group] received 1 mg. [deca-durabolin[registered sign] 2.5 mg] by IM injection once daily for 14 consecutive days. Lastly, the group III [trimetazidine group] received Deca-durabolin in the same previous described regimen plus [Vastarel [registered sign] intraperitoneally in a dose f 5mg/kg dissolved in saline. All groups were scarified by decapitation on the 15[th] day. The supratherapeutic dose of AAS used in this study was chosen to mimic the self administered heavy abuse of AAS taken by body-builders. To assess cardiotoxicity, blood samples were collected for analysis of serum LDH, CPK-MB, and cardia content of catalase, and reduced glutathione and expression of caspase 3 protein [one of the antiapoptotic markers]. The cardiac muscle was separated and excised for immunohistochemistry and slot blot of caspase 3 and H and E examination. The Nandorlene decanoate group showed a highly significant elevated serum LDH and CPK-MB levels, and a highly significant depletion in cardia catalase, and reduced glutathione. The trimetazidine group showed a highly significant reduced serum LDH and CPK-MB, with a highly significant increased cardia catalase and reduced glutathione. Immunohistochemical cardiac examination of caspase 3 protein of the Nandorlene decanoate group showed increased expression which is reduced after trimetazidine therapy as a protective drug. In addition, H and E study findings of group II [Nandorlene decanoate group] were corrected in group III after Trimetazidine therapy. These results confirm the cardiotoxic effects of anabolic steroid abuse and the alleviating effects after Trimetazidine use

Pesticides in indoor dust and shallow groundwater in rural Egypt

This study was designed to examine the existence of pesticide residues in both indoor dust and consumable subsurface shallow ground water and its association with community health in an agro-ecosystem in the Nile Delta Region. Pesticide exposure via consumption of shallow groundwater and contact with indoor dust were assessed in 7 villages in the Nile Delta of Egypt. Hand-pumped water and households' dust samples were collected on a spatio-temporal monitoring basis. A total of 50 households were randomly selected and residents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to determine pesticide usage, exposure pathways and behavioral/health risk factors. Analyses revealed that the examined shallow groundwater and indoor dust samples failed to realize the respective standards of safety in most cases. Pesticide residues detected in indoor dust were more abundant than those in groundwater. Pyrethroid compounds represented the highest residues detected in indoor dust samples, where their mean levels were 4.75, 2.69, and 15.21 ppm for permethrin, cypermethrin, and cyahalothrin respectively. DDT, HCH and endosulfan were also detected in many samples in mean concentrations of 10.42, 36.01 and 33.68 ppb; respectively. As for the link between environmental contamination and community health, through our field questionnaire, the villagers stated that water-related diseases particularly diarrhea and infectious hepatitis were predominant. Age, living in close proximity to agricultural fields, excessive use of pesticides indoors without adequate aeration, lack of awareness and poor water quality, represented the major risk factors. More exposure/risk assessment studies related to the Egyptian setting are necessary to enhance drinking water regulations and lower the health risks of pesticide exposure

Influence of ionizing radiation on Echis pyramidium snake venom: Biochemical and immunological aspects

The effect of a single LD[50] dose of native Echis pyramidum venom [27.69 micro g/mouse] on the activities of certain serum enzymes levels: aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], urea, creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], creatine phosphokinase [CPK], creatine kinase isoenzyme [CK-MB] were studied. Samples from the serum were collected 4hr following LD50 venom dose intraperitonealy injected in male Swiss albino mice. The activities of these enzymes showed significant elevation compared to the non-envenomated group. In contrast, an equivalent dose of 1.5 kGy gamma irradiated Echis pyramidum venom [27.69 micro g/mouse] did not cause any significant increase compared to non-envenomated group. The effect of a dose that is equivalent to ½ LD[50][13.8 micro g/50 micro l] of native Echis pyramidum venom on plasma creatine phosphokinase [CPK] induced a significant increase of creatine phosphokinase [CPK] level compared to normal control [P<0.01]. In contrast, an equivalent dose of 1.5 kGy gamma irradiated Echis pyramidum venom showed non significant difference in creatine phosphokinase activity when compared to the normal control. Light microscopic examinations of gastrocenemius muscles of mice injected with native Echis pyramidum venom [½ LD[50]; 13.8 micro g/50 micro l] showed fragmentation, disorganization, loss of myofibrils in some of the muscle fibers, hemorrhage in-between the muscle fibers and mononuclear cellular infiltration. While light microscopic examinations of gastrocenemius muscles of mice injected with 1.5 kGy gamma irradiated Echis pyramidum venom [13.8 micro g/50 micro l; a dose identical to that used from native venom] showed that most muscle fibers were of normal appearance except for small area of fragmentation and disorganized myofibrils and oedema of the intercellular connective tissue. Double immunodiffusion test revealed a similar reactivity for native, 1 kGy, 1.5 kGy and 3 kGy gamma irradiated Echis pyramidum venoms against a commercial polyvalent Egyptian antivenin. The visible lines obtained in the immunodiffusion reactions were identical and joined smoothly at the corners, indicating that there was no change in their antigenic reactivity. These results demonstrate that the ability of the venom antigens to react with its corresponding antibodies was maintained in spite of being exposed to radiation doses of 1 kGy, 1.5 kGy and 3 kGy. Both antivenins raised against native or 1.5 kGy gamma irradiated venoms recognized Echis pyramidum venom when submitted to protein blotting, but the anti 1.5 kGy gamma irradiated venom show a higher intensity bands than the antivenin raised against native Echis pyramidum venom, in spite of having less neutralizing activity [native neutralize 50 LD[50], 1.5 kGy gamma irradiated neutralize 40 LD[50]], this indicates that antibodies were formed not only for toxic fraction but also for non toxic fraction. Irradiation of the whole Echis Pyramidium Venom with 1.5KGy reduced its lethality 12.5 times though keeping its immunogenicity. The 1.5KGy dose was shown to be the best radiation dose to promote detoxification without significantly affecting its immunogenicity. Thus results of this study confirm the conclusion that gamma radiation is a suitable way to detoxify Echis Pyramidium Venom without affecting its immunogenicity provided that proper dose is used