Direct transfer to different salinities and its effect on energy and metabolic enzymes in juveniles and adults of yellowfin sea bream Acanthopagrus arabicus.

Juveniles and adults of Acanthopagrus arabicus were studied to compare the effect of different salt concentrations (1.5, 7.5, 15, 30 and 45 psu) at 6, 24, 48 and 96 h on activities of the enzymes creatine kinase (CK) in gills, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in plasma and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in intestine. CK and LDH were found to exhibit superior activity in adults compared to juveniles. All enzymes exhibited heightened activity with the increase in salinity and decreased activity with the passage of time in all salinities. Results showed that three enzymes exhibited excellent performance in adults than in juveniles.

Relation Between Non-Alcoholic Fatty Pancreas and Clinical and Biochemical Parameters in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Multi-Centric Study.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinological disease affecting women in the reproductive age. Non-alcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFPD) can promote many aspects of pancreatic dysfunction. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of NAFPD and to identify its association with clinical and biochemical parameters in PCOS patients. Methods: The present study included 150 patients with PCOS and 150 age-matched healthy controls. All patients were submitted to careful history taking and thorough clinical examination. Performed laboratory investigations included fasting and postprandial blood glucose, lipid profile, liver function tests, serum prolactin and total testosterone. Fatty pancreas was diagnosed using abdominal ultrasound. Results: Among PCOS women, NAFPD was diagnosed in 57 women (38.0%) in contrast to 18 women (12.0%) in the control group (p < 0.001). Patients with NAFPD were significantly older [median (IQR): 38.0 (35.0-43.0) versus 29.0 (25.5-33.0) years, p = 0.001] with higher BMI [median (IQR): 31.5 (29.1-34.7) versus 30.4 (28.6-32.4) kg/m2, 0.042]. Moreover, they had significantly higher frequency of metabolic syndrome (84.2% versus 54.8%, p = 0.001), insulin resistance (68.4% versus 26.9%, p < 0.001) and severe NAFLD (22.8% versus 2.2%, p < 0.001). NAFPD patients had significantly lower sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) [median (IQR): 36.0 (30.8-40.7) versus 38.1 (35.15-42.7), p = 0.002] and significantly higher free androgen index (FAI) [median (IQR): 4.08 (3.3-4.92) versus 3.47 (3.12-4.05), p < 0.001]. Conclusion: NAFPD is prevalent PCOS. It is related to metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hyperandrogenism.

Implementation of the reaching every district (RED) approach: experience from North Sudan.

The purpose of this evaluation was to assess the extent and quality of implementing the Reaching Every Distrtic (RED) approach in North Sudan and its impact on immunization coverage. The evaluation was conducted in all 70 districts of North Sudan, excluding Darfur. District RED implementation data for 2006 were collected from district staff and used to quantify implementation by calculating Implementation Scores (IS) using a 10-point scale, with 10 being fully implemented. Overall RED IS ranged from 1.6 to 8.9. The percentage of districts with diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) 3 coverage > or = 80% increased as the overall RED IS increased, 78%, 87%, and 96% in low-, medium- and high-scoring groups respectively. The degree of RED implementation varied across districts. Although it is not possible to directly attribute the overall increase in DPT3 coverage to RED implementation, RED implementation quality might be associated with improved DPT3 coverage.

Specifying of aquifer characteristics using forward and inverse modeling of DC-resistivity and TEM methods.

Exploration and determination of the hydro-geo-electrical characteristics of an aquifer can be done by applying the forward (initial multi-layers), and the inverse (final layered) models for interpreting the DC-resistivity (VES) and TEM data. So, 22 VES using Schlumberger configuration (AB/2 = 500-700m) and 12 TEMS using in-loop configuration (square, ℓ = 200m) were carried out at the West El-Minia selected area for studying the Oligocene Clastic and Carbonate aquifers. VESs were interpreted for studying the shallow resistive and conductive layers, as well as faults delineation. TEMs were interpreted for shallow and deep conductive layers discrimination. The VES and TEM inverse models were examined with the drilling data and construed the subsurface into four units; dry Oligocene Clastics (173-467 Ω.m), dry limestone (273-374 Ω.m), saturated Oligocene Clastics (Oligocene aquifer) (2-107 Ω.m), then saturated fractured Eocene limestone to shaly limestone (5-188 Ω.m). Groundwater depths (62-131m) and thicknesses variation were estimated, as well as the faults location. Two hydro-geo-electrical sections were built for simulating the resistivity values and their connotations, and managing in choosing the promised locations for drilling wells. The ramp-off time effect was studied and found that ∼50-∼100m shallow high resistive thickness didn't defined from the TEM data in which the max penetration depth was 672m. The available well logging data were analysed to reveal the pure saturated zones, the volume of shale of 0%-100% and the porosity values of ∼9%-∼35% in the Oligocene aquifer and of ∼4%-∼15.5% in the carbonate aquifer. So, the forward and inverse models application and soundings integration are considered robust tools for estimating and simulating the aquifer characteristics.

Rapid desensitization of central beta-adrenoceptors in rat after subacute treatment with imipramine and calcium entry blockers.

The subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of isoprenaline to rats produced a dose-dependent increase in water drinking which was effectively antagonized by propranolol. This dipsogenic response was significantly inhibited after the intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of imipramine (15 mg/kg/day), together with either of the following calcium entry blockers, for four days: diltiazem (15 mg/kg/day), verapamil (10 mg/kg/day), nifedipine (10 mg/kg/day) or nicardipine (15 mg/kg/day). Simultaneous injection of the inhibitor of the synthesis of serotonin, p-chlorophenylalanine (200 mg/kg/day, i.p.), did not affect this attenuation of the isoprenaline-induced response. Similarly, the selective 5-HT2 receptor agonist, 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOM) or the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, ketanserin, had no significant effect on the attenuation of isoprenaline-induced drinking behaviour. The inhibition of isoprenaline-induced drinking, was, however, effectively attenuated after treatment of the animals with 6-hydroxydopamine (2.5 micrograms) or clonidine (30 micrograms), injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.). These results indicate that the calcium entry blockers accelerate the desensitization of central beta-adrenoceptors possibly by an action on central adrenoceptors of the rat.

Interaction of some atypical antidepressants and adrenoceptor antagonists with imipramine: a behavioural study with isoprenaline-induced drinking.

The systemic administration of isoprenaline to rats produced a dose-dependent increase in drinking which was antagonized by propranolol. While oral administration of the antidepressant, imipramine, alone had no significant effect on this response, the increase was significantly inhibited by administration of imipramine together with each of the following drugs over a period of 4 days: bupropion (21.0 mg/kg/day, p.o.), a selective inhibitor of the uptake of dopamine and nomifensine (10.6 mg/kg/day, p.o.), a relatively selective dopamine and a blocker of the uptake of noradrenaline. Similarly, the combination of the selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin (2.37 mg/kg/day, p.o.); the selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, yohimbine (2.38 mg/kg/day, p.o.) or the non-selective alpha-adrenoceptor blocker, phentolamine (4.65 mg/kg/day, p.o.) with imipramine caused a significant inhibition of the isoprenaline-induced drinking. It is concluded that fast desensitization of central beta-adrenoceptors in the rat can be produced after the oral subacute simultaneous administration of imipramine with alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists or atypical antidepressants, such as nomifensine or bupropion.

Enhancement of imipramine-induced rat brain beta-adrenoreceptor desensitization by subacute co-administration of trazodone, zimelidine, quipazine or 5-hydroxytryptophan.

The present work was undertaken to characterize the role of serotonin in the regulation of beta-adrenoceptors utilizing isoprenaline-induced water drinking in the rat. For this purpose, a serotonin precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan (24.3 mg/kg/day, PO), the serotonin neuronal uptake blockers, trazodone (18.5 mg/kg/day, PO), or zimelidine (14.6 mg/kg/day, PO) or a serotonin agonist, quipazine (12.6 mg/kg/day, PO) were administered either alone or in combination with imipramine for a period of 4 days. While none of these drugs alone showed any significant effect in attenuating the effects of isoprenaline-induced water drinking, their co- administration with imipramine did produce a significant reduction in isoprenaline-induced drinking. Simultaneous injection of the serotonin synthesis inhibitor, p-chlorophenylalanine (200 mg/kg/day, IP), has resulted in blockade of this acceleration of desensitization of beta-adrenoceptors produced by the subacute co-administration of trazodone or quipazine with imipramine. The selective 5HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin (4 mg/kg/day/ IP) significantly inhibited the attenuation of the isoprenaline-induced drinking attained by the co-administration of quipazine with imipramine, while methysergide (2 mg/kg/day, IP) which blocks both 5HT1 and 5HT2 receptors failed to produce a significant effect on this response. These results indicate that the inhibition of the synaptosomal uptake of serotonin by quipazine seems to be more pertinent than its serotoninergic agonistic effect in the desensitization of central beta-adrenoceptors in the rat. Thus, it can be concluded that noradrenaline and serotonin are both required for the process of the desensitization of central beta-adrenoceptor systems by antidepressants.

Differential effects of fluoxetine on isoprenaline-stimulated water intake in ethanol-treated rats: a role for beta-adrenoceptors.

We examined the effects of subchronic (4 days) administration of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) re-uptake inhibitors, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine and zimelidine and the noradrenaline-uptake inhibitor, desipramine, on isoprenaline-induced water drinking in rats treated with ethanol. These rats demonstrated significant increases in water drinking as compared to control rats that had received only i.p. injections of distilled water (P < 0.01). Administration of fluoxetine (5-20 mg/kg daily i.p., for 4 days) dose-dependently decreased water intake as compared to that of rats treated with ethanol only. In contrast, fluvoxamine, zimelidine (10 mg/kg i.p.) and desipramine (5 mg/kg i.p.) produced no significant effects on water intake. Pretreatment of animals with spiperone, methysergide, ritanserin, zacopride and BRL 43694A, together with fluoxetine, failed to reverse the inhibitory effect of the latter on isoprenaline-stimulated water intake. The results of the present study indicate that the action of fluoxetine on isoprenaline-stimulated water drinking in ethanol-treated rats may be mediated by an action on beta-adrenoceptors.

Evidence for the presence of histamine in Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica) venom.

Venom from B. gabonica produced a dose-dependent contraction of both isolated guinea-pig ileum and rabbit aortic strip preparations. The venom-induced contraction was not antagonised by pretreatment with atropine, phentolamine, methysergide or indomethacin, however, it was blocked by the prior addition of chlorpheniramine or cyproheptadine. Upon exhaustive dialysis of the venom, the dialysate contracted both preparations, while the dialysed venom had no effect. Paper and thin-layer chromatography of the venom showed a spot with an Rf value corresponding to authentic histamine. Biological assay of the crude venom on the guinea-pig ileum showed that it contained the equivalent of 2-10 micrograms of histamine per mg dry weight of crude venom. pA2 values for chlorpheniramine using either the venom or histamine as agonists were not significantly different.

Effects of Naja haje (Egyptian cobra), Naja naja (hooded cobra), Naja nigricollis (spitting cobra) and Naja mossambica mossambica (Mozambique spitting cobra) venoms on the isolated guinea-pig tracheal muscle.

Venoms from N. haje, N. naja, N. nigricollis and N. mossambica were tested on the isolated guinea-pig trachea. The four venoms (1-30 micrograms/ml) contracted the tracheal smooth muscle after a delay of 40-60 sec. A second challenge with the venoms caused either no or a much reduced contraction or a relaxant effect. The contraction could be prevented by pretreatment with antihistaminics, but not by atropine, methysergide or indomethacin, indicating that it is due to histamine release by the venoms. This release requires extracellular Ca2+, as it could be prevented by pretreatment with verapamil. Under conditions which prevented histamine release or its effect, each of the four venoms resulted in a reproducible relaxant effect which was not blocked by propranolol. It is concluded that the venoms have one or more component(s) causing histamine release which masks the relaxation caused by another component(s) of the venoms.

Effect of venom from Bitis nasicornis (rhinoceros horned viper) on isolated rabbit aortic strips.

Venom from B. nasicornis, but not from Bitis arietans, Echis carinatus or Cerastes cerastes, produced an irreversible contraction of the isolated aortic strip that was slow in onset, increased with time, and reached maximum in about 10-15 min. The contraction was not inhibited by pretreatment with atropine, yohimbine, phentolamine, cyproheptadine or indomethacin, however, it was blocked by incubation in a Ca2+-free solution and was partially blocked by incubation with the Ca2+ channel blockers verapamil and nifedipine. It is concluded that B. nasicornis venom may act by increasing the Ca2+ influx into smooth cells, thus causing an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and hence a contraction of the aortic strip.

Natural honey prevents ischaemia-reperfusion-induced gastric mucosal lesions and increased vascular permeability in rats.

OBJECTIVE: It has been proposed that natural honey may contain a 'sucralfate-like' substance. Recent studies have shown that sucralfate affords protection against ischaemia-reperfusion-induced injuries in the rat stomach. Therefore, the effect of honey was studied on ischaemia-reperfusion-induced gastric lesions, intraluminal bleeding, vascular permeability and non-protein sulphhydryls (NP-SH) in the rat stomach. METHODS: Rats were subjected to 30 min of gastric ischaemia in the presence of 100 mM HCl and reperfusion period of 60 min. Intraluminal bleeding was assessed macroscopically and the gastric lesions were graded microscopically under an inverted microscope. Vascular permeability was quantified by measuring spectrophotometrically the extravasated Evans blue dye in the stomach. NP-SH levels were measured spectrophotometrically. A luminol-dependent chemiluminescence method was used to assess antioxidant effects of honey in vitro. RESULTS: There were significantly more gastric lesions, more severe intraluminal bleeding, more leakage of Evans blue and depletion of NP-SH during the reperfusion period as compared to controls. Pre-treatment with honey (0.078-0.625 g/kg, orally) or dimethyl sulphoxide (0.02-0.08 g/kg, intraperitoneally) 30 min before the ischaemia-reperfusion dose-dependently reduced the gastric lesions and intraluminal bleeding and decreased the vascular permeability. Furthermore, honey reversed the ischaemia-reperfusion-induced depletion of NP-SH levels and inhibited the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence induced in a cell-free xanthine-xanthine oxidase system. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that gastric protection by honey may be a result of its antioxidant effect. It is suggested that this property of honey may be due to the presence of a 'sucralfate-like' substance.

Small-angle multiple scattering and spatial resolution in charged particle tomography.

The formulae for the RMS scattering angle given by small-angle multiple-scattering theory are discussed and a correction to the standard Rossi formula is derived. Values of the correction factor are calculated for protons, alpha-particles and heavy ions; these results show that the correction is important for protons and alpha-particles but negligible for heavy ions with mass number 12-40. The values of the RMS scattering angle and the RMS lateral displacement are calculated for a proton beam passing through water. For protons the correction for energy loss in thick targets is even more important.

Antipsychotic properties of new N-(4-substituted-1-piperazinylethyl)- and N-(4-substituted-1-piperidinylethyl)-phthalimides.

A series of N-(4-phenyl- and 4-pyridyl-1-piperazinylethyl)- and N-(4-phenyl-1-piperidinylethyl)-phthalmides were synthesized and tested for antipsychotic activity. All compounds suppressed the spontaneous motor activity and the apomorphine-induced climbing in mice and pergolide-induced locomotor activity in rats, demonstrating psychotropic properties equal to the corresponding properties of sulpiride. Although the compounds, like sulpiride, were less potent than haloperidol in blocking the locomotor activities, they caused no catalepsy, a major side effect following treatment with conventional antipsychotic agents. It is likely that the new compounds produce their neuroleptic activities through inhibition of limbic dopamine receptors.

Organ doses from cardiac and carotid digital subtraction angiography.

Estimates of mean organ doses from cardiac and carotid digital subtraction angiography (DSA) are obtained from measurements done using a Rando-Alderson tissue-equivalent phantom. Thermoluminescent dosemeter chips and discs were calibrated and used for all measurements in the primary and scattered radiation fields. Skin doses as well as mean doses received by the thyroid, lung, lens of the eye, breast, uterus and the ovaries were measured. A 30 degree right anterior oblique (RAO) cardiac DSA study produces a beam entrance dose of about 121 mGy at a rate of 0.48 mGy/frame. The highest mean organ dose from cardiac DSA was to the lung with a value of 14.4 mGy. The rest of the organs received doses below 1 mGy. In carotid DSA, the mean entrance doses resulted from the RAO, left anterior oblique, and the Towne's view projections give an average of 168 mGy at a rate of 8.4 mGy/frame. The highest mean organ dose from the three projections, 21 mGy, was received by the thyroid. The uterus and ovaries received the lowest doses from both procedures with values below 0.04 mGy. Patient and phantom surface exposures were compared using an exposure area product system. Hence, exposure conditions used for measuring organ doses on the phantom were adjusted to resemble those used for patients.

Attitudes of Kuwaiti parents toward physical punishment of children.

OBJECTIVE: The major aim was to describe parental attitudes to physical punishments and examine their sociodemographic correlates. A related aim was to assess the association of parents' own experience of physical punishment with attitudes to punishment of children. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during the second week of December, 1996 in five general clinics covering the major administrative areas of Kuwait: 337 Kuwaiti mothers and fathers with at least one living child were contacted; 95% were successfully interviewed using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Eighty-six percent of parents agreed with physical punishment as a means of child disciplining. Agreement with punishment was higher in case of serious misbehaviors such as stealing (63%), sniffing glue and using drugs (77%). Multiple regression results showed that parent's lower level of education and Bedouin ethnicity were positively associated with agreement on physical punishment. Larger percentages of parents who had experienced physical punishments themselves agreed with such punishment to discipline their children, but this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In recent years education has become widespread for both sexes. An inverse association between educational level and agreement on physical beating suggest that attitudes to this form of child disciplining are changing. Those with a Bedouin ethnic background still adhere more strictly to the traditional forms of child disciplining including physical beating. There is a need for conducting research on the possible negative psychosocial impacts of physical punishment in view of findings from other countries.

A densitometric method for quantitative analysis of the left ventricle performance using i.v. digital subtraction angiography.

In this paper we present a method we used to provide quantitative description of the systolic and diastolic temporal function of the left ventricle (LV). Additional parameters, such as peak filling and ejection rates, times to end systole and end diastole, and temporal changes in slow and fast filling are obtained. The volumes associated with these parameters are also calculated. Correlation between LV volume changes during the cardiac style and corresponding "density" variations was confirmed. Time-density curves were obtained from selected cardiac cycles in each study. We used the polynomial fitting technique to fit the time density curves and developed a computer algorithm for deriving the relevant parameters. Data from a total of 18 patients with ischemic heart or valvular diseases, who underwent I.V. ventriculography was analysed using our method. Some of these patients were forwarded for repeated digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examination before and after intervention therapy to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. In comparison to the geometric method for the analysis of LV performance, our method is generally faster and simpler to employ. The method was effective in detecting variations in the peak ejection and filling rates in our group of patients before and after interventional therapy.

Effective dose equivalent and associated risks from mass chest radiography in Kuwait.

The number of x-ray examinations performed on persons undergoing mass chest radiography in Kuwait reached a maximum of 1.858 X 10(5) in 1982 with miniature radiography (70 mm) claiming more than 90% of the total number and the rest done with the large film technique. The annual prevalence of asymptomatic tuberculosis patients diagnosed by x rays, as reported by the project statistics, does not, in our opinion, justify exposing such a large population. In this paper, the effective dose equivalent is calculated from both miniature and large film mass chest radiography as applied in Kuwait. The values obtained are 283 mu Sv and 35.5 mu Sv, respectively. These figures yield calculated risks of fatal malignancies per examination of 3.37 X 10(-6) and 0.422 X 10(-6), respectively. The annual collective effective dose equivalent to the population undergoing mass chest radiography in Kuwait during the 7 y 1977-1983 is found to vary between 38-48 man-Sv. These figures are used to calculate an average of 0.5 additional cases of fatal malignancies per year, or about 12 excess fatalities in the forthcoming 25-y period if the number of mass chest x-ray examinations stays at its existing level. A total of 98% of these calculated excess fatalities result from the predominant technique, miniature radiography.

Doses from occupational exposure: a study of radiation doses to workers in Kuwait over a four-year period.

The personal monitoring facility in the Ministry of Public Health's Radiation Protection Department has provided service to all users of ionizing radiation in medicine, research and industry in Kuwait. Exposure results during 1980-1983 were compared and analysed to examine the efficiency of protection measures adopted by each occupation. The results indicate that annual doses received by workers in different occupations in recent years tend to be generally low, but remain higher than those received by similar workers in other countries. Several overexposures to radiologists, radiology nurses, medical radiographers, and industrial radiographers increased the overall annual collective doses. As a result, protective measures designed for radiologists and nurses involved with special radiographical procedures should be improved. The recent use of the after-loading technique in intra-cavitary therapy was responsible for a significant reduction in the overall average doses received by workers involved in radiotherapy.