Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complication in children with solid tumors undergoing chemotherapy... more Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complication in children with solid tumors undergoing chemotherapy, as it may prevent the use of therapy protocols and also hinder the supportive and diagnostic procedures. Thus, there is an urgent requirement for early predictive biomarkers of AKI. The most promising novel AKI biomarker is neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). The aim of the present study was to compare the predictability of NGAL as a biomarker of AKI with creatinine as a traditional biomarker in children with solid tumors under chemotherapy. The study was performed on 30 patients with different types of solid tumors (reuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, medulloblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma) and 20 control subjects. Urinary NGAL (uNGAL) and serum creatinine samples were taken three times: Baseline before the beginning of the treatment, one week after chemotherapy and at the end of the chemotherapy protocol. AKI is defined as a change in creatinine level by >50% of the baseline. The creatinine level only rises to this level in the third sample, while uNGAL increases significantly in the second and third samples with percentage of change 376.8 and 698.2%, respectively, which is highly significant (P<0.001). When comparing the predictive value of serum creatinine for AKI depending on the receiver operating characteristic curve with that of uNGAL, the area under the curve (AUC) for creatinine was 0.60 with a standard error (SE) of 0.086 and 95% confidence interval (CI) between 0.432 and 0.768, while that of uNGAL was highly predictive with an AUC of 0.847, SE 0.55 and 95% CI between 0.739 and 0.955. Depending only on the creatinine level for detecting the AKI will markedly delay the diagnosis; however, uNGAL is detected earlier, and is easier and more reliable as a marker for AKI in children with solid tumors undergoing chemotherapy.
The goal of the present study aimed to evaluate the prophylactic effect of Hypericum perforatum e... more The goal of the present study aimed to evaluate the prophylactic effect of Hypericum perforatum extract on amino acids neurotransmitters contents in cortex and hippocampus in memory dysfunction induced by scopalamine in adult male albino rats .The study used Memantine Hcl as a reference drug FDA approved for Alzheimer's disease treatment .Adult male albino rats werwe daily orally administered of Hypericum perforatum (350mg/ kg) and Memantine Hcl (20mg/kg) for two,four eight weeks and at the end of each interval each ra i.p. administered single dose of scopalamine (0.4mg/kg) . Scopalamine caused significant in the level of aspartic acid, glutamic acid,serine , glycine and taurine. Also scopalamine caused significant decrease in asparagine and GABA levels in cortex and hippocampus .Administration of both Hypericum perforatum and memantine caused decrease in aspartic acid, glutamic acid, taurine,glycine and serine and significant increase in cortical and hippocampal asparagine and ...
This study is an extension of the previous enhancement of dissolution properties of repaglinide u... more This study is an extension of the previous enhancement of dissolution properties of repaglinide using liquisolid compacts. The development and validation of a highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay for the determination of repaglinide concentration in rabbit plasma for pharmacokinetic studies is described. Repaglinide optimizing formula was orally administered to rabbits and blood samples were used to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of repaglinide, which were compared to pharmacokinetic parameters of marketed tablets (Novonorm 2 mg). Also, to investigate the biological activity of this new formula, in comparison with the commercial product, oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT), area under the curve and insulin levels were studied. Moreover, we studied the efficacy and safety of this new formula in several potencies (0.5, 1, and 2 mg) and blood glucose, insulin, kidney and liver functions. The relative bioavailability of repaglinide from its liquisolid compact for...
Integrons are genetic units characterized by the ability to capture and incorporate gene cassette... more Integrons are genetic units characterized by the ability to capture and incorporate gene cassettes, thus can contribute to the emergence and transfer of antibiotic resistance. The objectives of this study were: (1) to investigate the presence and distribution of class I and class II integrons and the characteristics of the gene cassettes they carry in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from nosocomial infections at Zagzig University Hospital in Egypt, (2) to determine their impact on resistance, and (3) to identify risk factors for the existence of integrons. Relevant samples and full clinical history were collected from 118 inpatients. Samples were processed; isolated microbes were identified and tested for antibiotic susceptibilities. Integrons were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and were characterized into class I or II by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Integron-positive isolates were subjected to another PCR to detect gene cassette, followed by gene cassette sequencing. Risk factors were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Seventy-six Enterobacteriaceae isolates were recognized, 41 of them (53.9%) were integron-positive; 39 strains carried class I and 2 strains carried class II integrons. Integrons had gene cassettes encoding different combinations and types of resistance determinants. Interestingly, blaOXA129 gene was found and ereA gene was carried on class I integrons. The same determinants were carried within isolates of the same species as well as isolates of different species. The presence of integrons was significantly associated with multidrug resistance (MDR). No risk factors were associated for integron carriage. We conclude that integrons carrying gene cassettes encoding antibiotic resistance are significantly present among Enterobacteriaceae causing nosocomial infection in our hospital. Risk factors for acquisition remain to be identified.
Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS, Jan 15, 2010
The study aimed to evaluate the effect Echinacea extract (E) on the testicular antioxidants funct... more The study aimed to evaluate the effect Echinacea extract (E) on the testicular antioxidants function in normal rats or that subjected to anti-androgenic compound, cyproterone acetate (CA). Rats were divided into 5 groups treated daily via an oral tube for two intervals 2 and 4 weeks, 1st control, 2nd E (Echinacea treated group in dose 63 mg kg(-1)), 3rd CA (cyproterone acetate treated group in dose 25 mg kg(-1)), 4th E+CA and 5th E as prophylactic one week before E+CA treatment with the same aforementioned E or CA doses. The body, testes, epididymis and vas deferens weights were recorded. Sperm count, Nitric Oxide (NO), calcium ion (Ca2+) and malondialdhyde (MDA) contents in addition to superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were determined in testicular tissues. CA exhibited direct negative effect on reproductive organs weight and significant reducing effect on sperm count and Ca2+ contents. SOD and GST activities significantly decreased in addition ...
Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology, 2004
The vaginal washouts from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were examined by wet mount examin... more The vaginal washouts from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were examined by wet mount examination and culture on modified TYM medium. Among the 320 cases examined, 10 were positive for T. vaginalis trophozoites by wet mount examination and culture. Modified TYM medium proved very satisfactory for isolation as well as maintenance of the 10 T. vaginalis isolates. Comparison between the growth patterns of all isolates, by counting the number of viable organisms every 24 hours for 7 days, showed that there is a wide variability in the growth characteristics, as regards lengths of log phase, growth peaks reached, generation times, division rate and number of divisions. Antigenic differentiation of the 10 T. vaginalis isolates through SDS-PAGE demonstrated a total of 34 bands using 10% resolution gel. The bands ranged in molecular weight from 12 to 189 KDa. Most of the bands were common among several isolates while isolate 2 appeared different than other isolates with two characteris...
The present preview is based on the final set of proofs of the EJLR Special Issue on Islamic Law.... more The present preview is based on the final set of proofs of the EJLR Special Issue on Islamic Law. The page numbers will still change, starting with page 207, since issue 1 of 2014 had 206 pp. Otherwise, some minor spelling and formatting errors need to be corrected before we go to print. The preview contains the ToC, the editorials, the first pages with the abstracts of each article, the entire catalog of human rights in Islamic law included in Professor Mattar's article, and the entire set of book reviews. The full and final text of the Special Issue cannot be distributed here for free because of copyright ownership. However, I will post the final ToC as soon as the issue goes to print. Please contact Eleven International Publishing to purchase the issue and/or a subscription to the European Journal of Law Reform.
ABSTRACT Background: Radiotherapy is associated with physical and emotional stress. Objectives: T... more ABSTRACT Background: Radiotherapy is associated with physical and emotional stress. Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess symptoms of emotional and physical stress in patients undergoing radiotherapy, to study the effect of weekly psychotherapy on these symptoms, and to assess compliance of these patients with treatment. Subjects: Eighty-five oncology patients were selected for the study. They were divided into two groups: the study group, which included 40 patients at the beginning of the treatment, but only 34 patients continued with the treatment, and the control group, which included 45 patients, but only 30 patients continued with the treatment. Methods: The study group received weekly psychotherapy. Both groups underwent assessment of emotional and physical aspects before initiation of radiotherapy and after 6 weeks of radiotherapy using the following tools: the McGill Pain Questionnaire and Morrow Assessment of Nausea and Emesis Scale; anorexia and fatigue were assessed using the version scale of Present State Examination for Cancer Patients, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Hopelessness Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results: Both groups showed significant decreases in emotional symptoms. The mean difference in the study group was greater than that in the control group. The mean score for physical symptoms showed a significant difference after treatment in both groups. Female patients suffered more physically and emotionally, whereas male patients showed more improvement after treatment. Patients who did not know that they had malignancy showed lower scores on physical and emotional symptoms before treatment. Patients who knew their diagnosis benefitted more from treatment in terms of both emotional and physical aspects. Conclusion: Psychotherapeutic intervention helps in alleviating emotional and physical distress of cancer patients during treatment by radiotherapy.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complication in children with solid tumors undergoing chemotherapy... more Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complication in children with solid tumors undergoing chemotherapy, as it may prevent the use of therapy protocols and also hinder the supportive and diagnostic procedures. Thus, there is an urgent requirement for early predictive biomarkers of AKI. The most promising novel AKI biomarker is neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). The aim of the present study was to compare the predictability of NGAL as a biomarker of AKI with creatinine as a traditional biomarker in children with solid tumors under chemotherapy. The study was performed on 30 patients with different types of solid tumors (reuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, medulloblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma) and 20 control subjects. Urinary NGAL (uNGAL) and serum creatinine samples were taken three times: Baseline before the beginning of the treatment, one week after chemotherapy and at the end of the chemotherapy protocol. AKI is defined as a change in creatinine level by >50% of the baseline. The creatinine level only rises to this level in the third sample, while uNGAL increases significantly in the second and third samples with percentage of change 376.8 and 698.2%, respectively, which is highly significant (P<0.001). When comparing the predictive value of serum creatinine for AKI depending on the receiver operating characteristic curve with that of uNGAL, the area under the curve (AUC) for creatinine was 0.60 with a standard error (SE) of 0.086 and 95% confidence interval (CI) between 0.432 and 0.768, while that of uNGAL was highly predictive with an AUC of 0.847, SE 0.55 and 95% CI between 0.739 and 0.955. Depending only on the creatinine level for detecting the AKI will markedly delay the diagnosis; however, uNGAL is detected earlier, and is easier and more reliable as a marker for AKI in children with solid tumors undergoing chemotherapy.
The goal of the present study aimed to evaluate the prophylactic effect of Hypericum perforatum e... more The goal of the present study aimed to evaluate the prophylactic effect of Hypericum perforatum extract on amino acids neurotransmitters contents in cortex and hippocampus in memory dysfunction induced by scopalamine in adult male albino rats .The study used Memantine Hcl as a reference drug FDA approved for Alzheimer's disease treatment .Adult male albino rats werwe daily orally administered of Hypericum perforatum (350mg/ kg) and Memantine Hcl (20mg/kg) for two,four eight weeks and at the end of each interval each ra i.p. administered single dose of scopalamine (0.4mg/kg) . Scopalamine caused significant in the level of aspartic acid, glutamic acid,serine , glycine and taurine. Also scopalamine caused significant decrease in asparagine and GABA levels in cortex and hippocampus .Administration of both Hypericum perforatum and memantine caused decrease in aspartic acid, glutamic acid, taurine,glycine and serine and significant increase in cortical and hippocampal asparagine and ...
This study is an extension of the previous enhancement of dissolution properties of repaglinide u... more This study is an extension of the previous enhancement of dissolution properties of repaglinide using liquisolid compacts. The development and validation of a highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay for the determination of repaglinide concentration in rabbit plasma for pharmacokinetic studies is described. Repaglinide optimizing formula was orally administered to rabbits and blood samples were used to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of repaglinide, which were compared to pharmacokinetic parameters of marketed tablets (Novonorm 2 mg). Also, to investigate the biological activity of this new formula, in comparison with the commercial product, oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT), area under the curve and insulin levels were studied. Moreover, we studied the efficacy and safety of this new formula in several potencies (0.5, 1, and 2 mg) and blood glucose, insulin, kidney and liver functions. The relative bioavailability of repaglinide from its liquisolid compact for...
Integrons are genetic units characterized by the ability to capture and incorporate gene cassette... more Integrons are genetic units characterized by the ability to capture and incorporate gene cassettes, thus can contribute to the emergence and transfer of antibiotic resistance. The objectives of this study were: (1) to investigate the presence and distribution of class I and class II integrons and the characteristics of the gene cassettes they carry in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from nosocomial infections at Zagzig University Hospital in Egypt, (2) to determine their impact on resistance, and (3) to identify risk factors for the existence of integrons. Relevant samples and full clinical history were collected from 118 inpatients. Samples were processed; isolated microbes were identified and tested for antibiotic susceptibilities. Integrons were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and were characterized into class I or II by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Integron-positive isolates were subjected to another PCR to detect gene cassette, followed by gene cassette sequencing. Risk factors were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Seventy-six Enterobacteriaceae isolates were recognized, 41 of them (53.9%) were integron-positive; 39 strains carried class I and 2 strains carried class II integrons. Integrons had gene cassettes encoding different combinations and types of resistance determinants. Interestingly, blaOXA129 gene was found and ereA gene was carried on class I integrons. The same determinants were carried within isolates of the same species as well as isolates of different species. The presence of integrons was significantly associated with multidrug resistance (MDR). No risk factors were associated for integron carriage. We conclude that integrons carrying gene cassettes encoding antibiotic resistance are significantly present among Enterobacteriaceae causing nosocomial infection in our hospital. Risk factors for acquisition remain to be identified.
Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS, Jan 15, 2010
The study aimed to evaluate the effect Echinacea extract (E) on the testicular antioxidants funct... more The study aimed to evaluate the effect Echinacea extract (E) on the testicular antioxidants function in normal rats or that subjected to anti-androgenic compound, cyproterone acetate (CA). Rats were divided into 5 groups treated daily via an oral tube for two intervals 2 and 4 weeks, 1st control, 2nd E (Echinacea treated group in dose 63 mg kg(-1)), 3rd CA (cyproterone acetate treated group in dose 25 mg kg(-1)), 4th E+CA and 5th E as prophylactic one week before E+CA treatment with the same aforementioned E or CA doses. The body, testes, epididymis and vas deferens weights were recorded. Sperm count, Nitric Oxide (NO), calcium ion (Ca2+) and malondialdhyde (MDA) contents in addition to superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were determined in testicular tissues. CA exhibited direct negative effect on reproductive organs weight and significant reducing effect on sperm count and Ca2+ contents. SOD and GST activities significantly decreased in addition ...
Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology, 2004
The vaginal washouts from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were examined by wet mount examin... more The vaginal washouts from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were examined by wet mount examination and culture on modified TYM medium. Among the 320 cases examined, 10 were positive for T. vaginalis trophozoites by wet mount examination and culture. Modified TYM medium proved very satisfactory for isolation as well as maintenance of the 10 T. vaginalis isolates. Comparison between the growth patterns of all isolates, by counting the number of viable organisms every 24 hours for 7 days, showed that there is a wide variability in the growth characteristics, as regards lengths of log phase, growth peaks reached, generation times, division rate and number of divisions. Antigenic differentiation of the 10 T. vaginalis isolates through SDS-PAGE demonstrated a total of 34 bands using 10% resolution gel. The bands ranged in molecular weight from 12 to 189 KDa. Most of the bands were common among several isolates while isolate 2 appeared different than other isolates with two characteris...
The present preview is based on the final set of proofs of the EJLR Special Issue on Islamic Law.... more The present preview is based on the final set of proofs of the EJLR Special Issue on Islamic Law. The page numbers will still change, starting with page 207, since issue 1 of 2014 had 206 pp. Otherwise, some minor spelling and formatting errors need to be corrected before we go to print. The preview contains the ToC, the editorials, the first pages with the abstracts of each article, the entire catalog of human rights in Islamic law included in Professor Mattar's article, and the entire set of book reviews. The full and final text of the Special Issue cannot be distributed here for free because of copyright ownership. However, I will post the final ToC as soon as the issue goes to print. Please contact Eleven International Publishing to purchase the issue and/or a subscription to the European Journal of Law Reform.
ABSTRACT Background: Radiotherapy is associated with physical and emotional stress. Objectives: T... more ABSTRACT Background: Radiotherapy is associated with physical and emotional stress. Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess symptoms of emotional and physical stress in patients undergoing radiotherapy, to study the effect of weekly psychotherapy on these symptoms, and to assess compliance of these patients with treatment. Subjects: Eighty-five oncology patients were selected for the study. They were divided into two groups: the study group, which included 40 patients at the beginning of the treatment, but only 34 patients continued with the treatment, and the control group, which included 45 patients, but only 30 patients continued with the treatment. Methods: The study group received weekly psychotherapy. Both groups underwent assessment of emotional and physical aspects before initiation of radiotherapy and after 6 weeks of radiotherapy using the following tools: the McGill Pain Questionnaire and Morrow Assessment of Nausea and Emesis Scale; anorexia and fatigue were assessed using the version scale of Present State Examination for Cancer Patients, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Hopelessness Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results: Both groups showed significant decreases in emotional symptoms. The mean difference in the study group was greater than that in the control group. The mean score for physical symptoms showed a significant difference after treatment in both groups. Female patients suffered more physically and emotionally, whereas male patients showed more improvement after treatment. Patients who did not know that they had malignancy showed lower scores on physical and emotional symptoms before treatment. Patients who knew their diagnosis benefitted more from treatment in terms of both emotional and physical aspects. Conclusion: Psychotherapeutic intervention helps in alleviating emotional and physical distress of cancer patients during treatment by radiotherapy.
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