Bioactive diterpenes and other constituents of Croton steenkampianus

A new indanone derivative (1) and two new diterpenoids (2 and 3), together with three known flavonoids, have been isolated from an ethanol extract of the leaves of Croton steenkampianus. The structure of 2 was solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, whereas those of 1 and 3 were established mainly by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic methods. The isolated compounds were tested for their antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity. Antiplasmodial assays against chloroquine-susceptible strains (D10 and D6) and the chloroquine-resistant strains (Dd2 and W2) of Plasmodium falciparum showed that compound 2 gave moderate activities at 9.1-15.8 μM, while none of the compounds were cytotoxic against Vero cells.     

Radon activity concentrations and effective doses in ancient Egyptian tombs of the Valley of the Kings.

Radon concentrations and equilibrium factors were measured in three pharaonic tombs during the year 1998. The tombs, which are open to the public are located in a limestone wadi on the West Bank of the River Nile at Luxor, 650 km south of Cairo. The radon activity concentration and equilibrium factor were measured monthly by two-integral nuclear track detectors (bare and diffusion detectors). Seasonal variation of radon concentrations, with summer maximum and winter minimum were observed in all tombs investigated. The yearly mean radon activity concentrations insidc the tombs ranged from 540 to 3115 Bq m(-3). The mean equilibrium factor over a year was found to be 0.25 and 0.32 inside and at the entrance, respectively. Estimated annual effective doses to tour guides ranged from 0.33 to 1.90 mSv, visitors receive doses from 0.65 to 3.80 microSv per visit. The effective dose to tomb workers did not exceed the 20 mSv yr(-1) limit.     

Evaluation of the Radiation Shielding Properties of a Tellurite Glass System Modified with Sodium Oxide

In this study, the X-ray and gamma attenuation characteristics and optical properties of a synthesized tellurite–phosphate–sodium oxide glass system with a composition of (85 − x)TeO₂–10P₂O₅–xNa₂O mol% (where x = 15, 20, and 25) were evaluated. The glass systems we re fabricated by our research group using quenching melt fabrication. The shielding parameters of as-synthesized systems, such as the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), linear attenuation coefficient (LAC), effective atomic number (Z_eff), half-value layer (HVL), tenth value layer (TVL), mean free path (MFP), and effective electron density (N_eff) in a wide energy range between 15 keV and 15 MeV, were estimated using well-known PHY-X/PSD software and recently developed MIKE software. Herein, the optical parameters of prepared glasses, such as molar volume (V_M), oxygen molar volume (V_O), oxygen packing density (OPD), molar polarizability (αm), molar refractivity (R_m), reflection loss (R_L), and metallization (M), were estimated using MIKE software. Furthermore, the shielding performance of the prepared glasses was compared with that of commonly used standard glass shielding materials. The results show that the incorporation of sodium oxide into the matrix TeO₂/P₂O₅ with an optimum concentration can yield a glass system with good shielding performance as well as good optical and physical properties, especially at low photon energy.     

Chlorinated pesticide residues in human breast milk collected from southern Jordan in 2012/2013

Chlorinated pesticide residues in human breast milk from five southern Jordan districts were analyzed in 2012/2013. The total number of samples from all districts was 100. The number of samples gathered from each district was collected according to their population densities. The present study shows that 59% of the samples which contained pesticides’ residues were p,p’-DDE, 30% contained β-HCH, 10% contained p,p′-DDT, 6% contained α-HCH, 2% contained heptachlor and 1% contained endrin. These human milk samples were free of aldrin, dieldrin, α-endosulfan, β-endosulfan, HCB, γ-HCH, o,p′-DDD, o,p′-DDT and o,p′-DDE. The levels of the six mentioned compounds detected in all mother’s milk samples were higher in Ghor El-Safi district compared with the other four districts. In this study, it is recommended to continue the pesticides residues monitoring in all parts of Jordan, particularly in Ghor El-Safi district and other regions in the cultivated Jordan Valley.     

Novel pharmacologic therapy of heart failure

Opinion statement The prevalence of congestive heart failure is progressively increasing and despite recent advances in therapeutics, there is a continuing need for novel effective therapies. New, investigational treatment strategies include inotropic drugs, neurohormonal antagonists, anticytokine and anti-inflammatory strategies, hormonal therapies, and nutritional supplements. Current positive inotropes (eg, dobutamine and phosphodiesterase inhibitors) provide symptomatic relief, but newer agents may have a better adverse effect profile. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors should remain first-line treatment with angiotensin receptor blockers used in ACE inhibitor-intolerant patients. Many new neurohormonal antagonists have recently been investigated and eplerenone has demonstrated clinical benefit. New hormonal, anticytokine, and anti-inflammatory therapies have shown benefit in small trials, but results in larger trials have been disappointing. Other approaches are currently being tested in large trials that will clarify their role. Nutritional supplements need to be tested in a large prospective trial before they can be recommended.     

Mnemonic to Assist in Management of Liver Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a challenge for nurse practitioners in terms of providing effective management. The goals of this article are to provide readers with a general view of the pathophysiological complications of cirrhosis and to describe a mnemonic to assist in its management. Using mnemonics has been shown to reduce clinical errors and improve adherence to best practices. Mnemonics provide immediate access to relevant knowledge of complex concepts. The use of a mnemonics strategy in cirrhosis acts as an aid for translating pathophysiological and pharmaco-therapeutic concepts into meaningful interventions.     

Idiopathic hyperzincemia with associated copper deficiency anemia: a diagnostic dilemma

Prompt serum copper and zinc in addition to vitamin B12 levels should be measured in patients suffering from refractory anemia with neurological symptoms. A timely copper supplementation can help revert the hematological and possibly the neurological manifestations.     

Anti-ulcerogenic activity of aqueous extract of Carica papaya seed on indomethacin-induced peptic ulcer in male albino rats

OBJECTIVE: Carica papaya is an important fruit with its seeds used in the treatment of ulcer in Nigeria. This study investigated the anti-ulcerogenic and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Carica papaya seed against indomethacin-induced peptic ulcer in male rats.METHODS: Thirty male rats were separated into 6 groups(A–F) of five rats each. For 14 d before ulcer induction with indomethacin, groups received once daily oral doses of vehicle(distilled water), cimetidine 200 mg/kg body weight(BW), or aqueous extract of C. papaya seed at doses of 100, 150 or 200 mg/kg BW(groups A, B, C, D, E and F, respectively). Twenty-four hours after the last treatment, groups B, C, D, E and F were treated with 100 mg/kg BW of indomethacin to induce ulcer formation. RESULTS: Carica papaya seed extract significantly(P<0.05) increased gastric p H and percentage of ulcer inhibition relative to indomethacin-induced ulcer rats. The extract significantly(P<0.05) decreased gastric acidity, gastric acid output, gastric pepsin secretion, ulcer index and gastric secretion volume relative to group B. These results were similar to that achieved by pretreatment with cimetidine. Specific activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the extract-treated groups(D, E and F) were increased significantly over the group B(P<0.05). Pretreatment with the seed extract protected rats from the indomethacin-mediated decrease in enzyme function experienced by the group B. Similarly, indomethacin-mediated decrease in reduced glutathione level and indomethacin-mediated increase in malondialdehyde were reversed by Carica papaya extract. CONCLUSION: In this study, pretreatment with aqueous extract of Carica papaya seed exhibited antiulcerogenic and antioxidant effects, which may be due to the enhanced antioxidant enzymes.