Microcystin production in benthic mats of cyanobacteria in the Nile River and irrigation canals, Egypt.

The present study describes for the first time the species composition and toxicity of benthic cyanobacteria forming mats on the Nile River and irrigation canal sediments in Egypt. A total of 19 species of cyanobacteria were isolated from these mats during this study. The toxicity of the extracts of these species was investigated using Artemia salina assay, mouse bioassay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that all the 19 benthic species isolated from cyanobacterial mats, were toxic to A. salina. Two of these species, namely Calothrix parietina and Phormidium tenue, caused toxicity to mice with neurotoxic signs appeared within 12 h after injection. Whereas, five species showed hepatotoxic effects to mice within 6 h after injection. The results of ELISA showed that all the extracts which had hepatotoxic effects to mice, contained high levels of microcystins with concentrations ranging from 1.6 to 4.1 mg g(-1) dry weight. HPLC analysis for heptotoxic extracts revealed that these extracts contained two peaks corresponding to microcystin-YR and -LR with different proportions. This study suggests that benthic species should be considered along with planktonic species during monitoring of toxic cyanobacteria in water sources, particularly the Nile river which is the main source of drinking water in Egypt.     

The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Portulaca oleracea L. subsp. Sativa (Haw.) Celak

Many ethnic groups have used different species of Portulaca oleracea L., a member of the Family Portulacaceae, as vegetable and also herbal medicine against several diseases for many centuries. A review of the records in both folkloric and scientific literature indicates that Portulaca has many medicinal uses. After our previous preliminary screening of three species of the family for analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, Portulaca oleracea L. subsp. sativa (Haw.) Celak. (a cultivar) was chosen for further work due to its abundant availability from reliable sources. The 10% ethanolic extract of the aerial parts (dried leaves and stem) showed significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic after intraperitoneal and topical but not oral administration when compared with the synthetic drug, diclofenac sodium as the active control. Results indicate this cultivar species of Portulaca also possesses some of the claimed traditional uses of the wild species in the relief of pain and inflammation.     

Lactate and Pyruvate Levels in the Testicular Vein of Subfertile Males with Varicocele as a Test for the Theory of Underlying Hypoxia

Lactat- und Pyruvat-Werte in der Vena testicularis von subfertilen Männern als Test für die Theorie der vorhandenen Hypoxie
Um die These von der testikulären Hypoxie bei subfertilen Männern mit Varikocele zu überprüfen wurden die Blutwerte von Lactat und Pyruvat aus der Vena testicularis mit denen einer Kontrollgruppe verglichen. Statistisch ergab sich ein niedrigerer Mittelwert für Lactat und Pyruvat bei den Varikocele-Patienten. Daraus wird die Schlußfolgerung gezogen, daß bei Varikocele keine Akkumulation von Milchsäure erfolgt und daß damit eine Hypoxie ausgeschlossen werden kann. Als die Mittelwerte der Konzentrationen für Lactat und Pyruvat in der Vena testicularis miteinander korreliert wurden, deutete sich an, daß bei Vorhandensein einer Varikocele eine gestörte Glykolyse besteht, die dem Stadium der Pyruvatbildung vorhergeht.     

Octylcyanoacrylate (Dermabond) for skin closure at the time of head and neck surgery: a longitudinal prospective study

OBJECTIVES: A prospective non-randomised evaluation of the octyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Dermabond) for skin closure in head and neck surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An inception cohort of 52 patients managed by six otorhinolaryngologists head and neck surgeons at a single institution (university teaching and tertiary referral center) during the months of May-July 2004. The length of the skin incision varied from 3 to 30 cm (mean: 7 cm). Morbidity evaluation, longitudinal analysis of the evolution of the scar, and analysis of the degree of satisfaction. RESULTS: Postoperative death was not encountered. The overall morbidity rate was 3.8% (2/52). There was no instances of wound dehiscence's. A subcutaneous abscess was noted in one patient. From an aesthetic point of view, the scar appearance was considered to be slightly retracted during the first postoperative month and to be very good 2 to 4 months from initial surgery. Only one patient developed a minimal cheloid scar. Among the 47 patients who expressed an opinion postoperatively regarding the use of the octyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Dermabond) for skin closure, the degree of satisfaction was very high due to the ability to take an early shower (40 patients) followed by the lack of skin sutures (5 patients) and the lack of any allergic skin reaction (2 patients). CONCLUSION: At our department, the octyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Dermabond) for skin closure at the time of head and neck surgery is becoming more and more utilized due to the completion of a solid and aesthetic suture, the ability to take an early shower and the high degree of satisfaction expressed by the patients.     

Synovial sarcoma of the abdominal wall: a case report and study of its fine structure

A case of synovial sarcoma in the abdominal wall of a 50-year-old Iraq female is reported. The ultrastructure of the tumor has been studied. Eight other cases of synovial sarcoma in the abdominal wall which reported in the English literature up to 1978 have been reviewed. Synovial sarcomas in the abdominal wall tend to occur with a much greater frequency in females in contrast to such tumors in the extremities or the neck which tend to occur with a much greater frequency in males. No ultrastructure studies of abdominal wall synovial sarcomas could be found in the English literature. Ultrastructure characteristics of this tumor were similar to those arising in the usual sites and in the neck. However, the present study has indicated that the light and dark cells reported by earlier workers are not solely limited to the epitheloid areas but are also present in the spindle cell zones.     

Microvascular responses to adenosine help explain functional and pathologic differences between intestinal segments

BACKGROUND: Many physiologic (post-prandial hyperemia), pathologic (inflammatory bowel disease), and clinical (enteral feeding) phenomena involve changes in microvascular blood flow to the intestine. Adenosine (Ado) derived from energy metabolism causes vasodilation and appears to be involved in some of these events. The Ado-mediated control mechanisms appear to vary with the diameter of the microvessels and the function of the tissue. This suggests the possibility that Ado-based microvascular control varies between anatomic intestinal segments and microvascular levels in those intestinal segments. METHODS: In vivo digital intravital microscopy was used to measure the responses of larger distributing (A1) and smaller premucosal (A3) vessels to Ado in intact neurovascular loops of jejunum and terminal ileum of the rat. Dose-response curves to Ado were determined. RESULTS: Microvascular dilation and augmented blood flow to Ado were significantly greater in the jejunum than in the terminal ileum. Ado-induced dilation was greater in the smaller A3 than in the larger A1 microvessels. DISCUSSION: These data indicate (1) different vasodilator mechanisms for the jejunum and the terminal ileum, (2) a greater role for Ado-related microvascular control in the jejunum compared with the ileum, and (3) a greater Ado-related control in the premucosal (A3) vessels. These findings suggest that Ado-mediated microvascular effects could explain why some clinical phenomena vary in intensity in selective intestinal segments, and are likely to involve different microvascular control mechanisms in the different segments. Knowledge of these Ado mechanisms could be beneficial in certain clinical scenarios to control blood flow during pathologic conditions.