Hypocholesterolemic effect of khellin and methoxsalen in male albino rats.

Khellin (CAS 82-02-0) and methoxsalen (CAS 298-81-7) were examined in male albino rats to evaluate their ability to modify serum lipoprotein cholesterol. Clinical chemistry parameters were also measured to obtain information indicative of possible drug toxicity. The drugs were evaluated in four-week double dose studies. After four weeks at 0.45 mg/100 mg b.wt. for khellin and 0.27 mg/100 g b.wt. for methoxsalen, per day, both drugs significantly lowered low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol. Very low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were not changed. No apparent toxicity was observed as clinical chemistry parameters and body weights were not different compared to control values. Similar results were observed with a lower dose of khellin (0.23 mg/100 g b.wt./d). A dose of 0.13 mg/100 g b.wt./d of methoxsalen had no observable effect in this study. Confirmation of the hypocholesterolemic activity of khellin and methoxsalen in this study enhances the therapeutic potential of these compounds against atherosclerosis.     

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and interleukin-1β-511 gene polymorphisms among Egyptian children with febrile seizures

Febrile seizures (FSs) are the most common form of childhood seizures. The higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in children may induce seizures, and alternatively, higher levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines may act as a defense mechanism against seizures. We aimed to investigate whether interleukin (IL)-1β-511 C/T (pro-inflammatory cytokine) (rs16944) and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) (an anti-inflammatory cytokine) gene polymorphisms could be used as markers for prediction of susceptibility to FSs. The current study included 22 patients with FSs and 22 normal control subjects. All patients were subjected to thorough history taking, full neurological examination, electroencephalography, and peripheral blood sampling for genotype analyses. Detection of IL-1Ra gene polymorphisms was done using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), while a restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the PCR products was used for the detection of IL-1β-511 C/T gene polymorphisms. The mean age of onset of first febrile seizures was 15.7 months. Eighteen (81.8 %) cases had the criteria of complex FSs. Frequencies of alleles C and T for IL-1β-511 were 26/44 and 18/44, respectively, in FS patients and 22/44 for both in the control subjects. The CC genotype was significantly more common in the FS patients than in the control group. The IL-1Ra-I homozygote was more frequent in patients with FSs than in healthy controls. The IL-1Ra homozygous I/I and IL-1β-511 CC gene polymorphisms are associated with a higher susceptibility to febrile seizures, which may be useful markers for predicting the development of febrile seizures.     

Development of a synthetic tissue engineered three‐dimensional printed bioceramic‐based bone graft with homogenously distributed osteoblasts and mineralizing bone matrix in vitro

Over the last decade there have been increasing efforts to develop three‐dimensional (3D) scaffolds for bone tissue engineering from bioactive ceramics with 3D printing emerging as a promising technology. The overall objective of the present study was to generate a tissue engineered synthetic bone graft with homogenously distributed osteoblasts and mineralizing bone matrix in vitro, thereby mimicking the advantageous properties of autogenous bone grafts and facilitating usage for reconstructing segmental discontinuity defects in vivo. To this end, 3D scaffolds were developed from a silica‐containing calcium alkali orthophosphate, using, first, a replica technique – the Schwartzwalder–Somers method – and, second, 3D printing, (i.e. rapid prototyping). The mechanical and physical scaffold properties and their potential to facilitate homogenous colonization by osteogenic cells and extracellular bone matrix formation throughout the porous scaffold architecture were examined. Osteoblastic cells were dynamically cultured for 7 days on both scaffold types with two different concentrations of 1.5 and 3 × 10⁹ cells/l. The amount of cells and bone matrix formed and osteogenic marker expression were evaluated using hard tissue histology, immunohistochemical and histomorphometric analysis. 3D‐printed scaffolds (RPS) exhibited more micropores, greater compressive strength and silica release. RPS seeded with 3 × 10⁹ cells/l displayed greatest cell and extracellular matrix formation, mineralization and osteocalcin expression. In conclusion, RPS displayed superior mechanical and biological properties and facilitated generating a tissue engineered synthetic bone graft in vitro, which mimics the advantageous properties of autogenous bone grafts, by containing homogenously distributed terminally differentiated osteoblasts and mineralizing bone matrix and therefore is suitable for subsequent in vivo implantation for regenerating segmental discontinuity bone defects. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rift Valley fever surveillance in mobile sheep flocks in the Nile Delta

Rift Valley fever (RVF) surveillance was carried out in the Nile Delta by monitoring mobile and stationary sheep flocks for antibodies to RVF virus. Sheep are known to be susceptible to RVF virus infection and experienced severe morbidity in 1977 and 1978 when RVF was epidemic in Egypt. Four hundred six sheep in 32 flocks were surveyed during 1984. Twenty-four sheep from 7 flocks had antibodies to RVF virus detected by hemagglutination inhibition and plaque reduction neutralization tests. Antibodies were found primarily in sheep greater than 3 years of age, although 1- and 2-year-old sheep were included in the sample. No seroconversion was observed among 177 seronegative sheep that were bled successively for a period of 10 months. These results indicate that epizootic RVF was probably not present in the Nile Delta during 1984.     

Sarcocystis arieticanis (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) infecting the heart muscles of the domestic sheep,Ovis aries (Artiodactyla: Bovidae), from K. S. A. on the basis of light and electron microscopic data

In the present study, the heteroxenous life cycle of Sarcocystis species from three strains of the slaughtered sheep at Al-Azizia and Al-Saada abattoirs in Riyadh city, K.S.A., was studied. Muscle samples of the oesophagus, diaphragm, tongue, skeletal and heart muscles were examined. Varied natural infection rates in the muscles of the examined sheep strains were recorded as 83 % in Niemy, 81.5 % in Najdy and 90 % in Sawakny sheep. Muscles of the diaphragm showed the highest infection level above all organs except Najdy sheep in which oesophagus has the highest rate. Also, the heart was the lowest infected organ (40 % Niemy, 44 % Najdy and 53 % Sawakny). Microscopic sarcocysts of Sarcocystis arieticanis are easily identified in sections through the heart muscles of the domestic sheep Ovis aries (Artiodactyla: Bovidae). Cysts measured 38.5–64.4 μm (averaged 42.66 μm) in width and 62.4–173.6 μm (averaged 82.14 μm) in length. The validity of this species was confirmed by means of ultrastructural characteristics of the primary cyst wall (0.1–0.27 μm thick) which revealed the presence of irregularly shaped crowded and hairy-like projections underlined by a thin layer of ground substance. This layer consisted mainly of fine, dense homogenous granules enclosing the developing metrocytes and merozoites that usually contain nearly all the structures of the apical complex and fill the interior cavity of the cyst. Several septa derived from the ground substance divided the cyst into compartments. The merozoites were banana-shaped and measured 12–16 μm in length with centrally or posteriorly located nuclei. Experimental infection of carnivores by feeding heavily infected sheep muscles revealed that the dog, Canis familiaris, is the only final host of the present Sarcocystis species. Gamogony, sporogonic stages and characteristics of sporulated oocysts were also investigated.     

Exercise and tumor development in a mouse predisposed to multiple intestinal adenomas

Epidemiological evidence suggests that physical activity may be protective against the development of colon cancer. Potential mechanisms remain largely unexplored due to the paucity of appropriate experimental models. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of exercise training on polyp development in an induced mutant mouse strain predisposed to multiple intestinal neoplasia (Min mouse). METHODS: Three-week-old male and female heterozygotes were randomly assigned to control (CON; 10 males, 6 females) or exercise (EX; 11 males, 11 females) groups. In the first week, EX mice were acclimated to treadmill running at 10-18 m x min(-1) for 15-60 min x d(-1). From 4-10 wk of age, mice ran at 18-21 m x min(-1) for 60 min. CON mice sat in Plexiglas lanes suspended above the treadmill for the same time periods. At 10 wk of age, the mice were sacrificed and the intestines removed, opened, and counted for polyps. RESULTS: Skeletal muscle oxidative capacity increased with training as shown by a 64% increase in citrate synthase activity in the gastrocnemius/soleus muscle of EX compared with CON (P = 0.009). There were no significant effects of exercise in the males and females combined on small intestine, colon, or total intestinal polyps (P > 0.05). When analyzed separately, however, there were fewer colon and total polyps in the EX than in the CON males, although the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that seven weeks of exercise training do not affect the development of intestinal polyps in the Min mouse. Further studies are required to determine if a true sex difference exists or if variations on the current training protocol may affect tumor outcomes.