Ethanol-ascorbate interrelationship in acute and chronic alcoholism in the guinea pig

The effects of low (200 ppm) and of high (2000 ppm) ascorbic acid, in a nutritionally adequate diet, on blood ethanol levels have been studied in permanently carotid-cannulated, ethanol-infused, unanesthetized guinea pigs. In the acute study, the postinfusion rate of ethanol decline in the blood of animals treated with ascorbic acid was significantly higher when compared with animals treated with fructose, and the rate in the two treated groups was significantly higher than in untreated controls. In the chronic study, animals were infused with sublethal doses of ethanol (30% of the total caloric intake) for 8 weeks. Blood ethanol levels monitored throughout this period showed, at 3 hr postinfusion, a lower concentration in the group on a high ascorbic acid diet. Both experimental groups receiving ethanol lost significantly more body weight in the second week of dieting; but, while the group on high ascorbic acid regained weight steadily thereafter, the group on low ascorbic acid was still 50 g below the controls at the end of the experiment. Liver, kidney, and adrenal ascorbic acid concentrations were lower in the ethanol-treated groups compared to controls. Examination of the liver revealed more fatty metamorphosis or steatosis in the low ascorbic acid group, but there was no evidence of liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. These results demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing the guinea pig for the study of the biochemical and morphological sequelae of alcoholism. They further support the contention that a diet which is nutritionally adequate may no longer be so in the presence of high ethanol intake, and that supplemental vitamin C ingestion may afford protection against ethanol toxicity.     

Fasciola gigantica: evaluation of the effect of phenyl vinyl sulfone in vitro

Phenyl vinyl sulfone is a synthetic inhibitor of cysteine protease and has antihelminthic and antiprotozoal properties. Phenyl vinyl sulfone was assayed in vitro for antifasciola activity against adult Fasciola gigantica worms using a well-established culture medium. Worms were treated with phenyl vinyl sulfone for incubation periods ranging from 0 to 12h and its activity was assessed in terms of viability, motility and death of worms. Phenyl vinyl sulfone exhibited a minimum effective concentration of 50 ppm after 12h. Three hundred parts per million concentrations were most potent causing immediate death of adult flukes in vitro. Histopathological studies showed that there was tegumental flattening, rupture of vesicles, and spine loss. Marked reduction in size and number of ova and sperms in the convoluted tubules of the reproductive organs was observed in comparison to the untreated control group. In conclusion, phenyl vinyl sulfone shows potent activity against F. gigantica in vitro, and the authors recommend carrying out more studies to detect its efficacy in vivo.     

Missing plant macro remains as indicators of plant exploitation in Predynastic Egypt

Tubers, leaves and mericarps are underrepresented plant remains in most archaeological sites either due to their tissue softness or small size and fragility. The more resilient and hard cereal remains, drupes, seeds and grains are frequent at most archaeological sites. The remarkable preservation status of organic material retrieved from archaeological sites in arid regions across the world, such as Egypt, increases the possibility of observing such missing botanical material. The present study discusses results of analysing the contents of a basket recovered within an intact grave (Burial 333) of the Predynastic period (3600 B.C.) in cemetery HK 43 at Hierakonpolis in Upper Egypt. The basket was found beside the elbows of the flexed burial of a woman, 40–50 years of age. The cemetery at HK 43 served the non-elite segment of society, as indicated by the overall paucity of grave goods. Children and older women appear to have been most favoured with gifts and among these better endowed graves, Burial 333 stands out for the variety of materials, suggesting that she was a woman of some standing within her community. Botanical contents of the basket include remains of Cyperus (sedge tubers), Anethum graveoloens L. (dill mericarps) and drupes of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile (balanites) as well as narrow slivers of coniferous wood and other types of plant remains. In addition, objects found in and around the basket include a cosmetic palette, five awls of polished bone, an ivory comb, pendants and amulets, which may be part of a cosmetic kit. In terms of palaeoethnobotanical investigations, this basket is another source of plant macro remains to be added to previous sources recovered from the same cemetery, such as the contents of pottery vessels, matting and viscera contents. This evidence shows that the Predynastic inhabitants adopted a subsistence strategy based on the cultivation of cereals, emmer wheat as the likely staple, and the gathering of wild fruits and tubers as well as herding of livestock. The botanical assemblage identified from the basket suggests the exploitation of wet swamp habitats to collect wild tubers of Cyperus esculentus L., C. rotundus/laevigatus and culms of Juncus sp. On the other hand, the nearby desert habitat was a source of edible fruits like Balanites aegyptiaca, Cordia sinensis Lam. and Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. The outcome of this study is evidence for the existence of a mixed strategy of subsistence involving herding, gathering and farming in Predynastic Egypt. This revised version was published online February 2005 with corrections to the author’s name which was incorrect in the original version.     

Studies on the genotoxic effect of beryllium chloride and the possible protective role of selenium/vitamins A, C and E

The genotoxic potential of beryllium chloride (BeCl2) was evaluated in vivo in mice using different endpoints. Chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells and in spermatocytes as well as sperm abnormalities were determined in the tested mice. The protective role of an orally administered drug consisting of selenium and vitamins A, C and E (selenium-ACE) was also studied. For analysis of chromosomal aberrations, both single and repeated oral treatments for a period of 3 weeks were performed. The doses used were 93.75, 187.50, 375, and 750 mg BeCl2/kg bw, which corresponds to 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2 of the experimental LD50. BeCl2 induced a statistically significant increase in the percentage of chromosomal aberrations in both somatic and germ cells, with a dose- and time-response. The percentage of induced chromosomal aberrations was significantly reduced in all BeCl2-treated groups after oral administration of selenium-ACE. Beryllium chloride also induced a significant increase in the percentage of abnormal sperm. This percentage reached values of 9.62 +/- 0.32 and 5.56 +/- 0.31 in mice treated with the highest test dose of BeCl2 and with BeCl2+selenium-ACE, respectively, compared with 1.96 +/- 0.14 for the control. In conclusion, the results demonstrate the genotoxic effect of beryllium chloride and confirm the protective role of selenium-ACE against the genotoxicity of beryllium chloride.     

Crosslinking of alginic acid/chitosan matrices using polycarboxylic acids and their utilization for sodium diclofenac release

Three different ratios of alginic acid/chitosan matrices of ratios 3/1, 1/1 and 1/2, respectively, were crosslinked in their dry state using citric acid (CA)/sodium hypophosphite (SHP) at different conditions controlling the crosslinking process such as citric acid concentration, citric acid/sodium hypophosphite molar ratio as well as time and temperature of reaction. Results indicate that such matrices were crosslinked efficiently on curing at 180 °C for 9 min in presence of CA/SHP ratio 1 and the citric acid concentration of 0.6 based on the weight of any matrices. The crosslinked matrices were characterized by investigating their swelling properties, FT-IR and thermalgravimetric analysis. Furthermore, such crosslinked matrices were tested as drug release for sodium diclofenac.     

Nanocomposites from natural cellulose fibers filled with kaolin in presence of sucrose

This work introduces, for the first time worldwide, an advanced nanocomposite involving two additives – a nanoadditive and a conventional additive – within a matrix of natural cellulose fibers. The first additive (the nanoadditive) is sucrose, which incorporates the nanoporous structure of the cell walls of cellulose fibers. The second additive (the conventional additive) is kaolin, the famous paper filler. Kaolin is enmeshed between the adjacent cellulose fibers. This advanced paper nanocomposite was prepared by simple techniques.

The present work shows, for the first time, that sucrose can overcome the ultimate fate of deterioration in strength of paper, due to addition of inorganic fillers such as kaolin. This deterioration was counteracted by incorporating cellulose fibers with sucrose, which leads to incorporation beating of the fibers, and thus increases the strength of the produced paper nanocomposites. In addition, sucrose was proven – for the first time – to act as retention aid for inorganic fillers such as kaolin. We called this phenomenon incorporation retention to differentiate it from the conventional types of retention of inorganic fillers.

Recent studies, by the authors and others, have shown that incorporating cellulose fibers, with sucrose, leads to paper nanocomposites of enhanced strength (breaking length). Also, sucrose is privileged by its small size (0.8 nm), substantial hydrogen bonding capacity, low cost, and abundance. Therefore, sucrose was chosen as a nanoadditive in this work. The present study shows that the nanoadditive sucrose may find its use as a new retention aid and strength promoter in papermaking.     

New approach for upgrading pulp & paper quality: Mild potassium permanganate treatment of already bleached pulps

The present work introduces mild – room temperature – potassium permanganate treatment of cellulosic materials, namely already bleached pulps. Such treatment represents a new approach for upgrading pulp and paper quality, which is lacking in the literature. Potassium permanganate was investigated as a purifying and mild oxidizing agent for commercial already bleached softwood and bagasse pulps. It was found that treatment of the bleached beaten pulps, with 0.25–2% KMnO₄ (based on pulp weight), led to significant improvement in paper properties. The strength (breaking length) increased greatly and the brightness increased significantly due to treatment. The improvements were related to the degree of polymerization, and to the alphacellulose content of pulps.Moreover, potassium permanganate serves as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Thus treatment of bleached pulps with KMnO₄ is a promising remedy for the side effects which pulps suffer, during transportation and storage, before papermaking.     

Suramin affects coupling of rhodopsin to transducin.

Suramin, a polysulfonated naphthylurea, is under investigation for the treatment of several cancers. It interferes with signal transduction through G(s), G(i), and G(o), but structural and kinetic aspects of the molecular mechanism are not well understood. Here, we have investigated the influence of suramin on coupling of bovine rhodopsin to G(t), where G-protein activation and receptor structure can be monitored by spectroscopic in vitro assays. G(t) fluorescence changes in response to rhodopsin-catalyzed nucleotide exchange reveal that suramin inhibits G(t) activation by slowing down the rate of complex formation between metarhodopsin-II and G(t). The metarhodopsin-I/-II photoproduct equilibrium, GTPase activity, and nucleotide uptake by G(t) are unaffected. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy shows that the structure of rhodopsin, metarhodopsin-II, and the metarhodopsin-II G(t) complex is also not altered. Instead, suramin dissociates G(t) from disk membranes in the dark, whereas metarhodopsin-II G(t) complexes are stable. F?rster resonance energy transfer suggests a suramin-binding site near Trp(207) on the G(t alpha) subunit (K(d) approximately 0.5 microM). The kinetic analyses and the structural data are consistent with a specific perturbation by suramin of the membrane attachment site on G(t alpha). Disruption of membrane anchoring may contribute to some of the effects of suramin exerted on other G-proteins.     

Therapeutic efficacy of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells transplantation against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical problem raising the urgent needs to develop new strategies for treatment. The present study investigated the therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord – mesenchymal stem cells (HUC-MSCs) transplantation against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats.

Carbohydrases in camel (Camelus dromedarius) pancreas. Purification and characterization of glucoamylase

The present study analyzed the existence of carbohydrases in camel pancreas compared to some other ruminants. Disaccharidases (maltase, cellobiase, lactase, trehalase and sucrase), glucoamylase and alpha-amylase were detected in pancreas of camel, sheep, cow and buffalo. Enzyme levels in sheep were lower than in the other ruminants. The highest level was detected for alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.2). Moderate activity levels were detected for glucoamylase (EC 3.2.1.3) and maltase (EC 3.2.1.20), while other disaccharidases showed very low activity. The results suggested that, in addition to alpha-amylase, glucoamylase and maltase may be synthesized and secreted from pancreas to the small intestine in ruminants. Camel pancreatic glucoamylase was purified and characterized. The purification procedure included glycogen precipitation and chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose and Sepharose 6B. The molecular mass was 58 kDa for native and denatured enzyme using gel filtration and SDS-PAGE, respectively. The enzyme had a pH optimum at 5.5 and a Km of 10 mg starch/mL with more affinity toward potato soluble starch than the other carbohydrates. Glucoamylase had a temperature optimum at 50 degrees C with heat stability up to 30 degrees C. The effect of different cations and inhibitors was examined. The camel pancreatic glucoamylase may possess an essential thiol.