Medical Sector

Three series of new 2-[(4-substituted piperazin-1-yl) methyl]quinazolin-4(3H)-ones 4a-c, Ethyl 6,7-dimethoxy-4-oxo-3-[2-(4-subistituted-piperazin-1-yl) acetamido/ propanamido]-3,4-dihydroquinazoline-2-carboxylates 9a-f and their 2-methyl analogues 13a-l were designed and synthesized as promising ?1-adrenoceptor antagonists. The compounds were evaluated for their in vivo hypotensive activity in normotensive cats. The most potent hypotensive quinazolinone derivatives 4b, 9e, 13i, 13j were further tested on isolated thoracic aortic rings of male Wister rats. All the tested compounds displayed ?1-blocking activity with IC50 ranging from 0.2 to 0.4 mM less than prazosin. Furthermore, in the present work, molecular modeling study using Accelrys Discovery Studio 2.1 software was performed by mapping the synthesized compounds to the ?1-adrenoceptor antagonist hypothesis in order to predict their mechanism of action. Compound 13j which has the best fitting score displayed the highest in vivo and in vitro activity among the tested compounds.

In this study, six in situ gelling formulations based on Gelrite were prepared and evaluated for the retained ophthalmic

Concha bullosa that is a pneumatization of the middle turbinate is a common anatomic variant; the obstruction of its ostium may lead to mucocele and even pyocele after infection of retained secretion. Although the condition is rare, mucopyocele of concha bullosa may be presented as a large nasal mass. However, the diagnosis could be suspected from its characteristic radiologic signs. We present an adolescent boy with mucopyocele of the concha bullosa.

Nephronophthisis associated ciliopathies (NPHP-AC) comprise a group of autosomal recessive cystic kidney diseases that includes nephronophthisis (NPHP), Senior-Loken syndrome (SLS),

Introduction: Nailfold capillaroscopy is a non-invasive technique to recognize peripheral microangiopathy, which is an important feature in SLE.

Background Irradiation of the pelvis in the treatment of cancers will result in ovarian failure unless the ovaries are shielded adequately. To protect the ovaries, an oophoropexy may be performed. Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility, morbidity, and efficacy of laparoscopic ovarian transposition using a simple percutaneous needle technique.

Anti HCV vaccine is not currently available and the present antiviral therapies fail to cure approximately half of the treated HCV patients. This study was designed to assess the immunogenic properties of genetically conserved peptides derived from the C-terminal region of HVR-1 and test their neutralizing activities in a step towards developing therapeutic and/or prophylactic immunogens against HCV infection. Antibodies were generated by vaccination of goats with synthetic peptides derived from HCV E2. Viral neutralizing capacity of the generated anti E2 antibodies was tested using in vitro assays. Goats immunized with E2 synthetic peptides termed p412 [a.a 412-419], p430 [a.a 430-447] and p517 [a.a 517-531] generated high titers of antibody responses 2 to 4.5 fold higher than comparable titers of antibodies to the same epitopes in chronic HCV patients. In post infection experiments of native HCV into cultured Huh7.5 cells anti p412 and anti p 517 were proven to be neutralizing to HCV genotype 4a from patients' sera (87.5% and 75% respectively). On the contrary anti p430 exhibited weak viral neutralization capacity on the same samples (31.25%). Furthermore Ab mixes containing anti p430 exhibited reduced viral neutralization properties. From these experiments one could predict that neutralization by Abs towards different E2-epitopes varies considerably and success in the enrichment of neutralization epitope-specific antibodies may be accompanied by favorable results in combating HCV infection. Also, E2 conserved peptides p517 and p412 represent potential components of a candidate peptide vaccine against HCV infection.

We identified a two-branch consanguineous family in which four affected members (three females and one male) presented with constitutive growth delay, severe psychomotor retardation, microcephaly, cerebellar hypoplasia, and second-degree heart block. They also shared distinct facial features and similar appearance of their hands and feet. Childhood-onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus developed in one affected child around the age of 9 years. Molecular analysis excluded mutations in potentially related genes such as PTF1A, EIF2AK3, EOMES, and WDR62. This condition appears to be unique of other known conditions, suggesting a unique clinical entity of autosomal recessive mode of inheritance.

Nonionic surfactant (NIS) vesicles (niosomes) formed from self-assembly of hydrated synthetic NIS monomers are capable of entrapping a variety of drugs and have been evaluated as an alternative to liposomes. Nystatin (NYS) is a polyene antifungal drug that has been used in the treatment of cutaneous, vaginal and oral fungal infections since the 1950s. The aim of this work is to encapsulate NYS in niosomes to obtain a safe and effective formula administered parenterally for neutropenic patients. NYS niosomes were prepared by the thin-film hydration method using Span 60 or Span 40 and cholesterol (CHOL). Stearylamine and dicetyl phosphate were added as the positive and negative charge-inducing agents (CIA), respectively. Two molar ratios were used, namely NIS/CHOL/CIA (1:1:0.1 and 2:1:0.25). Neutral and positively charged niosomes gave the highest encapsulation efficiencies. NYS niosomes were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic light scattering. The release of neutral and negatively charged NYS niosomes was estimated, and it showed a slow sustained release profile. A 25-kGy ?-irradiation dose was sufficient to sterilize the investigated vesicles. NYS niosomes exerted less nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in vivo, showed higher level of drug in vital organs and revealed pronounced efficacy in elimination of the fungal burden in experimental animals infected with Candida albicans compared with those treated with free NYS. Niosomal encapsulation thus provided means for parenteral administration of NYS, reducing its toxicity and making it a more active antifungal agent.

Nontraumatic coma in childhood is an important pediatric emergency with a wide range of primary etiologies. This prospective descriptive study of 100 consecutive pediatric nontraumatic coma cases was done to identify etiology, clinical profile, and predictive outcome in a pediatric emergency department at a tertiary care university hospital. Most frequent etiologies were metabolic (33%), central nervous system infections (28%), and intracranial hemorrhage (13%). In the emergency department, 50% of those patients died. Hypothermia, hypotension, flaccidity, and poor Glasgow coma scale at admission correlated significantly with mortality. After 48 hours of admission, poor pulse volume, poor Glasgow coma scale, abnormal respiratory pattern/apnea, and seizures correlated significantly with mortality. On logistic regression, poor Glasgow coma scale at admission, abnormal respiratory pattern, and seizures after 48 hours of admission were independent significant predictors of mortality. Metabolic causes are the most common etiology in pediatrics nontraumatic coma. Simple clinical signs were good predictors of outcome.

Introduction: Klinefelter syndrome is the commonest chromosomal cause of non-obstructive azoospermia. Despite reports that these men can have children using assisted reproduction techniques, it is not common practice in the Egypt to offer sperm retrieval to these men. Design: Case report. Setting. Private IVF center (EIFC-IVF) and a university hospital. Patient. A 24-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man with non-mosaic Klinefelter syndrome. Intervention. Testicular sperm extraction followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer (TESE-ICSI). Results. Fifteen immotile sperms were found, five oocytes were injected, and three embryos were transferred. Now the pregnancy is progressing beyond 20 weeks. Conclusion: Spermatozoa from a patient with non-mosaic Klinefelter syndrome retrieved through TESE can lead to pregnancy.

One of the greatest challenges in in situ forming implant (ISFI) systems by polymer precipitation is the large burst release during the first 1-24 hours after implant injection. The aim of this study was to decrease the burst-release effect of a water-soluble model drug, donepezil HCl, with a molecular weight of 415.96?Da, from in situ forming implants using a novel in situ implant containing lipospheres (ISILs). In situ implant suspensions were prepared by dispersing cetyl alcohol and glyceryl stearate lipospheres in a solution of poly-DL-lactide (PDL) or DL-lactide/glycolide copolymer (PDLG). Also, in situ implant solutions were prepared using different concentrations of PDL or PDLG solutions in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Triacetin and Pluronic L121 were used to modify the release pattern of donepezil from the in situ implant solutions. In vitro release, rheological measurement, and injectability measurement were used to evaluate the prepared in situ implant formulae. It was found that ISIL decreased the burst effect as well as the rate and extent of drug release, compared to lipospheres, PDL, and PDLG in situ implant. The amount of drug released in the first day was 37.75, 34.99, 48.57, 76.3, and 84.82% for ISIL in 20% PDL (IL-1), ISIL in 20% PDLG (IL-2), lipospheres (L), 20% PDL ISFI (I5), and 20% PDLG ISFI (I8), respectively. The prepared systems showed Newtonian flow behavior. ISIL (IL-1 and IL-2) had a flow rate of 1.94 and 1.40?mL/min, respectively. This study shows the potential of using in situ implants containing lipospheres in controlling the burst effect of ISFI.

Vinpocetine (Vin) existing oral formulations suffer poor bioavailability ( 7%) since Vin undergoes a marked first-pass

Various soil samples were randomly collected at different places in south Delta, Egypt. A total of 105 Streptomyces isolates, were selected according to their morphological characteristics. Antifungal activity was assessed by agar well diffusion assay. Ten isolates showed antifungal activity against various reference strains of yeast and fungi. The maximum zone of inhibition was detected for Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans using cell homogenate of isolate N5. This potential isolate was identified on the bases of the International Streptomyces Project (ISP) as Streptomyces noursei. A?ccordingly the name Streptomyces noursei sp.N5 was proposed.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of chronic mild stress (CMS) on the emergence of gastric ulcers and possible modulation by octreotide, a synthetic somatostatin analogue.

Objective: To demonstrate the effect of omega-3 fatty acids (?-3 FAs) supplements on the clinical manifestations, laboratory investigations, disease activity, functional capacity, response criteria as well as IL-1 and TNF-? levels in Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients.