Sera from camels from Egypt were examined by the direct agglutination tests incorporating mercaptoethanol for antibodies to Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii. Antibodies to N. caninum were found in 6 of 161 camels in titers of 1:40 (2 camels) and 1:80, 1:160, 1:640, and 1:1280 in 1 camel each, using N. caninum formalin preserved whole tachyzoites as antigen. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 17.4% of 166 camels in titers of 1:25 (3 camels), 1:50 (18 camels). and > 1:500 (8 camels) using T. gondii tachyzoites. All 6 camels with N. caninum antibodies had no T. gondii antibodies in 1:4 dilution of serum, indicating specificity of the reaction. This is the first report of N. caninum prevalence in Egypt.

An experimental in vivo model for studying cartilage destruction has been used to study the possible chondroprotective effect of the unsaponifiable constituents of avocado, soya and their combination at a ratio of 1:2. The method consists of implanting rat articular cartilage wrapped in cotton subcutaneously in mice, treating the animals daily for 2 weeks with the preparations in question, then sacrificing the animals and measuring some biochemical parameters related to cartilage integrity. The chosen parameters involved the glycosaminoglycan and hydroxyproline content of the cartilage, as well as the hydroxyproline content of beta-D-glucosaminidase activity of the granulomatous tissue induced by the cotton covering the cartilage. The unsaponifiables of both avocado and soya significantly reduced the degenerative changes induced by the granuloma tissue on the implanted cartilage in control animals as reflected by the preservation of the glycosaminoglycan and hydroxyproline content, and also reduced the proliferation of hydroxyproline and beta-D-glucosaminidase activity of the granulomatous tissue. The effect was even more marked when animals were treated with the combination of the two unsaponifiables at a 1:2 ratio. The preservation of the cartilage from destruction may have been associated with a diminished release of inflammatory mediators due to the effects of the unsaponifiables. In this context, the results point to a possible "chondroprotective" effect of these agents in vivo. This is in keeping with previous reports of chondroprotection by these unsaponifiables in vitro. The effect of the fixed dose combination in the 1:2 ratio was dose dependent.

An experimental in vivo model for studying cartilage destruction has been used to study the possible chondroprotective effect of the unsaponifiable constituents of avocado, soya and their combination at a ratio of 1:2. The method consists of implanting rat articular cartilage wrapped in cotton subcutaneously in mice, treating the animals daily for 2 weeks with the preparations in question, then sacrificing the animals and measuring some biochemical parameters related to cartilage integrity. The chosen parameters involved the glycosaminoglycan and hydroxyproline content of the cartilage, as well as the hydroxyproline content of beta-D-glucosaminidase activity of the granulomatous tissue induced by the cotton covering the cartilage. The unsaponifiables of both avocado and soya significantly reduced the degenerative changes induced by the granuloma tissue on the implanted cartilage in control animals as reflected by the preservation of the glycosaminoglycan and hydroxyproline content, and also reduced the proliferation of hydroxyproline and beta-D-glucosaminidase activity of the granulomatous tissue. The effect was even more marked when animals were treated with the combination of the two unsaponifiables at a 1:2 ratio. The preservation of the cartilage from destruction may have been associated with a diminished release of inflammatory mediators due to the effects of the unsaponifiables. In this context, the results point to a possible "chondroprotective" effect of these agents in vivo. This is in keeping with previous reports of chondroprotection by these unsaponifiables in vitro. The effect of the fixed dose combination in the 1:2 ratio was dose dependent.

An experimental in vivo model for studying cartilage destruction has been used to study the possible chondroprotective effect of the unsaponifiable constituents of avocado, soya and their combination at a ratio of 1:2. The method consists of implanting rat articular cartilage wrapped in cotton subcutaneously in mice, treating the animals daily for 2 weeks with the preparations in question, then sacrificing the animals and measuring some biochemical parameters related to cartilage integrity. The chosen parameters involved the glycosaminoglycan and hydroxyproline content of the cartilage, as well as the hydroxyproline content of beta-D-glucosaminidase activity of the granulomatous tissue induced by the cotton covering the cartilage. The unsaponifiables of both avocado and soya significantly reduced the degenerative changes induced by the granuloma tissue on the implanted cartilage in control animals as reflected by the preservation of the glycosaminoglycan and hydroxyproline content, and also reduced the proliferation of hydroxyproline and beta-D-glucosaminidase activity of the granulomatous tissue. The effect was even more marked when animals were treated with the combination of the two unsaponifiables at a 1:2 ratio. The preservation of the cartilage from destruction may have been associated with a diminished release of inflammatory mediators due to the effects of the unsaponifiables. In this context, the results point to a possible "chondroprotective" effect of these agents in vivo. This is in keeping with previous reports of chondroprotection by these unsaponifiables in vitro. The effect of the fixed dose combination in the 1:2 ratio was dose dependent.

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ABSTRACT :
Segmental continuity defects of the mandible may occur after trauma , infection or tumor resection surgery . Therefore , it was thought desirable to evaluate and compare the long-term results of the endosseous implants placed into grafted vascularized and nonvascularized bone for the reconstruction of anterior segmental defects of the mandible . Some patients underwent primary reconstruction by nonvascularized bone autografts , and the other patients by vascularized ones . All grafts were taken from the iliac crest of the same patients . Most grafts were further stabilized by means of endosseous titanium implants . It was found that primary mandibular reconstruction with vascularized or nonvascularized autogenous bone grafts supported by implants is a predictable treatment for mandibular continuity defects .

The effects of chronic chloroquine administration on serum proteins and free amino acids of rabbits and the accompanying ultrastructural changes in the retina were investigated.
Thirty pigmented rabbits were injected intramuscularly with chloroquine diphosphate (14 mg/Kg bw). Fifteen rabbits served as control. Blood samples drawn after 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 12 months were assayed for serum proteins by Bio-analytic kits and horizontal electrophoretic technique. Free amino acids were determined by Beckman analyzer. Central retinal tissue was fixed in 4% glutaraldehyde, embedded in araldite CY212 and sectioned for ultrastructural examination.
Histopathologic changes were apparent within three months, initially affecting the pigment epithelium and photoreceptors and later involving the remaining neuroretinal layers. Hypoproteinemia gradually developed mainly due to a sharp drop in albumin and alpha 1 and 2 globulin fractions, inspite of an increase in beta and gamma globulin fractions. The concentration of non-essential amino acids varied considerably from a depletion of taurine, aspartine, glutamine, tryptophan and arginine to an increase of serine, alanine, GABA and ornithine. The most outstanding effect was the disappearance of tyrosine and its return to normal value at the end of the experiment.
The disturbances in protein pattern and free amino acid levels are an indication of chloroquine toxicity and may be implicated in the retinopathy.