Basic Science Sector

This study was designed to test bitter and sweet lupin seeds for lipid-lowering and for their antioxidative activities in hypercholesterolemic rats. The levels of plasma lipid, malondialdehyde (MDA) and whole blood reduced glutathione (GSH), as well as the activities of transaminases )ALT and AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in plasma, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in erythrocytes and plasma glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) were examined. A hypercholesterolemia-induced diet manifested in the elevation of total lipids (TL), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), LDL-C and MDA levels, ALT, AST, LDH activities and the depletion of GSH and enzymic antioxidants.

In the present study the effect of long-term exposure (1 hour/day for 4 months) to electromagnetic radiation field (EMF) (900 MHz, 0.02 mW/cm2, SAR: 1.165 W/kg) on the EEG of freely moving rat is investigated. The spectral analysis of the EEG bands was done after 1, 2 and 4 months of daily EMF irradiation and after 1 month of stopping irradiation that extended daily for 4 months. The quantitative analysis of EEG revealed a clear shift from high frequency (beta) to lower frequency (delta) in irradiated animals as compared to unexposed animals, which indicated the change in the animal arousal. The cumulative effect of non-thermal EMF has been suggested for chronic exposure to radiation. It could be suggested that EMF cause changes in central cholinergic system that change the cortical excitability that reflected in slowing down of the EEG frequencies.

One particularly exciting field of research involves the use of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in the detection and treatment of cancer cells in the liver. The detection and treatment of cancer is an area in which the light absorption and emission characteristics of GNPs have become useful. Currently, there are no data available regarding the fluorescence spectra or in vivo accumulation of nanoparticles (NPs) in rat liver after repeated administration. In an attempt to characterise the potential toxicity or hazards of GNPs in therapeutic or diagnostic use, the present study measured fluorescence spectra, bioaccumulation and toxic effects of GNPs at 3 and 7 days following intraperitoneal administration of a 50 ?l/day

Five groups of laterally di-substituted three-ring compounds, 4-(3_-fluoro phenylazo)-2-(or 3-) substituted phenyl-4_-alkoxybenzoates, were prepared and investigated for their mesophase formation and stability. Each group of compounds, which have in common a lateral fluorine atom on the first terminal ring, differs from each other by a second lateral group substituted on the central ring.

Electron impact excitations and de-excitation rate coefficients of the excited ion Fe XVI are calculated according to the analytical formulas of Vriens and Smeets. A simple modification has been made by substituting effective quantum numbers in Vriens formulas to be applicable for the ion under consideration. The energy levels and transition probabilities have been calculated using the multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock (MCHF) method with Breit-Pauli relativistic correction (CF.Fischer's ATSP computer package) in which the monopole and the quadrupole transitions have been introduced in the calculations in addition to the dipole transitions. Level population densities are then calculated by solving the coupled rate equations involving the 54 levels 1i2i2p6nl, where n=3-8 and 1=0,1,2,3,4,5. Positive gain coefficients are displayedfor the transitions 5p(2P1/1/2)?4d(2D3/2), 5p(2p3/2) ? 4d(2D32) and 5p(2p3/2) ? 4d(2D5/2) at three selected electron temperatures namely 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 the ionization potential.

Introduction: The current radiofrequency ablation technique requires invasive needle placement. On the other hand, most of the common photothermal therapeutic methods are limited by lack of accuracy of targeting. Gold and magnetic nanoparticles offer the potential to heat tumor tissue selectively at the cellular level by noninvasive interaction with laser and radiofrequency.

Four plant extracts molluscicidal and insecticidal efficacy was evaluated under laboratory conditions versusBiomphalariaalexandrina,Lymneacailliaudi snails; their egg masses and Culexpipiens larvae. These extractsincluded Grape seed, Eucalyptus, Pomegranate, Verbesinaalcoholic extracts, as well as Eucalyptus oil.Different mortalities in the exposed vectors were recorded by the four plant extracts using differentconcentrations and exposure time.