Free radicals are highly reactive species which played an important role in the pathogenesis of acute inflammation. In this study, the protective role of the known antioxidant, thioctic acid, in carrageenan-induced acute inflammation in rats was assessed and was compared to the reference non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) indomethacin. In addition, the roles of oxidative stress, nitric oxide (NO), inducible cyclooxygenase isoform (COX-2) and interleukin (IL)-10 mRNA expressions in thioctic acid-induced effects were also investigated. Inflammation was induced by injection of 0.1 ml of 1.5% carrageenan into the plantar side of right hind paws of the rats. Thioctic acid (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg), indomethacin (10 mg/kg), DMSO and saline were injected i.p. 2 h before carrageenan injection. The percentage increase in paw weight was calculated. Frozen hind paw were used for estimation of lipid peroxides (MDA), NO, GSH, COX-2 and IL-10 mRNA expression. Formalin fixed hind paw were used for histopathological examination. Thioctic acid (200 mg/kg) reduced both paw edema formation and lymphocytes infiltration more significant than indomethacin itself: Both thioctic acid and indomethacin reduced paw MDA and NO formation. In addition, both agents restored the depleted GSH contents in the paw. Thioctic acid decreased the elevated COX-2 mRNA while indomethacin, failed. Furthermore, thioctic acid increased IL-10 mRNA expression while indomethacin decreased its expression. Thioctic acid exhibited a potent anti-inflammatory effect on carrageenan-induced inflammation compared to the NSAID indomethacin. The mechanisms of thioctic induced protection were proved to be due to reduction of NO, MDA, COX-2 mRNA and induction of GSH, IL-10 mRNA.

Background: Cryptosporidiosis is of utmost importance especially in vulnerable age groups in developing countries. Malnourished children are more susceptible to recurrent diarrheal episodes, which can lead to chronic nutritional and cognitive sequelae or even death. Objective(s): to evaluate four different diagnostic approaches for Cryptosporidium infection in stools of diarrheic children. Methods:One hundred stool specimens were collected from diarrheic children in Alexandria University Children Hospital (El-Shatby). All samples were investigated by four techniques; directly by microscopic detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts using modified Ziehl-Neelsen (MZN) stain. Indirectly, through detection of coproantigen by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and rapid strip test. Cryptosporidium DNA was detected by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Using the four methods, 65% of examined children had Cryptosporidium infection, while Cryptosporidium oocysts were shown by MZN stain technique among 41%. However, by rapid strip test, ELISA, and PCR the percentages were 45%, 48%, and 59%, respectively. PCR elicited the highest diagnostic efficiency (64%) among the three diagnostic non-microscopic techniques when the MZN technique was used as the gold standard test. However, rapid strip test showed the least diagnostic efficiency (48%) when compared to PCR that was considered as the gold standard test. Meanwhile, ELISA was of moderate performance when compared to either PCR or to MZN technique used as gold standard test. Conclusion: PCR was more sensitive than rapid strip test and ELISA. It is time saving, but not cost effective. The rapid strip test could be considered as a complementary (additional) tool rather than a substitute for microscopic examination. It could be used for screening in cases of outbreaks of diarrhea for faster management of the problem.

Background: Schistosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases with recent evidences about the high prevalence among preschool-age children. The pediatric formulation of Praziquantel (PZQ) has to be assessed for the efficacy as it gave controversial results in several countries. Objective(s): The current study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the pediatric suspension of PZQ against Schistosoma mansoni Egyptian strain in the experimental animals. Methods: 150 Swiss albino mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni were divided into three groups, the first group was treated with 600 mg/kg body weight of PZQ pediatric suspension, the second group was treated with 600 mg/kg PZQ tablets and the third one received no treatment as a control. The efficacy of the pediatric formulation was experimentally evaluated in comparison with the tablet formulation as a benchmark on the basis of the following specific parasitological parameters (worm burden, tissue egg load, and oogram pattern i.e. percentage of dead, live or immature eggs shown in the stool sample). Results: The comparison between the mean egg count per gram stool in the two groups pediatric suspension of PZQ (Epiquantel) and adult tablets of PZQ (Distocide), and the control group by applying one way ANOVA revealed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between the mean egg count in both treated groups (Epiquantel&Distocide) and their control group. The reduction of the total worm burden caused by Epiquantel®was96.9%, while that of Distocide®was86.7%, they were found to be statistically significant(p<0.05) in comparison with the control group. Epiquantel® reduced the male worms by 100% and the females were reduced by 94.1%. Distocide showed a similar effect, it reduced the worms by 88.4% and 85.1% for males and females respectively. The administration of a single oral dose of both Epiquantel® and Distocide® resulted in a statistically significant reduction (p<0.05) in the mean egg count per gram tissue either the liver or the wall of small intestine when compared to their infected untreated control group. Complete absence of immature egg stages, high reduction in the mature eggs, and the increase in the dead eggs were observed in both Epiquantel® and Distocide® groups when compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results prescribed that the pediatric suspension formula of PZQ is as efficient as the tablet formula against Schistosoma mansoni (Egyptian CD strain) in the mouse model. It could be recommended for pediatric treatment.

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Hepatitis C virus infection and schistosomiasis are common in Egypt. Coinfection is not uncommon. Little and quite controversial data are known about biochemical profile in these patients. This study was designed to study IL-2 production as a marker of lymphocyte activity in patients suffering from schistosomiasis with or without hepatitis C virus infection. This work enrolled 513 patients (239 females and 274 males) of Damanhour Teaching Hospital. Study sample included 120 subjects to form 4 groups: gp I (30 normal subjects as control), gp II (30 patients +ve for S. mansoni only), gp III (30 patients seopositive for HCV only), and gp IV (30 patients with mixed S. mansoni and HCV infection). The intensity of schistosomiasis was estimated by Kato-Katz technique. ELISA was used to detect anti HCV, HBs Ag and to estimate interleukin 2 (IL 2) in serum of selected groups. Indirect haemagglutination test was used to detect schistosomiasis among pure HCV. Complete blood picture and liver function tests were also done. Out of 513 samples examined, 89 (17.3%) were +ve for Schistosoma mansoni and 7 (1.4%) +ve for Schistosoma heamatobium. The overall prevalence rate among males was almost double that among females (21.9% versus 12.1%). The risk of HCV infection increased 7 times with the presence of S. mansoni infection. Focusing on the risk factors for S. mansoni infection it was found that gender, water contact, low education, and low socioeconomic status were the most important factors affecting prevalence of S. mansoni infection which in turn increased the risk of HCV infection. In the selected studied groups the results of heamatological and biochemical parameters showed significant decrease in group IV (schistosomiasis + HCV) than that of normal controls, schistosomal, and HCV patients groups. On the other hand, there were an increase in serum bilirubin and aminotransferase enzymes in the group of mixed infections. It has been shown that, in patients with mixed infections, IL2 level was lower than that of the other 3 groups. In conclusion S. mansoni was the predominating species in the present study. History of water contact, low education, and low socioeconomic status were the most important determinant factors of schistosomiasis. The risk of HCV infection increased with the presence of schistosomiasis.