@article { author = {Alalkamy, Essam}, title = {ERYTHROPOIETIN HAS AN ADDITIVE CYTOPROTECTIVE AND BENEFICIAL EFFECT TO SILDENAFIL IN A MODEL OF DIASTOLIC HEART FAILURE IN RATS}, journal = {Al-Azhar Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences}, volume = {58}, number = {2}, pages = {1-18}, year = {2018}, publisher = {Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Pharmacy}, issn = {1110-1644}, eissn = {2535-1958}, doi = {10.21608/ajps.2018.46636}, abstract = {Development of new forms of interventions for diastolic heart failure (HFpEF) remains a challenging task.  The aim: Assessing the effect of combining erythropoietin and sildenafil on the left ventricle “LV” functions and morphometry in NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced HFpEF model in rats. Method: Forty-eight female albino rats were randomly assigned to one of six treatment groups: “C” (Control), “L” (L-NAME-treated), “L+M” (L-NAME+milrinone-treated), “L+S” (L-NAME+sildenafil-treated), “L+E” (L-NAME+erythropoietin-treated), and “L+S+E”  (L-NAME+sildenafil+erythropoietin-treated). Assessment was done by morphometric examination, LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and fraction of shortening (LVFS)], ECG changes, and mean time to peak tension (TPT) and to complete relaxation (TCR) of isometric contraction of LV muscle strip stimulated by single (TPT-S & TCR-S) and by repeated pulses (TPT-R & TCR-R), respectively. Results: L-NAME resulted in cardiac dysfunction with significant reduction in the mean “LVEF” and “LVFS”, and prolonged both the mean “TPT-R” and “TCR-R”. Milrinone and sildenafil treatment significantly corrected these parameters. In addition, erythropoietin significantly ameliorated “LVEF” and “LVFS” and shortened “TPT-S”. Similarly, “sildenafil+erythropoietin” treatment significantly corrected the measured parameters; however, they were insignificantly different from that of sildenafil only treatment. Morphometrically, sildenafil treatment resulted in significant but partial improvement in L-NAME-induced myocardial injury. Meanwhile, erythropoietin treatment showed more improvement. Moreover, combination treatment showed the best histologic picture in all of the treated groups. Conclusion: Sildenafil was able to improve cardiac functions mainly by accelerating diastolic relaxation. Addition of erythropoietin to sildenafil improved its cytoprotective effect.}, keywords = {Diastolic heart failure,sildenafil,erythropoietin,Echocardiography,left ventricle,Electrical Stimulation,cardiac morphometry}, url = {https://ajps.journals.ekb.eg/article_46636.html}, eprint = {https://ajps.journals.ekb.eg/article_46636_70e7f62de29db302cdaa5f23df96c31f.pdf} } @article { author = {Alalkam, Essam}, title = {HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA AQUEOUS EXTRACT AMELIORATES THIOACETAMIDE-INDUCED HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY IN GUINEA PIGS: ROLE OF AMMONIA EXTRACTION}, journal = {Al-Azhar Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences}, volume = {58}, number = {2}, pages = {19-36}, year = {2018}, publisher = {Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Pharmacy}, issn = {1110-1644}, eissn = {2535-1958}, doi = {10.21608/ajps.2018.46638}, abstract = {The current work assessed the preventive and therapeutic potential of Hibiscus sabdariffa “HS” aqueous extract (HSE) on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatic encephalopathy (HE) associated with the acute liver injury. Method: guinea pigs were divided into: Group 1 (Control group n=24) which wasfurther subdivided into 4 subgroups; Group “1-a” (non-treated); Group “1-b” given HSE for 3 days and sacrificed on the 4th day; Group “1-c” given TAA for 3 days and sacrificed on the 4th day; Group “1-d” given the TAA doses for 3 days and sacrificed on the 7th day; Group 2 (Preventive) given TAA and HSE doses concurrently for 3 days and sacrificed on the 4th day. Group 3 (Therapeutic) given 3-days TAA followed by 3-days HSE doses and sacrificed on the 7th day. Results: Preventive and therapeutic HSE resulted in significant amelioration of the TAA-induced hepatic encephalopathy with faster recovery of animals on the 7th day associated with significant improvement in the biochemical parameters of liver injury including the ammonia extraction ratio indicating functional hepatic improvement. In addition, there was a significant improvement in brain edema. Conclusion: HSE has both preventive and therapeutic effects on TAA-induced hepatic encephalopathy and liver injury in guinea pigs}, keywords = {Guinea pigs,H. sabdariffa,hepatic encephalopathy,acute liver injury}, url = {https://ajps.journals.ekb.eg/article_46638.html}, eprint = {https://ajps.journals.ekb.eg/article_46638_a48e21f7fc67222bcb86262196c92465.pdf} } @article { author = {El-Gebaly, Atef}, title = {A PREDICTIVE AND COMPARATIVE STUDY VIA VIRAL AND BIOCHEMICAL MEASUREMENTS FOR RESPONDERS AND NON-RESPONDERS EGYPTIAN HEPATITIS C PATIENTS TO DACLATASVIR PLUS SOFOSBUVIR THERAPY}, journal = {Al-Azhar Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences}, volume = {58}, number = {2}, pages = {37-59}, year = {2018}, publisher = {Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Pharmacy}, issn = {1110-1644}, eissn = {2535-1958}, doi = {10.21608/ajps.2018.46639}, abstract = {Most of the liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide is due to infection with hepatitis C virus. The developed new drugs in the last few years are promising, but patients response to such drugs are different. Therefore, to identify early the non-responding patients to SOF/DCV therapy for saving of medical costs and to guide them for appropriate treatment without wasting time, HCV RNA in conjunction with biochemical tests were measured during treatment (at week 4) for 100 blood samples from patients were positive for antibodies to (HCV), elevated liver enzymes (mean baseline serum ALT (±SD 123±2.7 U/L), RT-PCR baseline 355,000 IU/ ml. All patients were negative for hepatitis B virus. These patients were under treatment with DAC 60 mg/day plus Sofosbuvir 400 mg/day to give a predictive outcome of the extent of response or not to this therapy. In addition, the same analyses were performed after the end of course therapy (12 weeks) in order to compare the results of the predictive value. The obtained results at  week 4 of treatment indicated that 95% of patients had been shifted to normal range for biochemical analysis measured in addition, viral load was decreased in 95% of patients, while at the end of treatment course (week 12) biochemical response was completely achieved in 98% of patients in a complete normalization ranges  as well as, viral titer reached to the below detection limit. On the other hand, the rest of the patient samples still abnormal and classified as non-responding.}, keywords = {hepatitis C,Sofosbuvir,Daclatasvir,Responder,Non-responder}, url = {https://ajps.journals.ekb.eg/article_46639.html}, eprint = {https://ajps.journals.ekb.eg/article_46639_2c1e842895b035d5f53935d711f98ed8.pdf} } @article { author = {Fadl, Abd El-Wahab}, title = {ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIBIOFILM EFFECTS OF BEE VENOM FROM (APIS MELLIFERA) ON MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT BACTERIA (MDRB)}, journal = {Al-Azhar Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences}, volume = {58}, number = {2}, pages = {60-80}, year = {2018}, publisher = {Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Pharmacy}, issn = {1110-1644}, eissn = {2535-1958}, doi = {10.21608/ajps.2018.46641}, abstract = {The prevalence of (MDRB) is increasing worldwide; therefore, this study aimed to identify the most common MDRB in clinical specimens and meet the urgentneed to develop new antibacterial drugs to control their intractable infection. Additionally, due to the confrontation of the infection associated with bacterial biofilms, which are difficult to treat, and cause problems to public health, which require real solutions. Bee Venom produced by the glands of (Apis mellifera) is a complex mixture of active peptides, enzymes, and amines. So, it is considered a fertile environment for research to achieve the goal of this study. The results of the specimen’s examination showed that, from a total of 500 clinical specimens, there are 224 specimens exhibited no growth, while 276 were positive. From 276 positive cultures, 317 isolates were obtained. Out of the 317 bacterial isolates, 169 (53.3%) were Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), and 148 (46.7%) were Gram-positive (GP). It was of this number 124 (39.1%) were multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates of which 89 (71.77%) were Gram-negative type, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 35 (28.23%) were Gram-positive including Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Enterococcus faecalis. Antibacterial assays showed that Bee Venom possesses strong potential effect against MDR isolates including both GNB and GPB.with a wide range of MICs and MLCs concentration-spacing between 3.125 – 50 μg/mL and 6.25 – 100 μg/mL, respectively against all MDR-GNB and GPB. It was found that GPB was more sensitive at lower concentrations of Bee Venom than GNB. In addition, Bee Venom sub-MICs values against the most biofilm bacterial produces namely; E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, VRSA, S.  haemolyticus and E. faecalis exhibited sharp reduction in their biofilms ranged between (63.8- 92%) especially at ½ MICs according to each bacterium, exclude E. faecalis biofilm was moderately affected (39%). While, at another tested sub-MICs showed moderate, weak, and no antibiofilm effects.  }, keywords = {Multi-drug Resistant,MDR,Bacteria,GNB,GPB,MRSA,VRSA,Antibacterial,MIC,MLC,Biofilm,Bee venom}, url = {https://ajps.journals.ekb.eg/article_46641.html}, eprint = {https://ajps.journals.ekb.eg/article_46641_3eb2c3dd711ff634f99aaf65c0815f8a.pdf} } @article { author = {Zaher, Shimaa}, title = {STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF INTRAUMBILICAL VEIN OXYTOCIN INJECTION ON THIRD STAGE OF LABOR}, journal = {Al-Azhar Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences}, volume = {58}, number = {2}, pages = {81-92}, year = {2018}, publisher = {Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Pharmacy}, issn = {1110-1644}, eissn = {2535-1958}, doi = {10.21608/ajps.2018.46642}, abstract = {The principal management of the third stage of labor is aimed at reducing the time of delivery of the placenta, thereby minimizing serious adverse effects such as blood loss and retained placenta. Umbilical vein oxytocin injection directs treatment to the placental bed and uterine wall, resulting in earlier uterine contraction and placental separation  }, keywords = {}, url = {https://ajps.journals.ekb.eg/article_46642.html}, eprint = {https://ajps.journals.ekb.eg/article_46642_8643e7fed6f126191e567eaf01027734.pdf} } @article { author = {Al-Botaty, Basant}, title = {CHOLESTASIS: MOLECULAR MECHANISM, PATHOGENESIS AND POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT}, journal = {Al-Azhar Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences}, volume = {58}, number = {2}, pages = {93-114}, year = {2018}, publisher = {Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Pharmacy}, issn = {1110-1644}, eissn = {2535-1958}, doi = {10.21608/ajps.2018.46644}, abstract = {Understanding the molecular mechanism of bile formation and the different pathways and pathogenesis of drug induced cholestasis provide different possibilities for treatment. This review summarizes the role of transport proteins in hepatic drug clearance and toxicity, the involvement of inflammatory mediators in cholestasis and the role of nuclear receptors in bile acid metabolism. Understanding nuclear receptor function can help in the development of nuclear receptor ligands for treatment of cholestasis.}, keywords = {Bile acids,nuclear receptors,Inflammatory mediators,Management}, url = {https://ajps.journals.ekb.eg/article_46644.html}, eprint = {https://ajps.journals.ekb.eg/article_46644_4540cc768091d1da71e8c883a9a4855a.pdf} } @article { author = {Elhamalawy, Osama}, title = {PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF PUMPKIN SEED OIL AGAINST LEAD ACETATE TOXICITY IN MALE MICE}, journal = {Al-Azhar Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences}, volume = {58}, number = {2}, pages = {115-129}, year = {2018}, publisher = {Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Pharmacy}, issn = {1110-1644}, eissn = {2535-1958}, doi = {10.21608/ajps.2018.46647}, abstract = {The goal of the present work was to investigate the protective effect of pumpkin seed oil (PSO) against lead acetate toxicity in male mice. lead acetate (20 mg/kg b.w.) was administered orally to mice once a day for 30 successive days. Whereas, PSO was administered to the mice orally at 1.5 mL/kg b.w. once a day for 30 successive days concurrently with treatment of lead acetate. The studied parameters were relative organs weights, DNA damage evaluation using comet assay in liver and kidney cells and micronucleus test in bone marrow and biochemical assessment of the liver and kidney function. Results showed that, lead acetate caused DNA damage in tested cells and significant increase in the levels of biochemical measurements. In contrast, PSO administration plus lead acetate effectively alleviated DNA damage in tested cells and improved the biochemical alterations. It can be concluded that PSO may has a protective role against lead acetate toxicity in male mice. }, keywords = {Pumpkin seed oil,Lead acetate,DNA damage,micronucleus,Comet assay,Biochemical measurements}, url = {https://ajps.journals.ekb.eg/article_46647.html}, eprint = {https://ajps.journals.ekb.eg/article_46647_df9564360899bc5f5a3242d2ddf34902.pdf} }