Al-Azhar University, Faculty of PharmacyAl-Azhar Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences1110-164458220180901ERYTHROPOIETIN HAS AN ADDITIVE CYTOPROTECTIVE AND BENEFICIAL EFFECT TO SILDENAFIL IN A MODEL OF DIASTOLIC HEART FAILURE IN RATS1184663610.21608/ajps.2018.46636ENEssamAlalkamyMedical Pharmacology Dpt., Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, EgyptJournal Article20190901Development of new forms of interventions for diastolic heart failure (HFpEF) remains a challenging task. <strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The aim:</span></em></strong> Assessing the effect of combining erythropoietin and sildenafil on the left ventricle “LV” functions and morphometry in N<sup>G</sup>-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced HFpEF model in rats. <strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></em></strong> Forty-eight female albino rats were randomly assigned to one of six treatment groups: <strong>“C” </strong>(Control), <strong>“L” </strong>(L-NAME-treated), <strong>“L+M” </strong>(L-NAME+milrinone-treated), <strong>“L+S” </strong>(L-NAME+sildenafil-treated), <strong>“L+E” </strong>(L-NAME+erythropoietin-treated), and <strong>“L+S+E” </strong> (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. <strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Results:</span></em></strong> 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. <strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Conclusion:</span></em></strong> Sildenafil was able to improve cardiac functions mainly by accelerating diastolic relaxation. Addition of erythropoietin to sildenafil improved its cytoprotective effect.Al-Azhar University, Faculty of PharmacyAl-Azhar Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences1110-164458220180901HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA AQUEOUS EXTRACT AMELIORATES THIOACETAMIDE-INDUCED HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY IN GUINEA PIGS: ROLE OF AMMONIA EXTRACTION19364663810.21608/ajps.2018.46638ENEssamAlalkamMedical Pharmacology Dpt, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, EgyptJournal Article20190901<em>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. <strong>Method</strong>: </em><em>guinea pigs were divided into: <strong>Group 1 (Control group n=24) </strong>which wasfurther subdivided into 4 subgroups; <strong>Group “1-a” (non-treated)</strong>; <strong>Group “1-b” </strong>given HSE for 3 days and sacrificed on the 4<sup>th</sup> day; <strong>Group “1-c” </strong>given TAA for 3 days and sacrificed on the 4<sup>th</sup> day; <strong>Group “1-d” </strong>given the TAA doses for 3 days and sacrificed on the 7<sup>th</sup> day; <strong>Group 2 (Preventive)</strong> given TAA and HSE doses concurrently for 3 days and sacrificed on the 4<sup>th</sup> day. <strong>Group 3 (Therapeutic) </strong>given 3-days TAA followed by 3-days HSE doses and sacrificed on the 7<sup>th</sup> day. <strong>Results:</strong> Preventive and therapeutic HSE resulted in significant amelioration of the TAA-induced hepatic encephalopathy with faster recovery of animals on the 7<sup>th</sup> 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. <strong>Conclusion</strong>: HSE has both preventive and therapeutic effects on TAA-induced hepatic encephalopathy and liver injury in guinea pigs</em>Al-Azhar University, Faculty of PharmacyAl-Azhar Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences1110-164458220180901A PREDICTIVE AND COMPARATIVE STUDY VIA VIRAL AND BIOCHEMICAL MEASUREMENTS FOR RESPONDERS AND NON-RESPONDERS EGYPTIAN HEPATITIS C PATIENTS TO DACLATASVIR PLUS SOFOSBUVIR THERAPY37594663910.21608/ajps.2018.46639ENAtefEl-GebalyBotany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, 11884 Nasr City, Cairo, EgyptJournal Article20190901Most 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.Al-Azhar University, Faculty of PharmacyAl-Azhar Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences1110-164458220180901ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIBIOFILM EFFECTS OF BEE VENOM FROM (APIS MELLIFERA) ON MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT BACTERIA (MDRB)60804664110.21608/ajps.2018.46641ENAbd El-WahabFadlBotany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, 11884 Nasr City, Cairo, EgyptJournal Article20190901<span>The prevalence of (MDRB) is increasing worldwide; therefore, this study aimed to identify the most common MDRB in clinical specimens and meet the urgent</span><span>need 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 (<em>Apis</em> <em>mellifera</em>) 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 <em>Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae,</em> and <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> and 35 (28.23%) were Gram-positive including <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, methicillin-resistant <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, Vancomycin-resistant <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, <em>Staphylococcus haemolyticus</em> and <em>Enterococcus faecalis</em><em>.</em> Antibacterial assays showed that Bee Venom possesses strong potential effect against MDR isolates including both GNB and GPB.</span><span>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; <em>E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, </em>VRSA, <em>S. haemolyticus</em> and <em>E. faecalis</em> exhibited sharp reduction in their biofilms ranged between (63.8- 92%) especially at ½ MICs according to each bacterium, exclude<em> E. faecalis</em> biofilm was moderately affected (39%). While, at another tested sub-MICs showed moderate, weak, and no antibiofilm effects.</span><br /> <span> </span>Al-Azhar University, Faculty of PharmacyAl-Azhar Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences1110-164458220180901STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF INTRAUMBILICAL VEIN OXYTOCIN INJECTION ON THIRD STAGE OF LABOR81924664210.21608/ajps.2018.46642ENShimaaZaherObstetrics And Gynecology Faculty Of Medicine Banha UniversityJournal Article20190901The 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<br /> <strong> </strong>Al-Azhar University, Faculty of PharmacyAl-Azhar Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences1110-164458220180901CHOLESTASIS: MOLECULAR MECHANISM, PATHOGENESIS AND POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT931144664410.21608/ajps.2018.46644ENBasantAl-BotatyPharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo, EgyptJournal Article20190901Understanding 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.Al-Azhar University, Faculty of PharmacyAl-Azhar Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences1110-164458220180901PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF PUMPKIN SEED OIL AGAINST LEAD ACETATE TOXICITY IN MALE MICE1151294664710.21608/ajps.2018.46647ENOsamaElhamalawyDepartment of Environment and Bio-Agriculture,
Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, EgyptJournal Article20190901The 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.