BackgroundAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a behavioral syndrome of childhood characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. There were many etiological theories showed dysfunction of some brain areas that are implicated in inhibition of responses and functions of the brain. Minerals like zinc, ferritin, magnesium and copper may play a role in the pathogenesis and therefore the treatment of this disorder.ObjectiveThis study aimed to measure levels of zinc, ferritin, magnesium and copper in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and comparing them to normal.MethodsThis study included 58 children aged 5-15 years with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder attending Minia University Hospital from June 2008 to January 2010. They were classified into three sub-groups: sub-group I included 32 children with in-attentive type, sub-group II included 10 children with hyperactive type and sub-group III included 16 children with combined type according to the DSM-IV criteria of American Psychiatric Association, 2000. The control group included 25 apparently normal healthy children.ResultsZinc, ferritin and magnesium levels were significantly lower in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder than controls (p value 0.04, 0.03 and 0.02 respectively), while copper levels were not significantly different (p value 0.9). Children with inattentive type had significant lower levels of zinc and ferritin than controls (p value 0.001 and 0.01 respectively) with no significant difference between them as regards magnesium and copper levels (p value 0.4 and 0.6 respectively). Children with hyperactive type had significant lower levels of zinc, ferritin and magnesium than controls (p value 0.01, 0.02 and 0.02 respectively) with no significant difference between them as regards copper levels (p value 0.9). Children with combined type had significant lower levels of zinc and magnesium than controls (p value 0.001 and 0.004 respectively) with no significant difference between them as regards ferritin and copper levels (p value 0.7 and 0.6 respectively).ConclusionsChildren with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder had lower levels of zinc, ferritin and magnesium than healthy children but had normal copper levels.

Trigonella foenum-graecum L. is enriched with many active ingredients. TFG oil was evaluated for its protective effect against deltamethrin toxicity in rats. Rats of the control group were administered saline. The 2nd group was administered deltamethrin (DLM) orally at a concentration of 15 mg/kg body mass. The 3rd and 4th groups were administered DLM at a concentration of 15 mg/kg body mass and were fed diets containing 2.5% and 5% TFG oil, respectively. DLM intoxication reduced red blood cell and platelet counts, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit value while it induced leucocytosis. Furthermore, it increased serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltransferase, triglycerides, cholesterol, uric acid, urea, and creatinine; increased hepatic, renal, and brain lipid peroxidation; decreased serum acetylcholine esterase level; and decreased hepatic, renal, and brain antioxidant markers' activities. However, TFG oil kept the studied hematological and biochemical parameters within normal ranges. In addition, it prevented lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress induced by DLM intoxication in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, these results indicated that TFG oil inhibited the toxic effects of DLM on hematological and biochemical parameters as well as oxidative status by its free radical scavenging and potent antioxidant activities, and it appeared to be a promising protective agent against DLM-induced toxicity.

Solvent e †ects on the electronic spectra of dicyanobis(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) have been investigated in thirteen pure solvents and twenty binary solvent mixtures. In pure solvents, the shifts of the values are found to depend l max on more than one of the known solvent parameters (AN, a, b, DN and n*). AN, a and n* are found to be the most important solvent parameters, exerting a considerable e †ect on the solvatochromic shifts of the title complex. The preferential solvation of dicyanobis(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) in binary solvent mixtures has been investigated by monitoring the metalÈligand charge transfer band of the indicator complex. Organic solvents are preferred near the indicator complex in aqueous binary solvent mixtures (negative deviation), except in regions rich in MeCN, and 1,4-dioxane, where water molecules are preferred over the organic component (dual behavior). Me 2 CO However, the indicator complex is preferentially solvated by the component which has the higher acceptor number in non-aqueous binary solvent mixtures. Negative deviation was observed in binary mixtures of and CHCl 3 with alcohols and positive deviation in mixtures of with THF, DMSO and Di †erent Me 2 CO CHCl 3 Me 2 CO. criteria were considered to evaluate the extent of preferential solvation in di †erent solvent mixtures, viz., the local molar fraction the excess function (*X), the iso-solvation point and the preferential solvation constant (X A L), (X B iso) The preferential solvation data have been linearly correlated with the di †erent solvent parameters.

Background: Sepsis is still one of the main causes of infants and children mortality especially in developing, economically challenged countries with limited resources. Our objective in this study was to determine, the prognostic value of platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and plateletcrit (PCT) in critically ill infants and children with severe sepsis, as they are readily available biomarkers, that can guide clinicians during managing of severe sepsis. Methods: Sixty children were included; they were diagnosed with severe sepsis according to the international pediatric sepsis consensus conference criteria. At admission to Pediatric intensive care unit, complete blood count with platelet count and parameters (MPV, PDW and PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) level were determined for all children. Also, assessment of the Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM III) score was done to all. These children were followed up till discharge from hospital or death. Accordingly, they were grouped into: (1) Survivor group: included 41 children. (2) Non-survivor group: included 19 children. Results: Platelet count and PCT were significantly lower (p < 0.001) and MPV was significantly higher in nonsurvivor than survivors (p = 0.004). MPV/PLT, MPV/PCT, PDW/PLT, PDW/PCT ratios were found to be significantly higher in the non-survivors than survivor (p < 0.001 in all). PCT with sensitivity = 94.74%, was the most sensitive platelet parameter for prediction of death, while MPV/PCT was the most sensitive ratio (sensitivity = 94.7%). Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia, platelet indices and their ratios, especially plateletcrit and MPV/PCT, are readily available, sensitive, prognostic markers, that can identify the severe sepsis patients with poorest outcome.

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