It has been proposed that nephrotic syndrome is a consequence of an imbalance between oxidant/antioxidant statuses. The present study aimed to assess oxidant and antioxidant status in relation to dyslipidemia in children during remission and relapse phases of steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS). The study dealt with 40 children diagnosed as SSNS. They were categorized into two subgroups. The first subgroup included 25 children during remission stage. The second subgroup included 15 children during relapse. Control group consisted of age and gender-matched 15 healthy children. Significantly higher serum levels of malondialdehyde, oxidized LDL, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein A-I, and apolipoprotein-B were observed in patients with SSNS especially in the relapsers. The serum levels of albumin, glutathione peroxidase activity, vitamin C, A, and E, and HDL cholesterol were significantly lower in patients especially among relapsers. In conclusion, a strong relationship between the oxidant/ antioxidant status and dyslipidemia is documented in patients with SSNS, especially among relapsers. No normalization of the biochemical indices was observed despite the use of glucocorticoids. Therefore, the combined use of steroid, antioxidant therapy, and lipid lowering therapy can be recommended in such children.

BackgroundVascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet derived endothelial cell growth factor/thymidine phosphorylase (PD-ECGF/TP) and leptin are known as potent angiogenic factors The objective of the study was to evaluate these angiogenic factors VEGF, PD-ECGF/TP and leptin in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and the factors that lead to angiogenesis in such cases.MethodsSixty CHD children were studied and divided into two groups (n = 30); cyanotic-CHD (C-CHD) and acyanotic-CHD (A-CHD). Twenty five healthy children were included as controls.ResultsSignificantly higher serum levels of VEGF, PD-ECGF/TP activity and leptin were detected in patients with CHD, particularly in patients with C-CHD. CHD patients with SpO2 <90%, pulmonary hypertension (PH), severe pulmonary stenosis (PS), detectable collaterals, cardiomegaly and/or heart failure showed significantly higher levels of these factors than those with higher SpO2 or those without these findings.ConclusionHypoxia, PH and PS are important factors that lead to harmful angiogenesis. However, angiogenesis could be essential in some cases of CHD as coarctation of aorta to enhance renal perfusion. This may provide new ways for therapeutic strategies aiming at reducing or promoting angiogenesis in CHD to improve patient's outcome.

Two thiophenes; 5-(3-buten-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithiophene (2) and α-tertthienyl (9), two alkaloids; echinopsine (10) and echinorine (11), three flavonoids; genkwanin (5), apigenin (6), and rutin (7), two triterpenoids; lupeol acetate (1) and lupeol linoleate (4), together with 2,6,10-trimethyldodeca-2,6,10-triene (4) and β-sitosterol glucoside (8) were isolated from the aerial parts of Echinops albicaulis. Antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiprotozoal activities were evaluated. E. albicaulis aqueous methanolic extract (50, 10, and 1 mg/mL) showed significant antioxidant activity comparable to the potent antioxidant, N-acetyl cysteine, moreover, the aqueous methanolic extract (1 mg/mL) significantly reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species in active cell cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells under oxidative stress more than the reference antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine. None of the isolated compounds showed antimicrobial or antiprotozoal activities at concentration up to 20 μg/mL.

Background: Secondary carnitine deficiency may develop in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients undergoing longterm hemodialysis (HD), with a resulting higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemia and oxidative stress. We studied the efficacy of 12 months of L-carnitine supplementation on the amelioration of dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and cardiac dysfunction in 24 CRF children undergoing long-term HD compared with 24 age-and sex-matched controls. Methods: Plasma samples were analyzed spectrophotometerically before and after dialysis sessions and after 2-month supplementation with oral L-carnitine (50 mg/kg/day) for free carnitine (FC), the lipid profile, and oxidative stress markers. Echocardiography the day following dialysis measured cardiac diameters, wall thicknesses, left ventricular mass index (Ml), end diastole and systole volume indices and functions. Results: The pre-dialysis FC concentration was substantially lower than controls and decreased significantly at the end of the dialysis session. Pre-and post-dialysis plasma levels of free fatty acids (FFAs), trigyleride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and oxidative stress markers significantly increased while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and phospholipids significantly decreased compared to controls. Echocardiography detected a significant increase in cardiac diameters and thickness, and systolic and diastolic cardiac dysfunction. After L-carnitine supplementation, plasma levels of FC increased to normal levels. FFAs, TC and HDL-C returned to control levels while TG, phospholipids, and the oxidative stress markers decreased but remained significantly higher than controls. There was a significant decrease in cardiac diameters and an increase in left ventricular diastolic function (E/A ratio), but no correlation between FC levels and echocardiographic parameters. Pre-dialysis, post-dialysis and after treatment, plasma FC level showed a significant positive correlation with HDL-C and phospholipids and a significant negative correlation with each of oxidative stress markers, FFAs, TG and TC. On the other hand, FFAs showed a significant positive correlation with TG, TC, DC, NO and a significant negative correlation with HDL-C and phospholipids. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that CRF children under regular HD suffer from a decrease in the level of plasma FC, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, and an increase in cardiac diameters and thickness with impairment of cardiac functions. Oral L-carnitine supplementation at a dose of 50 mg/kg for 2 months can increase plasma FC level, improve dyslipidemia, decrease oxidative stress with reduction of cardiac diameters and increase in diastolic function.

A new pentacyclic triterpenoid, 3β,25-epoxy-3α,22β,23α-trihydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (1), together with seven known compounds, including five triterpenoids, β-amyrin (2), lantadene B (3), lantanilic acid (4), lantanolic acid (5) and ursolic acid (6) in addition to β-sitosterol (7) and benzoic acid (8) has been isolated from the leaves of Lantana montevidensis. Their chemical structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with the literature data and/or authentic samples. Compound 1 showed moderate to weak antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Bioassay guided fractionation of the roots of Lantana montevidensis (Verbenaceae) has resulted in the isolation and identification of three new triterpenoids; 13β-hydroxy-3-oxo-olean-11-en-28-oic acid (1), 12β,13β-dihydroxyolean-3-oxo-28-oic acid (2) and12β,13β,22βtrihydroxyolean-3-oxo-28-oic acid (3) in addition to nine known compounds: oleanonic acid (4), oleanolic acid (5), 3β,25β-dihydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (6), lantadene A (7), 19α-hydroxy-3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (8) pomolic acid (9), camaric acid (10) together with β-sitosterol (11) and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-ᴅ-glucoside (12). The structures of the isolated metabolites were elucidated based on comprehensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data as well as HR-ESI-MS. The extracts and the isolated metabolites were evaluated for their antiprotozoal and antimicrobial activities. Compound 2 showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus with IC 50 values against both organisms of 2.1 μM and compound 10 showed activity against same organisms with IC 50 values 8.74 and 8.09 μM, respectively, compared to the positive control Ciprofloxacin (IC 50 =0.3Μm against Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA). Compounds 1, 4, 5, 6, and 10 showed moderate antileishmanial activity with IC 50 values ranging between (5.74-14.95 μM) and IC 90 values ranging between (11.90-19.47 μM), using Pentamidine as a control (IC 50 values 2.09->16.8 μM) and IC 90 values ranging between (4.72->16.8 μM). These compounds also showed highly potent antitrypanosomal activity with IC 50 values ranging between (0.39-7.12 μM) and IC 90 values ranging between (1.91-8.13 μM), which are more efficient than the DFMO, the antitrypanosomal drug employed as positive control (IC 50 and IC 90 values 11.82 and 30.82 μM).

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These experiments were carried out during two successive summer seasons of 2013 and 2014 on Jerusalem artichoke cv. Feusa. The plants were grown at Kaha Vegetables Res. Farm, Hort. Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Centre, under clay loam soil with using surface irrigation system, to study the effect of boron , copper and humic acid on vegetative growth, yield and its components , chemical constituents and storability of Jerusalem artichoke tubers. The experiment including 9 treatments (foliar spray with 70 and 140 ppm boron, 50 and 100 ppm copper, 0.5 and 1 g/l humic acid as foliar application and 0.5 and 1 g/l humic acid as soil application beside of the control treatment (spraying with water). The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The obtained results showed that the highest value of plant height was recorded by the plants which for sprayed with 50 or 100 ppm copper. While the plants which sprayed with 140 ppm boron gave the highest number of main stems per plant. Application of humic acid 1 g/l as soil application increased dry weight of foliage, number of tubers, yield per plant and total yield per feddan. Moreover, sprayed plants with 140 ppm boron treated plants with 1 g/l humic acid as soil application produced more average tuber weight than the other tested treatments. Chemical composition (N, P, K, Total carbohydrates and inulin contents) of Jerusalem artichoke was significantly affected with application all treatments than control treatment. The results also confirmed that weight loss and decay percentage in Jerusalem artichoke tubers increased with prolongation of storage period. In addition, the plants, which sprayed with copper or boron in both concentrations, gave the lowest values in weight loss and decay percentage in Jerusalem artichoke tubers during the storage period. Conclusively, from the obtained data in this study, it can be recommended by using humic acid at soil for improve growth, number application of boron on Jerusalem artichoke plants increased average tuber weight. Also, foliar spray with copper or boron helps to storage the tubers and low rate of weight loss and decay.