The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics A Textbook of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics for Physicians and Medical Students. By Prof. Louis Goodman and Prof. Alfred Gilman. Pp. xiii + 1383. (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1941.) 50s. net.

The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics

Much has been written about theory and practice in the law, and the tension between practitioners and theorists. Judges do not cite theoretical articles often; they rarely "apply" theories to particular cases. These arguments are not revisited. Instead the Essay explores the working and interaction of theory and practice, practitioners and theorists. The Essay starts with a story about solving a legal issue using our intellectual tools - theory, practice, and their progenies: experience and "gut." Next the Essay elaborates on the nature of theory, practice, experience and "gut." The third part of the Essay discusses theories that are helpful to practitioners and those that are less helpful. The Essay concludes that practitioners theorize, and theorists practice. They use these intellectual tools differently because the goals and orientations of theorists and practitioners, and the constraints under which they act, differ. Theory, practice, experience and "gut" help us think, remember, decide and create. They complement each other like the two sides of the same coin: distinct but inseparable.

Of Theory and Practice

Statistical Methods in Medical Research.

Male infertility accounts for up to half of the infertility cases and affects 13–15% couples worldwide. An optimal level of reactive oxygen species is crucial for maintaining spermatogenesis and sperm functions. However, excessive production of reactive oxygen species may cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has been identified as one of the major risk factors which affects the fertilizing potential of spermatozoa. Oxidative stress occurs due to excessive production of ROS and causes germ cell DNA damage, sperm fragility and defects in motility, culminating in infertility. Poor sperm quality and DNA damage may also result in pregnancy loss. This article highlights the significance of ROS in human male fertility and that of oxidative stress in infertility.

Oxidative stress and male infertility

Significance: Metabolic syndrome is a frequent precursor of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), a disease that currently affects ∼8% of the adult population worldwide. Pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction and loss are central to the disease process, although understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms is still fragmentary. Recent Advances: Oversupply of nutrients, including glucose and fatty acids, and the subsequent overstimulation of beta cells, are believed to be an important contributor to insulin secretory failure in T2D. Hypoxia has also recently been implicated in beta-cell damage. Accumulating evidence points to a role for oxidative stress in both processes. Although the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) results from enhanced mitochondrial respiration during stimulation with glucose and other fuels, the expression of antioxidant defense genes is unusually low (or disallowed) in beta cells. Critical Issues: Not all subjects with metabolic syndrome and hyperglycemia go on to deve...

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The Role of Oxidative Stress and Hypoxia in Pancreatic Beta-Cell Dysfunction in Diabetes Mellitus.

The current study was undertaken to elucidate a possible neuroprotective role of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) against the development of Alzheimer's disease in experimental rat model. Alzheimer's disease was produced in young female ovariectomized rats by intraperitoneal administration of AlCl(3) (4.2 mg/kg body weight) daily for 12 weeks. Half of these animals also received orally DHEA (250 mg/kg body weight, three times weekly) for 18 weeks. Control groups of animals received either DHAE alone, or no DHEA, or were not ovariectomized. After such treatment the animals were analyzed for oxidative stress biomarkers such as hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide and malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, antiapoptotic marker Bcl-2 and brain derived neurotrophic factor. Also brain cholinergic markers (acetylcholinesterase and acetylcholine) were determined. The results revealed significant increase in oxidative stress parameters associated with significant decrease in the antioxidant enzyme activities in Al-intoxicated ovariectomized rats. Significant depletion in brain Bcl-2 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels were also detected. Moreover, significant elevations in brain acetylcholinesterase activity accompanied with significant reduction in acetylcholine level were recorded. Significant amelioration in all investigated parameters was detected as a result of treatment of Al-intoxicated ovariectomized rats with DHEA. These results were confirmed by histological examination of brain sections. These results clearly indicate a neuroprotective effect of DHEA against Alzheimer's disease.

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Neuroprotective effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

Aim Ducrosia anethifolia is used as flavoring additive There have been little detailed phytochemical reports on this genus and the antidiabetic activity of this plant is not yet evaluated Method Structure of compounds was deduced by spectroscopic analyses Preliminary in vitro evaluation of the antidiabetic activity of crude extract and its furanocoumarins was carried out (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and β-galactosidase) The in vivo activity was investigated by measuring some oxidative stress markers Biomarkers of liver injury and kidney were also determined Results Eight linear furanocoumarins, psoralen, 5-methoxypsoralen, 8-methoxypsoralen, imperatorin, isooxypeucedanin, pabulenol, oxypeucedanin methanolate, oxypeucedanin hydrate, and 3-O-glucopyranosyl-β-sitosterol, were isolated All compounds were reported for the first time from the genus Ducrosia except pabulenol The blood glucose level, liver function enzymes, total protein, lipid, and cholesterol levels were significantly normalized by extract treatment The antioxidant markers, glucolytic, and gluconeogenic enzymes were significantly ameliorated and the elevated level of kidney biomarkers in the diabetic groups was restored The compounds showed inhibitory activity in a concentration dependant manner Imperatorin and 5-methoxypsoralen showed the most potent inhibiting power Conclusion D anethifolia extract showed hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant effect as well as ameliorating kidney function This extract and some linear furanocoumarins exhibited carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes inhibitory effect

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Preliminary in vitro and in vivo evaluation of antidiabetic activity of Ducrosia anethifolia Boiss. and its linear furanocoumarins.

This study was carried out to investigate the chemical composition and biological activity of banana peel extracts;
the efficiency of the different solvent systems: aqueous, 80 % methanol, 80% ethanol and 80% acetone was used for
extraction of phenolic, flavonoid and tannin compounds. Banana peel relative antioxidants potential by four assays
DPPHA‚Â·, Fe2+-chelating, Reducing power and ABTSA‚Â·+ inhibitor activities was evaluated. Analysis showed that the
percentage of moisture, protein, crude fat and total carbohydrates were 88.10, 13.42, 7.57, 10.44 and 68.31 g/100g
DW respectively. For mineral content, potassium is the major element found in banana peel was (9.39 % of DW)
followed by magnesium, calcium, sodium and phosphorus were (0.71, 0.44, 0.18 and 0.09 % of DW), respectively.
Also, the content of microelement including iron, manganese, zinc and copper were 96.50, 35.01, 27.95 and 3.37
ppm, respectively. Methanolic extract (80%) had the highest content of total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin were
17.89, 21.04 and 24.21 mg /g DW respectively. Most of acetone banana peel extracts (80%) was found to be highest
antioxidant and antimicrobial activity at 600 ppm against gram positive and negative bacteria, fungi and yeast. The
phenolic profiles of banana peel acetone extract was identified by HPLC. The main phenolic compounds was
chyrsin, qurectein and catchin. These results clearly encourage the application of banana peel as a potent natural
source of antioxidant and antimicrobial sources.

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Hanan F. Aly

Papers

Neuroprotective effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

Preliminary in vitro and in vivo evaluation of antidiabetic activity of Ducrosia anethifolia Boiss. and its linear furanocoumarins.

Identification of phenolic compounds from banana peel (Musa paradaisica L.) as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents

Therapeutic impact of grape leaves polyphenols on certain biochemical and neurological markers in AlCl 3 -induced Alzheimer’s disease

Toxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles: Effect of dose and time on biochemical disturbance, oxidative stress and genotoxicity in mice.