Background: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia. Pentraxin-3 plays an important role in innate immune responses and in inflammatory diseases. Our aim was to evaluate pentraxin-3 serum level on focal transient cerebral ischemia and reperfusion model in rabbits and to assess the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of vagus nerve stimulation. Materials and Methods: Focal transient cerebral ischemia and reperfusion was induced by occlusion of the right common carotid artery for 2 hours followed by reperfusion for one hour. Stimulating electrodes were implanted on the cervical part of the right vagus nerve. Vagus nerve stimulation was started 30 min following right common carotid artery ligation for a period of one hour. The stimulation signals were delivered every five minutes for 30 seconds. All the procedures were duplicated but no stimulus was delivered in the control group. Serum level of pentraxin-3, lipid peroxide and total thiols were determined at baseline, at end of ischemia and at end of reperfusion and the animal decapitated and neuronal damage was evaluated. Results: We found that vagus nerve stimulation caused reduction of the ischemic features with revival of the cell shape and size. It also resulted in decreased serum levels of pentraxin-3 and lipid peroxide whereas the level of total thiols was increased. Conclusion: We concluded that the observed diversity in pentraxin-3, lipid peroxide and total thiols serum levels in cerebral ischemia and reperfusion may reflect relative roles in the biology. Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant role of vagus nerve stimulation in cerebral ischemia and reperfusion may represent a marker of altered cerebral function, and may provide potential therapeutic applications.

Liver disease is the main cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The spectrum of the disease ranged from fatty liver to hepatic inflammation; necrosis, progressive fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We evaluated the serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1, total B-hexosaminidase and its isoenzymes Hex A and B activities and nitric oxide in patients with liver diseases and their association with aminotransferase level. Seventy patients and 12 healthy subjects were recruited. Patients were divided into 3 groups; chronic hepatitis group (20 patients), liver cirrhosis group (30 patients) and malignant liver group (20 patients). Serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1, total B-hexosaminidase and its isoenzymes Hex A and B activities and nitric oxide were measured. Serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1, total B-hexosaminidase activity and nitric oxide were significantly higher in the liver disease patients. Serum levels of isoenzymes Hex A and B were significantly higher in malignant liver patients. Total B-hexosaminidase and its isoenzyme Hex A activity levels were significantly higher in +ve HBsAg and +ve Anti-HCV patients. Serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1 were positively correlated with aminotransferase level. Taken together, these findings suggested that these biochemical indices might reflect ongoing disease activity and played an important role in the pathophysiology of liver diseases.

Liver disease is the main cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The spectrum of the disease ranged from fatty liver to hepatic inflammation; necrosis, progressive fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We evaluated the serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1, total B-hexosaminidase and its isoenzymes Hex A and B activities and nitric oxide in patients with liver diseases and their association with aminotransferase level. Seventy patients and 12 healthy subjects were recruited. Patients were divided into 3 groups; chronic hepatitis group (20 patients), liver cirrhosis group (30 patients) and malignant liver group (20 patients). Serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1, total B-hexosaminidase and its isoenzymes Hex A and B activities and nitric oxide were measured. Serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1, total B-hexosaminidase activity and nitric oxide were significantly higher in the liver disease patients. Serum levels of isoenzymes Hex A and B were significantly higher in malignant liver patients. Total B-hexosaminidase and its isoenzyme Hex A activity levels were significantly higher in +ve HBsAg and +ve Anti-HCV patients. Serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1 were positively correlated with aminotransferase level. Taken together, these findings suggested that these biochemical indices might reflect ongoing disease activity and played an important role in the pathophysiology of liver diseases.

Background: Conduct disorder (CD) is one of the most difficult and intractable mental health problems in children and adolescents. CD involves a number of problematic behaviors, including oppositional and defiant behaviors and antisocial activities. Aim: This work was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program on the knowledge of CD and self-concept for institutionalized adolescents in two delinquents’ institutes. Participants and methods: A quasi experimental design was used on the study sample, which included 50 adolescents with CD (25 from delinquents’ institutes in Assiut and 25 from the Sohag Governorate). The sample studied was assessed for knowledge and self-concept using a questionnaire especially prepared for the study and the Arabic version of Offer, Ostrave and Haward’s self-image questionnaire to assess self-concept. Results: Overall, 64% of the sample were diagnosed with childhood-onset CD, whereas 36% of the sample were diagnosed with adolescent-onset CD. Thirty-eight percent of the sample had the severe type of CD and 68% had been admitted to the institutes because of stealing. The educational program enhanced adolescents’ knowledge about CD after the program and at follow-up. Significant improvement was found after the program and was maintained at follow-up in all components of self-concept and total self-concept, except for sexual self. Conclusion: Most adolescents with CD had knowledge deficit in terms of the disorder and a low self-concept before the implementation of the program. However, knowledge and self-concept improved immediately after the program and this improvement was maintained at follow-up. Recommendation: On the basis of the results, psychoeducational programs are essential for improving the knowledge and self-concept of adolescents with CD and their outcome.

Background: Conduct disorder (CD) is one of the most difficult and intractable mental health problems in children and adolescents. CD involves a number of problematic behaviors, including oppositional and defiant behaviors and antisocial activities. Aim: This work was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program on the knowledge of CD and self-concept for institutionalized adolescents in two delinquents’ institutes. Participants and methods: A quasi experimental design was used on the study sample, which included 50 adolescents with CD (25 from delinquents’ institutes in Assiut and 25 from the Sohag Governorate). The sample studied was assessed for knowledge and self-concept using a questionnaire especially prepared for the study and the Arabic version of Offer, Ostrave and Haward’s self-image questionnaire to assess self-concept. Results: Overall, 64% of the sample were diagnosed with childhood-onset CD, whereas 36% of the sample were diagnosed with adolescent-onset CD. Thirty-eight percent of the sample had the severe type of CD and 68% had been admitted to the institutes because of stealing. The educational program enhanced adolescents’ knowledge about CD after the program and at follow-up. Significant improvement was found after the program and was maintained at follow-up in all components of self-concept and total self-concept, except for sexual self. Conclusion: Most adolescents with CD had knowledge deficit in terms of the disorder and a low self-concept before the implementation of the program. However, knowledge and self-concept improved immediately after the program and this improvement was maintained at follow-up. Recommendation: On the basis of the results, psychoeducational programs are essential for improving the knowledge and self-concept of adolescents with CD and their outcome.

Background: Conduct disorder (CD) is one of the most difficult and intractable mental health problems in children and adolescents. CD involves a number of problematic behaviors, including oppositional and defiant behaviors and antisocial activities. Aim: This work was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program on the knowledge of CD and self-concept for institutionalized adolescents in two delinquents’ institutes. Participants and methods: A quasi experimental design was used on the study sample, which included 50 adolescents with CD (25 from delinquents’ institutes in Assiut and 25 from the Sohag Governorate). The sample studied was assessed for knowledge and self-concept using a questionnaire especially prepared for the study and the Arabic version of Offer, Ostrave and Haward’s self-image questionnaire to assess self-concept. Results: Overall, 64% of the sample were diagnosed with childhood-onset CD, whereas 36% of the sample were diagnosed with adolescent-onset CD. Thirty-eight percent of the sample had the severe type of CD and 68% had been admitted to the institutes because of stealing. The educational program enhanced adolescents’ knowledge about CD after the program and at follow-up. Significant improvement was found after the program and was maintained at follow-up in all components of self-concept and total self-concept, except for sexual self. Conclusion: Most adolescents with CD had knowledge deficit in terms of the disorder and a low self-concept before the implementation of the program. However, knowledge and self-concept improved immediately after the program and this improvement was maintained at follow-up. Recommendation: On the basis of the results, psychoeducational programs are essential for improving the knowledge and self-concept of adolescents with CD and their outcome.

Background: Conduct disorder (CD) is one of the most difficult and intractable mental health problems in children and adolescents. CD involves a number of problematic behaviors, including oppositional and defiant behaviors and antisocial activities. Aim: This work was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program on the knowledge of CD and self-concept for institutionalized adolescents in two delinquents’ institutes. Participants and methods: A quasi experimental design was used on the study sample, which included 50 adolescents with CD (25 from delinquents’ institutes in Assiut and 25 from the Sohag Governorate). The sample studied was assessed for knowledge and self-concept using a questionnaire especially prepared for the study and the Arabic version of Offer, Ostrave and Haward’s self-image questionnaire to assess self-concept. Results: Overall, 64% of the sample were diagnosed with childhood-onset CD, whereas 36% of the sample were diagnosed with adolescent-onset CD. Thirty-eight percent of the sample had the severe type of CD and 68% had been admitted to the institutes because of stealing. The educational program enhanced adolescents’ knowledge about CD after the program and at follow-up. Significant improvement was found after the program and was maintained at follow-up in all components of self-concept and total self-concept, except for sexual self. Conclusion: Most adolescents with CD had knowledge deficit in terms of the disorder and a low self-concept before the implementation of the program. However, knowledge and self-concept improved immediately after the program and this improvement was maintained at follow-up. Recommendation: On the basis of the results, psychoeducational programs are essential for improving the knowledge and self-concept of adolescents with CD and their outcome.

Background: Conduct disorder (CD) is one of the most difficult and intractable mental health problems in children and adolescents. CD involves a number of problematic behaviors, including oppositional and defiant behaviors and antisocial activities. Aim: This work was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program on the knowledge of CD and self-concept for institutionalized adolescents in two delinquents’ institutes. Participants and methods: A quasi experimental design was used on the study sample, which included 50 adolescents with CD (25 from delinquents’ institutes in Assiut and 25 from the Sohag Governorate). The sample studied was assessed for knowledge and self-concept using a questionnaire especially prepared for the study and the Arabic version of Offer, Ostrave and Haward’s self-image questionnaire to assess self-concept. Results: Overall, 64% of the sample were diagnosed with childhood-onset CD, whereas 36% of the sample were diagnosed with adolescent-onset CD. Thirty-eight percent of the sample had the severe type of CD and 68% had been admitted to the institutes because of stealing. The educational program enhanced adolescents’ knowledge about CD after the program and at follow-up. Significant improvement was found after the program and was maintained at follow-up in all components of self-concept and total self-concept, except for sexual self. Conclusion: Most adolescents with CD had knowledge deficit in terms of the disorder and a low self-concept before the implementation of the program. However, knowledge and self-concept improved immediately after the program and this improvement was maintained at follow-up. Recommendation: On the basis of the results, psychoeducational programs are essential for improving the knowledge and self-concept of adolescents with CD and their outcome.