Myelo-Enhancement by Astragalus Membranaceus in Male Albino Rats with Chemotherapy Myelo-Suppression. Histological and Immunohistochemical Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Myelo-suppression is the most common toxicity encountered in the oncology clinic today. This study was planned to investigate the possible protective and therapeutic role of the traditional Chinese Medicinal Herb; Astragalus Membranaceus (AM), on chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was carried out on thirty six adult male albino rats. They were divided into: Group I Control Group (n=6) received a vehicle of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution. Group II (n=12) were injected I.P. with cyclophosphamide (CY) for 3 days (gIIa n =6) and continued for one more week to receive AM orally (gIIb n=6). Group III (n=6) received CY I.P. together with AM orally for 3 days. Group IV (n=12) received AM orally for one week (gIVa n=6) and continued for extra three days receiving CY I.P. with AM orally (gIVb n=6). Blood samples were analysed for Total Leucocytic Count and Lymphocytic Count. Counting of CD34 +ve cells in bone marrow was performed by flowcytometry. Bone marrow sections were subjected to H&E stain as well as immunohistochemical staining for anti- CD20 antibody. The mean area % of cellular bone marrow regions occupied by developing haemopoietic cells, mean area of fat cells and mean number of CD20 immunopositive B lymphocytes in the bone marrow were measured by histomorphometric studies and statistically compared. AM proved to have a myelo-protective and myelo-therapeutic capacity, evidenced at both laboratory and morphological levels. CONCLUSIONS: The greatest myelo-potentiating effect of AM was achieved when supplied before and together with CY therapy.

The Effect of In Vivo Mobilization of Bone Marrow Stem Cells on the Pancreas of Diabetic Albino Rats (A Histological & Immunohistochemical Study)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The rapidly increasing number of diabetic patients across the world drew the attention to develop more effective therapeutic approaches. Recent investigations on newly differentiated insulin producing cells (IPCs) revealed that they could be derived from embryonic, adult mesenchymal and hematopoietic stem cells. This work was planned to evaluate the role of StemEnhance (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae [AFA] plant extract) in mobilizing naturally occurring bone marrow stem cells as well as in improving streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty adult male albino rats were divided into four groups namely the control, the diabetic, the positive control-StemEnhance and the diabetic-StemEnhance groups. After diabetes induction by streptozotocin (STZ), rats received StemEnhance for four weeks. The mean number of blood CD34 immunopositive cells was measured by flowcytometry and random blood sugar was measured weekly. The pancreas was removed from the sacrificed rats and processed for staining with H&E and immunohistochemical staining for CD34+ve and insulin +ve cells. CD34+ve cells increased in the blood after introduction of StemEnhance. CD34+ve cells were observed in the pancreas and the insulin producing cells in the islets of Langerhans were increased from the second to the fourth week of treatment. Blood glucose level improved but it was still higher than the control level after four weeks of StemEnhance treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This work points to the significant role of StemEnhance in stem cell mobilization and the improvement of diabetes mellitus.

Effect of increased intra-abdominal pressure due to pneumoperitoneum on liver functions and liver histopathology in a rat model with intra-abdominal sepsis

Intra-abdominal sepsis was induced by open cecal ligation and puncture [OCLP] technique. Sixty rats were randomly divided into three equal groups each of 20. G1 was used as a control. G2 were subjected to laparotomy and closure after 12 hours from [OCLP] via the same incision. In G3, pneumoperitoneum was induced 12 hours after OCLP and maintained at 12 mmHg for about 30 minutes. Blood samples were taken for liver functions after 12 and 24 hours from OCLP procedure, and Liver biopsies were taken for histopathological examination after 24 hours. The results showed that liver functions were markedly increased in G3 after pneumoperitoneum, compared to Gs 1 and 2. The histopathological changes in liver biopsies due to sepsis were more marked in cases exposed to pneumoperitoneum than that exposed to conventional laparotomy. The intra-abdominal sepsis affected liver functions and caused pathogenesis. The increased intra-abdominal pressure induced more liver insults, compared to that gained after open surgery

Heat preconditioning reduces subsequent ischemia reperfusion injury in rat kidney: a possible role for HSP-72

Improving the ability of the kidney to tolerate ischemic injury has important implication in renal transplantation. On the other hand, thermo tolerance describes the process in which hyperthermia induces a transient resistance of the stressed cells to subsequent episodes of oxidative stress. The current study was performed to evaluate the beneficial effect of heat preconditioning induced HSP-72 formation on renal ischemia reperfusion [I/R] induced damage. Four groups of rats [n=20/group] were included: Control sham-operated group [group I], heat-preconditioned sham-operated group [group II], I/R injury group [group III] and heat pre-conditioned I/R injury group [group IV]. Heat-preconditioning was induced 24h prior to sham operation and or I/R injury by increasing the core body temperature to [41 +/- 0.5°C] for 20min. The rat kidneys were subjected to ischemia by 20min of bilateral renal artery occlusion followed by reperfusion for 24 and 48h. After 24 and 48h of reperfusion, serum urea, creatinine, 24h urine out put and albumin content as well as the renal HSP-72 gene expression and MDA level were measured. Also light microscopic examination of renal tissue specimens was performed. It was found that group IV had a significant increase in renal HSP-72 gene expression compared to group III [898.36 +/- 107.82 versus 572.88 +/- 47.08 micro g/g tissue], associated with a significant improvement of its renal functions including serum urea, creatinine and 24h urine volume out put. Also there was a reduction in renal tissue injury detected by a significant decrease in urine albumin content, a significant decrease in renal MDA level and improvement in specimen microscopic picture compared to group III. The increase in HSP-72 expression and its renoprotective effect were significantly greater 24h after I/R than after 48h. Thus it can be concluded that upregulation of HSP-72 after heat preconditioning has a renal beneficial effect and can be a target for protection of renal functions during I/R injury

Mesh repair of non-complicated umbilical hernia in ascitic patients with liver cirrhosis

The policy of elective repair of umbilical hernia in cirrhotic ascetic patients has long been a subject of debate and is still a major health problem. This study evaluated the role and outcome of elective mesh repair of umbilical hernia in cirrhotic ascetic patients, compared with the conventional two layers fascial repair technique. Forty cases with a small to medium sized umbilical hernia defects in ascetic cirrhotic patients were divided into two groups [GI and GII] of 20 patients each. After proper control of ascites in both groups, patients in GI were subjected to elective umbilical hernia onlay mesh repair. In GII, hernia were managed by conventional two layers fascial repair. In GI, transient early postoperative ascetic fluid leakage occurred in 3 [15%] cases and mild superficial wound infection in 5 [25%] cases which was controlled by antibiotics. Two [10%] cases developed hernia recurrence during follow up period. In GII, ascetic leakage occurred in 6 [30%] cases that responded well to conservative management except only one case needed re-exploration and repair reinforcement. Drainage was significantly less than in GI in among [P

Primary Valgus osteotomy with osteosynthesis in the treatment of recent femoral neck fractures

Twenty-six patients with recent femoral neck fractures were treated from 1995 to 1998 with primary valgus osteotomy and internal fixation using double angled blade plate and partially threaded cancellous screw. Twenty four were men and two were women, six Cases were type 2 and 20 were type 3 according to Pauwels classification. The ages ranged between 18 and 46 years. The average follow up period was 24.5 months [range 10-42 months]. Bony union occurred in all cases. Only one case [3.8%] developed avascular necrosis. The final results were 17 excellent [65.3%], 7 good [26.9%], one fair [3.8%] and one poor [3.8%]. Leg lengthening was noticed in 20 patients [76%]. Primary valgus osteotomy is a good method of treatment in recent displaced femoral neck fractures with vertical fractures line

Stress fractures of the tibia in osteoarthritis of the knee with varus deformity

Four patients with osteoarthritis of the knee had stress fractures of the upper part of the tibia. One of them had stress fracture on both sides with 2 years interval. All were females, obese with varus deformity of the knee. The presentation was sudden increase of pain, inability to walk or bear weight on the affected leg with localised tenderness over the tibia. One patient needed above knee plaster to control pain, in two including the patient who had the fracture in both legs, simple bed rest was enough and the fractures united in 2-3 month. In the last patient the fracture was not suspected, movements and physiotherapy were forced and when the patient was first seen the fracture was not united, internal fixation and graft were needed. Stress fracture of the tibia should be considered as a possible cause of sudden deterioration of symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee with varus deformity

study of the complications of thyroid surgery

This study included 250 consecutive cases undergoing thyroidectomy. The chief indications were nodular goitre [67.6%] and secondary toxic goitre [10%]. There were 132 males and 118 females whose ages ranged from 19 to 68 years. The routine technique involved cutting the strap muscles without exposure of the recurrent laryngeal nerves [RLN]. The majorcomplicationswereinjury to the RLN [2%], hypoparathyroidism [1.2%], reactionary hemorrhage [0.8%] and tracheal instability [0.4%]. The commonest minor complications were wound infection [8%], brawny edema of the upper skin flap [4%], laryngeal edema [2%], injury of the superior laryngeal nerve branches [1.6%] and adherent scar. The overall incidence of complication was 24.4%. Major complications occurred in 4.4% and 6.8% of patients suffered from more than one complication. There was a significantly higher incidence of major and multiple complications among the malignant, toxic and recurrent cases