Diabetogenic effect of clozapine

Clozapine is one of the commonly used atypical antipsychotics. Several pharmacoepidemiologic studies have supported the notion that atypical antipsychotics may raise the risk of diabetes. Precise risk estimates for hyperglycemia-related adverse events in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics are not available. This study aims to clarify the diabetogenic effect of clozapine on the blood glucose level and on the cellular level by histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of pancreas. Twenty adult albino male rats were divided into two groups; first one as a control group received distilled water orally for 90 days. The other group received 13 mg of clozapine orally daily for the same duration. The rats were sacrificed and blood samples for assessment of glucose level were obtained. The pancreas was processed for histopathological, histochemical and immunohistochemical examination. The results showed hyperglycaemia in the clozapine treated group. Hisopathological examination of the pancreas of treated animals showed many large sized islets of Langerhans, sprouting of new islets from a pre-existing one and many small scattered islets within pancreatic lobules denoting hyperplastic changes. Also, some islets showed apoptotic cells and others showed lymphocytic infiltration. Endocrine-like masses of cells could be observed in relation to many interlobular ducts. Interlobular and interacinar fibrosis was observed by using masson's trichrome stain. PAS reaction revealed increased thickness of the basement membrane of the islets capillaries. Immunohistochemical staining with anti-insulin antibody showed strong staining of the hyperplastic islets of treated animals. Hislopathological and immunohistochemical observations suggested that clozapine treatment has a diabetogenic effect on the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. The pathogenesis of clozapine-associated diabetes is very similar to type 2 diabetes mellitus

Self-inflected poisoning at Assiut University Hospitals retrospective study

Suicide is a self-inflected death that is intentional rather than accidental. In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. Deliberate self-poisoning [DSP] is the most common method of suicide in developed countries. Many substances and drugs are used; the most common are organophosphate insecticides and CNS-acting drugs. In this work a retrospective hospital-based study has been done for cases of suicidal poisoning admitted, to the emergency unit of Assuit University Hospitals from January 2004 to December 2007 were studied as regards the age group, sex, the residence, the substance used, the month of the year and the fate of cases. Statistical analysis was done for the cases. The total number of cases was 843, males represent 48.9% of them and females represent 51.1%. Using of Medications represent 46.7% of total number of cases .while Pesticides, Unknown and Miscellaneous poisons represent 29.3%, 18.5%, 5.5% respectively. The highest percentage was found among cases of age group from 15- < 25 in both males and females for all poisons. In Cities and Centers the highest percentage was recorded for medications [20.5 and 17.3 respectively], while in Villages the highest percentage was for pesticides [12.3]. The percentage of pesticides poisoning was high in June and January [14.2 and 10.9 respectively], while for medications the highest percentage was in January [13.5]. As regards the fate of cases, recovery was determined to be 70.8% of the total number of cases. Death percentage was the highest [3.8] among unknown poisons. In conclusion sex, age, residence and month of the year may have influence on suicide and the substances used for committing it

Role of nitric oxide in the pathophysiology of lead- induced cardiovascular diseases in rats

Exposure to lead is an environmental and occupational sitting continues to be a serious public health problem. Lead affects many organs and systems in human, where the cardiovascular system is one of the important targets. The mechanism of lead induced hypertension and cardiac diseases remain unclear. This study is designed to investigate the role of nitric oxide [NO] in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of lead- induced cardiovascular diseases in rats. 40 rats were used and divided into 4 equal groups. The first group was left without treatment served as a control group. The rest of groups were treated with lead acetate [0.48 mmol/L in distilled water] orally daily for 8 weeks, the third group concomitantly administered L arginine intraperitoneal injection while, the last group co administered L- N-Nitro-L arginine methyl ester intraperitoneal injection [L-NAME]. Blood samples were collected at the 4[th] and 8[th] week of the study for biochemical analysis of mean blood lead level and serum nitric oxide, lipid peroxide, total antioxidants, HDL and LDL. Measurements of systolic blood pressure were done. The mean blood lead levels, lipid peroxidation levels and LDL- cholesterol of lead treated rats were significantly higher in all groups than control. While the serum totals antioxidant levels and HDL- cholesterol significantly decreased below control levels. There was a positive correlation between mean blood lead and each of serum LDL, serum lipid peroxide and systolic blood pressure. Moreover, a significant negative correlation was observed between serum nitric oxide and each of mean blood lead, serum LDL and systolic blood pressure. These findings point to the role of nitric oxide [NO] in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of lead induced cardiovascular diseases and hypertension