Pancreatic and chromosomal toxic effects of dimethoate in adult male albino rats

Dimethoate is an organophosphate insecticide with numerous uses in agricultural crops and ornamentals. The extensive use of dimethoate may pose a health hazard to animals and humans because of its persistence in soil and crops. This study was conducted to evaluate the pancreatic and chromosomal toxic effects of dimethoate in adult male albino rats. Sixty rats weighing 180-200gm were equally divided into 3 groups: group I [negative control], group II [positive control] and group III [dimethoate].The period of the study extended for 2 months, then 10 rats from each group were sacrificed for biochemical analysis [serum glucose, insulin, amylase and pseudocholinestrase] and pancreatic histopathology. The other 10 rats were used for chromosomal analysis. The results of this study showed no significant difference between the negative and positive control groups. However, there was significant difference in all measured biochemical parameters between the dimethoate and the negative control groups. The histopathological examination of pancreas revealed vacular degeneration in cells of the acini and 8- cells of islet's of langerhans with dark stained nuclei. Pancreatic acini showed loss of basal basophilia and acini architecture. Chromosomal analysis showed significant numerical aberration [hypoploidy] and increase in chromosomal structural aberrations [gaps, fragments, deletion and clumping]. It was concluded that dimethoate has pancreatic toxic effects and could cause chromosomal aberrations in adult albino rats

Role of radiological evidences and vascular endothelial growth factor estimation in dating of fractures in children

Fractures of varying ages in young children are highly suggestive of child abuse. When suspicious circumstances are expected, one of the many factors involved in diagnosis of child abuse is the dating of fractures. The aim of this study is to determine the timing of bone fracture In children based on the evidences of radiological changes and estimated blood level of vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] in the context of child protection. Forty child patients with forearm fracture were obtained from outpatient clinic of orthopedic surgery department, Zagazig university hospitals during the period from 1-1-2008 to 31-12-2000. The approval from Ethical Committee of Faculty of medicine, Zagazig University and the consent from the legal responsible person of each child were obtained. The images were done initially and every two weeks till the end of the study at 12 weeks. A blood sample was taken for estimation of vascular endothelial growth factor initially [zero day] and at 2,4,6,8 10 and 12 weeks after injury. Blood sample was also taken from another forty healthy children to serve as control of VEGF level. This study showed blunting of fracture margins in all radiographs obtained two weeks after injury and thereafter. There was significant increase in periosteal reaction percentage increase at 6 weeks. Although, bone remodeling had significant increase at 8 weeks, the periosteal incorporation, increased callus density and fracture gap decrease showed significant increase at 12 weeks. The estimated level of VEGF had the maximum significant elevation at 2 weeks then showed significant decrease at 4 and 6 weeks when compared with the initial concentration. An approximate significant increase was noted at 8 and 10 weeks. At 12 weeks the level of VEGF had significant difference with that of zero day. In addition, all these VEGF levels including the initial one had significant increase when compared with control level of healthy children. Radiological data could help in estimation of the minimum and maximum time of fracture steps repair and thus provide assistance in dating. Also, estimation of vascular endothelial growth factor has an important role in timing of fracture especially during the healing phase in which the case is present and limit the observation of radiological features

Forensic assessment of adequacy and accuracy in documenting skeletal firearm injuries

Accurate evaluation of firearm related injury is essential for medicolegal aspects of incident. In this study, the records of thirty living cases of gunshot skeletal injuries were reviewed and analyzed to determine the adequacy of description of important forensic aspects of the injuries. The cases were collected from a busy trauma center in the Republic of Yemen. Emphasis was put on the description of inlet and exit wounds, estimation of distance and direction of firing. Revision of the patients and their x rays was done to investigate the accuracy of clinical description documented by the trauma surgeons who treated the patients. The records of the cases revealed 52 bullet wounds. Entrance versus exit was described in 39 wounds [75%]. The size and shape was described in only 5 wounds [10%]. The site of wound was assessed by region in 46 wounds [88%], by diagram in 29 [56%] or measurement from fixed point in 12 [23%]. The direction was determined only in 7 [13%] of the examined wounds. After forensic assessment of the cases and their comparison with medical records written by trauma surgeons, inadequate information and insufficient comparison were seen in two cases who were avoided. In 13 cases that had one wound, only one case [8%] was adequately and correctly identified. Of 8 cases with two wounds, only 2 cases [25%] were equal to forensic examination. In all 7 cases that had more than 2 wounds, the surgeon records had discrepancies with forensic examination. This study revealed that the trauma specialists responsible for treating firearm injuries do not adequately nor correctly analyze and interpret these wounds

Biochemical and histopathological study of the cerebellar changes induced by chronic lead exposure in young albino rats

Despite mandated reduction in environmental lead [pb[++]], such exposure still poses a public health hazard for children , with devastating effects on CNS development . to replicate aspects of this neurotoxicity, we used sixty young albino rats of both sexes age 3 weeks [50-60 gm] to study the effect of [pb[++]] on the biochemical and histopathological alterations in cerebellum. The animal were divided into two groups [30 animals each], control and tested. The tested group received 1 gm lead acetate in drinking water daily for 3 months, and at the time of sacrifice, all animals were anaesthetized and blood samples were collected and used for determination of blood lead level Then brains were dissected out carefully and processed for light and electron microscope examination, also for determination of gamma- aminobutyric acid [GABA] level. The blood lead level [BLL] and GABA showed a significant increase in the group exposed to lead acetate when compared to the control group .Light microscope examination of the cerebellum of the same group revealed that there was a marked disarrangement of purkinje cells which appeared more round and the granular and molecular layers showed numerous foci of necrosis. Electron microscope examination of the cerebellum of the same group showed that there was disarrangement of purkinje cells with irregularity of nuclear membrane with increase in the density of chromatin, dilated cisterna of endoplasmic reticulum, blebbing in mitochondria with increase in the dense bodies and cell apoptosis and also increased in cytoplasmic vacuolization. In conclusion, the elevation of GABA level and histopathological alteration were noticed in cerebellum with ongoing exposure to lead in young rats. So, it is advisable to test the children for lead poisoning with pediatrician every six month up to 6 years of age especially in the polluted areas

Quantitative and qualitative assessment of vascular endothelial growth factor for wound timing

The estimation of wound age is an important medicolegal problem. Therefore, the present study had the aim to determine the age of skin wounds by quantitative and qualitative analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]. After a full thickness incision was made on the dorsal skin of sixty rats, they were killed 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 days after incision and the wounds were excised. The harvested wounds were used for quantitative analysis of VEGF using ELISA method. Also, they were stained by hematoxylin and eosin stain for histological estimation and by the streptoavidin-biotinylated peroxidase complex method, using specific antibodies for qualitative assessment of VEGF. Postmortem wounds were done by doing incisions in the skin of ten rats after 24 hours. The histological staining showed that the covering epithelium was completed after 4[th] days, the granulation tissue was mature in the 4[th] day and the collagen tissue was more dense in the 6[th] day. The ELISA result for antemortem wounds was significant from the 1[st] day post wounding and increased gradually till the end of the study. The immunoreactivity of VEGF was detected in cytoplasm of keratinocytes, mononuclear cells and endothelial cells in 1-6 days phases. The maximum staining of keratinocytes was at the 6[th] day and the other cells were at 4[th] day. There were no vital signs in postmortem wounds from the histological or immunohistochemical aspects. Time dependent expression of VEGF emphasized that it would be a beneficial marker for wound age estimation