ABSTRACT
Ultraviolet Radiation [UVR] represents a significant environmental and occupational hazard to human beings especially after the ozone hole. Lornoxicam is a strong non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug [NSAID] with few side effects. This work aimed to clarify effects of UVBR on the cornea of adult male albino rats and the possible role of lornoxicam. Thirty adult male albino rats were used. They were divided into three main groups: Control; Lornoxicam treated and UV irradiated which was further subdivided into 3 subgroups. On sacrifice, cornea was processed for histological, immunohistochemical and morphometrical studies. Cornea of UV irradiated rats revealed epithelial thinning with cellular degeneration, exfoliation and metaplasia. Bowman's membrane was focally interrupted or absent. Stoma showed irregularly arranged widely separated collagen fibers, degenerated few keratocytes with neovascularization, interstitial hemorrhage and cellular infiltration. Ultrastructurally, epithelial cells showed nuclear membrane irregularities, chromatin condensation, mitochondrial degeneration and loss of rER. Immunohistochemically. epithelial cells and keratocytes showed marked expression of caspase-3 protein in their cytoplasm. Morphometrically, there was a highly significant decrease in epithelial thickness, area% of stroma and number of keratocytes. Rats left to recover without treatment showed mild improvement, while treatment of irradiated rats with lomoxicam for one week after exposure showed nearly normal histological, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical pictures. Lornoxicam [a cheap, available tolerable NSAID] could ameliorate UVB induced corneal changes. So it could be considered as a curative measure of the cornea against UVB
ABSTRACT
Menopause in a physiological event in the women's life; it marks the end of the reproductive capacity of the woman. With the increase in life expectancy, the women spend a significant of their lives [about one third or more] in the postmenopausal status [48]. To investigate the age and the common manifestations experienced by women at menopause, Questionnaire form [including Beck's Depression Scale] was filled and complete clinical examination was performed for a sample of 99 women aged from45-55 years live in a rural area to obtain socio demographic and socioeconomic data, menstrual history, age at menopause and menopausal symptoms prevalence and to assess physical and psychological health status. Analysis of data is based on grouping of the participants into 3 groups according to the menopausal status: Group 1 [premenopausal: Women with regular menstrual period or with any type of menstrual irregularity other than the change in the amount of flow], Group 2 [menopausal transition: Women with change in the amount of flow of menses], and Group 3 [postmenopausal: Women with 12 months or more of amenorrhea]. The study revealed a mean age at menopause of 46.177 +/- 4.104 years and a significant difference between the 3 studied groups in experiencing hot flushes while no significant difference was found between them in experiencing depression. Accordingly services for geriatric, premenopausal and postmenopausal women should be integrated to the primary health care facility including health education program for women about the physiological process of menopause, healthy life style, the possible associating symptoms, and the very simple measures of management