Evaluation of protective property of vitamin C supplementation against experimentaly induced lead toxicity in male albino rats

To investigate the protective property of vitamin C upon lead induced toxicity in male albino rats. Subjects: The biological effects of lead exposure at 500 ppm for 7 weeks in drinking water upon 40 male albino rats were investigated with and without 5% vitamin C supplementation in normal rat chow in four groups: group [I] is the negative control group, group [II] rats were supplemented with normal rat chow containing 5% vitamin C, group [III] rats were given 500 ppm lead acetate in drinking water and group [IV] rats were given 500 ppm lead acetate in drinking water and 5% vitamin C in normal rat chow. It was observed that lead content in the lead exposed group was significantly increased in kidneys, liver, brain, RBC's and serum by 18.6, 7.5, 7.3, 8.3 and 4.1-fold, respectively as compared with negative control group indicating that the kidney was the most deteriorated organ in lead toxicity with elevated serum creatinine level. With 5% vitamin C supplementation in the lead exposed group, the lead content in these organs and fluids significantly decreased by 45, 61, 31, 58 and 39%, respectively as compared with the lead exposed group. Also with vitamin C supplementation, AST, ALT and creatinine in serum significantly decreased by 22, 23 and 29%, respectively with a concomitant significant increase in delta ALAD activity, HB and HCT by 52, 35 and 53%, respectively as compared to the lead exposed group but with non-significant changes in serum iron as compared with both negative control and lead exposed groups. Current search amplify the beneficial protective effect of vitamin C supplementation against lead induced toxicity

Relatives' perceptions of the causes of schizophrenia in an Egyptian sample

Eliciting the perceptions of the causes of schizophrenia in sample of relatives of patients with schizophrenia, recruited from psychiatric clinics of Bab El-Sharea University Hospital and a private psychiatric hospital in Cairo during their visits to both hospitals for follow up. A case control study with individual matching in age, sex and educational level-on 303 key-relatives of stable patients with an ICD 10 diagnosis of schizophrenia was carried out. The study group included 112 males and 191 females with a mean age of 46.92 +/- 12.02 years and mean years of education of 8.14 +/- 5.76 years. The control subjects were selected from relatives of neurological patients providing that they had no personal or family history of any major psychiatric disorder. Both groups were invited to respond to the study questionnaire; namely, the perceptions of the causes of schizophrenia questionnaire [PCSQ]

Thoracoscopic surgery of palmar hyperhidrosis: sequelae and complications

Twenty patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis were selected for bilateral thoracoscopic electrocautery of the sympathetic chain. Five out of time 20 patients had as well, axillary hyperhidrosis. The second and third thoracic ganglia were electrocoagulated and in patients associated with axillary hyperhidrosis, the fourth thoracic ganglion was also coagulated. Time procedure was successfully completed bilaterally in 17 patients [85%]. Unilateral failure to identify the sympathetic chain occurred in 3 patients [15%] which required conversion to open surgery on these limbs. Time mean operative time for each limb was 37 minutes. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 2.5 days and time patients resumed normal activity within 10 days postoperatively. Chest pain was the commonest postoperative complaint. It was usually relieved by a single dose of opiates given during hospital stay; however, 3 patients [15%] needed oral analgesics after hospital discharge for a mean period of 4 days. Complications in our study were few and mild: unilateral pneumothorax occurred in 2 patients [10%], unilateral hemothorax and transient Horner's syndrome occurred in 1 patient [5%]. Burst of palmar sweating for some hours, during the first postoperative week, occurred in 3 patients [15%]. Mild compensatory hyperhidrosis and gustatory sweating occurred in 6 patients [30%] and 2 patients [10%] respectively and they did not cause discomfort to our patients. Unilateral moderate recurrence of hyperhidrosis occurred in one patient [5%] after 4 months and he refused any more surgical interference. Some of our patients, who had plantar hyperhidrosis as well, noticed postoperative decrease of their feet sweating. Time thoracoscopic approach for palmar hyperhidrosis seems to offer the ideal surgical solution with excellent results, minimal complications, short hospital stay and early recovery

Bone source for repair of craniofacial defects

Eight cases were included in this study, three cases were scheduled for frontal sinus obliteration, one case of cranioplasty for a congenital cranial defect and another four cases for facial augmentation and proper contouring. Frontal sinus obliteration was performed in three cases. Two cases suffered from large frontal sinus mucoceles encroaching on the orbit and perforating the roof of the orbit and the posterior table. The mucoceles were pathologic in nature causing chronic sinus disease. All skin incisions above the implantation sites were healed well without an evidence of excess scar formation or local tissue inflammation. There were no wound infections or hematomas and none of the implants became exposed or extruded. The surface area of the defects ranged from 4 to 15 cm2 with an average defect size of 10.2 cm2. The amount of HAC averaged 9.2 g with a range of 5-15 g. The largest amount of HAC was used to obliterate the frontal sinus. The difference in the amount was attributable to the depth of the osseous defect. There were no metabolic or surgical complications attributable to the use of HAC

Intraarticular meniscus surgery for internal derangement of the TMJ

A study was carried out on 23 patients who had undergone TMJ surgery because of disc displacement. Surgery was not considered until all the nonsurgical modalities were depleted. A review of the different surgical procedures utilized in the management of intrameniscal dysfunction was discussed. Clinical and radiographic assessments of 30 joints were undertaken. The clinical experience with meniscoplasty and meniscorrhaphy proved to be effective sound procedures when surgical treatment was suggested for patients with internal derangement of the TMJ. The role of surgery in TMJ dysfunction was studied. A total of 30 joints in the patients were operated upon, 24 of them were in 18 female patients and six were in five male patients. The most prevalent symptom preoperatively was TMJ pain, which presented 78%, 85% of them had mild TMJ pain and 10% reported moderate pain. The second most common symptom was joint noises, which presented 78%, 65% of them were painful clicks and 13% were non- painful

management of biliary lithiasis: a combined endoscopic approach with expanding risk factors

One hundred eighty five patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy [LC] from July 1992 to august 1994. From this group of patients, 31 patients demonstrated preoperative risk factors for common bile duct [CBD] stones, underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography [ERCP] 2-5 days prior to LC. The risk factor; other than ultrasound visualization of choledochlithiasis [29%]; included history of jaundice [54.8%], history of cholangitis [29%], manifest jaundice [48.4%], elevated hepatic enzymes [71%] and dilated CBD by ultrasound [64.5%]. Serum bile acids was estimated before enoscopic stone extraction and two weeks post LC. CBD stones were identified and sphincterotomy was performed in 29 patients but stone retrival was successful in only 24 patients [82.8%]. Overall morbidity was [6.5%] represented by a patient who develoed mild pancreatitis and another who experienced endoscopic shphincterotomy-related bleeding that required surgical sphinctteroplasty. The two hours post-prandial serum bile acid [cholylglycine] level was elevated in 26 patients [83.9%] and dropped in all of them, with a percentage reduction of an average of 73.4%, two weeks post LC. We believe that this alternative method for treating choledocholithiasis is safe and effective. Also, a relatively high level of serum bile acids in cases diagnosed as chronic calcular cholecystitis could be a relative indication for further investigation to detect the potency of bile ducts. Any level above 410 ug/dl should raise the uspicion of cholestasis and reduction of the post decompression levels could be a further index of success

management of cholelithiasis and choleocholithiasis: a combined endoscopic and laparoscopic approach with expanding risk factors

One hundred fifty seven patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy from February 1992 to May 1994. From this group of patients, 31 patients demonstrated preoperative risk factors for common duct stones and underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography [ERCP] 1-5 days prior to L.C. The risk factors, other than ultrasound visualization of choledocholithiasis [29%], included history of jaundice [54.8%], history of cholangitis [29%], manifest jaundice [35.5%], elevated serum alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyltranspeptidase [45.2%] and dilated common bile duct [CBD] by ultrasound [48.4%]. Serum bile acids was estimated before endoscopic stone extraction and two weeks postlaparoscopic cholecystectomy. There were 2 ERCP failures due to periampullary diverticula. Common duct stones were identified and sphincterotomy was performed in 29 patients [100%] but stone retrieval by wire basket was successful in only 24 patients [82.8%]. The 2 hours postpr and ial serum bile acid [cholglycine] level was elevated in 25 patients [80.6%] and dropped in all of them with a percentage reduction of an average of 65%, two weeks postlaparoscopic cholecystectomy. Overall morbidity was [6.5%] represented by a patient who developed mild pancreatitis and another one who experienced endoscopic sphincterotomy-related bleeding that required surgical sphincteroplasty

Diagnostic laparoscopy as an aid in the management of blunt abnormal trauma

35 patients with blunt abdominal trauma [BAT] were assessed clinically and sonographicaly. They included 72 males and 7 females with an average age of 34 years. In the group of patients where the results of clinical and sonographic assessment were equivocal, diagnostic laparoscopy [DL] was performed. Out of 17 patients subjected to DL, 8 had therapeutic laparotomy, 8 were managed conservatively and one had a nontherapeutic laparotomy. When used appropriately, DL can be helpful in improving the diagnostic accuracy in patients suffering from BAT

Physical training ameliotates insulin resistance caused by high fat diet

Thirty male-albino rats were segregated equally into three groups according to their dietary fat content and physical training. The first group fed low fat diet [LF] and led sedentary life, the second group fed high fat [HF] diet and led sedentary life, the second group fed [HF] diet but were physically trained. After 6 weeks of dieting and physical training program animals were killed by decapitation, soleus muscle and epididymal pads of fat were taken from all rats and incubated in suitable media. Basal and maximally insulin stimulated glucose uptake by these tissues were estimated. The results of this work demonstrated that both soleus muscle and epididymal pads of fat showed lowered basal and maximally insulin stimulated glucose uptake in the group fed HF diet without physical training compared to the group fed LF diet. By physical training, there is significant enhancement of glucose uptake in the group fed HF diet with physical training. Therefore, insulin resistance induced by high fat diet can be ameliorated by physical training

Staging of carcinoma in schistosomal urinary bladder comparative computed tomographic and pathological studies

Seventy patients with carcinoma of schistosomal urinary bladder were investigated by computed tomography [CT] and the results were compared with those of pathological staging. There was over-staging in 3 out of 16 [18.75%] intramural tumors and under-staging in 3 [5.5%] out of 54 extramural tumors. CT demonstrated 5 patients out of 22 with enlarged pelvic lymph nodes [22.7%] with 2 false positive and one false negative results

Alopecia areata: Ikeda's classification of Egyptian patients

In this work, a group of 92 patients [57 females 35 males] with alopecia areata were subjected to a full history taking and a thorough general and dermatological examinations in an attempt to study the incidence and pattern of the disease in Egyptian patients according to Ikeda's classification. The results of this study showed that 80 patients could classified according to Ikeda's classification and the remaining 12 showed overlapping of Ikeda's types. On longer follow up overlapping group, which showed intermediate features among Ikeda's types would prove to be correctly classified into the classical types of Ikeda. The results proved also that many of the distinctions drawn by Ikeda are valid

Bacterial meningitis: Laboratory profile and computed tomographic findings

Twenty patients with acute bacterial meningitis were subjected to thorough history taking, full clinical and neurological examination, CSF studies, blood analysis and CT brain scan. Blood and CSF examinations were repeated ten days later following starting of treatment and follow up CT after one month. The results showed positive bacteriological studies in all cases. The main initial CT findings, in addition to diffuse meningeal enhancement were ventricular dilatation in seven cases. Low density lesions in six, subdural collection in four, brain edema in three, atrophy in one patient and abscess in another one

role of prolactin in the etiology of feminization in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis

Basal levels of Estradiol, Testosterone, and Prolactin were measured in 20 schistosomal patients and 10 normal controls. Prolactin response to provocation by Chlorpromazine [50 mg 1.M.] was also studied in the 20 schistosomal patients. Patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 10 patients with signs of feminization in the form of one or more of the following: Gynaccomastia, female escutcheon, female body habitus, and cutaneous arterial spider naevi. Group II included 10 patients without feminine manifestations. The basal levels of estradiol were not different in the three groups. Testosterone levels were significantly lower in schistosomal patients of both groups. Basal prolactin was significantly higher in schistosomal patients of both groups. The level was higher in patients without feminine manifestations than in patients with such manifestations. Prolactin response to stimulation was also higher in patients without feminine manifestations although the difference did not reach statistical significance. The results suggest that prolactin has no significant role in the pathogencsis of feminine manifestations in schistosomal patients

Effect of morphine on glucose homeostasis in alloxan induced diabetes mellitus in rats

The present study examined the probable of opioid receptors in alloxan induced diabetes mellitus in rats. Two groups of albino rats were examined, control group and alloxan induced diabetes mellitus group. The diabetic group was further subdivided into two subgroups, one was treated with morphine and the other with naloxone. Morphine sulfate was injected intravenously in a dose of 0.25 mg/rat over 10 minutes. Naloxone hydrochloride was injected intraperitoneally in a dose of 50 ug/rat over 20 minutes period in the naloxone treated diabetic group. Fasting glucose and insulin blood levels were measured immediately after the injections in all groups. After morphine injection fasting blood glucose was significantly reduced and insulin level was significantly increased in the first diabetic group. After naloxone injection fasting blood glucose was reduced slightly, but not significantly compared to the preinjection level in the second diabetic group. The results suggested the opposite role of morphine and naloxone in the diabetic rats compared to their role in the nondiabetic rats. The results also suggested a probable role of opioid receptors in the management of diabetes mellitus

Genetic studies of immunological markers in diabetes: prediction of insulin dependence

The classification based on the physiopathological criteria distinguishes type I diabetes, observed in patients with stigmata of anti-islet of Langerhans autoimmunity, from type II diabetes without these autoimmune changes. Type I diabetes is subdivided into classes la and Ib, class Ib comprising those cases associated with other autoimmune diseases. Yet, in the present work, serological analysis of 76 patients with clinical type la diabetes and 215 healthy, first degree relatives was not clear cut and revealed that at least some patients that are classified clinically as la were in fact intra-clinical Ib subjects. Forty one percent of patients with class la diabetes had anti-gastric, anti-adrenal or anti-thyroid antibodies, and 28% of their healthy relatives also had the same types of antibodies, several prospective studies of the families of patients with type I diabetes have shown that anti-islet of Langerhans antibodies were associated with a high risk of diabetes. similarly, the presence of these antibodies in patients apparently with Type II diabetes [266 NIDD patients] has been associated with an increased risk of developing insulin dependence. These results illustrate the value of immunological investigation in diabetic patients; as this may influence the choice of treatment in the future

Study of HLA-A, -B and - C specificities in patients with diabetic retinopathy associated with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

The controversy in relation to the presence of a possible association of some HLA specificities with the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy in patients with insulin dependent diabetes, mellitus [IDDM], together with the well established diversity of HLA antigens frequencies associated with IDDM in different populations, raised the importance of determining HLA-A,B and -C specificities in patients with diabetic retinopathy in the Egyptian population. The study has been carried out on twenty patients with IDDM with different stages of diabetic retinopathy, twenty patients with IDDM without retinopathy matched for age, sex and duration of the disease as the previous group and thirty healthy control subjects matched for age, sex and ethnic origins as patients included in the study. Histocompatibility testing by the microlymphocytotoxicity assay was done for determination of HLA-A, -B end -C specificities. The results of the present work showed that insulin dependent diabetics with retinopathy had increased frequency of HLA-B18 antigen which was statistically significant. HLA-Bw35 antigen was absent in patients with retinopathy, suggesting that this allele may confer a protective effect. The diabetics with proliferative retinopathy had significantly increased frequency of HLA-B8 and B18. These findings reinforce the view of the genetic contribution to the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy