Comparative craniometric study of fat sand rat [Psammomys obesus] and four toed jerboa [Allactaga tetradactyla] live in the similar habitats

The present study deals with the skull structure in two species of rodents, namely Psammomys obesus, the common name is Fat Sand rat, and Allactaga tetradactyla, the common name is four toed jerboa that lives in the same habitat. The skulls of Psammomys obesus and Allactaga tetradactyla are studied. The skull of Psammomys obesus, is triangular, strongly ridged and the sutures between its components are fairly apparent. It has two large parietals which are quadrate in shape. The frontal bone have triangular shape. The squamosal bone is triangular in shape. The zygomatic arch is slender and weak. The tympanic bullae are greatly expanded and the external auditory meatus is swollen. It has irregular shaped sphenoid bone consists of two unfused parts, presphenoid and basisphenoid. The occipital bone encloses the foramen magnum which is guarded laterally by two smooth articular occipital condyles. Exoccipital is broad. The mandible of Psammomys obesus consists of right and left halves firmly united in life at the mandibular symphysis. The body of the mandible can be divided into two parts, one bears the incisor teeth and the other contains the molar teeth. However, the cranium in Allactaga tetradactyla is broadly flattened in shape and the sutures between its component bones are apparent. It has two large parietals and the interparietal is narrow and triangular in shape. The frontal bones are flattened. On each side of the cranium, the squamosal which lies between the tympanic bullae and orbit. Supraoccipital is large, the zygomatic arch is slender, weak and consists of two parts, the zygomatic process of maxilla and zygomatic process of temporal. The nasal bones are elongated. The maxillary bone is irregular in shape. The tympanic bulla, exoccipital and paraoccipital process are short

Anatomical, histological and histochemical studies on some organs of true desert rodents in the Egyptian habitats

The present study aimed to compare between the anatomy, histology and histochemistry of two species belonging to two different families namely Muridae and Dipodidae. Muridae is the largest family of rodents in the world; it is represented in this work by fat sand rat Psammomys obesus. Four-toed jerboa Allactaga tetradactyla represents the other family, Dipodidae. Psammomys obesus lives in coastal presaharan region; the preferred habitat is saline marshes ,and wadis where halophytic plants were abundant. However, Allactaga tetradactyla, inhabites the salt marshes and clay desert areas of coastal plains. The investigated animals were collected from desert, weighed and transferred alive to the laboratory in separate cages then anaesthetized with ether, after which they were carefully dissected, organs are taken out and prepared for the histological and histochemical studies. The nucleocytoplasmic index of liver cells was calculated, kidney weighed and the relative thickness of cortex,, outer and inner medulla was measured and total glomerular number was recorded. The liver, as in mammalian species, is consists of five separate lobes. The mitotic index of Psammomys obesus is smaller than that found in Allactaga tetradactyla. This may he due to the increased activity of'Allactaga tetradactyla. In the kidney, the cortex is classified into three regions namely superficial, midcortical and juxtamedullary zones. Both number and diameter of glomeruli, glomerular volume and relative glomerular blood volume is greater in Psammomys obesus than that in Allactaga tetradactyla. These observations indicate the ability of Psammomys obesus to produce highly concentrated urine than that of'Allactaga tetradactyla

Role of iron zinc supplementation in the growth retardation and iron deficiency anaemia in Egyptian children

The aim of this study was to test the effect of the supplementation of iron and zinc, both acting synergistically in tasty and appealing candy form, to improve the anemic state and the somatic growth of the children. Each candy contains 4 mg iron [FeSO4, 7-H2O], 4 mg zinc and enough citric acid to attain pH 5.5. Each child was given a candy three times per day. Eighteen iron deficiency anemic patients were studied, their mean age was 3.70 +/- 0.71 years, only twelve children completed the study, which continued for one month. Relevant anthropometric measurements were done including height, weight, head, chest and mid arm circumferences; also skinfold measurements like triceps, subscapular and suprailiac were measured. Also, the mid arm fat area [MAFA] and mid arm muscle area [MAMA] were calculated. Twenty-four-hour dietary intake as reported from the mothers was assessed, then macro and micronutrients were calculated. Hemoglobin level, red blood cells count [RBCs] and serum iron were analyzed. All these parameters were done just before and after supplementation

Otitis media with effusion in children: cytokines profile, nasopharyngeal colonization and prevention of recurrence

Otitis media with effusion [OME] is a common disease in children and there is a growing evidence that bacterial infection and immune response to bacteria and /or its antigens might be involved in the initiation and prolongation of OME. The present study was designed to characterize the pattern of nasopharyngeal colonization, effusion and serum cytokines in children with OME and to evaluate the possibilities of preventing recurrence by bacterial vaccination. 50 patients with OME and 50 subjects [control group] were enrolled in this study. The study groups were subjected to bacteriofogic and immunologic analysis, in addition the patients group was classified into 2 subgroups [group A and B] according to postoperative administration of bacterial vaccine to evaluate its effect in prevention of recurrence. Positive nasopharyngeal cultures were 100% in the patients group compared to 82% in the control group. IL-6 was detected in [60%] of middle ear effusions [MEEs] [33.65 +/- 29. 76 pg/ml], IL-8 in [80%] [52.60 +/- 30.88 pg/ml] while TNF-alpha was detected in only [54%] [26.24 +/- 24. 80 pg/ml]. The levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF- alpha in the serum were significantly higher in comparison to their levels in the MEEs of the same patients group [P<0. 05]. Also the levels of these cytokines in the serum of patients group were significantly increased compared to that in serum of the control group. In patients who received postoperative vaccination [group A] [7.1%] showed OME recurrence in 3 -years follow up period, while 31.8% of non_immunized group [group B] showed recurrence during the same follow up period. In conclusion, these data suggest a regulatory role for cytokines in OME. Our clinical experience with the use of polyvalent bacterial vaccination proved to be effective in preventing recurrence of this disease. However, further studies is needed to assess the impact of vaccination on reduction of bacterial colonization

Effects of L-carritine on grawth of Egypt children with sickle cell anaaenia

Growth improvement on L-Garnitine therapy has been observed in transfusion dependent sickle cell anaemia patients. We plan to study 27 Egyptian sickle Jell patients on low transfusion regimen for 6 months follow-up study period. The study included .13 males and 14 females aged [546 years]. Anthropometric measurements were done before starting L-Carnitine and six months after L-Carnitine [50 mg/kg orally]. Measurements included weighs, height, body mass index, skeletal muscle development and measurements of body fat. Twenty patients [10 males and 10 females.] of the same age and social classes were followed in the study as a control. Patients were divided according to their ages into 2 groups [5-10 years] and [11-26 years,]. The study showed increase in the standard deviation score [SDS] of weight and height per age of the supplemented children compared to control groups. There were increase in the chest/head ratio [C/H R], deltoid circumference, mid arm muscle circumference, mid arm fat circumference and subscapaular and supra iliac skin fold thicknesses compared to controls. These results were more apparent in the young age groups. We concluded the beneficial effect of L-Carnitine on the physical growth of patients with sickle cell anaemia especially the young, a longer period of supplementation is recommended

Preliminary investigation on the response of raphanus sativus L. to various extracts of azolla pinnata L.

The effect of different organic solvent extracts of Azolla pinnata on some growth parameters and chemical aspects show that there is little difference in the percentage of germination. Alcohol, toluene or acetone extracts have stimulating effects, mostly on growth parameters, while ethyl acetate or methylene chloride extracts attenuated the growth in their low concentration whereas high concentrations seemed to be beyond the threshold level of stimulation. Alcohol, toluene and acetone extracts were effective in stimulating water absorption. Water translocation was also stimulated by alcohol or acetone extracts but toluene extract was suppressive. The total chlorophyll of the cotyledons increased in presence of alcohol, toluene or acetone extracts. The Extracts by ethyl acetate or methylene chloride attenuated the chlorophyll a/b ratio. In the meantime, the five different extracts remarkably enhanced total carbohydrate accumulation at their highest concentration. Sucrose synthesis was highly activated by toluene extract whereas that of starch formation was not affected. Only the acetone extract [at 4 percent level], toluene extract [at 12 percent level and ethyl acetate extract at 12 percent and 20 percent level] attenuated protein accumulation

Short term experience of tricuspid valve dilatation

Four patients with tricuspid stenosis aged 25-42 years [mean 3 years] were submitted to tricuspid valve dilatation using two 20 mms balloons. In addition to Tricuspid Valvuloplasty 2 had mitral Valvuloplasty and 2 had both mitral and aortic Valvuloplasty. Following balloon dilatation tricuspid valve area was inadequate in 50% Tricuspid regurgitation as estimated by Doppler was the same as predilatation in all and did not increase in 6 months 'follow-up. Hemodynamic and symptomatic improvement was evident. The future looks to be optimistic for this technique