[ effect of qat chewing on periodontal tissues and buccal mucous membrane]

Qat leaves usually chewed during social and cultural gathering where the chewing practice may take up 5 hours. In the past, qat chewing habit was socially normalized among Yemeni adult male only, but, recently the habit spread to include a high percentage of females and even children. The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of qat chewing on periodontal tissues [gingival recession and pocket depth] in addition to buccal ulcerative lesions in the oral side of chewing. The sample was 200Yemeni men over 20 years of age, who have been chewing qat for more than one year. They have been studied for the effects of qat on the chewing side compared with the opposite side that is not used for chewing. The study shows that the longer qat chewing duration, the prevalence of both gingival recession and periodontal pocket increased. Reversely, individuals with a history of less than five-year duration of chewing show almost a lower frequency of both gingival recession and periodontal pocket. The prevalence of the gingival recession and periodontal pocket is significantly more in the side of chewing. The study reveals that 56 out of 76 [73.7%] smokers are suffering from gingival recession, with a highest rate of the recession is recorded among those who have a history of smoking for more than 16 years. Only 24 cases [12%] show clinical ulcerative lesions on the buccal mucosa and there are no findings suspicious for pre-malignant or malignant changes. This study demonstrates a relationship between qat chewing and periodontal diseases, [gingival recession, pocket depth] attributed to chronic local mechanical effect. However, the study recommends further studies including longitudinal clinical inspections, biopsies of the tissue changes of qat chewers and the effects of chemicals used to accelerate the growth of the qat

Lectin binding patterns in normal cyclic endometrium, endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma

Endometrial samples including 5 proliferative, 5 late secretory, 5 hyperplasia [3 cystic glandular and 2 adenomatous], 5 carcinomas, and 2 true deciduas were analyzed by light microscopy for pattern and distribution of lectin glycoprotein binding. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections were tested with biotinylated concanavlin A [Con A], wheat germ agglutinin [WGA] and peanut agglutinin [PNA] employing the Avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique. Proliferative glands predominantly bound lectins at luminal borders, while secretory ones had positive luminal secretion binding. Endometrial carcinoma epithelial cells bound lectins at luminal borders and at cell periphery. Cystically hyperplastic glands resembled proliferative binding while adenomatous hyperplasias gave additional patchy peripheral cell binding; disclosing their premalignant potential. This work recommended the use of this simple technique to evaluate the various morphologic endometrial patterns and relates them to functional disturbances

Pre-term ruptured membranes a histopathological study

This study was carried out to evaluate the hypothesis that faetal membanes, which spontaneously rupture at preterm, are inherently defective. Fifty prematurely ruptured gestational sacs were examined histopathologically, and the results were compared to the findings in another fifty gestational sacs which ruptured at term. The amniotic epithelium and the fibroblastic layers showed significant difference among both groups, which may he responsible for membrane weakness. The possible pathogenesis of premature rupture of membrances was suggested

Comparative study of the fibrinolytic activity of menstrual blood in women wearing different types of intrauterine contraceptive devices [lippes loops, cut [200]. multiload and progestasert devices]

30 normally menstruating women, 30 women wearing Lippes loops, 30 women wearing Cu T 200, 30 women wearing mumitiload and 20 women wearing progestasert were studied. The menstrual blood was collected on the first day of menstruation using plastic cups. The fibrinolytic activity of blood from different groups was assayed, using heated and unheated fibrin plates and measuring the area of lysis. A significant increase in the fibrinolytic activity was found in blood collected from wearers of Lippes loops, Cu T 200, and multiload when compared with normal women [P 0.001]. the highest increase was found in Lippes loops wearers, to a lesser extent in multiload wearers and the least increase in Cu T 200 wearers. No significant increase was found in progestasert users. The possible mechanism and the value of these findings are discussed