Effect of the formalin vapors on the lacrimal gland in the albino rats

Formalin is an important maternal used as a fixative agent in the dissecting rooms of the medical schools and research institutes sterilizing agent to the patient rooms in the hospitals, and adhesive material in plastic manufactures. Formalin is highly volatile chemical material and potentially occupational exposed to its vapors are anatomists, histologists, pathologist, biologist, surgeons and medical students. The majority of the studies on the formalin vapors were done devoted to the effect of formalin on the respiratory system but little attention to the effect of the formalin vapors on the lacrimal gland. This study was performed to investigate the structural alteration of the lacrimal gland under effect of formalin vapors. Twenty adult male albino rats, each average weight [200 gms], they aged about one year old were used in this study and the lacrimal gland ultrastructure were evaluated after three months of formalin vapors exposure. The structure of the lacrimal gland was affected by formalin vapors where the lacrimal acini became irregular in shape with wide irregular lumen and reduction of the secretory vesicles with irregularity in its surface and some of them were ruptured. The nucleus of the lacrimal cells has dark chromatin with irregular nuclear envelop and degenerative areas in the cytoplasm associated with lymphocytes infiltration. The mitochondrial degeneration were apparent and the smooth endoplasmic reticulum were contained variable size vacuoles

Distribution of the phalangeal hair of the hand among North Africans

Frequency and the pattern of hair distribution on the phalanges of the hand has been studied among North African population comprising of Egyptians, Libyans, Tunisians and Moroccans, 1855 subjects of both sexes, aged between 17 to 32 years, belonging to workers and students of the three universities at Zagazig in Egypt [Egyptian cases] and Benghazi [Al-Arab Medical University and Garyounis University] in Libya [Libyan, Tunisian and Moroccan cases], were investigated at random. Hair was found to be present on proximal phalanx in large population [98.8% in males and 96.7% in females]. The middle phalanx showed hair only in 42% males and 31.7% females. Most common combination was third, fourth and fifth digits. The frequency order of fingers with middle phalangeal hair remains as 4>3>5>2. No hair was found on the distal phalanx. Values of the present investigation ranged between the black West Africans and white races

Effect of the hypothyroidism on the skeletal muscle [Soleus] of the adult male albino rat

The thyroid gland is one of the most important endocrine organs that almost all cells of the body are target sites for its hormones, the thyroid state influences markedly both cardiac and skeletal muscles as has been previously reported by many authors. Concerning the skeletal muscles, the hypothyroidism causes atrophy of the muscle fiber and abnormal accumulation of the glycogen. These findings allow a new field for researchers to study the histological picture of the skeletal muscle and the correlation between muscle/body weight ratios in the hypothyroidism. The present study is planned to throw more light on the structure of the skeletal muscle [soleus] and body weight evaluation in the experimentally induced hypothyroid of adult male albino rats. Twenty healthy adult male albino rats, average weight [170 gms each] were used in this study, the body weight evaluated monthly and the skeletal muscle structure was examined histological by light and electron-microscopes after three months of experimentally hypothyroidism. The body weight of the animals were reduced with statistical significant and the skeletal muscle structure affected by experimentally hypothyroidism, where disorganization of the muscle fibers with clear atrophic changes, reduction of the mitochondria and areas of degeneration with abnormal accumulation of glycogen in the skeletal muscle fibers

Colonoscopy versus double contrast barium enema in diagnosis of colitis

Thirty cases with clinical manifestations of colitis were chosen from the outpatients in tropical medicine and radiodiagnosis departments. They were 14 males and 16 females, their ages ranged from 15 to 65 years. All cases were subjected to complete clinical examination, double contrast barium enema and colonoscopy for some selected cases using the fiberoptic colonoscopy [14130]. The results of clinical examination revealed a variety of symptoms including diarthoea, bleeding per rectum, dysentery, flatulence and abdominal pain, some of them shows marked loss of weight. Double contrast barium enema revealed the prescence of ulcerative colilis in nine patients [30%], chronic colitis in eight patients [27%], normal radiological appearance in eleven patients [37%] with one patient having chron's disease and other having colonic polyp. Results of colonoscopy was in accordance with that of double contrast barium enema except in one case. Colonoscopy and biopsy taken revealed a specific pathology in some cases of chronic colitis which appeared normal by radiology