Antiapototic effect of captopril in cisplatin-induced kidney injury in rats

Aim of the work: captopril protects against cisplatin induced nephrotoxicitity; however its potential modulatory effect on hemeoxygenase [HO]-1, antioxidants, as well as inflammatory and apoptotic markers has not yet been verified

Materials and methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control [saline], cisplatin [5 mg/kg; i.p], and captopril [60 and 100 mg/kg] given 5 days before and after cisplatin [5 mg/kg; i.p] treatment

Results: Five-day pre- and post-treatment with captopril [60 and 100 mg/kg; i.p], for a total of 10 days, dose dependently, reduced blood urea nitrogen, as well as serum creatinine and gamma glutamyl transferase, but serum albumin and total protein levels were increased. Captopril restored renal pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance by activating glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase, and boosting the renal glutathione content. These effects were accompanied by the reduction in serum and/or renal HO-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, nitric oxide, endothelin-1 and caspase-3. Microscopically, captopril especially at 100 mg/kg dose level, prevented cisplatin-induced degenerative changes and inflammatory cell infiltration in the kidney

Conclusion: captopril protects against cisplatin nephrotoxicity by its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic potentials

Syphilitic arteritis involving the origin of the cervical internal carotid artery

We report a case of meningovascular syphilis in a young adult woman presenting with left hemiparesis due to near occlusion of proximal cervical internal carotid with subacute middle cerebral artery territory infarction. Diagnosis was made on the basis of positive serum, and spinal fluid serology for syphilis, carotid Doppler, and magnetic resonance angiography, as well as improvement after intravenous penicillin therapy. In this case report, the imaging findings were described and related literature was reviewed

Serum endostatin and vascular endothelial growth factor levels in patients with pre-eclampsia

We evaluated the prognostic value of serum endostatin and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] for diagnosis of pre-eclampsia. We determined VEGF and endostatin levels in the sera of 20 healthy, non-pregnant women and 64 pregnant women: 20 healthy, 20 with mild pre-eclampsia and 24 with severe pre-eclampsia. Serum levels of these factors in non-pregnant women were similar to those in healthy pregnant women. However, serum levels were significantly higher with mild or severe pre-eclampsia compared with normal pregnancies and significantly higher with severe rather than with mild pre-eclampsia. Elevated levels significantly increased risk more than severity of pre-eclampsia. VEGF and endostatin could be used to differentiate between pre-eclamptic and normal pregnancies and to discriminate mild pre-eclampsia from severe pre-eclampsia

Incidence of listeria monocytogenes in Egyptian sausage [sogok]

Seventy five brands of sogok obtained from Upper, Middle and Lower Egypt local markets were examined for their total mesophilic microorganisms using aerobic plate count [APC] and for the presence of Listeria spp. by inoculating the samples into UMV broth and transferring the homogenates into Fraser broth, the presumptive samples were confirmed on modified [MOX] agar, blood agar plates, production of catalase and the CAMP test were done on blood agar against Staphylococcus aureus and Rhodococcus equi NCTC 162. Listeria spp. Were found in 27 [out of 75] samples and Listeria monocytogenes in 14 [out of 75] brands tested. The only other recorded species of Listeria was L. innocua. A prior outbreak of listeriosis from the consumption of nonreheated meat, together with the data presented herein, indicates that there is a potential foodborne hazards in consuming uncooked sogok or in cross-contamination of other food from handling sogok package

Surgical correction of AV septal defects in Cairo University Pediatric Hospital

This work presented the experience of Cairo University Pediatric Hospital in surgical management of 41 cases of atrioventricular septal defects [AVSD]. Twenty-four cases were operated upon on echocardiographic diagnosis and seventeen cases were catheterized. Single patch technique was used in all cases. Management of pulmonary hypertensive crises was also presented. The mortality was 4.8% [2 mongol infants with hypertensive complete [AVSD]. Transient complete heart block occurred in two cases and RBBB in four patients. Survivals were adding weight with decreasing cardiac size and improvement in effort tolerance on follow up visits

Childhood pleural diseases: diagnostic correlations

This study was done on 25 patients with pleural effusion. They were 18 males and 7 females, their ages ranged from 4 months to 12 years. 80% of the patients were below five years. All patients were examined carefully and fully investigated. Thoracocentesis with cytological and biochemical studies of pleural aspirate were made to every patient. Culture and sensitivity of pleural aspirate were also done. Radiological examination showed that the effusion was right sided in 40%, left sided in 32% and bilateral in 28% of patients. On the basis of cytological and biochemical examination of the pleural aspirate, it was empyema in 68% complicating pneumonia in most of the cases, lung abscess and immunodeficiency as well. 12% of the patients were suffering from hydrothorax as a part of generalized edema. Hemothorax was present in 8% of the cases as a result of metastatic tumor. Tuberculosis and systemic lupus erythematosus were the causes of inflammatory exudate in two patients. Chylothorax was present in one case as a result of injury of the thoracic duct during cardiac surgery. The causes of pleural effusion could be minimized by proper management of pneumonia as it is the leading cause of pleurisy in the pediatric age group. Thoracocentesis should be done to every case with pleural effusion for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes

Ultrafiltration during cardiopulmonary bypass for open heart surgery in infants and children

Ultrafiltration during cardiopulmonary bypass for open heart surgery was done in a group of infants and children in Cairo University Pediatric Hospital. The study group included 25 patients aged 20 days to 12 years with body weight ranging from 2.5 kg to 40 kg. The patients were classified into 3 groups: Group I, included 10 patients without ultrafiltration, group II, included 10 patients for whom ultrafiltration was done using the st and ard circuit and group III, included 5 patients with modified circuit for ultrafiltration. The effect of ultrafiltration on organ performance and on blood elements was assessed. The study found ultrafiltration during and after cardiopulmonary bypass caused marked decrease in the amount of water accumulation in the lung and heart resulting in better cardiopulmonary performance. Hemofiltration also prevented hemodilution resulting in better RBC platelet and coagulation factor concentration