protective value of hesperidin in mitigating the biochemical perturbations and trace element alterations induced by acrylonitrile in rats

Acrylonitrile [a chemical pollutant] has been reported to induce harmful effects in humans. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of hesperidin, a natural bioflavonoid, against the toxicity induced by acrylonitrile [AN] in rats. This study includes determination of serum total scavenger capacity "TSC", liver enzymes [aspartate transaminase "ASAT", alanine transaminase "ALAT" and alkaline phosphatase "ALP"], total proteins, albumin, glucose, creatinine, urea and lipid profile. Moreover, liver and kidney homogenate glutathione content "GSH", catalase, superoxide dismutase "SOD", glutathione peroxidase "GPx", malondialdehyde "MDA" and some minerals were estimated. Revealed that administration of AN [orally 50mg/ kg b.wt.] induced alterations in TSC level as well as liver, kidney and lipid profiles. In addition, a decrease in GSH-content and catalase, SOD and GPx activities was observed with an increase in MDA levels in both liver and kidney. There was disturbance in certain minerals such as Cu, Zn, Fe, Se, Ca, Mg and Mn. Particularly, Hesperidin administration [orally 200 mg/kg b.wt.] ameliorates the oxidative stress induced by AN, consistent with the reported antioxidant activity of hesperidin

Anterior shoulder dislocation with axillary artery and nerve injury

We report a rare case of left axillary artery injury associated with anterior dislocation of the left shoulder in a 25 yrs old male as a result of a road traffic accident. The shoulder dislocation was reduced. A left upper limb angiogram showed an obstructed left axillary artery. The obstructed segment was surgically reconstructed with a Dacron graft. Six months post operation in follow up, he was found to have good left shoulder function and no neurovascular deficit. This is an injury that could have been easily missed without a simple clinical examination.

Case of a non-pulsatile groin swelling

We report a case of a non-pulsatile groin swelling in a 38 years old male drug addict without the typical clinical signs of an aneurysm. Ultrasound revealed a left femoral artery pseudo-aneurysm. He was surgically treated and the vessels were ligated without revascularisation.

Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase 9 [MMP-9] and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase 1 [TIMP-1] in lung cancer patients: correlation with carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA] level

There is evidence of the dysregulation of the balanced interaction between matrix metalloproteinases [MMPs] and their inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases [TIMPs] in cancer which is thought to facilitate tumor cell invasion and metastasis. The role of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was evaluated in different pathological types of lung cancer. Sera were collected from 52 lung cancer patients [10 had large cell carcinoma, 9 small cell carcinoma, 19 squamous cell carcinoma and 14 metastatic adenocarcinoma] as well as from 20 healthy control subjects. MMP-9 and TIMP-1 serum levels were measured using a sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. Serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA] was also measured in the same subjects using a one step sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. The study revealed a significant increase in the serum level of MMP9 in lung cancer patients as compared to controls [p < 0.001], with the highest value being found in patients with large cell carcinoma. A significant increase in TIMP-1 level was also found in lung cancer patients [p < 0.001], with no marked variation amongst different pathological types. A significant increase was also found in MMP9/T1MP1 ratio in patients versus controls [p < 0.001] with the highest value being measured in patients with large cell carcinoma. A significant positive correlation was found between the serum level of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 [r = 0.3, p < 0.05] and also with MMP-9/ TIMP-1 ratio [r - 0.99, p < 0.05] in lung cancer patients. Regarding CEA level, it showed a significant increase in lung cancer patients as compared to controls [p < 0.05], with the highest value being obtained from patients with squamous cell carcinoma. No significant correlation was found between CEA serum level and either MMP9 or TIMP1 [p > 0.05]. Analysis of the diagnostic value of CEA, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in lung cancer patients revealed that CEA had 40.38% sensitivity, 100% specificity and positive predictive value [PPV], 39.2% negative predictive value [NPV] and 56.4% diagnostic efficiency [DE]. On the other hand, MMP-9 had 90.4% sensitivity, 95% specificity, 97.9% PPV, 82.6% NPV and 91.7% DE. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and DE of TIMP-1 were 98.1%, 95%, 98.1%, 95% and 97.2% respectively. It can be concluded that increased serum levels of MMP-9, TIMP-1 and their ratio are found in lung cancer patients independently of CEA level. Both MMP-9 and TIMP-1 may serve as tumor markers, with TIMP-1 seems to be the most efficient with the highest diagnostic efficiency

Aluminum toxicity in neonates related to total parenteral nutrition with reference to three fatalities.

This study was performed on 300 neonates at Assiut University Hospital and revealed that aluminum [Al] toxicity in neonates was related mainly to the parenteral nutrition [PN] and formula feeding to a lesser extent. The serum and urinary levels of that toxic substance were determined in such high levels in PN cases which were commonly accepted as toxic levels; this was represented by a significant correlation between Al intake and serum and urinary Al levels. Three fatal cases were recorded during PN and all developed signs suggesting Al toxicity. The post mortem analysis within four hours of brain, bone, liver and kidney biopsies of the dead cases showed that their Al concentrations were consistent with high levels

Brain electrical activity mapping [BEAM] in the diagnosis of primary generalised epilepsy

This study was carried out on 45 children. Their ages ranged from 7 to 12 years [mean = 9 +/- 1.8 yr.]. They were divided into two groups; [1] control group which comprised 20 normal children [10 males and 10 females] and [2] epileptic group which comprised 25 children [15 females and 10 males]. 17 patients of group [2] had only absence attacks and 8 patients had both absence attacks and generalised tonic clonic fits. All patients of bothgroups were subjected to history, clinical examination, EEG and BEAM. Interictal neurologic examination was normal for group [2]. In the control group, BEAM showed four classical frequency bands [delta, theta, beta and alpha]. As regards the percentage activity, during eye closed state; the delta frequency band showed frontal maximum that might extend to the temporal area, the theta band was maximum in the bitemporal and central areas, the beta band was maximum in the bitemporal area and might extend to the central or frontal areas; whereas the alpha band showed occipital maximum that might extend in the middle line to time frontal area. On time other hand in all patients of group [2], EEG showed; [1] normal back ground [alpha wave], [2] 3 C/S Spike Wave Discharge [SWD] mainly in the frontal region, and [3] an occipital alpha rhythm before and after 3 C/S SWD. As regards BEAM, the following were found during SWD; [1] percentage activity in delta and theta range increased with occipital maximum, [2] percentage activity in alpha frequency band reduced in numerical value and became maximum frontally, [3] percentage beta activity showed a sudden increase all over the scalp with frontal maximum, and [4] full band power increased in numerical value with frontal maximum. In conclusion, brain mapping is an essential tool for supporting time diagnosis of primary generalised epilepsy. It can extend time usefulness of EEG through quantitation and extraction of more information that can be obtained from visual analysis of conventional EEG

Intestinal obstruction in neonates: risk factors and prognosis

One hundred and four newborns presenting with symptoms of intestinal obstruction admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Assiut University Hospital were included in this study. Diagnosis was based on clinical examination including PR and traditional diagnostic studies as plain x-ray films of the abdomen supplemented by either an upper or lower gastrointestinal contrast study. Invertogram was needed in cases of anorectal malformations and pre and postoperative management was done in the NICU. The results revealed that lack of prenatal diagnosis, delay of postnatal presentation and /or delay in diagnosis and in surgical intervention were considered to be the major preoperative causes of the high mortality in neonates suffering from intestinal obstruction in the studied locality

Urodynamic Studies after natural menopause

Urodynamic evaluation of lower urinary tract function was performed for 20 postmenopausal women of different age groups [group I, range 45 - 58 y., mean 51 +/- 4.2, group II, range 60-70 y. mean 65 +/- 3.4, n = 10 for each group]. Cystometric study showed an increase in time and volume of first sensation to void, indicating hyposensitivity of the bladder, in the older age group. Also, the detrusor pressure at the maximum cystometric capacity was significantly higher in older postmenopausal women reflecting a decrease in the elastic properties of the bladder wall. Static profilometry showed a significant decrease in maximum urethral pressure, maximum closure pressure and functional urethral length with advance of age. Uroflowmetry, that assess the functional coordination of the detrusor and the urethra showed a significant decrease in the average flow rate in older postmenopausal women. These urodynamic data may suggest an age-related deterioration in the intrinsic properties and/ or the extrinsic innervation of the female urinary tract, besides the expected effects of estrogen deficiency, after natural menopause

Comprehensive assessment of the effects of local anesthesia on maximum biting force generation

Presented is an analysis of main mechanical aspects involved in the biting process with emphasis on the role of neural mechanism governing the force upper bounds of loaded elements. The analysis is then implemented to outline the experimental and operational conditions which if verified, local anesthesia [LA] of periodontium results in significant change in maximum biting force [MBF] that jaw muscles can develop. Force measurements are carried out using a transducer which enables recording of the resultant of the two independently applied forces [two-sided clench] from both sides of the jaw. In addition, the transducer permits force measurements, while mandible is open at a certain selected spacing. Measurements are performed on 20 subjects with and without LA. The study comes up with two main findings. First on a single jaw configuration a slight change in MBF is likely to prevail since "LA" has just the limited effect of blocking only one of three neural pathways involved in and controlling the biting process. Second, various jaw spacing [initial presetting] and their corresponding muscle configurations are capable of developing large forces when LA is administered

Study of fatigue on composite core constructed around different types of posts

Three different designs of dowels prepared of stainless steel of the same size and dimensions [0.4 cm in diameter] with a flat circular head of diameter of 0.9 cm. The first design being smooth, the second having a vent passing from one side to the other, and the third of the threaded type. We used in this study a conventional chemically cured composite, and it was applied around the retentive area of each post to give the shape of a cylinder [1 cm length] by the help of special copper matrix. Cores were subjected to fatigue test using a device with half kg load at 50 cm height. The number of strokes required to fracture the composite core around each post was recorded. It was found that the composite core around the smooth posts showed maximal fatigue limit