Ameliorating effect of vitamins E and C against carbon tetrachloride induced damage in albino rat pancreas

Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathophysiology of a number of chronic diseases including atherosclerosis, diabetes, cataract and accelerated ageing. Aim: to elucidate the protective role of vitamin E and C supplementation on pancreas using histological and imrnunohistological assessments when oxidative stress is induced by carbon tetrachloride [CCI4] administration, using the rat as a model. 15 adult male albino rats were divided into 3 groups 5 animals each, control group [I], CCI4 treated group [II] with intraperitoneal injections of CCI4 [2 ml/kg] twice weekly for three weeks, CCI4 + vitamin E + vitamin C treated group [III] were treated as in group II but also received vitamin E [500 mg/ kg] and vitamin C [100 mg/kg] orally. AH rats were sacrificed at the 4th week from the start of the experiment. Pancreatic samples from each rat were immediately fixed in 10% formalin, paraffin-embedded, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, silver reticulin, Mallory's trichrome and a-smooth muscle actin immuno-histochemical stain. CCI4 treated rats showed more acinar degeneration, pancreatic fibrosis and activated pancreatic stellate cells in comparison to the control group. Oral administration of vitamin E and C greatly reduced pancreatic fibrosis and acinar degeneration. It is concluded from this study that vitamin E and C supplementation was protective to the pancreas from a prooxidant challenge such as CCI4

Morphologic evaluation of the lower cervical vertebrae and its surgical applications among Egyptians

Lower cervical spine stabilization necessitates precise knowledge of different osseous morphometric measures of the cervical vertebrae for accurate and safe application of fixation devices. Human cadaveric studies revealed significant variability world wide raising the issue of possible differences among races. This study was conducted on 28 osseous cadaveric models to obtain morphometric measurements among Egyptians. For posterior measures, 1.6 mm Kirschner wires were inserted in the cervical pedicles and lateral masses bilaterally to assess different linear and angular measurements. Linear measurements of the vertebral body were also assessed and presented. All result was correlated with their surgical importance for both posterior and anterior lower cervical spine surgery. The results of this study revealed morphometric differences between Egyptians and other races. Although most of these differences are not statistically significant, yet it raises the necessity of extreme accuracy that should be considered in insertion of posterior cervical pedicle and lateral mass screws concerning, the point of insertion, length, diameter, sagittal and transverse angles in and offsets. For anterior surgery, the transverse, sagittal and vertical measurements of the vertebral body should be precisely assessed for safe and adequate decompression as well as defining the ideal lengths of screws for anterior plating of the lower cervical spine

Age related changes in the menisci of the human knee joint

The menisci of 15 human knee joints of both sexes were used in this study, of which 5 were full-term and other 10 ranged in age from 15-65 years. In adults and old-ages, the menisci were formed mainly of collagen bundles and chondroid tissue. The collagen fibers were arranged circumferentially, with occasional fibers were radially and vertically oriented. The intercellular cartilage matrix was abundant. Blood vessels were found only in the peripheral one-third. The major changes from full-term to adult and old-ages menisci were a progressive decrease in vascularity decrease in cellularity and increase in chondroid tissue. A discussion of the results was performed