Enterobius vermicularis infection in three refugee camps in Jordan

Pinworm infection remains prevalent in many parts of the world. It is suspected in children who exhibit perineal pruritus and nocturnal restlessness. The diagnosis is generally made by the cellophane tape test, and the treatment consists of a 100-mg single dose of mebendazole. To determine the prevalence of pinworm infection in children with perianal itching and to minimize the reinfection rate by a modified method of treatment. 812 children, 5-15 years old children were the subjects of this study. Cellophane tape test was used in 707 children and a swab taken through proctoscope in 105 children of the older age group. Mebendazole in a single dose of 100 gm was used in all parasite positive children. Half of the treated children received rectal enemas made of sodium chloride in tap water and received health education to prevent reinfection and spread of the parasite. 44.8 [55.2%] of the children examined were found to be infected with enterobius vermicularis with the higher prevalence in Jarash camp. The proctoscopic method achieved more significant results than the cellophane tape test [68.6% versus 42.6%] [X2: 6.46, P=0.01]. Similarly, mebendazole treatment together with rectal enemas and health education achieved a higher cure rate than using mebendazole alone [81.6% versus 23.3%] [X2: 138.6, P=0.0001]. Pinworm infection should be suspected in children who exhibit anal itching and nocturnal restlessness. Following diagnosis, mebendazole should be given and rectal enemas continued for 8 weeks. Health education to the parents and children forms an integral part of treatment

Chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla of the mouse: a morphological study of their innervation

To study the synaptic nerve endings on the adrenaline [A], noradrenaline [NA] and small granular Chromaffin [SGC] cells of the mouse before and after puberty and the possible functional relationship between these cells. Male albino mice bred at the animal house-Jordan University, which aged 5, 10 and 12 days and 5 weeks were used. After sacrifice, the adrenal glands were removed from the animals and processed for examination with a Philips 300 electron microscope. The percentage of SGC cells and the number of synaptic endings on A and NA cells were calculated. All the nerve endings observed are typical in appearance with the cholinergic-type synaptic endings. No evidence of an adrenergic innervation of Chromaffin tissue of the adrenal medulla has been obtained during the present work, though the elongated processes of small granular Chromaffin cell could readily be misinterpreted as adrenergic nerve fibres. The processes of these cells come close to other Chromaffin cells, both A, NA cell and form synapses. Frequent exocytotic figures related to these cells were observed. The present findings suggest that the SGS cells form an intrinsic system that regulates the activity of other chromaffin cells, particularly in the early postnatal period when the extrinsic innervation of the chromaffin cells is not yet fully developed

Variations in the anatomical position of the normal and diseased parathyroid glands

Despite the availability of expert surgeons and preoperative imaging investigations, some patients require re-operation for persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism. Ectopic Parathyroid Glands [PGs] are a cause for failed parathyroid exploration. To evaluate the prevalence and location of normal parathyroid glands and diseased glands taken from subjects with End-Stage Renal Disease [ESRD]. A total of 410 parathyroid glands were recovered from 116 postmortem subjects of whom 37 were diagnosed as suffering from ESRD. In the rest, the death had resulted from disease unrelated to parathyroid disorder. 155 [69.3%] of both normal left and right superior PGs were located at cricothyroid junction; 46 [29.3%] were behind the upper pole of thyroid gland; 2 [2.6%] were behind pharyngoesophageal junction. 68 [47.1%] of the normal inferior PGs were found at the lateroposterior surface of the lower pole of thyroid gland; 62 [43.7%] were within the thymic tongue and 14 [9.7%] along the carotid artery. The normal ectopic PGs were found only in 22 cases. The superior PGs were 4 [18.2%] in an extracapsular posterior position, 2 [9.1%] intrathyroidal and 1 [4.5%] retropharyngeal. The inferior ectopic PGs were 15 [68.2%] and were found within the mediastinal thymus. 19 [51.4%] of the enlarged PGs were found within the thyroid parenchyma, 8 [21.6%] within the thymic tongue, 6 [16.2%] within the thymus, 2 [5.4%] were within the carotid sheath and 1 [2.7%] in the retropharyngeal or retroesophageal position. The presence of ectopic PGs in secondary hyperparathyroidism is sufficiently important to justify their exhaustive search. As the preoperative image exams present low sensibility to locate them, it is necessary to develop an exploratory routine embracing the most common sites of location

Effects of diclofenac sodium on the gastric mucosa of the rat: a histological, morphometric and hormonal study

The present histological and hormonal investigation showed that the gastric mucosa of the rat has responded to the oral and parenteral diclofenac treatment by two protective mechanisms. The first of these was a temporary increased production of surface mucus and the second was a squamous metaplasia of the surface epithelium. Both changes were more marked in the orally treated animals. The squamous metaplasia was associated with a significant increase in the number of the parietal cells per unit area. It is suggested that these changes were produced by a direct effect of the drug on the stem cells from which the parietal and epithelial cells were derived or through the effects of gastrin hormone. The antral and serum levels of this hormone were significantly elevated after oral diclofenac treatment

Effects of indomethacin of the gastroduodenal mucosa of the rat: a histological, morphometric and hormonal study

The present histological and hormonal investigation showed that the administration of indomethacine produced squamous metaplasia of the gastric mucosa without ulceration. This change was associated with a significant increase in the total number of parietal cells and with a significant decrease in the total number of mucous neck cells. Histochemical reactions showed a marked decrease in the thickness of the surface mucus layer. Hormonal study showed a significant increase in the antral and serum gastrin levels. The presence of parallelism between hypergastrinemia, the increase in the total number of parietal cells and the degree of squamous metaplasia of the gastric mucosa, suggests that indomethacine has injured the latter through increasing serum gastrin level as a primary change

Effects of partial devascularization of the adrenal cortex, with or without hypophysectomy, on the adrenal chromaffin cells

The effects of marked reduction in the concentration of the corticosteroids that reach the adrenal medulla, on the morphology of adrenal chromaffin cells, were studied in the rat. Necrosis of the adrenal cortex through partial devascularization, with or without hypophysectomy, were employed. It was found that the change in the metabolic activity of the adrenaline-storing cells into noradrenaline-storing cells could only be achieved after necrosis of the greater part of the adrenal cortex together with hypophysectomy