Cytochemistry of human granular leukocytes in certain pathological conditions

The incidence of pericardial effusion in patients with renal failure studied by echocardiography was 52.87%. Significant correlation was present between the presence of pericardial effusion and serum creatinine, younger aged patients, fluid overload and with the presence of pericardial rub but not with other clinical, biochemical or sonographic parameters studied. The study also showed that echocardiography is far more sensitive than plain X-ray in the detection of pericardial effusion

Studies on the effect of ionizing radiations on the normal and diseased liver in experimental animals

The effect of ionizing radiation [X-ray] on the normal and schistosomal liver as one of the major endemic diseases was studied in experimental animals. The experiment was done on 280 male albino mice. Irradiation was done on the basis of acute and fractionated schemes. The liver specimens were examined for both histological changes present, and quantitative evaluation of the degree of damage in arbitrary units at 6,12,18,24 and 30 weeks intervals starting from the end of infection period [8 weeks] for infected group, and after end of irradiation for irradiated groups. The damage was scored from O-15 in arbitrary units depending on the alterations observed in liver parenchyma, sinusoids and portal tracts. Statistical analysis of the data for all sections determining the mean and standard deviation of four animals was done. Dose-time effect curves were performed to obtain a comparative degree of pathological alterations in the various groups of animals to the controls. From the results obtained it was obvious that the cells of normal liver were more resistant to direct action of radiation and the liver damage occurring at various acute and fractionated exposures was less than that occurring in the Schistosoma infected liver. This was discussed in relation to the dose and duration of irradiation compared to the normal or pathological state of the liver

Histological and histochemical study of gastric and duodenal mucosa in diabetic patients on long standing sulphonylurea therapy

Endoscopic, histological and histochemical studies were done on the gastric and duodenal mucosa of 30 diabetic patients [13 females and 17 males]. Their ages ranged between 25-62 years and the duration of diabetic state varied between 5-20 years. Fifteen of them were treated by insulin [insulin dependent diabetics] and the other fifteen were treated by sulphonylurea drugs [non-insulin dependent diabetics]. The clinical data obtained from the patients showed that 70 percent had dyspeptic symptoms while the other 30 percent were free. Upper endoscopy revealed normal gastric mucosa in 80 percent, incompetent cardia in 6.7 percent and chronic gastritis in 13.3 percent. Also endoscopy showed normal duodenal mucosa in 90 percent, chronic duodenitis in 6.7 percent and small erosions in 3.3 percent. Histological study showed chronic superficial gastritis in 40 percent, chronic atrophic gastritis in 50 percent and normal gastric mucosa in 10 percent. Also it showed chronic duodenitis in 93.3 percent and normal duodenal mucosa in 6.7 percent. Histochemical study detected increased alkaline and acid phosphatase activities as well as increased mucopolysaccharide content in the gastric mucosa of 90 percent while the remaining 10 percent showed normal activity of the enzymes. Also duodenal mucosa showed increased activity of both alkaline and acid phosphatases as well as increased mucopolysaccharide content in 93.3 percent while 6.7 percent showed normal activity. From the results of the present work, the following could be concluded: [1] Chronic superficial and atrophic gastritis as well as chronic duodenitis are common in diabetics. [2] The absence of dyspeptic symptoms in diabetics does not mean the absence of gastric and duodenal mucosal changes. [3] The endoscopic picture is not of decisive help, while the histological and histochemical studies are of great importance, in the diagnosis of gastric and duodenal mucosal changes in diabetic patients. [4] The line of treatment of diabetics, whether by insulin or by sulphonylureas, has no role in the development of gastric and duodenal mucosal changes as these changes occurred in both groups. [5] The long duration of diabetic state has no role in the development of mucosal changes as 10 percent were found free from such mucosal changes although they had diabetes mellitus for more than 5 years, even one of them was diabetic for more than 12 years

Effect of tagamet therapy on the histology and the histochemistry of human gastric mucosa

Tagamet [cimetidine] is a well known drug, used in the treatment of acid-peptic diseases, like duodenal ulcer. Its side effects are numerous, but most serious one is the possibility of inducing malignancy in the gastric mucosa. The present work was done on 21 patients, known to have duodenal ulcer and receiving cimetidine therapy of 800-1000 mg/day, for variable periods of time, Another 20 normal persons were studied as controls. For both groups, the cases were subjected to upper GIT endoscopy and biopsy specimens were taken from the fundic mucosa and prepared for histological and histochemical examinations. Hyperplasia was detected in the surface epithelial cells as well as in the gastric pits epithelium, in 47.6% of the treated cases. A highly significant relationship was found between the degree of hyperplasia and the duration of treatment. As regards the histochemical data, the present work showed that the intensity of PAS reaction was correlated to the duration of cimetidine therapy. On the other hand, a significant relationship has been found between alkaline phosphate activity in surface epithelium and glandular epithelial cells, and the duration of cimetidine therapy. It was concluded that cimetidine is safe when taken for long periods of time, and there is no fear of malignancy