toxic effect of prolonged ultram administration on cerebral cortex of albino rats. Toxicological and histological study

Ultram [Tramadol] is a widely used opioid analgesic effective in treating both acute and chronic pains and has acceptable adverse effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cerebrocortical toxicity resulting from one month and two month Ultram administration in to albino rats using biochemical and histological parameters. The study was carried out on 25 adult male albino rats divided into: control group received 0.5 ml /day saline orally by orogastric tube for two months, a short-term Ultram-treated group that received a dose of 30 mg/kg/day [1/10 LD50] for one month orally and a long-term Ultram-treated group that received the same dose for two months. The study revealed that Ultram administration caused a significant elevation of serotonin level in the cerebral cortical tissues of rats which was directly proportional to the duration of Ultram admistration. Histologically, there were many changes in the organization and ultrastructure of neurons in the different layers of cerebral cortex associated with an increased response of the supporting neuroglial cells. Intense neurological tissue lesions were more evident with the two months Ultram dosing than with one month. The correlation between the biochemical results and the histological findings proved that Ultram induced neuronal lesions could be mediated by the elevated cerebrocortical serotonin level which gives serious alarms for reconsidering the rush towards the excessive use of ultram

Patterns of acute poisoning by drugs and substances abuse among addicts: a clinical and laboratory study

The drug dependency problem in Egypt and wordwide is currently one of the major issues of concern to the public as well as the professionals. This study was conducted on all addicts with acute poisoning by drugs and or substances abuse [n= 149]. They were admitted to Alexandria Poison Center [APC] and critical care unit [CCU] at Alexandria Main University Hospital [AMUH] during six months period from January to June 2003. In this study, all addicts were clinically examined. Routine investigations, arterial blood gases and acid base status were done with detection of drug or substance of abuse in urine by Axsym and gas chromatography / mass spectrometry [GC/MS] for negative urine samples. The study showed that 71.2% of addicts were encountered in the age group 20<40 years. adolescents accounted for 15.4% of the addicts. Males outnumbered females with a sex ratio of 17.5:1. The study revealed that the majority of addicts were smokers 95.3% single 71.8% and started drug/ substance abuse in the age group 10<30 years [87.2%]. 43.7% of addicts were of low and very low social class while 28.9% were commercial workers. The duration of addiction ranged from one to 10 years. In the present study cannabis was the first abused substance [24.2%]. Hypnotics whether of benzodiazepine [14.8] or barbiturates [10.7] accounted for 25.5%. Ethyl alcohol either alone or adulterated by methyl alcohol, opiods, constituted 21.5%, 9.4% and 19.5% respectively. Female addicts were more likely to abuse benzodiazepines [75.0%]. 26.2% of addicts presented with severe poisoning and were in need of critical care interventions. The study revealed that postive urine samples for benzodiazepines, oPiates, barbiturates and cannabis accunted for 100%, 96.6% 93.8% and 72.2%, respectively. The majority of addicts recovered completely [83.2%], deaths accounted for 3.4% of the total addicts. It is recommended that, Continuous health education and prevention programs concerning health hazards of drug and substance abuse among adolescents and young adults are highly indicated. In addition the Staff of poison centters and emergency departments, should be well trained to deal with diagnosis and management of overdose in addicts. Also screening immunoassay technique should be done on all urine samples of addicts and better to be confirmed using GC/MS, as the latter is more reliable in legal cases, where it can stand court defense

protective effect of silymarin on the suprarenal gland in chlorpyrifos intoxicated rats

Chlorpyrifos [CPF] is a widely used organophosphorous insecticide that induces toxic effects in man and animal through its inhibitory action on acetyl choline esterase enzyme. The present work aimed to evaluate the toxic effect of chlorpyrifos on the function and structure of the suprarenal gland and to investigate the possible protective effect of silymarin antioxidant against such toxicity. The study included twenty four adult male rats they were equally divided into four groups as follows: a control group [n=6] received the oral vehicle only [corn oil], a Silymarin group [n=6] received Silymarin in a dose of 6mg/kg b. w orally twice weekly for four weeks, the intoxicated group [n=6] received CPF 5mg/kg b. w, orally twice weekly for four weeks and the protection group [n=6] receivied silymarin orally 6mg/kg b. w. half an hour after chlorpyrifos, administration in a dose of 5mg/kg b. w. orally twice weekly for four weeks. By the end of the experiment, estimation of the following biochemical parameters was done: plasma choline esterase enzyme activity level, serum cholesterol, serum cortisol and serum testosterone. The suprarenal gland was examined by the light microscope using routine H and E stain and chromaffin stain reaction as well as by the Transmission Electron Microscope. The measured biochemical parameters showed significant variation in CPF group compared to the control. The chlorpyrifos intoxicated group revealed affection of the cells of the suprarenal cortex and medulla with variable degrees of degenerative changes. The protection group showed improvement of the levels of the biochemical parameters with partial restoration of the normal histological features of the suprarenal structure compared to the CPF intoxicated group. Accordingly, it was proved that silymarin is a reliable antioxidant that could protect against the toxic effect of chlorpyrifos on the suprarenal gland

Is it antemortem or postmortem blood?

Bloodstains examination is required in many fields in medicolegal practice. This study was carried out to discriminate between antemortem [AM] andpostmortem [PM] bloodstains. The method used depended on the determination ofthe level of human myoglobin [by radioimmunoassay] as well as the levels ofadenosine triphosphate [ATP], xanthine and uracil [by HPLC] in thebloodstains. The study revealed a highly statistically significant elevationof myoglobin levels in PM than AM bloodstains. ATP was found in highconcentrations in all AM bloodstain samples and could not be detected in anyof the PM bloodstain ones. On the other hand, xanthine and uracil werepresent in considerable concentrations in all the PM bloodstain samples andwere not detected in any of the AM bloodstain ones. These results wereindependent of the age of the stain, the postmortem interval and the cause ofdeath. It was suggested that the determination of the above-mentionedparameters could help in the discrimination between antemortem and postmortembloodstains in medicolegal practice