study of the genotoxic effects of some drugs of abuse

The study was carried out to investigate the potential mutagenicity of somecommon drugs of abuse [opiates, alcohols, benzodiazepines and cannabis] inaddicts. Forty male addicts were included in the study. The frequency ofSister Chromatid Exchanges [SCEs] and structural chromosomal aberrations wereused as genetic bioassays in this work. The study revealed that the threequarters of the addicts [75.0%] were in age group 20-40 years. Astatistically significant increase in the frequencies of SCEs and structuralchromosomal aberrations were observed in addicts of opiates, alcohols andbenzodiazepines than the controls, while no such significant increase wasobserved in cannabis users. The study proved the mutagenic potentially ofopiates, alcohol and benzodiazepines, while no definite prove was drawn asregard the effect of cannabis

Childhood injury in Alexandrai is it preventable?

The aim of this study was to shed light on the problem of childhood injury,its causative factors, severity of injury and methods for prevention. Aprospective study was done on 2286 injured children [less than 5 years old]admitted to two big teaching hospitals in Alexandria during six months period. Results indicated that more children were encountered in the age group 1 <3years [52.0%]. Boys predominated girls with a sex ratio of 1.5: 1. Home was found to be the main place where accident occurs [88.6%]. Trauma is the leading cause of injury [61.3%], especially accidental falls, followed by poisoning [26.0%], then burns [3.5%]. Extremities were the main site of injury in 61.2%, followed by the head [33.2%]. The fatality rate was 1.48%. It was concluded that prevention is the main objective attitude against childhood injuries. Preventive programs should be initiated and received high priority in Egypt and they should be directed mainly to safety inside home

Study of Peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets in healthy and type II diabetic elderly

This work included 20 healthy old individuals aged between 61 and 80 years, 12 of them were females and 20 elderly with diabetes type II between 60 and 78 years old. The work included a third group which consisted of 15 healthy controls of younger age between 21 and 35 years. The results showed significant decline of CD3 and CD8 in both healthy elderly and diabetic elderly, while the CD4 subjects did not show any statistical difference. The work showed also substantial difference according to sex, where the CD4 bearing cells were significantly higher in healthy as well as diabetic elderly females more than males. The absence of difference in T lymphocyte subset between healthy elderly and diabetic type II elderly agreed with many authors who denied any immunologic alteration in diabetes type II. On the other hand, the significant lowering of CD3 and CD8 subsets in diabetic patients compared to younger controls could be attributed to either impaired metabolic control or merely due to the age difference

Chemiluminescence and chemotactic activity of the neutrophils in the elderly and the effect of vitamin C

This work included 20 male healthy elderly persons aged from 65 to 80 years and 7 young healthy control subjects. Both the elderly and the young individuals were non smokers and of the same socioeconomic standard. All of them were not allowed to receive any drugs for 10 days prior to blood sampling and neutrophil isolation. Specific tests were performed including measuring the chemotactic index, the [NBT] reduction test and a more recent and specific test [chemiluminescence which measured the phagocytosis and intracellular killing]. The results showed that chemotactic index and NTB reduction were inferior in the elderly group in comparison with young controls, while there was no difference as regard chemiluminescence test. The tests were repeated again 10 days after oral administration of 1.5 mg vitamin C/day in divided doses to only 10 of the elderly subjects who showed the least neutrophil functions. The results showed significant increase in all neutrophil function tests after vitamin C. It was suggested that combined effects of aging and malnutrition particularly hypovitaminosis C might lead to a profound impairment of neutrophil functions. Also, the detection of subclinical vitamin C deficiency and the addition of the vitamin to those suffering from infection is of particular importance to resist the predilection for infection in the aging population

Study of serum selenium in ischemic heart disease and its relation to age and smoking

This work showed that only in the patients aged 30 - 39 years, the serum selenium level was significantly lowered less than the controls of the same age. It was found also that the healthy subjects of this age [30-39 years] had a higher serum selenium level than other age grouping of healthy controls, however, the, difference was nonsignificant. In the meantime, it was demonstrated that serum selenium level in smokers in both groups of patients and healthy subjects was significantly decreased in comparison with non smokers

study of sexual assault in Alexandria governorate

The study entails 621 victims of sexual assault referred for medicolegal examination to the Forensic Medicine Directorate, Ministry of Justice, Alexandria during five years period [1984-1988]. Rape victims outnumbered victims of sodomy in all age groups except in the age group 7-12 years where sodomy significantly predominate rape. The month of July showed the highest peak for reporting of cases. Nearly half the cases of sexual assault occurred in the assailants, residence [49.3%]. The assailant was known to the vicitim in the majority of cases [78.6%]. Sexual assault among family members constituted 9.4% of total victims, where the father was the main offender. Signs of general violence was reported only in 6.6% of victims while sings of local violence was reported in 22.9% of victims of rape and alleged rape with sodomy, and in 71.4% of victims with alleged sodomy. A crisis center should be established for psychological and social support of the victims of sexual assault

study of patients with acute poisoning admitted to Alexandria main university hospital during the year 1977

During the year 1977, 1830 patients with acute poisoning were admitted to Alexandria Main University Hospital, constituting 12% of the total medical admissons. These cases were analysed as regards age, sex, days of admission, duration of stay in hospital and type of poisoning. The females outnumbered males. More than half the cases were in the age group 15 to 25 years. Saturday showed most of the admissions. More cases were admitted during July and August. Moharem Bey is the district referring most of the cases. The highest load of admission was during the night shift. The type of poisoning was known in 67.3%. Three quarters of the patients stayed in the hospital less than one day