Evaluation of protective property of vitamin C supplementation against experimentaly induced lead toxicity in male albino rats

To investigate the protective property of vitamin C upon lead induced toxicity in male albino rats. Subjects: The biological effects of lead exposure at 500 ppm for 7 weeks in drinking water upon 40 male albino rats were investigated with and without 5% vitamin C supplementation in normal rat chow in four groups: group [I] is the negative control group, group [II] rats were supplemented with normal rat chow containing 5% vitamin C, group [III] rats were given 500 ppm lead acetate in drinking water and group [IV] rats were given 500 ppm lead acetate in drinking water and 5% vitamin C in normal rat chow. It was observed that lead content in the lead exposed group was significantly increased in kidneys, liver, brain, RBC's and serum by 18.6, 7.5, 7.3, 8.3 and 4.1-fold, respectively as compared with negative control group indicating that the kidney was the most deteriorated organ in lead toxicity with elevated serum creatinine level. With 5% vitamin C supplementation in the lead exposed group, the lead content in these organs and fluids significantly decreased by 45, 61, 31, 58 and 39%, respectively as compared with the lead exposed group. Also with vitamin C supplementation, AST, ALT and creatinine in serum significantly decreased by 22, 23 and 29%, respectively with a concomitant significant increase in delta ALAD activity, HB and HCT by 52, 35 and 53%, respectively as compared to the lead exposed group but with non-significant changes in serum iron as compared with both negative control and lead exposed groups. Current search amplify the beneficial protective effect of vitamin C supplementation against lead induced toxicity

management of cholelithiasis and choleocholithiasis: a combined endoscopic and laparoscopic approach with expanding risk factors

One hundred fifty seven patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy from February 1992 to May 1994. From this group of patients, 31 patients demonstrated preoperative risk factors for common duct stones and underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography [ERCP] 1-5 days prior to L.C. The risk factors, other than ultrasound visualization of choledocholithiasis [29%], included history of jaundice [54.8%], history of cholangitis [29%], manifest jaundice [35.5%], elevated serum alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyltranspeptidase [45.2%] and dilated common bile duct [CBD] by ultrasound [48.4%]. Serum bile acids was estimated before endoscopic stone extraction and two weeks postlaparoscopic cholecystectomy. There were 2 ERCP failures due to periampullary diverticula. Common duct stones were identified and sphincterotomy was performed in 29 patients [100%] but stone retrieval by wire basket was successful in only 24 patients [82.8%]. The 2 hours postpr and ial serum bile acid [cholglycine] level was elevated in 25 patients [80.6%] and dropped in all of them with a percentage reduction of an average of 65%, two weeks postlaparoscopic cholecystectomy. Overall morbidity was [6.5%] represented by a patient who developed mild pancreatitis and another one who experienced endoscopic sphincterotomy-related bleeding that required surgical sphincteroplasty

Staging of carcinoma in schistosomal urinary bladder comparative computed tomographic and pathological studies

Seventy patients with carcinoma of schistosomal urinary bladder were investigated by computed tomography [CT] and the results were compared with those of pathological staging. There was over-staging in 3 out of 16 [18.75%] intramural tumors and under-staging in 3 [5.5%] out of 54 extramural tumors. CT demonstrated 5 patients out of 22 with enlarged pelvic lymph nodes [22.7%] with 2 false positive and one false negative results

Bacterial meningitis: Laboratory profile and computed tomographic findings

Twenty patients with acute bacterial meningitis were subjected to thorough history taking, full clinical and neurological examination, CSF studies, blood analysis and CT brain scan. Blood and CSF examinations were repeated ten days later following starting of treatment and follow up CT after one month. The results showed positive bacteriological studies in all cases. The main initial CT findings, in addition to diffuse meningeal enhancement were ventricular dilatation in seven cases. Low density lesions in six, subdural collection in four, brain edema in three, atrophy in one patient and abscess in another one