Protective effects of gadolinum chloride on pneumotoxic effects of styrene in rat

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of gadolinum on pneumotoxic effects of styrene in rats as an experimental model

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study a total number of 40 adult male Sprague Dawley rats that weighed 200 +/- 13 g were randomly divided into five groups: i. styrene [St, N=10], ii. styrene+gadolinium chloride [GdCl[3], N=10], iii. control [N=10], iv. GdCl[3][N=5] and v. normal saline [Nor.Sal, as a solvent of GdCl[3], N=5]. Normal saline, as a sham control group, was otherwise treated identically. Rats from the experimental groups were exposed to St in an exposure chamber for 6 days/week, 4 hours/day for up to 3 weeks. At the end of the experiment, rats from all groups were killed by deep anesthesia. Their lungs were removed, then fixed in formalin and weighed. Tissue samples were processed routinely and sections stained by the hematoxylin and eosin [H andE] and periodic acid Schiff [PAS] methods. We measured the thicknesses of the respiratory epithelia and interalveolar septa. Obtained data were analyzed by ANOVA, the Tukey test and the paired t test

Results: Shedding of apical cytoplasm in the bronchiole was a prominent feature of the St group. PAS staining revealed histochemical changes in goblet cells in the epithelium of the St group. While there were no significant changes in lung weights and respiratory epithelial thicknesses between all studied groups, statistical analysis showed a significant alteration in the thickness of interalveolar septa in the St and St+GdCl[3] group compared to the control groups [P<0.001]

Conclusion: Styrene induced structural and histochemical changes in bronchiole, interalveolar septa and alveolar organization in the rats' lungs. Gadolinium appeared to partially reduce the toxic effects of styrene on the lungs

Toxic effects of cisplatin on hepatocytes and liver enzymes of rats

Introduction: Cisplatin is an antineoplastic drug, which is widely used for the treatment of solid tumors. However, its clinical usage is limited because of its side effects such as hepatotoxicity. This study aimed to identify toxic effects of cisplatin on hepatocytes of rats

Methods: A total of 45 adult Sprague Dawley rats weighing 200 +/- 30 g were randomly divided into experimental [n=30] and control [n=15] groups. Rats of experimental groups were divided into 2 subgroups; subgroup 1 received 2 consecutive 2.5mg/kg dose of cisplatin, intraperitoneally in the beginning of first and fifth weeks of the study. Subgroup 2 also received 2 consecutive 5mg/kg dose of cisplatin in the same manner of subgroup 1. After 8 weeks, rats of both groups were anesthetized and killed. Then, their blood and tissue samples were taken. Prepared sections were stained by HE method. Collected data from microscopic slides and blood samples were analyzed by SPSS using analysis of variance [ANOVA] and Tukey test

Results: Statistical analysis showed significant differences in the activity of enzymes [ALT, AST, ALP] between control and experimental groups [P<0.001]. Analysis of sinusoidal diameter also showed a significant difference between studied groups [P<0.001] too

Conclusion: Cisplatin disorganizes the architecture of hepatic lobules and increases sinusoidal diameter in rat liver

[Histological evaluation of direct pulp capping by using of calcium hydroxide and octacalcium phosphate in cats dental pulp]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the tissue responses to octacalcium phosphate [OCP] and calcium hydroxide [CH] used as direct pulp capping [DPC] materials in cat teeth. 72 premolar teeth of 9 cats were selected and divided into 3 groups [Two experimental and one control group]. After the cats had been anesthetized, the pulp were exposed and capped directly with OCP, CH or no capping material as control group. The cavities of all three groups were filled with Glass ionomer cement [GI]. Histological evaluations were performed at two, four and eight weeks after pulp capping. After tissue preparation procedures, paraffin blocks were prepared. After preparation and staining of the sections, the relevant variables were measured by optical microscope. The results were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests [alpha =0.05]. Two weeks after pulp capping, all specimens in three groups showed mild to sever inflammation. The formation of hard tissue [dentinal bridge] at the exposed areas of the experimental groups was more noticeable for calcium hydroxide than that of octacalcium phosphate group. These differences were statistically significant [P<0.001]. At four weeks, hard tissues were observed in both groups which were more evident for the CH group and there were statistically significant difference between two experimental groups [p<0.003]. At eight weeks, continuous hard tissues were observed in both groups and there were no statistically significant difference between them [P>0.05], but hard tissues continuity were better for the OCP than that of the CH. It seems that the formation of hard tissue in CH because of its porosities had a worse percentage in sealing of the pulp than the OCP

[ rare anatomical variation of the palmar vascular pattern: a case report]

The anatomy of the palmar vascular arches and their variations, being one of the most challenging anatomical regions for reconstructive surgeon. During a routine dissection of a male adult cadaver in dissection hall of zahedan university of medical sciences, a complex, unilateral and rare variation in the pattern of blood supply to the palm of the right hand was observed. The history of the individual and cause of the death is not known. In this cadaver there was an incomplete superficial palmar arterial arch had no contribution from the radial artery. The superficial palmar arch giving only one common palmar digital artery, that supply second interdigital space and then it terminated by giving rise to a common trunk for princeps pollicis and radialis indicis arteries. Absence of the second and third common palmar digital artery with the contiguous sides of the third and forth interdigital spaces supply by the second and third palmar metacarpal arteries from the deep palmar arch respectively. The third palmar metacarpal artery giving rise to a branch which supplies the medial side of the little finger. Having knowledge of the variations of vascular patterns resulting from a number of developmental errors could provide an important source of information for Anatomists, Radiologist, reconstructive and vascular surgeons

Abnormal branching pattern of the axillary artery

Accurate knowledge of the normal and variant arterial pattern of the upper extremities is important for reparative surgeons. During dissection of a male cadaver, a common trunk taking origin from the third part of the axillary artery was observed. This common trunk at first gave rise to the usual branches of this part of the artery and then descended into the arm. In the arm, it gave rise to the main branches of the brachial artery and then continued as the inferior ulnar collateral artery. In this specimen, a rare pattern of auxiliary artery branching was observed. Numerous alternatives that exist during the formation of upper limb vessels seem to be responsible for anomalous arterial branching patterns