Protective effect of aminoguanidine against cyclosporine induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in rats: histological and biochemical study

Cyclosporine A [CsA] is a potent and effective immuno-suppressive agent used to prevent rejection in organ transplant surgery and autoimmune diseases. Its use is frequently accompanied by nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. The present study was designed to investigate the possible protective effect of aminoguanidine on Cyclosporine induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in male albino rats. A total of sixty healthy adult male albino rats were used divided into four equal groups in this study. Group I rats served as control treated with distilled water orally only, group II was treated with CsA in a dose of 25mg/kg orally daily for 21 days, group III treated with CsA concurrently with aminoguanidine in doses of 25 and 20mg/kg orally daily for 21 days respectively and group IV was treated with olive oil orally [vehicle for CsA]. Rats were sacrificed 24 hs after last dose, blood, kidney and liver samples were taken. Histopathological examination by light and electron microscopic, immunohistochemistry for active caspase-3 were done. Besides, biochemical measurement; serum nitric oxide level and kidney and liver functions tests were done. CsA oral administration for 21 days significantly increased serum nitric oxide level impaired the renal and hepatic function tests and markedly distorted the renal and hepatic morphology in light and electron microscopic examination. Aminoguanidine administration improved serum nitric oxide level, kidney and liver function tests and preserved renal and hepatic morphological structures. Aminoguanidine has a protective effect against Cyclosporine induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity

Effects of different environmental factors on the identification of fetal and adult hemoglobin in bloodstains

The forensic scientist is confronted with many problems in the identification of bloodstains. These problems may be due to the aging of the stain or some environmental factors to which the stain was exposed. The aim of this work is to determine the effects of different environmental factors [age, temperature, pH, light, dark, humidity, open air and burn] on fetal hemoglobin [HbF] and adult hemoglobin [HbA] identification. The study aims also to determine the recommended conditions for collection and preservation of bloodstains. The research was carried out on 20 blood samples of healthy adult volunteers and 20 fetal human blood samples. Fetal hemoglobin [HbF] was measured in fetal blood samples and total adult hemoglobin [HbA] was measured in adult blood samples by cyanomethemoglobin method and their patterns were detected by cellulose acetate electrophoresis method. The results demonstrated that fetal and adult hemoglobin concentration decreased with the advance of the age of the stain. The percent of decrease due to aging was more in fetal hemoglobin. The minimal effect of temperature was after exposure to -4°C [the percent of decrease was 29.49% for fetal and 21.99% for adult]. Fetal hemoglobin appeared to be more resistant to alkalis and acids; more affected by both light and dark than adult hemoglobin. The study of the pattern of cellulose acetate electrophoresis revealed that the studied environmental factors had great destructive effects on blood stains but fetal hemoglobin [HbF] was more affected than adult hemoglobin [HbA]. The study recommended that bloodstains must be preserved in a dry condition at -4°C without addition of any chemicals or just in open air where analysis must be done as early as possible

Identification of sex depending on radiological examination of foot and patella

The present work was carried out to investigate the possibility of the estimation of sex from some radiological measurements among a known cross section of Egyptian population. Lateral and anteroposterior radiographs of the right foot and knee were made on 160 living unfractured and non pathological individuals comprising 80 males and 80 females aged 25-65 years. Two measurements on right patella [maximum height and maximum width] and two measurements of metatarsal bones [length and mid shaft diameter] were used to determine sex by univariate and multivariate discriminant analysis. The study revealed significant sex differences, based on these measurements taken on patella or metatarsal bones. One function associating two parameters [length and mid shaft] of the third metatarsal bone obtained the highest value of correct sex determination with a rate of 100% accuracy. The study suggested that the radiographs of the knee and foot are convenient, rapid, cheap and noninvasive means for estimating sex

Role of psycoactive drugs in road traffic accidents in Assiut

Injuries and fatalities occur in all forms of transportation but numerically road traffic accidents account for the great majority world wide. It has become a social problem internationally constituting rapidly spreading epidemic from which no country is immune. For several years, it has been suggested that psychoactive drugs would be a causative factor of traffic accidents by decreasing alertness, degradation of motor skills, reduction of visual acuity, disinhibition with attendant increase in risk-taking, slowing reaction time, degradation of judgments and decision making. The present work aims to verify the presence of alcohol or psychoactive drugs: cannabis, trihexyphenidyl [parkinol]; diazepam, clonazepam, tramadol, codeine and dextromethorphen in urine of the drivers. The relationship between the use of these drugs and the severity of the injuries and the outcome of the drivers are also investigated. The study was carried out in the Casualty Department of Assiut University hospital. It was conducted on all the drivers of traffic accidents [RTAs] admitted to the hospital during the period between February and September 2001. Urine samples collected from drivers were used to search for presence of the abused drugs. Colour tests; and thin layer chromatography were used to identify these drugs