Comparative Study on Bone Marrow-Versus Adipose-Derived Stem Cells on Regeneration and Re-Innervation of Skeletal Muscle Injury in Wistar Rats

BACKGROUND@#Skeletal muscle injuries are frequent clinical challenges due to associated fibrosis and disability.Regenerative medicine is an emerging promising strategy for such cases. The aim of this study was to compare between the effects of bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) versus adipose tissue stromal cells (ADSCs) on regeneration and re-innervation of skeletal muscle laceration injury in Wistar rats at different time intervals. @*METHODS@#Six young male rats were used as a source of allogenic MSCs. Eighty-four adult female rats were divided into: Group I (control), Group II (Untreated Laceration): right gluteal muscle was lacerated and left for spontaneous healing, Group III (BM-MSCs): right gluteal muscle was lacerated with concomitant local intramuscular injection of 1 x 106 BM-MSCs in the lacerated muscle, Group IV (ADSCs): right gluteal muscle was lacerated with concomitant local intramuscular injection of 1 x 106 ADSCs in lacerated muscle. Rats were sacrificed after one, two and eight weeks.Muscles were processed to prepare sections stained with H&E, Mallory’s trichrome and immune-histochemical staining (neurofilament light chain). @*RESULTS@#A significant increase in collagen fibers and failure of re-innervation were noticed in untreated laceration group. BM-MSCs-treated groups showed regeneration of muscle fibers but with increased collagen fibers. Meanwhile, ADSCs showed better regenerative effects evidenced by significant increase in the number of myotubes and significant decrease in collagen deposition. Re-innervation was noticed in MSCs-injected muscles after 8 weeks of laceration. @*CONCLUSION@#Both BM-MSCs and ADSCs improved regeneration of skeletal muscle laceration injury at short- and long-term durations. However, fibrosis was less in ADSCs-treated rats. Effective re-innervation of injured muscles occurred only at the long-term duration.

Comparative Study on Bone Marrow-Versus Adipose-Derived Stem Cells on Regeneration and Re-Innervation of Skeletal Muscle Injury in Wistar Rats

BACKGROUND@#Skeletal muscle injuries are frequent clinical challenges due to associated fibrosis and disability.Regenerative medicine is an emerging promising strategy for such cases. The aim of this study was to compare between the effects of bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) versus adipose tissue stromal cells (ADSCs) on regeneration and re-innervation of skeletal muscle laceration injury in Wistar rats at different time intervals. @*METHODS@#Six young male rats were used as a source of allogenic MSCs. Eighty-four adult female rats were divided into: Group I (control), Group II (Untreated Laceration): right gluteal muscle was lacerated and left for spontaneous healing, Group III (BM-MSCs): right gluteal muscle was lacerated with concomitant local intramuscular injection of 1 x 106 BM-MSCs in the lacerated muscle, Group IV (ADSCs): right gluteal muscle was lacerated with concomitant local intramuscular injection of 1 x 106 ADSCs in lacerated muscle. Rats were sacrificed after one, two and eight weeks.Muscles were processed to prepare sections stained with H&E, Mallory’s trichrome and immune-histochemical staining (neurofilament light chain). @*RESULTS@#A significant increase in collagen fibers and failure of re-innervation were noticed in untreated laceration group. BM-MSCs-treated groups showed regeneration of muscle fibers but with increased collagen fibers. Meanwhile, ADSCs showed better regenerative effects evidenced by significant increase in the number of myotubes and significant decrease in collagen deposition. Re-innervation was noticed in MSCs-injected muscles after 8 weeks of laceration. @*CONCLUSION@#Both BM-MSCs and ADSCs improved regeneration of skeletal muscle laceration injury at short- and long-term durations. However, fibrosis was less in ADSCs-treated rats. Effective re-innervation of injured muscles occurred only at the long-term duration.

Morbidity Profile of Cases Attended Oncology Center of Mansoura University (OCMU), Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVES: In Egypt, the National Cancer Registry Program integrates hospital-based data from multiple Egyptian governorates to obtain representative rates. Unfortunately, Dakahlia (one of the largest Egyptian governorates) was not integrated in the National Cancer Registry Program. This research aimed to acquire malignancy rates from the Oncology Center of Mansoura University, which is one of the two oncology centers present in Dakalia Governorate in Egypt. METHODS: Electronic records of patients who attended the Oncology Center of Mansoura University during 2016 were accessed with permission. Analysis was performed to extract diagnostic categories (age, gender, and geographic distribution of cases). RESULTS: Most commonly diagnosed malignancies were breast cancer which represented about 10% of cases in the Oncology Center of Mansoura University during 2016. This was followed by leukemia (3.80%), lymphoma (3.59%), and liver cancer (3.44%). Diagnoses encountered included benign and malignant tumors as well as non-tumor diagnoses. The Mansoura district had the highest proportionate rate of breast cancer cases. Females in the age group ≥ 35 < 60 years had the highest incidence of malignancy cases across all diagnoses. CONCLUSION: The burden of breast cancer in Mansoura district is high. Risk factors need further evaluation with a recommendation to perform an environmental risk assessment.

U-net based metal segmentation on projection domain for metal artifact reduction in dental CT

Unlike medical computed tomography (CT), dental CT often suffers from severe metal artifacts stemming from high-density materials employed for dental prostheses. Despite the many metal artifact reduction (MAR) methods available for medical CT, those methods do not sufficiently reduce metal artifacts in dental CT images because MAR performance is often compromised by the enamel layer of teeth, whose X-ray attenuation coefficient is not so different from that of prosthetic materials. We propose a deep learning-based metal segmentation method on the projection domain to improve MAR performance in dental CT. We adopted a simplified U-net for metal segmentation on the projection domain without using any information from the metal-artifacts-corrupted CT images. After training the network with the projection data of five patients, we segmented the metal objects on the projection data of other patients using the trained network parameters. With the segmentation results, we corrected the projection data by applying region filling inside the segmented region. We fused two CT images, one from the corrected projection data and the other from the original raw projection data, and then we forward-projected the fused CT image to get the fused projection data. To get the final corrected projection data, we replaced the metal regions in the original projection data with the ones in the fused projection data. To evaluate the efficacy of the proposed segmentation method on MAR, we compared the MAR performance of the proposed segmentation method with a conventional MAR method based on metal segmentation on the CT image domain. For the MAR performance evaluation, we considered the three primary MAR performance metrics: the relative error (REL), the sum of square difference (SSD), and the normalized absolute difference (NAD). The proposed segmentation method improved MAR performances by around 5.7% for REL, 6.8% for SSD, and 8.2% for NAD. The proposed metal segmentation method on the projection domain showed better MAR performance than the conventional segmentation on the CT image domain. We expect that the proposed segmentation method can improve the performance of the existing MAR methods that are based on metal segmentation on the CT image domain.

A bench-top micro-CT capable of simulating head motions

Computational three-dimensional (3D) models of a dental structure generated from 3D dental computed tomography (CT) images are now widely used in digital dentistry. To generate precise 3D models, high-resolution imaging of the dental structure with a dental CT is required. However, a small head motion of the patient during the dental CT scan could degrade the spatial resolution of CT images to the extent that digital dentistry is no longer possible. A bench-top micro-CT has been built to evaluate the head motion effects on the dental CT images. A micro-CT has been built on an optic table with a micro-focus x-ray source and a flat-panel detector. A rotation stage, placed in between the x-ray source and the detector, is mounted on two-directional goniometers that can rotate the rotation stage in two orthogonal directions while the rotation stage is performing the CT scan. The goniometers can make object motions of an arbitrary waveform to simulate head tilting or head nodding. CT images of a phantom have been taken with and without introducing the motions, and the motion effects on the CT images have been evaluated. Object motions parallel to the detector plane have greater effects on the CT images than those against the detector plane. With the bench-top micro-CT, the motion effects have been visually seen at a tiny rotational motion as small as 0.3°. The bench-top micro-CT can be used to evaluate head motion effects on the dental CT images. The projection data, taken with the motion effects, would be used to develop motion artifact correction methods for a high-resolution dental-CT.

Detection of 14q32 rearrangements in multiple myeloma, using simultaneous FISH analysis combined with immunofluorescence

14q32 rearrangement has been identified as a recurrent hotspot of translocations in multiple myeloma [MM]. The Fluorescence Immunophenotyping and Interphase Cytogenetics as a tool for the Investigation of Neoplasms [known as FICTION technique] for evaluation of chromosomal changes in MM. The aim of this work is to detect 14q32 rearrangement, using FICTION technique, on archival bone marrow [BM] slides of MM patients, and to study its prognostic value. This study was conducted at Ain Shams University Hospital. The FICTION technique, which uses CD138 and dual color, and the break-apart 14q32 rearrangement probe, was performed on archived smears of BM slides for 50 MM patients at the time of diagnosis. A significantly higher percentage of cases were positive for 14q32 rearrangement by FICTION [32%] compared to fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH] [12%] [p = 0.04]. Cases positive by FICTION for the rearrangement were designated as Group A, while negative cases were designated as Group B. Significantly lower Hb and CRP levels were found among Group B when compared to Group A patients [p = 0.001 and 0.01, respectively]. Serum albumin level and Bence Jones protein [BJP] significantly affect overall survival [OS] [p = 0.01, 0.007, respectively]. However, a statistically non-significant shorter mean survival time was found in positive cases through FICTION versus negative cases. FICTION technique provides a sensitive tool for establishing clonal plasma cells [PC] infiltration of BM aspirates, and is amenable for use on archived as well as fresh smears

role of Acacia Arabica extract as an antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, and antioxidant in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

To investigate the role of Acacia Arabica extract as a hypoglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, and antioxidant agent in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. This is an animal experimental study conducted in King Fahd Research Center, King Abdulaziz University [KAU], Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from December 2012 to January 2013. Thirty-six female albino rats were divided into 2 equal groups; the first served as control, and the second was the streptozotocin-induced diabetic group. Each group was subdivided into 3 subgroups, each of 6 rats; the first was left untreated, the second and the third were treated with Acacia Arabica extract orally for 21 days [100 mg/kg for the second group and 200 mg/kg for the third group]. On the twenty-first day, blood samples were withdrawn through the retro-orbital plexus of overnight fasted rats under light ether anesthesia for determination of serum glucose, insulin, total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], malondialdehyde [MDA], and coenzyme Q10 [Co-Q10]. A significant decrease in levels of serum glucose, insulin resistance, TC, TG, LDL-C, MDA and a significant increase in HDL-C and Co-Q10 was observed in the treated diabetic groups when compared to the untreated diabetic group. The changes were dose dependent. The results found in this study indicate that Acacia Arabica extract has hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant properties, therefore, it can be investigated for its efficacy in the treatment of diabetes in humans

Occupational and environmental risk factors for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Egypt: a multicenter case-control study

Despite the advances in medical therapy and technology, the prognosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis [IPF] remains poor and the need for disease prevention based on identifying the risk factors becomes mandatory. Occupational and environmental exposures were studied in several countries and found to play important role in the disease development. However, in Egypt, a little attention has been paid to study the effect of these factors in the disease development. To identify the occupational and environmental risk factors associated with the development of IPF in Egypt. A multicenter hospital-based case-control study was carried out in chest hospitals affiliated to three Egyptian cities-Cairo, Tanta and Mansoura. Subjects were 201 patients with confirmed IPF [cases] and 205 age-, sex- and residence-matched controls. Data on occupational and environmental factors were obtained from a questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors of IPF in both sexes for single factors with adjustment for age, residence and smoking status. Compared with the controls, the risk of IPF in male workers was observed to increase significantly in chemical and petrochemical industries and carpentry and wood working [OR=2.56, 95% CI: 1.02-7.01], and with occupational exposures to wood dust and wood preservatives. Among female workers, a significant increase was observed in farming [OR=3.34, 95% CI: 1.17-10.12], raising birds and occupational exposures to animal feeds, products and dusts and pesticides. Risk of IPF decreased significantly in male workers and in-significantly among female workers in sales and clerical related activities. The environmental exposures to birds and cats were significantly associated with elevated risk of IPF development in both sexes. In Egypt, farming, raising birds and wood working are important risk factors for the development of IPF

Male circumcision: review and authors perspective

The aim of this article was to evaluate the proposed benefits and consequences of male circumcision and highlight the penile prepuce, the poorly understood and much controversial part of the human body. Databases of Pubmed, Science Direct, Springer Link, Wiley Interscience and others were searched. The research papers were studied and discussed. Finally, the opinion of the authors was recorded. Male circumcision is a legacy of the human civilization, originating in Egypt. It confers many prophylactic benefits for the recipient and his female partner. The benefits include protection against urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases including HIV, penile and prostate cancer and cervical cancer in the female partner. At the same time, it is a simple and safe procedure, having minimal risks. The removed prepuce is not a vestigial but an important and unique structure, being used in repair of the common malformations of the penile urethra. Benefits of circumcision vastly outweigh its potential risks. Newborns with penile anomalies are best treated by deferring the procedure until the defect can be corrected using prepuce at few months of age

Non-organ-specific autoantibodies in chronic hepatitis c patients: association with histological activity and fibrosis

The interaction between HCV and the human immune system has attracted great interest in the last decade for two main reasons. Immune system related manifestations include a myriad of conditions ranging from sub-clinical cryoglobulinemia to overt lymphoproliferative malignancy. [Landau et al 2007]. Among the various immune system disorders associated with HCV infection is the auto immunity. Chronic hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection is, indeed, associated with a range of autoimmune manifestations, including increased expression of non organ-specific autoantibodies. There is ongoing debate as to whether the presence of autoantibodies provides additional information about the disease process or is simply an epiphenomenon. Aim to assess the prevalence, type of NOSA in chronic hepatitis € patients and to determine whether a relationship might exist between the presence of NOSA and the severity of liver disease in chronic hepatitis C. Methodology A total of one hundred patients with chronic hepatitis C who are treatment naive presented to the department of Hepatology; Ain Shams University hospitals between the years 2009 and 2011 were enrolled. Non-organ specific autoantibodies namely ASMA, ANA and LKM autoantibodies were assessed in the sera of all patients. A liver biopsy was also done to determine the histological degree of liver injury using Metavir score. We found that NOSAs were present in 14% of our cohort. ASMA was the most frequently detected autoantibody [13%] in this study and LKM was the least [4%] with predominately low titres [1:40]. NOSA was more common in females and the presence of autoantibodies was associated with higher level of transaminases and more advanced fibrosis and necroinflammatory scores on liver biopsy independent of the degree of viremia. NOSAs were associated with the most severe forms of chronic HCV infections

Trans-cortical sub-pial amygdalo-hippocampectomy: technical aspects

To highlight the technical details involved and their impact on seizure control and accordingly the quality of life in patients with complex partial seizures caused by various pathologies during surgical resection of the amygdala and the hippocampus using a simple transcortical transventricular sub-pial approach to the region. Eleven patients presenting with complex partial seizures not responding to medical treatment caused by various pathologies including mesial temporal lobe sclerosis, benign and malignant temporal lobe tumors were operated upon by trans-cortical sub-pial amygdalo-hippocampectomy either alone or combined with other approaches in the period between January 2005 to November 2007. Pre-operatively all patients' symptoms and signs along with medications used for seizure control were documented. Patients were not taken into surgery unless an adequate level of anti-epileptics was documented in serum. An MRI with and without contrast was performed in all patients before surgery. All patients were operated through a standard trans-cortical approach to the temporal horn of the lateral ventricle. Following identification of hippocampus and choroidal fissure and plexus a subpial disconnection of the hippocampus was done from anterior to posterior followed by a subpial amygdalectomy and then the surgical specimen was removed either alone or combined with the tumor. No cortical mapping was used. An awake craniotomy was used in 3 patients with dominant hemisphere lesions. Post operatively all patients were clinically assessed; all neurological deficits were noted and documented. The need for anti-epileptic therapy as well as seizure control was documented. A follow-up MRI was performed 2 months after surgery in all patients to document the extent of resection of amygdala and hippocampus. Functional and radiological outcome were then correlated with surgical technique by analyzing the operative details for each individual case. Patients were followed-up for periods ranging from 6 months to 2 years. Seizure control was classified into four classes according to Engel. Class I were patients no longer having seizures whether or not on treatment. Class II were patients who experienced only one or several seizures, class III patients who were still having seizures but with a less frequency than before and class IV were patients who showed no seizure control following surgery. 11 patients with complex partial seizures caused by various pathologies have been operated using a standard trans-cortical trans-ventricular completely sub-pial approach to the amygdala and the hippocampus for various pathological lesions of the temporal lobe. There were no mortalities or major neurological deficits. One patient developed meningitis, one developed ventriculitis, one developed a temporary partial third nerve palsy. Two patients exhibited a short term memory deficit. Eight patients showed an Engel class I seizure control, two patients showed an Engel class II seizure control and one patient showed an Engel class III seizure control. The trans-cortical trans-ventricular completely sub-pial approach to the amygdala and the hippocampus offers a simple and reliable as well as safe technique for the surgical resection of the amygdala and the hippocampus with results comparable to those of other reported series using more complex approaches to the region

Echinococcosis granulosus/hydatidosis an endemic zoonotic disease in Egypt

The hydatidosis patients were collected from Mansoura University's Hospitals and Dakahlia Public Health Hospitals. The patients were divided into three groups: GI: 74 patients with surgically confirmed cystic echinococcosis [CE], GII: 45 patients with other parasitic infections, GIII: 30 healthy parasite-free individuals. All were subjected to questionnaire and full clinical examination, imaging investigation, routine laboratory examination, and serum samples for antibody against CE by the specific ELISA. The hydatidosis was higher in females but without statistically significant difference [p=0.309]. There was no age predilection difference regarding hydatidosis infection. However, the hydatidosis granulosus was significantly higher in the shepherd followed by the farmers. All the questionnaires were positively correlated to hydatidosis infection except the availability of clean domestic water and personal knowledge about hydatidosis gave negative correlations. The ELISA-OD correlated positively with the imaging investigation [mainly U S stage]. The sensitivity of ELISA was 86.7% and specificity was 81.4%. The results were evaluated regarding the local and regional data on echinococcosis/hydatidosis

Transcranial extradural resection of pituitary adenoma with extrasellar extensions

Fifteen cases of pituitary adenomas with extrasellar extension were operated in the period from June 2003 to January 2007 in Kasr Al-Aini Hospital, nine cases were females and six cases were males with age range from 30 to 55 years. Headache [93.3%] and diminution of vision [80%] were the most common presenting symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging to the sella and computed tomography bone window sellar cuts were the basic radiologic investigations, in addition to hormonal profile were performed to all cases. Complete tumor resection was accomplished in [73.3%] of cases and cerebrospinal fluid leak was the most common complication [26.6%]

Adipocytokines in ct determined visceral versus subcutaneous obesity

Objectives: [1] To measure the fat present in the visceral and subcutaneous depots by both anthropometric measurement and computed tomographic imaging [CT] of the abdomen. [2]To correlate these values to: mean alterial blood pressure [MABP], indices of insulin sensitivity [fasting plasma glucose and insulin, glycated hemoglobin.[HbA1C]. and hemeostasis model HOMA] index], the lipid profile and to serum adlpocytokmes [admponectin, resistin assessments and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 PAI-1]

Subjects: Subjects of the present study were divided into lean [20 normal weight females] and obese [40 females]. Based on CT imaging of the umbilical region, the obese subjects were divided into subcutaneous [20 cases] and visceral [20 cases] fat obese group

Results: Significantly higher waist circumference, waist to hip ratio [WHR], MABP, visceral fat area, subcutaneous fat area and the ratio between visceral fat area [V]/subcutaneous fat area [S] [V/S] were found in visceral obese group compared to subcutaneous obese [p<0.05]. Visceral fat area [V] was significantly positively correlated to waist circumference, WHR, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c, HOMA index and PAI-1 [r = 0.65, 0.62, 0.63, 0.64, 0.56, 0.69, and 0.53, respectively]; and it was negatively correlated with adiponectin [r= -0.52]. V/S ratio correlated significantly with waist circumference, WHR, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c, HOMA index, MABP, PAH and resistin [r = 0.75, 0.76, 0.79, 0.86, 0.47, 0.81, 0.64, 0.73, and 0.41, respectively]. V/S correlated negatively with adiponectin [r=-0.56]. In addition, the WHR and waist circumference correlated positively with MABP [r= 0.56 and 0.48, respectively] and also to HOMA index [r=0.67 and 0.68, respectively]. Serum adiponectin was significantly decreased, while resistin and PAI-1 levels were significantly elevated in visceral obesity compared to both subcutaneous and lean subjects. Adiponectin was also significantly negatively correlated to waist circumference, WHR, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c, HOMA index, MABP and PAl-1 [r =- 0.47, -0.51, -0.55, -0.57, -0.54, -0.57, -0.46 and -0.58, respectively, p<0.05]. Resistin was weakly positively correlated to, HOMA index, and PAH, and HbA1c [r = 0.42, 0.42, and 0.42 respectively]. PAI-1 was significantly positively correlated to waist circumference , WHR, fasting glucose, fasting insulin,, V/S, MABP, HOMA and negatively correlated to adiponectin [r =2 0.59, 0.61, 0.76, 0.78, and 0.73, 0.57, 0.8, 0.58, respectively]. Multiple regression analysis revealed that high VIS ratio and low serum adiponectin were independent risk factors for insulin resistance [HOMA index] [p=0.01 and 0.002, respectively]. Also multiple regression analysis revealed that a high HOMA index was an independent risk factor for MABP [p=0.01]

Conclusion: Visceral obesity appears to be more implicated in insulin resistance and hypertension than subcutaneous obesity. V/S ratio calculated after CT imaging may be more reliable marker than other antnopommic measures and could be considered independent risk factors for insulin Rim. Low mm adiponectin also proved to be independent risk factors for insulin resistance. PAH seems to be more involved in the cardiovascular complications of human obesity and insulin resistance compared to resistin which seems most probably to have a relatively minor role

influence of platelets collagen receptor expression and platelets glycoprotein Ia allele polymorphisms in acute coronary disease

Platelets play an important part in arterial thrombosis therefore it is important to consider the role of adhesion molecules of the platelet surface that play a role in increasing arterial risk. Glycoprofein Ia/IIa is the major platelet collagen receptor and is responsible for platelet adherence to exposed vascular subendothelium. A four fold variation of the platelets receptor density of the collagen receptor glycoprotein Ia/IIa correlating with platelet function to adhere to collagen type I and type III. GPIa/IIa surface expression is influenced by two linked single nucleotide polymorphism [807CT, 873GA] in glycoprotein Ia gene. Individuals with low receptor,densities are homozygos for the 807C/873G allele [CC] genotype whereas individuals homozygos for the 807T/873A allele [TT] genotype have high receptor densities with increased risk of thrombosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of platelet glycoprotein Ia allele polymorphism and platelet collagen receptor [CD49/CD29] density in patients with acute coronary syndrome and control subjects to clarify their possible involvement of their genotype and density as risk factors of the disease, and also to study the association between these findings and the other risk factor for myocardial infarction. The study including 41 patients with a mean age 55.23 years [ +/- 10.98] with a male to female ratio of 33:8. They were compared to 22 controls with a mean age of 49.74 years [ +/- 12.05] and a male to female ratio of 11:11.Glycoprotein Ia gene polymorphism analysis was done by PCR technique for patients and control group together with flowcytometric study of platelet collagen receptor [CD49/CD29] density. Plateletes glycoprotein Ia/IIa receptor% among cases showed a mean of 79.22% [ +/- 12.95] in comparison to 70.9% [ +/- 13.68] among controls. The difference was statistically significant. As regards gene rearrangements, the frequencies of homozygotes T807 allele [TT genotype] were significantly higher in patients with ACS than in controls [24.39% vs 13.63% p<0.05]. The prevalence of [CC] genotypes was also higher in control than in patients [31.8% vs 17%, p<0.05]. Platelets glycoprotein receptor Ia/IIa% [R%] among these groups showed a significant difference between TT cases [mean of 90.5% +/- 3.5], CC cases [mean of 66.5% +/- 5.75] and CT cases [mean of 79.8% +/- 4.82]. Studying other risk factors [obesity, hypertension [HTN], diabetes mellitus [DM] and lipid profile including total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein [LDL] and high density lipoprotein [HDL]] among our group of patients comparing to control subjects, showed no marked significant difference but not for triglycerides [TG] where was significantly higher in our patients compared to control. It was concluded that TT genotype was over presented among patients with acute coronary syndrome compared to healthy controls, whether this genotype is associated with more severe type of coronary heart disease or not this deserve larger scale study

surgical treatment of trigeminal schwanomas

Thirteen cases of trigeminal schwanomas were operated upon in the period from February 2003 to August 2006 in Kasr El-Aini Hospital, Cairo University, seven females and six males with age-range from 35 to 60 years. All patients have presented with trigeminal dysfunction manifestations, brain magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography with petrous bone window were performed to all cases. The frontotemporal epidural approach was performed in all cases, complete surgical resection was achieved in ten cases [77%], worsening of the trigeminal nerve functions were the most common immediate postoperative complications encountered

Bone mass of healthy newborns in relation to their maternal and cord blood long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

The objective of this study was to establish that long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [LC PUFA] status is associated with or related to bone mass in healthy infants. Twenty- eight mother-infant pairs were studied for LC PUFA status by measuring maternal and cord blood red blood cells [RBC] for arachidonic acid [AA], eicosapentenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexenoic acid [DHA]. Infant anthropometry and lumbar spine 1-4 femur and whole body bone mineral content [BMC] were measured within two weeks of delivery. Maternal and infant LC PUFA were tested for their relationship to BMC using Pearson correlation and regression analysis. At birth, the average gestational age was 38.5 +/- 1.5 wk and body weight was 3.29 +/- 0.723 kg. Cord blood AA was positively correlated with whole body BMC, AA:EPA positively correlated with lumber spine 1-4 BMC and femur BMC. Maternal RBC AA was positively correlated with whole body BMC. After accounting for infant weight using regression, whole-body BMC was positively predicted by cord RBC AA but none of the maternal LC PUFA. Lumber spine 1-4 BMC was positively predicted by cord RBC AA: EPA ratio. Both femur and lumber spine 1-4 BMC were negatively predicted by maternal DHA. Imbalances among the n-6 and n-3 LC PUFA by term gestation may be related to decreased bone mass, suggesting that the maternal diet should be balanced in in-6 and n-3 LC PUFA

Surgical outcome of primary endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy with and without silicone intuition. A prospective study

To evaluate the surgical outcome of endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy with and without silicone intubation. A prospective clinical study of the surgical outcome of endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy with and without silicone intubation, were analyzed in 25 cases of postsaccal stenosis. Intubation with silicone tubing was used in 12 cases [44.0%] and not used in 13 cases [56.0%]. Surgical success was evaluated subjectively and objectively. The patient's complaints were improved in 83.3% of cases in the intubation group and in 76.9% of the group in which no stent was used. Postoperative endoscopic examinations revealed that the rhinostomy opening was visible in 8 cases with intubation [66.6%] and 9 cases without intubation [69.2%]. Five patients in the intubation group [41.7%] had granulation tissue at the rhinostomy site. Four patients [33.3%] had complaint regarding the intubation. Considering the similar surgical success rates, and the granulation formation, patient discomfort, and the cost related to intubation; endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy without intubation is comparable to dacryocystorhinostomy with intubation and recommended as one of the treatment of choice in cases of chronic epiphora due to postsaccal stenosis of the lacrimal canal

Surgical management of inferior oblique overaction by graded recession-anteriorization versus recession with adjustable suture

To evaluate the surgical outcome of the weakening procedures for the management of inferior oblique overaction by graded recession-anteriorization versus recession with adjustable suture. Twenty five patients [38 eyes] with +2 and +3 overacting inferior oblique muscle underwent a prospective randomized study by which the surgical outcome of graded recession-anteriorization technique in 18 eyes [group 1] were compared with the surgical outcome of recession with adjustable suture technique in 20 eyes [group 2]. Postoperative follow up averaged 18 months. Based on zero inferior oblique overaction, the standard of success was rated. The success rate for the graded recession-anteriorization [group 1] was 16 eyes [88.8%] and two eyes [11.2%] showed underaction. Limited elevation of the eye in the midline was shown in three cases [16.7%] with consecutive underaction of IO, also hypotropia was observed at the primary position in two cases [11.1%] of eyes underwent graded recession-anteriorization technique. On the other hand, the success rate for recession with adjustable suture [group2] was 18 eyes [90.0%] with residual overaction averaged +1 in only two eyes [10.0%]. Both techniques were effective but the surgical outcome of recession with adjustable suture technique showed better results in eliminating the overaction of inferior oblique muscle than the graded recession-anteriorization technique

Detection of cotinine in neonate meconium as a marker for nicotine exposure in utero

Neonate meconium cotinine level was evaluated as a marker of prenatal exposure to nicotine from tobacco smoking by mothers. Mothers admitted to a maternity hospital in Alexandria, Egypt, were divided into 3 groups: 10 active smokers, 10 passive smokers and 10 with no tobacco exposure during pregnancy. Urine and saliva samples were collected from mothers and first-day meconium samples from their neonates. Mean maternal urinary cotinine levels, measured using radioimmunoassay, differed significantly between the 3 groups, as did mean salivary cotinine and mean cotinine levels in meconium.There was a significant positive correlation between cotinine levels in meconium and both maternal urinary and salivary cotinine levels. Meconium is an ideal biological marker for testing direct fetal exposure to tobacco smoke in the neonatal period