Effect of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on sodium valporate induced cytogenetic and testicular alterations in albino rats / 대한해부학회지

The present study investigated the cytogenetic and testicular damage induced by the antiepileptic drug, sodium valporate (SVP) in albino rats and the effect of saffron aqueous extracts. Treating rats with SVP caused a significant increase in the chromosomal aberrations either structural or numerical and decreased the mitotic index. Besides, animals administered SVP showed DNA damage appeared in the single strand breaks (comet assay). Testis of SVP-treated rats showed many histopathological changes. A significant decrease in seminiferous tubules and their epithelial heights diameters and inhibition of spermatogenesis was recorded. In addition, the number of sperm head abnormalities was increased. Biochemical results revealed an increase in malondialdhyde (MDA) which is lipid peroxidation marker and a significant decrease in the level of serum antioxidant enzyme, catalase (CAT) and reducing antioxidant power (RAP). Animals given SVP and saffron showed an improvement in chromosomal aberrations, mitotic index, DNA damage and testicular alterations caused by SVP. Moreover, MDA decreased and CAT and RAP increased. It is concluded from the present results that the ameliorative effects of saffron extract against SVP-induced cytogenetic and testicular damage in albino rats may be due to the presence of one or more antioxidant components of saffron.

Effect of Ocimum basilicum extract on cadmium-induced testicular histomorphometric and immunohistochemical alterations in albino rats / 대한해부학회지

The present study examined the efficacy of Ocimum basilicum (basil) extract, a natural herb, with antioxidant properties, against testicular toxicity induced by cadmium (Cd), which is one of the most important toxic heavy metals. The intoxicated rats showed significant alterations in the testicular tissue including decreased seminiferous epithelium height and changes in the arrangement of spermatogenic layers. Hypospermatogensis with cytoplasmic vacuolization and pyknotic nuclei were observed. Intertubular hemorrahage and absence of spermatozoa were noted. Decreased cell proliferation was reflected by a decrease in Ki-67 expression, whereas the increase in apoptotic rate was associated with a decrease in the Bcl/Bax ratio. Concomitant treatment with aqueous basil extract led to an improvement in histological, morphometrical and immunohistochemical changes induced by Cd. The beneficial effects of basil extract could be attributed to its antioxidant properties.

novel technique of multi-track percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy [PBMC]

Percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy [PBMC] has become treatment of choice for severe pliable rheumatic mitral valve stenosis [RMVS]. The multi-track system is a recent variant of the double-balloon technique which is easier through the use of a monorail balloon and only a simple, single guide wire approach. In the present study, we sought to use the Inoue metallic wire with multi-track balloon instead of the conventional multi- track wire will make the procedure safer and faster. We studied 62 consecutive patients [55 females] with significant symptomatic RMVS who underwent multi-track PBMC. They were randomized into 2 groups: the first group included 32 patients treated with the novel multi-track technique using the double coil Inoue metallic wire, and the second group includes 30 patients treated with the conventional multi-track technique. No statistically significant differences were found between both groups regarding any of the studied variables; apart from the pre-procedural MV area which was significantly lower in the novel-technique group compared to the conventional-technique group. None of the patients had cardiac tamponade, systemic thromboembolism or any groin complication. There were neither in-hospital deaths nor complications necessitating emergent cardiac surgery in both groups. This new technique achieves the double benefit of being safer and easier with Inoue wire and saving excess material with the multi-track system; which is more economic

Hazardous effects of fried potato chips on the development of retina in albino rats

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the hazardous effects of fried potato chips upon the retina of two developmental stages of the albino rats aged 7 and 14 days from parturition.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PREGNANT RATS WERE ARRANGED INTO TWO GROUPS: control pregnant rats and consequently their delivered newborns until reaching 7 and 14 days old from parturition and fried potato chips group in which pregnant rats at the 6th day of gestation maintained on diet formed of fried potato chips supplied from the market mixed with standard diet at a concentration of 50% per each till 7 and 14 post-partum. Three fold integrated approaches were adopted, namely, histological, ultrastructural and proteomic analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Histological examination of the retina of the experimental offsprings revealed many histopathological changes, including massive degeneration, vacuolization and cell loss in the ganglion cell layer, as well as general reduction in retinal size. At the ultrastructural level, the retina of experimental offsprings exhibited number of deformities, including ill differentiated and degenerated nuclear layer, malformed and vacuolated pigment epithelium with vesiculated and fragmented rough endoplasmic reticulum, degenerated outer segment of photoreceptors, as well as swollen choriocapillaris and loss of neuronal cells. Proteomic analysis of retina of the two experimental developmental stages showed variations in the expressed proteins as a result of intoxication which illustrated the adverse toxic effects of fried potato chips upon the retina.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It can be concluded that the effect of fried potato chips on the development of retina in rats may be due to the presence of acrylamide or its metabolite.</p>

Guided liver biopsy of hepatic focal lesions in chronic liver disease patients: when and why?

Hepatocelluar carcinoma [HCC] is one of the most common malignant neoplasms in the world. To assess the value of the ultrasound or CT guided biopsy of hepatic focal lesion [s] with normal or mild elevation of serum alpha fetoprotein [below 200ng/mL] in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. One-hundred twenty one chronic liver disease patients with hepatic focal lesion[s] and serum alpha fetoprotein below 200ng/ml were included in the present study. All patients were subjected to careful history taking and full clinical examinations, laboratory investigations [CBC, liver profile, hepatitis markers and serum AFP level], abdominal ultrasound, abdominal triphasic spiral computed tomography [CT] and biopsy of the hepatic focal lesion[s] guided by ultrasound for histopathological examination. According to the histopathological diagnosis of the lesion, patients were divided into non-HCC group [Group I] and HCC group [Group II] which included dysplastic nodules as well. Group I included a total of 29 patients -20 males [68.9%] and 9 females [31.1%] - aged between 30 and 68 [mean 51.7 +/- 9.3] years. Pathological examination of their liver biopsies revealed 14 cases as chronic hepatitis, 5 cases as liver cirrhosis, 5 cases as adenocarcinoma, 1 case as squamous cell carcinoma 2 cases as hemangioma and 1 case as cholangiocarcinoma and one case of lymphoma. Group II included a total of 92 patients -75 males [81.5%] and 17 females [18.5%] - aged between 36 and 74 [mean 55.0 +/- 8.8] years. Pathological examination of their liver biopsies revealed 88 cases as HCC and 4 cases as hepatic dysplastic nodules. The sensitivity and specificity of triphasic abdominal spiral CT in the diagnosis of HCC were 91.3% and 69.0% respectively, while, the positive and negative predictive values were 90.3% and 72.5% respectively. Guided liver biopsy of hepatic focal lesions in chronic liver disease patients has a valuable diagnostic role in cases with low alpha fetoprotein below 200ng/ml in whom the non-HCC nature is suspected and cases with negative or atypical HCC criteria in spiral abdominal CT

Lateral trans-psoas approach to fix the lumbar spine

The present study describes a new surgical approach to fix the lumbar spine with evaluation of the prospective early outcome. In the period from October 2004 to January 2006, 10 patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis [7 females, 3 males; mean age 43.0 year] underwent lateral retroperitoneal trans-psoas approach for screws and plate fixation of the lumbar spine. All cases [2 with prior posterior surgery and 8 without] had instability at one level which was L3-4 in 2 patients and L4-5 in 8. Spinal stenosis, large disc protrusion, and L5-S1 instability were excluded from this study. Average operative time was 3.2 hours; average blood loss was 450CC, and average postoperative hospital stay was 4.3 days. Clinical and radiological outcome after one year follow-up were satisfactory in the 10 patients. Neither mortality nor massive blood loss were encountered. Complications were in the form of temporary weak painful left hip flexion in all the patients, transient ileus in 4, inadvertent lumber sympathectomy in 2, incisional hernia in 1, and mild wound infection in 1

Serum levels of soluble receptor activator of nuclear factors-KB ligand [sRANKL], osteoprotegerin [OPG] and bone mineral density in Egyptian osteoporotic elderly women

The aim of this study was to determnine the state of the OPG/RANKL system and its possible role in osteoporotic elderly women. The present study included 40 apparently healthy old osteoporotic women aged 64.5 +/- 4.5 years as group I,[GI] and 30 healthy women of matched age as group II [GII]. The two groups were subjected to complete history taking, thorough clinical examination, routine laboratory investigations, measurement of bone formation markers as serum alkaline phosphatase, serum calcium and serum osteocalcin and measurement of bone resorptiomz markers including: hydroxyproline in urine, serum OPG and serum RANKL CT Bone Density was done as well. In the current study, non significant differences were noted between the 2 studied groups as regard fasting blood glucose, renal amid hepatic function tests. A significant increase in serum alkaline phosphatase and urinary hydroxyproline and a significant decrease in serum calcium and serum osteocalcin was noted in group I compared to group Ii. Serum levels of RANKL were significantly elevated while serum OPG levels were significantly decreased in osteoporotic women compared to healthy controls. Changes in circulating OPG-RANKL correlates with serum osteocalcin and BMD changes. RANKL is an essential cytokine for the formation and activation of osteoclasts and promotes bone resorption, while OPG antagonizes these effects. Estrogen deficiency tilts the RANKL/OPG balance to favor osteoclastic activation and bone loss. RANKL blockade may emerge as a novel therapeutic option for human bone diseases. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the causes of osteoporosis and low bone mass in old women

Direct percutaneous embolization of renal pseudoaneurysm

To describe and evaluate a novel method of direct ultrasound [US] guided percutaneous embolization of renal pseudoaneurysm. Elevn patients with severe hematuria were included in this study during the period from February 2005 to February 2006. They included five patients with penetrating renal trauma, two patients post-renal biopsy and four patients after percutaneous nephrolithotripsy. Diagnostic duplex US of the pseudoaneurysm was performed. The size of the pseudoaneurysm and its neck were determined. A solution of Gelfoam particles was prepared in sterile saline solution and under US guidance, the tip of the needle was inserted into the aneurysm and slowly Gelfoam particles solution was injected. During the injection of Gelfoam, the pseudoaneurysm initially filled with an echo genic thrombus, decreasing thereby the color flow detected by US. The needle was removed when no flow in the pseudoaneurysm was detectable. The patient was kept for 30 minutes in the department and then discharged home. Follow up by color Doppler US every 2 to 4 weeks. In 10 patients bleeding was effectively controlled with direct embolization in a single session and did not need any further intervention, while one patient needed endovascular embolization due to recurrent severe hematuria after 24 hours. The amount of the injected Gelfoamn particles [1-2 mm diameter] was from 1 to 3 ml, according to the size of the pseudoaneurysm. No complication was observed secondary to embolization procedure. Re-bleeding did not occur in any patient during their follow-up period that ranged from 3-12 months. Direct ultrasound guided percutaneous embolization of renal pseudoanureysm is a new method for treating renal pseudoaneurysm. It avoids the side effects of contrast media, hazards of irradiation and complications of angiographic catheterization. Moreover, it saves the patient the risk of surgical interference to control bleeding by partial or total nephrectomy specially in patients with solitary kidney. it has been proved to be a rapid, effective, feasible, tissue preserving, and likely to reduce morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is recommended to be a first line of treatment of actively bleeding renal pseudoaneurysms

T[2] relaxation time of the pituitary gland in patients with beta-thalassemia and its relation to iron overload and somatic and sexual development

Chelation therapy with deferoxamine mesylate [has revolutionized management of transfusion-dependent beta-thalassaemia, but monitoring of tissue iron deposition, particularly in the endocrine glands, is still largely empirical. Clinical, haematological, and endocrinal evaluation of 54 transfusion-dependent beta-thalassaemic patients and 25 age- and sex-matched controls was done, pituitary T2 relaxation time was studied in them by Magentic Resonance Imaging [MRI] to evaluate pituitary iron overload. Thalassaemic patients had significantly lower mean stature, growth velocity, and a more delayed pubertal stage. Sixty per cent of thalassaemic females had amenorrhoea, either 1 ry or 2ry. Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-1] and lutenizing hormone [LH] were significantly lower in thalassaemic patients compared with controls. Serum growth hormone [and follicule stimulating hormone [GH] were also lower, but the difference was not statistically significant. Pituitary T2 relaxation rate was significantly higher in patients compared with controls. Serum ferritin in thalassaemic patients showed a statistically significant positive correlation with pituitary T2 relaxation time, and a statistically significant negative correlation with serum IGF-1. It was concluded that monthly follow up of haemoglobin level and serum ferritin are vital to guide a satisfactory transfusion/chelation regimen in thalassaemic patients. However, once a deviation arises in physical/sexual development, measurement of GH, IGFI, FSH, and LH is warranted. Patients with clinical and/or laboratory evidence of pituitary dysfunction will benefit from an MRI study to assess pituitary iron deposition and provide a better guide for the intensity of chelation therapy

Dengue fever as a cause of acute febrile illness in Sharkiya

The prersent work aimed at detection of dengue as a cause of acute febrile illness in Sharkiya. One hundred patients complaining of fever, headache, myalgia and arthralgia were included in the present study. Acute and convalescent serum samples were collected from each patient and tested by indirect ELISA for the presence of dengue virus immunoglobulin G. Four-fold rise in antibody titre was found in sera eight patients"from acute to convalescent". The eight patients had leucopenia and none of them showed haemorrhagic manifestations. The present study showed that dengue fever can not be ignored as a possible cause of acute febrile illness in Sharkyia. So infection control measures must be taken to prevent its spread, especially in new countries, through people comming from endemic areas. Also, it is recommended to facilitate methods for laboratory diagnosis of dengue fever for early detection and treatment

Modified supratrigonal bladder transection for the treatment of severe resistant detrusor instability

Detrusor instability causing severe urinary urge incontinence remains a complex problem for patients and clinicians. While standard treatment targets the bladder as the source of the problem, most of the patients with urge incontinence were not satisfied with those standard treatments. Bladder transection is another available surgical option for the treatment of severe resistant urge incontinence, which failed to respond to the standard conservative methods of treatment. Nine patients, six males and three females, aged 27 to 43 years [mean age 36 years] have undergone the procedure. All of them had symptoms of increased diurnal frequency, urgency, urge incontinence, nocturia and nocturnal eneuresis. None of the patients had evidence of neurological disease. All of them had urodynamically proven Detrusor Instability. The procedure was performed with undue difficulties in six patients. Operative time ranged between 105 and 165 minutes with a mean duration of 145 minutes. No major complication occured during or immidiatly after the procedure. All of the patients were followed for 6 to 24 months with a mean follow up of 18 months. Seven patients [77.7%] were either cured or improved initially. All of the seven patients [77.7%] had no nocturnal eneuresis, being invariably dry throughout the night. During daytime, six patients [66.6%] were dry. Another patient had more than 50% reduction in incontinence episodes. After one and half years of follow up, six patients [66.6%] maintained their good results. Modified Supra Trigonal bladder transaction offers a reasonable success rate of 67% after follow up period of 18 months. This result is comparable to other surgical procedures used in the treatment of severe resistant Detrusor Instability. Still, long-term follow up of such patients is required in larger group of patients to confirm the reasonable success rate of this procedure

Percutaneous nephrolithotripsy [PCNL] in morbidly obese patients: a special experience

Morbidly obese patients have an increased risk of morbidity with open stone surgery. ESWL failure rates have been recorded in obese patients in many centers. This study is designed to evaluate the feasibility of PCNL in this group of patients. Purpose to evaluate the role of PCNL in the management of uorinary stones in morbidly obese patients. Material and Thirty-eight [38] PCNLs were performed on 35 patients. Their age ranged from 40-70 years with a mean age of 50 +/- 13.7 years. BMI [body mass index] ranged from 40-58.6 Kg/m2 with a mean of 45.15 +/- 6.4 Kg/m2. PCNL was done equally on both sides [19 each]. Four patients presented with ureteric stones [upper 1/3rd], 9 patients with staghorn stones, 1 patient with multiple stones in a solitory kidney, and 24 patients with single renal stone. All patients were treated in the prone position. In most cases, the upper or the middle posterior calyceal approach was preferred. A specially designed Amplatz sheath was used. A Pneumatic Lithoclast was used in all the procedures. Residual stones were found in only 4 cases [10.6%] while the remaining 34 cases were stone free [89.4%]. None of patients had significant bleeding and no blood transfusion was required. No major intraoperative anesthetic problems occured. Operative time ranged from 100-185 minutes with a mean of 145 +/- 19.3 minutes. All patients were discharged in the first post-operative day. PCNL is a feasible procedure for treating urinary stones in morbidly obese patients. This option should be offered even in small renal stones in this group of patients

contralateral ear in acquired cholesteatoma [a clinico-radiological study]

Fifty patients with unilateral cholesteatoma and 25 control subjects with bilateral normal ears were subjected to otomicroscopical and audiological assessment. Axial and coronal sections for the mastoid bone at 1 mm slice thickness were done for all ears. A simplified method was used to find out the surface area [SA] of the air cells at each individual section and automatically calculate the total volume of the mastoid air cells. Otomicroscopically, 72% of the contra lateral ears showed signs of retraction pockets, granulation tissues or chronicity. Audiologically, 20% of the controlled ears showed moderate to severe conductive hearing loss, while 10% showed mixed hearing loss. As regards mastoid pneumatization, the mean air cell volumes were 6.1, 12.68 and 29.92 cc in cholesteatomatous, contralateral and control ears, respectively. This indicated a highly significant difference in the mean air cell volume between the control ears and the other two groups

Role of some inflammatory mediators in asthmatic children below 5 years of age

This study was carried on 38 children [24 boys and 14 girls] between 2 and 4 years of age suffering from wheezy chest. In addition, 15 age matched apparently normal children were included in the study serving as normal control group. Eosinophilic cationic protein [ECP], sICAM-1 and E-selectin were measured during both acute exacerbation and stable condition. The results showed that ECP concentration was significantly higher in children with acute wheezy exacerbation than either in stable condition or in control group. Total blood eosinophilic count showed nonsignificant increase in children with acute wheezy exacerbation than either children in stable condition or in control group. Serum sICAM-1 was significantly higher during acute exacerbation of asthmatic children than those in stable condition or control group. The results of E-selectin showed a significant increase during acute exacerbation of asthmatic children than either in stable condition or in control group. E-selectin level in children in stable condition also showed significant difference when compared to control group. These results suggested that these parameters play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthmatic children below 5 years of age

dynamic link between the integrity of the immune system and zinc status in sickle cell anemia

This study was carried on 30 patients, with sickle cell anemia to evaluate the role of zinc status in relation to cell mediated immunity in terms of T lymphocytes and its subjects, CD4, CD8 and IL-2. Serum zinc level was significantly low in children with sickle cell anemia than in the control group. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell [PBMC] zinc level showed significant decrease in the studied cases than the control group. T-lymphocytes showed significant decrease in count of CD4 and CD4/CD8 ratio, but nonsignificant decrease in CD8, low in children with sickle cell anemia compared to control group. IL-2, showed significant decrease in patients with sickle cell anemia when compared with control group. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that zinc deficiency is evident among patients with sickle cell anemia and it has significant impact on the immune system integrity and could greatly alter host defense systems leading to increase in opportunistic infections and mortality rates that observed in these children

Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test: evaluation of diagnostic accuracy in Egyptian patients with dyspepsia

Thirty-six H. pylori infected patients [proved by positive Grams stained film, rapid urease test, culture and histopathology] as well as ten non-infected patients selected among 120 Egyptian patients presenting with dyspepsia were included in the present study. There was no statistically significant difference between H. pylori positive and negative patients concerning their presenting symptoms. The endoscopic examination revealed that gastritis was more prevalent in H. pylori infected patients. A significant relation was found between the complaint of regurgitation and the endoscopic finding of hiatus hernia as well as between the complaints of heart burn and epigastric pain on one hand and the endoscopic detection of gastritis on the other hand. The histopathological examination of gastric biopsies revealed that gastritis in its moderate degree was more prevalent in H. pylori infected patients than in the controls. Stool specimens collected from 36 H. pylori positive patients and 10 ten non-infected controls were examined by an enzyme immunoassay for the detection of H. pylori antigens [Premier Platinum HpSA]. The HpSA test was positive in 35 out of the 36 H. pylori infected patients and in 2 out of the 10 non-infected cases. The sensitivity and specificity of the test were 97.2% and 80%, respectively. The overall accuracy rate was 93.5%. The positive and negative predictive values for HpSA test were 94.6% and 89%, respectively

Necrolytic acral erythema in Egyptian patients with HCV

Three thousand adult and pediatric cases with confirmed hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection [ELISA and PCR] were screened for necrolytic acral erythema [NAE] during a period of three years. Five cases had the typical clinical and histopathological characteristics of NAE. During the same period of screening, 18 cases of NAE were unaware of their HCV infection. Most of NAE patients were adults [91.3%] and the chronic form of the lesions was more predominant with affection of the dorsa of toes and/or feet in all cases. Electron microscopic examinations failed to detect HCV particles and PCR failed to detect HCV RNA in the skin lesions

T lymphocyte subpopulation and function in children with shigellosis

This study was carried on sixty-two children aged from 12 to 60 months, attending TABARAK pediatric hospital with acute dysentery [visible blood in the stool and the presence or absence of fever]. Of the 62 children enrolled in this study, 43 had shigella dysentery 1 [S, dysentery] infection and 19 children matched for age and without any infection as control group, [NI; n= 19]. Children with S. dysentery were divided into 3 groups: those who had HUS or leukomoid reactions [complicated shigellosis, CS; n=25], those who developed complications following enrollment [subsequently complicated shigeliosis, SCS; n=6], and those who had no complication [uncomplicated shigellosis, US; n=12]. T lymphocyte subpopulation and function was evaluated for these children

RESULTS showed that children with SCS differed from other groups in as follows: [i] the number of CD3 and CD4 was lower compared to NI children [P<0.05]. [ii] CD4/CD8 ratio was lower compared to US children [PO.05] and NI children [PO.05]. [iii] The level of DTH response was lower than this in children with US [PO.05]. Three to five days after enrollment, the number of CD4 cells increased in children with SCS, The results showed that T lymphocyte phenotypes and function were altered prior to development ofcomplication in children with shigellosis, and once complications develop, the pattern of alteration changes. Whether these alterations have a role in predicting complications or whether they reflect events underlying the development of complications remains to be elucidated

Significance of rectal pressure changes during urodynamic testing

Rectal pressure is accepted as a means to determine the abdominal pressure. However, rectal pressure artifacts have been noticed in many urodynamic studies, but their significance and incidence were not adequately studied yet. Significance of rectal pressure changes was studied on 110 multichannel-urodynamic studies performed on 71 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Multichannel-urodynamic studies were performed with a 6-channel Life Tech M-1406 Urovision machine, printed at 0.5 mm/sec paper speed and using a Bard, 8 F, 3-port, water filled, 2-marker urodynamic catheter. The bladder was filled with saline at a filling rate of 50 ml per minute. Urodynamic study included total vesical pressure measured by a urethral catheter, total abdominal pressure measured by a rectal balloon catheter, subtracted detrusor pressure [vesical minus abdominal], EMG [electromyography] recording of the external urethral sphincter and uroflow measurement. Twenty five patients [35%] had normal rectal pressure recording studies. Nineteen patients [27%] had rectal contractions Abnormal rectal pressure increase was present in 6 patients [8%], while rectal pressure decrease was present in 21 patients [30%]. There was good association between detrusor instability and rectal contractions. Rectal contractions occurred at high frequency in patients with detrusor instability [45.5%]. Rectal pressure changes observed in multichannel urodynamics are not randomly occurring events but their incidence and significance should be further studied. The association of rectal contractions with detrusor instability may indicate an underlying neurogenic pelvic floor dysfunction