Effect of reserpine [serpasil] on male fertility in rats

This study was conducted on 40 male rats divided into four equal groups: Two test groups receiving reserpine 0.1 mg/kg subcutaneously for 30 and 60 consecutive days and the other two received distilled water subcutaneously for the same period and served as controls. Sex organs weights, semen analysis, level of testosterone as well as histopathological examination were the criteria used to evaluate the reproductive performance of treated male rats. Reserpine significantly decreased testicular weight, sperm cells concentration, live sperms, percentage of sperm motility, velocity and plasma testosterone level. A significant increase in the percentage of sperm abnormalities was observed in treated groups. Histopathologically, reserpine induced mild to severe degenerative changes in the testes

Measles outbreak in Sur/Ja'alan districts of south Shaqiya region 1992-93

The Sur-Ja'alan districts of south sharqiya region witnessed an outbreak of measles during the period December 1992 to may 1993, with the maximum number of cases [216 of the total 275 cases or 78.5%] during the months of march April and May 1993. The first case was reported from Aiga and then the outbreak spread to sur, Al Kamil, Al Wafi, Bani Bu Hassan, Bani Bu Ali and finally to the coastal belt of ja'alan district, the overall attack rate being 1.7 per 1.000 population. Sixtyfive [23.6%] patients needed hospitalization; there were no deaths or neurologic complications. Twentynine [10.5%] were below 9 months of age 27 [10%] between 9 months and 5 years, and 207 [75.2%] between 5 and 20 years of age. In most of the older children and adults, koplik sports remained for a few days after the appearance of the rash