Ultrastructural changes of linea alba in relation to age, repeated pregnancy and obesity

This study was carried out on 12 married females. They were classified into four equal groups according to three parameters: Age, weight and number of pregnancies. Group 1 was used as a control group, group 2 included multipara, group 3 included obese females and group 4 included old females. Biopsies from the linea alba were taken after abdominal incision during surgical procedure and prepared for ultrastructural examination. The results of this study revealed that the linea alba in multipara and obese females showed ultrastructural changes in the form of wide spaces separating the collagen fibrils, variation in the diameter or the fibrils [most fibrils were thin in multipara and thick in obese]. Numerous fibroblasts were also encountered. On the other hand, in old females, the collagen fibrils appeared aggregated into clumps separated by wide areas. The majority of the fibrils were thick in diameter. Some showed spiny outline and dark stained periphery. Few individual fibrils showed moth-eaten appearance. Fibroblasts were rarely encountered in the examined biopsies whereas fibrocytes and macrophages were numerous

Effect of a new antidote on changes in pancreas in paracetamol toxicity. [a histological study]

Acetaminophen is a widely used analgesic antipyretic agent. Toxic doses ofthe drug have been shown to produce pancreatitis. The present study wasconducted to evaluate the effect of a new antidote [diltiazem] onacetaminophen induced pancreatic toxicity in mice. This study was carried outon 24 mice divided into three equal groups: Control group, intoxicated groupreceiving a single toxic dose of paracetamol [500 mg/kg] intraperitoneally anda protected group receiving diltiazem eight hours after receiving the sametoxic dose of paracetamol. The animals were sacrificed two hours after theend of the experiment. Histological and ultrastructural studies revealed analteration in the pancreatic structure after acetaminophen intoxication in theform of degeneration of acini, dilatation of ducts, congestion, loss ofelastic tissue of blood vessels and degranulation of beta cells. Calciumchannel blocker [diltiazem] produced a significant protective effect on thepancreas, which appeared more or less normal in structure