Development of a rat model of knee osteoarthritis by a combination of monoiodoacetate and streptozotocin / Desarrollo de un modelo de rata de osteoartritis de rodilla por una combinación de monoiodoacetato y estreptozotocina

SUMMARY: Osteoarthritis (OA) caused by ageing joints or as a secondary complication of diabetes is a common health problem. We sought to develop an animal model of OA induced by a combination of the chondrocyte glycolytic inhibitor mono-iodoacetate (MIA) and streptozotocin (STZ), the agent that induces diabetes mellitus. We then hypothesized that the extent of damages to the knee joint induced by this model can be greater than OA induced by either MIA or STZ. Rats were either injected with MIA (model 1) or STZ (model 2) or both agents (model 3). After 8 weeks, harvested tissues from the knee joint of these groups were examined using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, blood samples were assayed for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin -6 (IL-6) that are known to be modulated in OA and diabetes. Compared to control group, substantial damages to the articular cartilage of the knee joint were observed in the three models with the severest in model 3. In addition, rats in model 3 showed significant (P<0.0001) increase in TNF-α and IL-6 compared to model 1 and 2. Thus, we have developed a new model of knee OA in rats that mimics a type of OA that is common among elderly people who have both, "ageing" joints and diabetes.

RESUMEN: La osteoartritis (OA) es un problema generalizado de salud a causa de un envejecimiento de las articulaciones, o bien de una complicación secundaria de la diabetes. El objetivo de este estudio fue desarrollar un modelo animal de OA inducido por una combinación dos drogas, un inhibidor de los condrocitos glucolíticos, el mono-iodoacetato (MIA), y la estreptozotocina (STZ), agente que induce la diabetes mellitus. Se consideró como hipótesis que el alcance de los daños a la articulación de la rodilla inducida por este modelo puede ser mayor que la OA inducida por MIA o STZ. Las ratas fueron inyectadas con MIA (grupo 1) o STZ (grupo 2) o ambos agentes (grupo 3). Se extrajeron muestras de la articulación de la rodilla de estos grupos al término de 8 semanas, y se examinaron mediante microscopía electrónica de barrido y de transmisión. Además, se analizaron muestras de sangre para el factor de necrosis tumoral alfa (TNF-α) e interleucina-6 (IL-6), que están moduladas en OA y en la diabetes. En comparación con el grupo control, se observaron daños sustanciales en el cartílago articular de la articulación de la rodilla en los tres modelos, encontrándose los daños más severos en el grupo 3. Además, las ratas del grupo 3 mostraron un aumento significativo (P <0,0001) de los niveles de TNF-α e IL- 6, en comparación con los grupos 1 y 2. Hemos desarrollado un nuevo modelo de OA de rodilla en ratas que imita un tipo de OA el cual, además de la diabetes, es común entre las personas mayores con un nivel importante de daño en las articulaciones.

Cure of post Kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis with paromomycin/sodium stibogluconate combination: a proof of concept.

Background: Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a recognized dermatologic complication of successfully treated visceral leishmaniasis (VL). PKDL lesions are suspected to be important reservoirs for VL transmission in Sudan. Prolonged treatment schedules, feeling of general well-being and the social stigmata of PKDL prevent most patients seeking treatment. The mainstay of treatment is cardiotoxic sodium stibogluconate (SSG) for 60-120 days. Recently, liposomal amphotericin B (Ambisome®) and immunochemotherapy gave promising results. Ambisome® is expensive and difficult to prepare under field conditions. Paromomycin/SSG combination has been shown to be safe, efficacious and can save time in VL treatment. This study aims to prove that Paromomycin/SSG combination can cure and reduce PKDL treatment duration. Methods: We are reporting nine cases of patients with PKDL lesions of ≥6 months duration who were diagnosed by clinical signs, histopathological/immunohistochemical and PCR. Results: Patients’ mean age was 11.7 ± 4.3 years. A third of the patients (3/9; 33.3%) who failed previous SSG treatment of 2-3 months duration responded completely to 40 days of paromomycin/SSG combination. The majority of patients (5/9; 55.6%) responded completely to 30 days of the combination. One patient (1/9; 11.1%) relapsed following 30 days paromomycin/SSG combination. Conclusion: It was concluded that paromomycin/SSG combination for 30 days is time-saving, safe and efficacious for PKDL treatment.

Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH) in Association with H. pylori Infection: Description of a Case Report.

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is an autoimmune blistering disorder associated with a gluten-sensitive enteropathy (GSE), and is generally accepted as a cutaneous manifestation of celiac disease and is characterized by grouped excoriations; erythematous, urticarial plaques; and papules with vesicles. We reported an interesting case of adult DH occurred in a 30 year old Sudanese young adult with chronic inflammatory bowel disease, presented with typical string of pearls in the face, trunk and extremities for 2 months duration. The case is diagnosed and confirmed as DH where histopathologically shows a sub-epidermal bulla with microabscess formation, sigmoidoscopy and H. pylori ELISA test were positive IgA. Our case had an adult onset of presentation. Clinical features and histopathology are typical. It is associated of H. Pylori, although poorly responding to triple therapy (Doxycyclin 100 mg bid for 8 days, Cefixime 400 mg for 5 days and Rabeprazole as proton pump inhibitor (PPI) 20 mg for 28 days), but focusing as possible antigen was of paramount concern as possible causative antigen; as in this case all serological specific tests for Coeliac disease were negative. The case was considered to be the second case of DH with CIBD due to H. Pylori been reported in Sudan.

Craniofacial ossification in rat fetuses following prenatal exposure to dimethoate and carbosulfan insecticides

Pesticides, including insecticides, occupy a unique position among many chemicals that man encounters daily for the purpose of pest control in all agricultural programs. In fact, most of such chemicals are not highly selective and constitute potential hazard to many non-target species including man and other animals. The present study aimed to study the teratogenic effects of both dimethoate and carbosulfan insecticides on the ossification of craniofacial bones in albino rat fetuses. In this study, fifty female albino rats were allocated to ten groups [5/each group]; control, low dose dimethoate 1/40 LD50 [8.25 mg/kg], medium dose dimethoate 1/20 LD5O [16.5 mg/kg], high dose dimethoate 1/10 LD50 [33 mg/kg], low dose carbosulfan 1/40 LD50 [5.2 mg/kg], medium dose carbosulfan 1/20 LD50 [10.45 mg/kg], high dose carbosulfan 1/40 LD50 [20.9 mg/kg], mixed low doses of dimethoate and carbosulfan, mixed medium doses of dimethoate and carbosulfan, and mixed high doses of dimethoate and carbosulfan. Animals of all groups were sacrificed in the morning of 20[th] day of gestation. Then all specimens were stained with alizarin red stain for evaluation of ossification of skeletal system. The results of the present study revealed that both dimethoate and carbosulfan insecticides, had a deleterious effect on the ossification of craniofacial bones and that the most affected bones were supraoccipital, presphenoid, and interparietal bones. These effects were marked in the high doses and mixed low dose groups. It is concluded that the deleterious effects were increased with the increasing dose of either dimethoate or carbosulfan insecticides and that the mixture of low doses had an effect near to that of medium and sometimes high doses

Teratogenic effects of dimethoate and carbosulfan insecticides on albino rat fetuses

The present study deals with the teratogenic effects which occur in albino rat fetuses after intragastric administration of different doses of dimethoate and carbosulfan insecticides, either separately or in combination, to pregnant albino rats. In this study, fifty female albino rats were allocated to ten groups [5/each group]; control, low dose dimethoate 1/40 LD50 [8.25 mg/kg], medium dose dimethoate 1/20 LD50 [16.5 mg/kg], high dose dimethoate 1/10 LD50 [33 mg/kg], low dose carbosulfan 1/40 LD50 [5.2 mg/kg], medium dose carbosulfan 1/20 LD50 [10.45 mg/kg], high dose carbosulfan 1/40 LD50 [20.9 mg/kg], mixed low doses of dimethoate and carbosulfan, mixed medium doses of dimethoate and carbosulfan, and mixed high doses of dimethoate and carbosulfan. All pregnant females in mixed medium doses of dimethoate and carbosulfan group died between 9th and 11[th] day of gestation, while those in mixed high doses of dimethoate and carbosulfan died between 8th and 10[th] day of gestation. Animals of all groups were sacrificed in the morning of 20th day of gestation. The external manifestation of poisoning with dimethoate and carbosulfan, embryolethality, live and dead fetuses, placental weight, external abnormalities of fetuses, fetal weight, crown-rump length, biparietal diameter had been monitored. The results of the present study denoting that both dimethoate and carbosulfan insecticides, had a deleterious effects on embryolethality in the form of increased percentage of preimplantation loss, an increased percentage of resorptions, and decreased percentage of live fetuse. Also, both dimethoate and carbosulfan insecticides had a deleterious effects on fetal growth in the form of reduction of, fetal weight, crown-rump length, and biparietal diameter. It is concluded that dimethoate and carbosulfan insecticides had a deleterious effects on fetal growth and embryolethality, this effect is dose-related, and that the mixture of low doses had an effect near that of medium and sometimes high dose of dimethoate and carbosulfan insecticides

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sudan: an update

Cutaneous leishmaniasis due to L.major is now endemic in many parts of the northern Sudan. In this up-date we discuss the clinical manifestations of cutaneous leishmaniasis; its diagnosis and treatment. The most common clinical forms are nodular; noduloulcerative and ulcerative lesions. Less common forms are sporotrichoid lesions; leishmanial dactylitis; leishmanial cheilitis; mycetoma- and residivans-like types. In a suspected case the diagnosis is made by demonstration of leishmania parasites in slit smears or biopsy; isolation of the parasite by culture in appropriate media and by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers. The majority of lesions heal spontaneously. Criteria for local or systemic treatment are given

arterial pattern of the human uterus in relation to age

The internal genitalia of 40 human females were divided into three groups, each group containing specimens of different ages. In the first group the internal iliac artery was injected with vinilyte and latex. In the second group, the uterine vascular tree was dissected. Concerning the third group, histological sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and Mallory trichrome stains. The uterine artery was found dividing into descending and ascending branches. The latter gave a circular branch to the cervix, then ran tortuously upwards by the side of the uterus to the uterine cornu, where it anastomosed with the ovarian artery giving during its course superficial and deep segmental arteries. The superficial ones were long, and passed in the outer layer of myometrium anastomosing with their fellows of the opposite side. The deep segmental arteries were short and took a slightly tortuous course in the middle part of the myometrium. Both superficial and deep arteries sent arcuate arteries anastomosing with their ipsi and contralateral fellows and sending spiral arteries to supply the endometrium. Correlations between the present anatomical results and certain surgical problems in the gynaecological and obstetric practice were provided

Tuberculosis in patients with malignant disease.

Of 2,143 biopsy proven cancer patients seen at our hospital over a six year period, 4 (0.19%) patients developed active tuberculosis (TB) during anticancer therapy or shortly after its completion. The cancer diagnoses of those patients were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast cancer, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and astrocytoma. Institution of antituberculous therapy was successful in three patients, however, the TB course was rapidly fatal in the fourth patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma despite therapy. The association between TB and neoplasia is emphasized. TB complicating malignant disorders represents complex problem regarding its early recognition and its managements.