Effect of prenatal organophosphate exposure on birth outcomes in rural areas in El Minia governorate

Chlorpyrifos [CPF] is a form of organophosphate [OP] insecticide that is widely used in both agricultural and home settings. This study was conducted in Minia University Hospital in collaboration with the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, El-Minia University to evaluate the effects of the prenatal exposure to OP on birth outcomes and the levels of maternal blood OP and umbilical cord blood OP in OP exposed areas in comparison with non exposed areas. Seventy pregnant women were recruited for the study during the period from June 2009 to June 2010. The pregnant women were divided into two groups, group I [study group] were selected from areas where exposure is to organophosphates compounds in the villages of Saft Al labn and AlByrjaiah and group 11 [control group] were selected from areas non exposed to organophosphates compounds, each included 35 pregnant women. They were subjected to history taking, general and obstetric examination, ultrasound evaluation, fetal biophysical profile [BPP] scoring, and doppler flow velocity waveform analysis. Chlorpyrifos [CPF] was determined in maternal and umbilical cord blood collected at parturition, in cases with exposed and non exposed babies to evaluate the fetal growth and different perinatal outcome variables.The difference between the two groups in clinical characteristics was statistically insignificant. There were statistical significant differences between the two groups as regards maternal blood CPF, and umbilical cord blood CPF levels [p<0.00l] suggesting a higher risk of CPF exposure in the study group. There were statistically significant differences in all perinatal outcome variables between the two groups [p<0.00l]. In the study group, There was positive correlation [r = 0.53, p0.0l] between maternal and umbilical cord blood CPF levels confirmed the transfer of CPF from mother to the fetus. There was a week but significant correlation between UC blood CPF levels and neonatal birth weight, head circumference and fetal length [r = - 0.22, p < 0.01], [r = - 0.25, p < 0.01], [r = - 0.14, p < 0.01] respectively. Maternal CPF exposure is associated with increased adverse perinatal outcome. For those interested in environmental health to take all the ways that reduce exposure to Chlorpyrifos and also the need to apply continuous bio-monitoring program to assess the impact of environmental pollutants on the health of women and children

prophylactic role of garlic and vitamin e in hepatotoxicity induced by isoniazid and rifampicin in albino rats

Administration of Isoniazid [INH] and Rifampicin [RIF] the most common medication prescribed against tuberculosis, produces many metabolic and morphological aberrations in liver due to the fact thai liver is the main detoxifying site for these antitubercular drugs. This work was done to study the hepatoprotective effect of garlic and vitamin [vit] E aginst hepatotoxic effect of INH, and RIF. The expriemental work was done in Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University in a period of April to June 2011. One hundred and sixty adult male albino rats weighting 150-200 grams were divided into seven groups, one control and the other six for the drugs. Control group is subdivided into four subgroups [la, Ib, Ic, Id]. Group II ingested Garlic oil, group III ingested vitamine E, group IV ingested INH+ RIF, group V ingested INH+ RIF+ Garlic oil, group VI ingested INH+ RIF+ vit E, and finally group VII ingested INH+ RIF+ Garlic oiH vit E. The ingestion was done through orogastric tube. After four weeks biochemical studies [ALT, AST, and Total Bilirubin] were done for all rats in all groups, then the rats were sacrified and histopathological studies were done for their livers. Biochemical analysis revealed significant increased in AST, ALT, and Total Bilirubin in the group IV, V, VI and VII in comparison with control groups, and revealed significant decrease in the group V, VI, and VII in comparison with group IV. Histopathological examination of the group IV revealed necro-inflammatory foci with infilteration of the hepatic lobules with inflammatory cells and inflammation in the portal tract. Histopathological examination of the liver section of group V, VI, and VII showed mild necrosis and inflammation in hepatic lobules, and showed mild inflammation in the portal tract. We concluded that the liver is highly affected by ingestion of INH and RIF. But ingestion of garlic and /or vit E which is naturally occurring antioxidants can decrease this harmful effect of these two drugs on the liver