Efficacy of Ganoderma [Ganoderma lucidum] against nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin in male rats

In traditional Chinese medicine, ganoderma lucidum are widely used as medicine for a variety of diseases, such as chronic bronchitis inflammation, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, neurasthenia, hepatitis, leukopenia, and adjuvant treatment of cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate its effect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in adult male albino rats. Forty five animals were classified into 5 groups 9 rats for each group. Group [1] fed on basal diet [negative group]; groups [2-5] were injection with cisplatin [5mg/kg body wt.] Intraperitoneally to induce nephrotoxicity in rats; group [2] fed on the basal diet as positive control group [+ve]; remained groups fed on the basal diet and supplemented with ganoderma lucidum at 5,10 and 15 g/kg diet, respectively. Results revealed that positive control group had significant increase in serum levels of creatinine, urea, uric acid, urea nitrogen and total protein as well as Malondialdehyde [MOD] but had significant decrease in serum levels of superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], glutathione peroxidase [GPX] and glutathione [GSH] as compared to the negative control groups. While supplemented with different levels of ganoderma lucidum caused significant decreased in serum levels of creatinine, urea, uric acid, urea nitrogen and total protein as well as [MOD]. But had significant increased in serum levels of [SOD],[CAT],[GPX] and [GSH] as compared to the positive control group. From the present results it can be concluded that ganoderma lucidum feeding possess a therapeutic effect against cisplatin that induced nephrotoxicity in rats and inhibit oxidative stress. According to above results the consumption of ganoderma lucidum can be used to treat nephrotoxicity

Postmortem diagnosis of diabetes mellitus: comparative study of the diagnostic value of commonly used parameters

In medico-legal practice, undiagnosed diabetes has been suggested as a possible cause of death in otherwise unexplained deaths, and the postmortem diagnosis of diabetes mellitus can be of utmost importance for confirming death from metabolic derangement, or if medical malpractice is suspected. The aim of the present work was to study and compare the usefulness of some markers to diagnose diabetes during postmortem examination, and to ascertain their sensitivity and specificity. The study was conducted on vitreous humor and blood samples collected from 68 cadavers during postmortem examination. Based on medical records, cases were classified into two groups [31 cases with previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and 37 cases without such diagnosis]. Collected samples were analyzed for fructosamine in blood; glycated hemoglobin; fructosamine, glucose and lactate [to determine glucose plus lactate] in vitreous humor. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the measurement of glycated proteins [fructosamine] in vitreous and serum, glycated hemoglobin, and the combined glucose and lactate levels in vitreous humor are useful indicators for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in postmortem settings. The differences among the discriminatory potentials of the studied parameters were not statistically significant [as determined by comparing the areas under the receiver operating characteristic -ROC- curve]. The diagnostic potential of any of the studied parameters surpasses that of glucose levels in vitreous humor

Cigarette smoking and spermatozoa I. histochemical differences between spermatozoa of cigarette smokers and non-smokers

Thirty semen specimens were taken from non-smokers and another thirty specimens from heavy smokers. Sperms of both groups were examined histochemically for some enzymes concerned with energy production [adenosine triphosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and succinic dehydrogenase] and penetrating power [non-specific esterase and acrosin]. The histochemical reactions for these enzymes were lower in the sperms of the smokers than those of non-smokers revealing more aspects of the detrimental effects of cigarette smoking on spermatozoa

Peritoneovenous shunt for treatment of intractable cirrhotic ascites: an unfulfilled promise?

Peritoneovenous shunt [PVS] is widely used for the treatment of cirrhotic ascites whether intractable ascites or not. Between February 996 and August 1998, PVSs were inserted in 22 patients [14 men and 8 women] with intractable cirrhotic ascites. The mean follow up period was 20 months. All patients were non-responsive to standard medical management. Nine patients were alive and palliated, seven of them with working shunts. Thirteen patients died within the first year, five of them died with non functioning shunts. Despite palliation, complications with PVSs were high and survival was limited. This modality was recommended only in patients with cirrhotic intractable ascites not responding to standard medical or surgical management

Estimation of stature from the length of the thoracic and lumbar segments of the spine in Egyptians

Estimation of stature from the length of the thoracic and lumbar segments of the spine in Egyptians is an important step in the identification of dismembered or severely burned bodies. To achieve this goal, cadavers of 90 Egyptians [60 males, 30 females] were randomly selected and autopsied. Crown-heel lengths of the cadavers were recorded, and measurements of the thoracic and lumbar segments were made along the anterior surface of the spine. Regression analysis was applied to data from all the cadavers. Comparisons were made between the results of the present work and other relevant published studies. Estimates of stature of Egyptians using similar formulae devised for Japanese and Americans. Showed significant differences using a dependent - t - test for comparison. The results indicate the importance of having formulae specific for each nationality

Bacterial translocation in obstructive jaundice and in choledochovesical fistula model in rats

Bacterial translocation and endotoxaemia have been demonstrated in experimental studies and in patients with obstructive jaundice. The current experiments were performed to determine whether it was the absence of intestinal bile or the presence of biliary obstruction that promoted bacterial translocation. Three groups of rats were studied: non-operated controls [n = 10], common bile duct-ligated group [n = 10] and common bile duct-diverted group [n = 10]. Seven days later, at death the incidence of bacterial translocation was higher in common bile duct-ligated group [45%] or diverted group [34%] than in the control group [4%], [P<0.05]. Histologic sections of the ileums of ligated and diverted animals both showed subepithelial oedema. The liver showed changes in ligated and not in diverted group. These findings suggest that absence of bile in the intestine is an important factor that promotes bacterial translocation

Evaluation of the long-term efficiency of laser trabeculoplasty as a mode of treatment of primary open angle glaucoma

Twenty-five eyes of primary open angle glaucoma were treated by argon laser trabeculoplasty and followed up for 3 years starting from September 1985. The mean pre-laser I.O.P. was 33.2 mmHg and the mean post-laser I.O.P. at the end of 6 months follow up was 20.7 mmHg and the percentage of reduction in the I.O.P. was 37.65%. These patients were followed up for a mean period of 2.4 years. At the end of the long-term follow up period [mean 2.4 years], the mean post-laser I.O.P. became 20.8 mmHg and the percentage of reduction in the I.O.P. was reduced to 33.75%. According to the criteria of success of this work, the rate of success at the end of 6 months follow up period was 80%, whereas it was reduced to 65% at the end of the long-term follow up period

Management of central serous 1 detachment caused by congenital opitc nerve pit

Three cases of congenital optic nerve pit associated with central serous detachment were included in the present study. Case 1. was treated by two sessions of argon laser photocoagulation therapy adjacent to the temporal border of the optic nerve head. Case 2. was treated by argon laser photocoagulation combined with bed rest and binocular bandage. Case 3. was treated by argon photocoagulation and internal air tamponade. Follow up of the patients revealed that argon laser photocoagulation alone was of no or limited value, but may be if combined with bed rest, binocular bandage or internal air tamponade, both visual and anatomic results will be better