Oxidant-antioxidant balance in childhood asthma

Asthmatic patients generate reactive oxygen species impairing the antioxidant defense system and creating a state of oxidative stress in asthmatics. Determination of the oxidant - antioxidant status in asthmatic children, by measuring the activities of antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutases [SOD] and glutathione peroxidases [Gpx] and estimating plasma level of malondialdehyde [MDA] as an index of lipid peroxidation, to find a relation between antioxidant levels and the severity of asthma and the early response to treatment. This study included 60 children; group [1]: 40 asthmatic children and group [2]: 20 apparently healthy children as a control group. The following were measured in all the children; plasma level of [MDA], erythrocytes [SOD] and [Gpx] [in asthmatic children two samples were taken; the first during acute attack and the second after 48 hours of treatment]. Significant lower erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes activities and higher malondialdehyde was found in asthmatic children compared to the control group, either before or after receiving treatment. In asthmatics, MDA was significantly decreasing and SOD was significantly increasing with treatment. MDA was significantly higher, while SOD was significantly lower with the severity of asthma either before or after receiving treatment. A significant negative correlation was observed between MDA with both of SOD and Gpx, in acute asthmatic attacks. A significant positive correlation was detected between the activities of SOD and Gpx enzymes. Acute asthma leads to a considerable oxidative stress that is indicated by the high level of malondialdehyde and low level of antioxidant enzymes

External skeletal fixation for tendon repair in equines

Healing after tenorrhapby of transected flexors in combination with external skeletal fixation of the metacarpophalangeal joint in 8 equine species [6 donkeys and 2 horses] was evaluated clinically, ultrasono-graphy and histologically for 3 months. The external skeletal fixation device was used to induce mild flexion of the metacarbophalangeal joint to the degree that keeping the apposition of the sutured tendon without tension until healing

Scrotal urethrostomy for stramgulated paraphimosis in a dog

A 7-year-old male Griffon was presented for penile necrosis subsequent to strangulated paraphimosis. Scrotal urethrostomy combined with subtotal penile amputation, preputial ablasion and castration was performed as a salvage treatment. The surgical procedure was described and discussed

Veterinary orthopedic guidelines on a dog skeletal model in combination with educational multimedia interactive program

The present orthopedic guidelines represent a valuable educational aid for students and practitioners especially with the increasing student number and constrained resources. It includes a dog skeletal model on which variable orthopedic techniques were applied for stabilization and fixation of artificially induced fractures at different selected sites. Additionally, selected surgical anatomical approaches were done on dog cadavers for procuring the target bones, A multimedia interactive computer program has been developed. The program comprised various methods of internal fixation, selected surgical anatomical approaches, and digital images for each reconstructed bone and its corresponding contact radiograph. Quizzes were added for user self-evaluation

Effect of erythromycin and josamycin on the growth of chicks with reference to their biochemical and histopathological aspects

In the present study the effect of Erythromycin [10 gm/ton] or Josamycin [10 gm/ton] on the growth in Gemmeza chicks was studied. The effect of these antibiotics on some serum enzyme activities and some biochemical constituents as well as histopathological aspects were also investigated. The residues of these antibiotics in edible tissues was also tested. Three equal groups of one day old clinically healthy Gemmeza chicks were used in this study. The first group was kept as a control, the second and third groups were administered Erythromycin and Josamycin respectively at a level of 10 gm/ton mixed with the ration. The administration of these antibiotics induced no alterations in body weight, feed efficiency and growth rate. Erythrocyin or Josamycin induced insignificant effect on alanine transaminase, total proteins and urea levels but significant decrease in serum albumin. On the other hand, chicks treated by Josamycin showed a significant decrease in aspartate transminase. Administration of these antibiotics induced mild histopathological changes in the liver, kidney, spleen and heart. These were represented by congestion, lymphocytic infiltration, mild cloudy swelling and oedema. No antibiotic residues could be detected in muscles and edible tissues by using the microbiological assay

effect of caffeine and corticosterone on maternal plasma and fetal corticosterone level in pregnant mice and rats

The effect of caffeine and corticosterone administration alone and in combination on total and free maternal plasma and fetal corticosterone levels was studied in pregnant mice and rats. Animals were divided into four groups: the first was the control, the second was given caffeine 200 mg/kg [mice] or 100 mg/kg [rats] orally, the third was given cor-ticosterone 5 mg [mice] or 100 mg/kg [rats] s.c., and the fourth was given caffeine and corticosterone. Blood samples and whole litter homogenate were taken 3 h [mice] or 2 h [rats] after dosing on day 14 of gestation and were assayed for corticosterone fluorimetrically. Caffeine administration increased plasma corticosterone levels in pregnant mice and rats, but most of it was protein bound and did not pass to the fetus. Injection of exogenous corticosterone alone or in combination with caffeine raised total and free corticosterone levels in the plasma of the mother and in their fetuses. The high corticosterone fetal levels in corticosterone injected animals, compared to caffeine treated ones, may account for the high incidence of cleft palate in the former group despite of similar high plasma total corticosterone levels in both groups