Comparative study of the chronic toxicity of two organotin compounds on albino rats

This study was conducted on 360 adult albino rats of both sexes to evaluatesome of the chronic toxicity of two organotin compounds [TBTO and MBTCL]. Therats were grouped into two control groups orally received the vehicles and twoother groups orally received 1/10 of oral LD50 of TBTO and MBTCL. Monthly forthree months, biochemical and histopathological investigations were done. Tenrats were taken monthly from each group to make their chromosomal patterns. As regards nephrotoxicity, both compounds produced remarkable progressivehistopathological changes with no significant increase in blood urea andcreatinine. The hepatotoxin of both compounds were nearly the same throughthe study [biochemically and histopathologically]. Also, both compounds causeprogressive histopathological changes of almost the same degree in lungs,intestine, brain and heart. Regarding the cytogenetic study, TBTO was foundto be more toxic than MBTCL. This was deduced from the very highlysignificant increase in the number of cells with structural chromosomalanomalies and the total number of structural anomalies in the TBTO treatedgroup as compared with MBTCL treated group. It can be concluded that both TBTOand MBTCL were potentially toxic to the liver, kidneys and lungs. They hadalso mild to moderate toxic effects on intestine, brain and heart. Bothcompounds were highly genotoxic to albino rats. TBTO having more genotoxicpotential. Most of the toxic effects of both compounds were progressive

Sialic acid variants in benign versus malignant colorectal lesions

The histochemical mucin structure of colorectal lesions has been subject to several studies. Some reports relate changes in mucin pattern to the grade of epithelial dysplasia. Alterations in sialomucin with both its O-and N-residues have been described in colonic malignancy. This work was, thus, carried out on 50 benign and malignant colorectal lesions to study the histochemical structure of sialic acid, by applying the PAT/KPH/PAS technique [introducing a counterstain to the original method described] and the mPAS technique for demonstrating the O-and N-acetyl residues respectively. The PAT/KOH/PAS technique was more informative. It gave a spectrum of colours ranging from red through purple to blue, reflecting normal, partial loss and absence of the O-acetyl residue respectively. In contrast, however, were the results of the mPAS technique. Positive cases have shown only scattered foci of mild positivity in the form of pale, red granular deposits. Among all non-neoplastic lesions examined [n = 9], the PAT/KOH/PAS technique gave a red reaction reflecting normal pattern. In adenomatous polyps without atypia [n = 10] 70% gave a normal, red, reaction while in 30% the reaction was purple. Polyps with atypia [n = 12] revealed more loss of O-residue in cases showing atypia. There was also a notable loss of O-residue with higher grades of malignancy. None of the malignant cases examined revealed a normal red reaction [n = 19], while 25% of well, 75% of moderately and 100% of poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas gave a blue mucin reaction. Results confirm higher loss of O-acetyl residue with severe dysplasia and less differentiated malignant tumors of the colon. The PAT/KOH/PAS technique can, thus, be helpful in predicting the outcome of colonic adenoma by assuming that a red colour reaction reflects its benign nature, while a purple to blue reaction implies the danger of malignant transformation. It can also be used in the interpretation of equivocal malignancies in small colonoscopic biopsies

happy menopause, a local estrogen progesterone therapy

The estradiole/progestagen transdermal therapeutic system [TTS-0.05 mg.] is a cutaneous device which delivers estradiole into the systemic circulation via the stratum corneum at a constant rate for up to 4 days. physiological levels of estradiole [the major estrogen secreted by the ovaries in premenopausal women] can therefore be maintained in postmenopaual women with daily doses because first pass hepatic metabolism is avoided. We studied the beneficial effects of transdermal estradiole/ progestagen on the plasma gonadotrophin, lipids, maturation of vaginal epithelium, endometrium and menopausal symptoms [hot flushes, sleep disturbances mood]. All these were found to be comparable to studies on oral estrogen, while the undesirable effects of oral estrogen on hepatic metabolism are avoided. As with oral estrogen treatment, concomitant sequential local progestagen was recommended for patients with intact uterus, in order to reduce endometrial stimulation. Transdermal estrogen/ progestagen replacement treatment was well tolerated by patients, with local irritation at the site of application, being the most common adverse effect. Through this study we may state that transdermal estradiole offers a near physiological estrogen replacement in menopausal women in a convenient low dose form which may avoid some of the complications of higher dose oral therapy