Effect of ascorbic acid on aflatoxin B[1] induced chronic hepatotoxicity: an experimental study

This study was done to evaluate the effect of chronic Aflatoxin B[1] [AFB[1]] administration on the liver of albino rats and to investigate the role of ascorbic acid as a protective agent. It was carried out on 90 male adult albino rats weighing 150-200 gms and divided into 6 numerically equal groups each group consists of 15 rats. First group [-ve control group] untreated animals, second group received olive oil, third group received ascorbic acid, fourth group received distilled water. Both second, third and fourth groups were served as +ve controls. Fifth group received AFB[1] and sixth group received ascobic acid prior to AFBJ. After 12 weeks of treatment all animals were sacrified and blood was collected to investigate the liver functions [ALT, AST, serum billirubin and alkaline phosphatase]. Liver sections of different groups were examined histopathologicaly using light microscope. The results revealed that the levels of liver functions in AFB[1] group were significantly higher than the control groups. In rats which received ascorbic acid prior to AFB[1], the levels of liver functions were significantly reduced to more or less the levels of the control groups. Light microscopic examination of the control groups demonstrated the normal hepatic structure. Histopathological examination of liver specimens of AFB[1] treated rats group showed vacular degeneration, focal necrosis, fatty changes, kupffer cell hyperplasia and portal infiltration and these harmful effects were reduced in rats group treated by ascorbic acid prior to the administration of AFB[1]. In conclusion this work showed that liver damage of rats treated with AFB[1] is associated with biochemical elevation of liver functions and confirmed by histopathological changes. Ascorbic acid can be considered as a potential antidote against the harmful effect of AFB[1] on liver

Diagnosis and evaluation of child maltreatment

This study was done to evaluate the child maltreatment [abuse]problem in Sammalot and to identify the underlying high risk factors. It was carried out on 80 subjects all of them were victims of child abuse from Sammalot General Hospital. They were diagnosed to be abused from the detailed history and medical examination. It was found that, the high risk age group for family victimization was those below the age of 5 years. The most common type of child abuse was the physical and there was no significant difference between the number of male and female victims. The high risk factors studied showed that, non living with the parents, non educated families, poverty and substance abuse were time strongest predictors for injury from child abuse. This study concluded that child abuse is a world wide phenomenon that interfere with the child's normal social, cogmitiveand spiritual development and elimination of its risk factors help in facing this problem in our society

Genetic damage in operating room personnel exposed to anaesthetic gases

This study was done to examine whether genetic damage could serve to indicate exposure to anesthetics. A group of 40 operating room personnel of different professions [anesthesiologists, surgeons, technicians and nurses] and a control group of 20 subjects were examined for chromosome aberrations and micronuclei frequency in lymphocytes of peripheral chromosome fragments or whole blood. The results revealed an increase in chromosome damage in the exposed group, but concerning the micronuclei frequency, no clastogenic potential could detected after exposure to anesthetic gases