Anatomical-computerized tomography [CT scan] study on the arteriovenous malformations [AVMs] in the brain of Iraqi patients

Arteriovenous malformations [AVMs] of the brain are anomalies affecting different age groups of the population, and predisposing patients to significant neurological disability from stroke, epilepsy, or other clinical manifestations. Noninvasive modalities are revealing these lesions more frequently, and with more accuracy. Previous studies on Iraqi subjects with intracranial AVMs are scarce. The aim of the study is to correlate the CT findings of intracranial AVMs with the clinical presentations, anatomic locations, the size, and the predictable origin of the arteries feeding these lesions and their venous drainage. The charts and CT scans of fifty-four Iraqi patients with an AVM, 31 males and 23 females [male to female ratio 1.3: 1], ranging in age from 6-74 years [mean 37.7] who were seen at the Neurosurgical Hospital-Baghdad from October 1998 to August 2002 were reviewed. Supratentorial AVMs were present in 53 patients; one patient had a left cerebellar AVM. The lesion was solitary, and directly localized in a single lobe, with more in the right lobes [mainly the parietal and temporal] in the non-haemorrhagic lesions, and in the left lobes of the AVMs presented with haemorrhage. The diameter of the lesion varied from less than 2.5 cm to >/= 6.5 cm. AVM may present symptomatically at any age .The arterial and venous components of the AVM could be explained by the site of the lesion. The size of the AVM could be evaluated as a potential factor predicting future AVM haemorrhage risk. Long-term follow-up evaluation is necessary for assessing the natural history and prognosis for such lesions

Variations in the origin and contributions of arteries supplying the human hippocampus: an anatomical study

Variations in the arterial supply in the human brain are not uncommon. Of particular interest is that of the hippocampus. Knowledge of the vascular anatomy is a key to the surgical treatment of pathologies in this region. The aim of the work is a detailed description of the variations and contribution of the anterior choroidal artery and the branches of the posterior cerebral artery to the supply of the hippocampus and comparing the results with previous studies. Formalin-fixed brains from 15 adult cadavers [30 hemispheres] were examined using a magnifying lens. The hippocampus is identified, and the arteries that are in the vicinity to hippocampus were carefully dissected and studied. The anterior choroidal artery [AchA], and the lateral posterior choroidal arteries [LPChAs] were present in 100% of the specimens examined. AChA anastomosed with the anterior branches of LPChA in 31% of specimens. The hippocampal artery, a branch of the posterior cerebral artery, was present in 82.8% of specimen. The anterior and middle temporal arteries were present in 80% of hemispheres. ACA has the most constant origin, course and distribution. It supplied the rstral and middle portions of the hippocampus and in the absence of the hippocampal arterial branches of the posterior cerebral artery [PCA], AchA supplied the major portion of the hippocampus. The branches, mainly from P-2 A and P-2P segments, of the PCA supplied the middle and posterior portions of the hippocampus. Variations in their origin from different segments were noted. The major branches were: the LPChAs, the hippocampal arteu, the anterior and middle temporal arteries. The common temporal artery did not contribute to the arterial supply of the hippocampus

antagonistic role of cinnamon on a destructive effect of alloxan on the rat testis a histological study

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by a high blood glucose concentration [hyperglycemia] which is due to insulin deficiency and / or insulin resistance. As a consequence of the metabolic derangements various complications develop, so the aim of this investigation is to study [histological] the role of cinnamon - oil on the testis tissue of alloxan -induced diabetes rat. Forty -six male rats were used and divided into 3 groups : group 1,6= animal control. group II, 20 = treated with alloxan and the 3[rd] group, 20 = treated with alloxan + cinnamon. Testis of group I revealed normal distribution of seminiferous tubules and spermatozoa filled the lumen of these tubules. Group II showed reduction in number of seminiferous tubules, and absence of spermatozoa in their lumen, besides the significant decrease in testis weight. Group III elicited retrained these changes to approximately its normal view. This herbs [cinnamon] decrease or protect the destructive effect of alloxan on testis tissue

effect of sepsis on the histochemical activity of some hepatic enzymes

The effect of sepsis, induced by caecal ligation and puncture, on the histochemical activity of some hepatic enzymes concerned with carbohydrate metabolism was studied in male rats. This activity was assessed by the staining intensity and zonal distribution of the reaction product in the livers of septic rats, the activity of glucokinase was decreased while that of phosphorylase was increased, In contrast the activity of hexokinase was not affected. These findings provided morphological basis for some of the known biochemical results of other researchers. The possible mechanisms and effects of these findings are discussed in morphobiochemical terms. A new histochemical method has been devised in this study for the demonstration of Liver glucokinase and hexokinase separately. Essentially this method depends on the use of an appropriate concentration of a substrate and a modifier