Sexual dimorphism and diagnosis of adult egyptian skulls using lateral cephalometric radiographs

Lateral cephalometric radiography was employed in this study to differentiate sex of skulls of 75 adult Egyptian individuals [34 males and 41 females]. The cephalometric analysis used comprised 18 variables; 8 angular, 9 linear and one proportional variable. Using univariate analysis, there was statistically significant difference between male and female mean values for each variable. Male angular mean values were significantly smaller than female values, while for linear variables, female values were significantly smaller than male ones. Moreover there was a significant difference between glabellar projection index [GPI] in male and female subjects, being higher in males. Multivariate regression analysis was applied for the three variables which showed the highest differences in the univariate analysis. These variables were; the angular variable [lOc-NBa], the linear variable [G to SgN], and the proportional variable [GPI]. These variables were found to discriminate the sex of a given subject when used in combination with lOc-NBa being the most dominant variable that did not change in variance greatly by entering the other two variables. Testing sex diagnosis accuracy of these variables when combined revealed that, male successful diagnosis was 99%, and female diagnosis was 97% with an average accuracy for sex diagnosis of 98%

Environmental pollution with cadmium is a leading cause for chronic renal failure

This study comprised 40 patients with chronic renal failure [CRF] with undefined leading cause and 40 apparently healthy subjects of comparable age and sex [control group]. Blood sample [7 ml] was taken from every one and divided into two parts: the first was heparinized for determination of cadmium, lead, and mercury in the whole blood using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and the second part was allowed to clot and centrifiged to separate serum for estimation of serum levels of urea and creatinine. There was a significant [P<0.05] increase of estimated blood levels of cadmium and lead and non-significant increase of blood level of mercury in the patients group compared to the control levels. Also, there was a positive significant [P<0.001] correlation between serum levels of urea and creatinine and blood levels of both cadmium [r=0.608 and 0.742] and lead [r=0.547, 0.688], respectively, in the control group. A similar positive significant correlation with blood cadmium [r=0.504, 0.503] and lead [r=0.473, 0.44 7], was found in patients group. The 95[th] percentile of blood levels of cadmium and lead in patients groups was 0.6875 and 16.645, respectively, there were 8 control subjects [20%] having a blood cadmium level >/=0.6875 microg/dl, while there was only one control subject [2.5%] having blood lead level >/= 16.645 microg/dl. In a trial to determine the dominant heavy metal leading to CRF, blood cadmium was found to be the variable that closely related to CRF manifested by increased serum creatinine with a significant standardized coefficient [beta=0.503, P=0.001]. We can conclude that environmental pollution with heavy metals especially cadmium, lead and mercury is responsible for the occurrence of interstitial nephritis that may progress to CRF, and that cadmium is the main causative pollution factor. We recommend considering a blood cadmium level of >/=0.6875 microg/dl as an indicator for impending renal failure, also we recommend inquiring for possible sources of drinking water pollution with cadmium

Induction of apoptosis by aflatoxicosis and its modulation by ascorbic acid and sequential biochemical and histopathological changes in albino rats

Based on the DNA fragmentation profile in gel electrophoresis and histopathological and biochemical changes induced by acute toxicity of aflatoxin B1 [AFB1], this study aimed to clarify the protective effect of ascorbic acid [A.A.] on aflatoxicosis in albino rats. Forty rats were used in this work and divided into four groups, ten in each one. The 1st group was served as reference group [R-gr] where the rats in this group feed on basal diet only, rats of the 2nd group were given daily dose of ascorbic acid [A.A.] 300 mg/kg I.P. for three weeks, rats of the 3rd group were given single dose of AFB1 [1 mg/kg] I.P. after pretreated with daily dose of A.A. 300 mg/kg I.P, while rats of the last group were given single dose of AFB1 [1 mg/kg] I.P. after pretreated with daily dose of A.A. 300 mg/kg I.P. for three weeks. The results showed that acute aflatoxicosis induced DNA fragmentation pattern [DNA ladder] i.e. induced apoptosis, while no DNA fragmentation profiles were detected in the other three groups. The results also showed that AFB1 has a hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects as shown from the histopathological evaluation of liver and kidney and from the biochemical results very highly significant increase in serum levels of AST, ALT and ALP and the highly significant increase in serum creatinine and BUN levels

Toxic effects of subchronic exposure to malathion on liver and kidney: a possible preventive role of L-ascorbic acid and soyabean

The study comprised 150 male albino rats divided into 5 groups [n=30] according to diet regimen used: control group [normal diet], malathion group [1 mg malathion dissolved in 100ml of water was added to the diet], vitamin C group [L-ascorbic acid in a dose of 200mg/kg]. Soya group [Soya bean powder in a dose of 40 gm/kg], and combination group. Ten rats were sacrificed at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after the start of diet regimen. Blood samples were collected via cardiac puncture, then animals were sacrificed and liver and kidneys were removed for histopathologic examination. Blood samples were examined for serum levels of alanine aminotransferase [ALT], alkaline phosphatase [alk. Ph], g-glutamyl transferase [GGT], creatinine and lipid peroxides [LP]. There was a significant [P<0.05] increase of serum ALT, alk. Ph, and GGT in group II compared to the other groups, at 2, 4 and 6-wks, with a significant [P<0.05] increase at 4 and 6 weeks compared to levels detected at 2-wks. Group V showed the least affection of liver function tests despite being significantly [P<0.05] increased compared to control group. L-ascorbic acid and Soya bean separately, induced significant [P<0.05] decrease in enzyme levels compared to group II, but significantly [P<0.05] increased compared to group I. Serum creatinine showed a significant [P<0.05] increase in group II compared to the other groups. However, the addition of either or both L-ascorbic acid and Soya bean to malathion contaminated diet significantly [P<0.05] attenuated the deleterious effects of malathion on serum creatinine. There was significant [P<0.05] increase of serum LP in group II compared to the other groups at 2, 4 and 6 weeks, with a significant increase [P<0.05] of serum LP at 4- and 6-wks compared to levels detected at 2-wks. However, there was a non-significant difference between groups III-V, despite the significantly [P<0.05] increased levels in groups III and IV compared to the control levels. In liver specimens, increased lymphocytic infiltration and mild cellular vaculation were found in 4-wks specimens. In 6-wks specimens, there was abundant lymphocytic infiltration, and appearance of scattered masses of necrotic areas. Kidney specimens showed mild lymphocytic infiltration and hemorrhagic spots, and intense lymphocytic infiltration, intense hemorrhage and areas of necrosis in 4 and 6 weeks specimens, respectively. Changes were more evident in group II specimens, fiowever, group V rats showed least changes that appeared only in 6-wks specimens. We can conclude that the subchronic exposure to malathion induces toxic effects on liver and kidney via initiation and maintenance of lipid peroxidation, an event that can partly prevented by coadministration of ascorbic acid and Soya bean

Effects of prenatal acetaminophen in the outcomes of pregnancy on rats

Acetaminopen, a popular nonprescription analgesic-antipyretic drug, was administered orally to pregnat rats at a dose levels of 0 [control] .25, 50, 100 200 and 400 mg/kg boy weight / day on days I to 15 of gestation, The dams were sacrificed on the day 21 of pregnancy, and the fetuses; were removed by caesarian section and examined. Body weight showed evidence of maternal toxicity as exhibited by marked increase in liver weight and decreased body weight gain. No increase in the incidence of resorptions was observed even at 400 mg/kg body weight, a dose several fold higher than those used in human clinical practice [10-20 mg/kg body weight]. There was a dose-related decrease in fetal body weights which was statistically significant at 200/mg/kg weight or more, Examination of the fetuses revealed insignificant increase in the incidence of gross, skeletal and internal malformations at any dose in comparison with the controls. However, one of the fetuses in the group which recevied 400 mg/kg weight showed short tail and club foot. Thus, no evidence of embryocidal and teratogenic effects was boserved with this analgesic antipyretic drug at the recommended therapeutic dose in rats. Acetaminophen should be considered the safest analgesic-antipyretic drug during pregnancy