Biochemical study on the toxic effects of long-term lithium carbonate therapy in manic-depressive patients on some macrominerals and microminerals

Ten adult male manic-depressive patients were treated with lithium carbonate in a dose of 400 mg twice daily [in the form of tablets of controlled release formulations] for a period of one year. Biochemical estimation of the levels of the macrominerals [sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium] and microminerals [zinc and copper] before and after one year of treatment with lithium carbonate showed significant decrease in the level of serum sodium [P <0.01] and nonsignificant decrease in the level of serum zinc [P >0.05]. A significant increase in the levels of serum potassium, magnesium [P <0.01] and copper [P <0.001] were detected. Serum calcium level showed nonsignificant increase [P >0.05]. Therefore, lithium therapy should be given under strict medical supervision and serum concentrations of lithium should be monitored at regular periods of medical treatment. Lithium therapy should also be avoided in patients with impaired hepatic and renal functions and manic-depressive patients maintained on lithium therapy should avoid the intake of low salt dietary regimens as it will enhance lithium toxicity

Histopathological and biochemical study on the side effects of concomitant carbamazepine and an oral contraceptive administration in female rats

Forty adult non-pregnant [isolated from males] female albino rats were used. They were divided into four equal groups. These groups were the control [non-treated], carbamazepine-treated, oral contraceptive [primovlar]-treated and combined carbamazepine and oral contraceptive [primovlar]-treated groups. All treated groups were given the corresponding drug[s] daily, orally by gavage for a period of 4 weeks. By histopathological examination the ovaries of the oral contraceptive-treated group showed arrest of follicular development with absence of corpora lutea, while carbamazepine treatment led to increased number of corpora lutea in the ovaries. The combination of the oral contraceptive and carbamazepine led to a fair number of growing as well as mature graafian follicles. Some of these follicles appeared normal while many of them were degenerated. The uterus of the oral contraceptive-treated group showed endometrial hyperplasia, some of the proliferated glands showed cystic dilatation with squamous metaplasia, while the uterus in the carbamazepine- treated group or the group of combined carbamazepine and oral contraceptive showed no pathological changes. Biochemical estimation of the levels of serum prolactin, F.S.H. and L.H. revealed the occurrence of significant decrease in both the serum prolactin and serum L.H. and significant increase in the serum F.S.H. of the group of rats treated with a combination of both the oral contraceptive agent and carbamazepine when compared with either the oral contraceptive-treated group alone or carbamazepine-treated group alone denoting the occurrence of an interaction between the two drugs. Therefore, caution should be used when the anticonvulsant drug carbamazepine is concomitantly administered with oral contraceptive agents in female epileptic patients

Effect of short-term chronic lead toxicity on serum zinc and copper concentrations of male rats

The effect of short-term chronic lead acetate toxicity on the concentrations of serum zinc and copper in adult male albino rats was studied. Twenty five animals were used. Estimation of serum zinc and copper were done in the control [non-treated] and lead acetate-treated groups of rats after 5 weeks. The results showed that, the mean serum level of zinc was statistically significantly decreased [p <0.01] in the group of rats treated with lead acetate when compared with the control [non-treated] group. In the same time the mean serum level of copper was statistically significantly increased [p <0.01] in the group of rats treated with lead acetate when also compared with the control [non-treated] group. Therefore, those who are industrially and occupationally exposed to the hazards of toxicity with lead and lead compounds are advised to do periodical serological estimation of both serum zinc and copper to detect as early as possible any change in their normal concentrations which can be considered as an indication of the development of chronic lead toxicity

Pityriasis alba: one year study in Qatar

A prospective one-year study of 202 pityriasis alba patients was carried at Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. The disease was more common in males [52.47%], more in Qataris [45.05%], and more in skin type V [40.1%]. Bacterial, fungal, and focal infections could not be incriminated as possible etiological factors. The peak incidence of the disease was in spring [55%] and autumn [30%] when the weather is hot and dry. Dryness of the skin and sun exposure seemed to be probable etiological factors. The skin of preadolescent school children was more vulnerable to the weathering effect. Also, worthy of note is the occurrence of the disease in an appreciable number [12.87%] of postpubertal patients

Hematological profile in Pityriasis alba

An automated whole blood profile using a Coulter Counter S-plus, was performed on 61 children presenting clinically with pityriasis alba. There was no evidence of anemia or undernutrition in the studied group. The profile for leucocyte and erythrocyte cell variables was not significant different from the controls. MPV was inversely correlated with PLT [r = -0.35, p <0.1]. MPV and PDW were significantly increased [p <0.01 and p <0.001], respectively, the pathophysiological significance of which remains to be clarified

Acyclovir treatment of chickenpox in adult

In an uncontrolled study, 15 adults, not immunocompromised patients having chickenpox, received a 10-day course of acyclovir tablets [200 mg] 5 times daily. Acyclovir was found effective in reducing the course of fever, rash, constitutional symptoms, and in achieving rapid cure without the development of any complications