Teratogenic effect of carbamazepine use during pregnancy in the mice

Carbamazepine use is the first choice of antiepileptic drugs among epileptic pregnant females. There are many inconclusive studies regard the safety of carbamazepine use during pregnancy. This study aims to investigate the morphological and histopathological teratogenic effects of carbamazepine use during pregnancy. The healthy pregnant females mice divided into equal five groups [each n=20]. The first [control] group received distilled water/day. Second, third, fourth and fifth group received 8.75, 22.75, 52.5, 65 mg of carbamazepine/day respectively. Carbamazepine and water were given by gastric gavage throughout gestational period. Fetuses were delivered on the 18th day of gestation by hysterectomy. Fetal measurements and appearance were assessed with investigation the histopathological changes of brain and spinal cord. There was a significant decrease of weight, different organs weight, length, upper and lower limb length of mice in the first day of delivery in fifth group. There was a significant increase of weight, different organs weight, length, upper and lower limb length in the third group. Many congenital anomalies such as spina bifida, meromelia, microphalmia, oligodactyly, anencephaly, neurodegeneration of brain and spinal cord were noticedin fifth group. Teratogenic effect of carbamazepine represented as growth retardation and neurodevelopmental toxicity depending on its overdose degree

Postmortem diagnosis of early myocardial infarction in adult albino rats

Postmortem diagnosis of early myocardial infarction is still a puzzling problem in forensic pathology practice, especially in sudden cardiac death. Forensic autopsy data shows that sudden cardiac death victims usually die in less than 6 h after acute myocardial infarction occurs. Postmortem diagnosis of early myocardial infarction within the first 6 hours based on biochemical and morphologic changes. Rats divided into control group and operated group which had a ligation of The left anterior descending coronary artery. The rats were killed at 5, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 and 360 mines post ligation intervals. Serum and myocardial tissue samples was collected from two groups at the previous postmortem time intervals for measurement of Creatine kinase- MB, Troponin I [CTnl], myoglobin and histopathological examination by light and electron ; microscopy . The same work was repeated after induction early acute myocardial infarction by beta- adrenergic shock and by lethal hemorrhage. Levels of CK-MB and CTnl had statistical significant rise with increasing postmortem intervals whatever method of myocardial infarction induction, but myoglobin level was less sensitive in different methods of induction. Ultrastructural changes were detected after 30 mines post-mortem in different methods of induction. Diagnosis of early myocardial infarction can be performed within the first postmortem six hours Depending on biochemical and morphological changes

Comparison of thris-EDTA and threhalose on DNA quality under different storage conditions "medico-legal view"

DNA storage is important to ensure integrity of DNA sample and maintain its availability while investigations. The best known condition for storage of DNA samples is by using Tris-EDT [TE]; as preservative agent, stored at -80[degree sign]C. A potential alternative to TE is trehalose which could stabilize any biological molecule at room temperature [RT]. Assessment of the optimal storage conditions which maintains quality of blood DNA samples with economical advantage. A case-control study using 8 groups of human blood DNA stored at 2 different temperatures [-80 [degree sign]C,RT] and preserved by using TE and trehalose. The effectiveness of storage conditions were tested at certain intervals [at set-up then after 3 and 6 month] using PCR assay of 18s ribosomal gene to evaluate DNA quality. DNA was assessed by running yield gels. PCR success rate were 43.8% and 62.8% using TE and trehalose respectively. After 6 months, PCR success rate were 25% for TE and 62.5% for trehalose [p<0.05]. The relative risk [RR] of poor quality associated with using trehalose is 0.4. Trehalose serves as an alternative to expensive freezer storage. It has a DNA protective effect which helps in preservation even trace DNA while judicial proceedings continue