Studies on neurologic functional and structural changes in acrylamide toxicity [an experimental study]

This work was designed to study the toxic effects of acrylamide and glycidamide in vivo on the isolated Sprague Dawley rats to compare the toxic effects of acrylamide versus its epoxide metabolite, glycidamide on the peripheral nerves. Acrylamide toxicity was induced by a daily i.p. injection of 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight/day, respectively, for 8 days. The weight of the rats, performances of the rotarod test and hind limb splay was performed every other day. On the 9th day, the animals were sacrificed and sciatic nerves were removed and examined. The results are presented and described

effect of opiates [morphine] and opiate antagonists [naloxone] on gastric mucosal injury produced by ethanol

In this study morphine alone did not affect the gastric mucosa. Moreover, it was found to have a protective effect on the gastric mucosa against the injurious effect of ethanol. Naloxone alone did not affect the gastric mucosa it has a slight protective effect when combined to ethanol 50%. When naloxone was combined with morphine and ethanol 50%, naloxone did not antagonize the local protective effect of morphine. Instead, it improved this effect. Therefore, morphine can be used safely as an analgesic in traumatized and post surgical patients who are at great risk of stress-ulcers

Half body irradiation as a pain relief tool for osseous metastases in breast cancer

This study included 18 patients 16 female and 2 male with wide spread bone metastases from breast cancer. All patients had either failed to respond to chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or developed recurrence of their symptoms. The half of the body showing most agonizing symptoms was irradiated first. The dose of the upper half was limited to 6 Gy. in order to subside the risk of radiation pneumonitis and lung complications. The lower half recieved 8 Gy after a 4-6 weeks in terval to allow bone marrow recovery. A line passing accross the bottom of the L4 vertebra is the line to separate upper and lower hemibody irradiation. The upper half hemibody irradiation extended from inferior margin of the orbit to L4. The lower half body irradiation extended 1 cm from lower border of L4 to just below knees. Premedication was given to all patients before irradiation to subside nausea and vomiting.Pain relief occured within 24-48 hours in 66.6% of all responders and in 27.8% within 2-14 days of treatment.Duration of pain relief range from less than one month to more than six months

Reaction of some neuronal . to morphine administration [a histochemical study]

The Available Findings showed that morphia induce dysfunction of the ultrastructure of the nerve cells by direct injury to the mitochondria which are intimately linked with the energy and oxidation metabolism. Serious disorders of the respiratory function in nerve cells cause accumulation of incompletely oxidised products, impairment of intracellular homeostasis and reaction of other cell organelles which are not directly related to energy prodution. So, great increase of lysosmal enzymes activity occur that taking upon themselves the function of removal of semide-composition products and fatal cases cell autolysis. The features of cellular reaction to morphine showed unequal vulnerability of different types of neurones and selective sensitivity of various C.N.S. Formations

study on the significance of postmortem serum electrolytes in diagnosis of drowning

Estimation of blood electrolhytes [Na, K, Ca, Mg and Cl]. Was useful to differentiate rabbits died by drowing in waters of different nature [Sea, Nile, Drainage and tap] from those of undrowned reference group. The most reliable index for differentiating sea water drowning from those drowned in fresh water was chloride followed by sodium. On the other hand, there was no mineral estimate that successfully differentiate between river, drainage and tap waters drownings