The Applicability of Linehan Risk Assessment Scale: a Cross-Sectional Study from Alexandria Poison Centre, Egypt, During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background/Objective: Suicide is a critical health problem that is significantly rising during the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, yet it is still under-reported in Egypt. To date, a deficiency of a reliable scale to probe the risk factors underlying suicide liability among patients with deliberate self-poisoning. The study's objective was to offer a snapshot of the pattern of self- poisoning in Egypt during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Using the Linehan Risk Assessment and Management Protocol LRAMP, a psychological assessment was applied to evaluate vulnerable patients needing urgent psychiatric support and emphasize the influence of previous suicidal behaviors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on all patients admitted to Alexandria Poison Centre with deliberate self-poisoning biosocial and poisoning data that were recorded in a specially designed sheet. All patients were interviewed for underlying risk factors and protective factors for suicidal behavior. Results: Significant relation was recorded between previous suicidal attempts and psychiatric diseases. CNS depressant drugs and rodenticides recorded the highest frequency. The calculated score (suicide and protective factors) was higher in patients with previous suicidal attempts. Conclusion: The study was the first to test the applicability of Linehan scale in Alexandria Poison Centre. The results are promising; however, multicenter replication of the concluded findings will be valuable.

Evaluation of possible molecular toxicity induced by occupational exposure to lead and concomitant effect of smoking.

One of the most toxic heavy metals in the environment nowadays is lead (Pb). Even though exposure to lead has been reduced in some developed countries, individuals working in certain occupations are still exposed to lead at dangerous levels. Occupational exposure is of great concern and is also the main cause of lead poisoning. Although experts in various fields have been investigating the toxic effects of lead and its compounds for many years now, the association between chronic lead exposure and geno-toxicity is still an interesting point of research. The study aims to evaluate the possible DNA damage and the oxidative stress status induced by occupational exposure to lead and the role of concomitant smoking. The study was conducted on 60 subjects divided into two groups: an exposed group (40 male workers exposed to lead in their workplaces). This group was further divided into two subgroups; 20 workers were cigarette smokers and the other 20 workers were non-smokers. The other control group consists of 20 healthy males, not exposed to lead and matched by age to the exposed group (10 were smokers and the rest were non-smokers). Venous blood samples were collected from each participant for the determination of the following: blood lead level (BLL), plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and DNA damage using agarose gel electrophoresis. The exposed workers had significantly higher levels of lead and MDA, as well as a high frequency of DNA fragmentation. Smoking workers showed a greater frequency of DNA fragmentation than non-smokers. A significant relation was revealed between the BLL, as well as the MDA level, and the degree of DNA fragmentation among the lead-exposed workers. The study has shown additional evidence proving the association between Pb exposure and oxidative stress. The results further reinforced the role of cigarette smoking in augmenting such oxidative damage in the Pb-exposed population. However, further studies are recommended to evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking on Pb-exposed workers.

Histopathologic and Ultrastructural Changes in Seminiferous Tubules of Adult Male Albino Rats Following Daily Administration of Different Doses of Tadalafil.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of chronic daily administration of different doses of tadalafil on the structure of the seminiferous tubules and on spermatogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty adult male Wistar rats were included; they were divided into four groups: a control group (group I) and groups II, III, and IV that received daily tadalfil in doses of 0.45, 0.9, and 1.8 mg/kg for 12 weeks (equivalent to human doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg daily), respectively. The epididymis was processed for evaluation of sperm parameters, serum testosterone was measured, Johnsen score for rats was calculated, and testicular histopathological and ultrastructural examinations were performed. RESULTS: Serum testosterone was significantly lower in group IV than in groups I and II. Moreover, posttreatment values in group IV were significantly lower than pretreatment values. A significant decline in sperm motility and morphology was detected in groups III and IV compared to groups I and II. Sperm count was significantly lower in group IV compared to the other groups. Johnsen score was significantly lower in groups III and IV compared to groups I and II and in group IV compared to group III. In addition, histopathological and ultrastructural degenerative changes in rat testes were detected; these changes were dose dependent and increased with increasing the dose of tadalafil. CONCLUSION: Chronic daily oral administration of tadalafil to male albino rats demonstrates a dose-dependent alteration to testicular histology and semen parameters. The influence of these changes on the actual fertility of these animals remains to be determined.