Tocotrienol preserves ovarian function in cyclophosphamide therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Cyclophosphamide (CPA) chemotherapy leads to ovarian failure and infertility. Tocotrienol (T3) is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. The role of T3 in ovarian protection throughout chemotherapy remains unclear. AIM: To investigate the role of T3 in the preservation of female fertility in CPA treatment. METHOD: Sixty female mice were divided into five treatment groups, namely, normal saline, corn oil only, T3 only, CPA and CPA + T3. The treatment was given for 30 days, followed by administration of gonadotrophin to induce ovulation. After killing, both ovaries were collected and examined histologically. RESULTS: There was significant reduction in ovarian size in the CPA group compared with the normal group (CPA versus normal, mean area ± SD; 0.118 ± 0.018 vs. 0.423 ± 0.024 cm(2); p ≤ 0.005), whilst concurrent administration of T3 with CPA leads to conservation of ovarian size (CPA + T3 vs. CPA, mean area ± SD; 0.285 ± 0.032 vs. 0.118 ± 0.018 cm(2); p ≤ 0.005). Ovaries in CPA group showed abnormal folliculogenesis with accompanied reduced ovulation rate, follicular oedema, increased vascularity and inflammatory cell infiltration. These changes were reversed by concurrent T3 administration. CONCLUSION: Co-administration of T3 with CPA confers protection of ovarian morphology and function in vivo. These findings contribute to the further elucidation of CPA effect on ovary and suggest the potential of T3 use in preserving fertility in chemotherapy.

Spectral, thermal, electrochemical and analytical studies on Cd(II) and Hg(II) thiosemicarbazone complexes.

The coordination characteristic of the investigated thiosemicarbazones towards hazard pollutants, Cd(II) and Hg(II), becomes the first goal. Their complexes have been studied by microanalysis, thermal, electrochemical and spectral (electronic, IR and MS) studies. The substitutent (salicylaldehyde, acetophenone, benzophenone, o-hydroxy-p-methoxybenzophenone or diacetylmonoxime) plays an important role in the complex formation. The coordination sites were the S for thiosemicarbazide (HTS); NN for benzophenone thiosemicarbazone (HBTS); NS for acetophenone thiosemicarbazone (HATS) and salicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (H2STS); NNS or NSO for diacetylmonoxime thiosemicarbazone (H2DMTS). The stability constants of Hg(II) complexes were higher than Cd(II). The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for the different thermal decomposition steps in the complexes have been evaluated. The activation energy values of the first step ordered the complexes as: [Cd(H2STS)Cl2]H2O > [Cd(H2DAMTS)Cl2] > [Cd(HBTS)2Cl2]2H2O > [Cd(HATS)2Cl2]. The CV of [Cd(H2STS)Cl2]H2O and [Hg(HBTS)Cl2] were recorded. The use of H2DMTS as a new reagent for the separation and determination of Cd(II) ions from water and some synthetic samples using flotation technique is aimed to be discussed.

Study of referral process between general practitioners and specialists in health insurance clinics in Alexandria.

The present study was designed to investigate the reasons for which patients are referred by G.Ps to G.M. specialists, and to assess the extent to which referred cases need specialist care. The study sample included specialists of general medicine working at 4 of the H.I.O. polyclinics and all G.Ps who referred cases that were considered as inappropriate referrals by the study specialists, as well as 20% of Patients referred to G.M. specialists by G.Ps. were systematically randomly selected during a period of 10 consecutive days. The results indicated that the rate of inappropriate referral to G.M. specialists was high, the rate of discrepancy between G.P. and specialist diagnoses was generally high, there was a high discrepancy between G.Ps and specialists regarding the reason for inappropriate referral, and there was poor communication from the lower (G.P.) to the higher (specialists) levels in the referral process. Reasons for referral to specialists were not recorded by G.Ps in 100% of cases. To overcome these problems H.I.O. should place special emphasis on the professional training and continuing education of G.Ps, with special attention to the few common conditions that were responsible for the greater proportion of referral problems. At the same time, H.I.O. should strengthen the technical and administrative control over G.P. referral behavior.