Histopathological and functional effects of antimony on the renal cortex of growing albino rat

Contamination of the environment with antimony compounds may affect human health through the persistent exposure to small doses over a long period. Sixty growing male albino rats, weighing 43-57 grams, utilized in this study. The animals were divided into 3 groups; each of 20 rats: animals of group I served as control, animals of group II received 6 mg/kg body weight antimony trisulfide daily for 8 weeks with drinking water, and those of group III received the same dose by the same route for 12 weeks. The Malpighian renal corpuscles showed distortion, destruction and congestion of glomerular tuft, vacuoles in the glomeruli, peritubular haemorrhage, obliteration of Bowman’s space, and thickening with irregularity of Bowman’s membrane. The proximal convoluted tubules demonstrated patchy loss of their brush border, thickening of the basement membrane with loss of its basal infoldings, disarrangement of the mitochondria, pleomorphic vacuoles in the cytoplasm, apical destruction of the cells, apical migration of the nuclei, and absence of microvilli. On the other hand, peri-tubular hemorrhage, apical vacuolation, small atrophic nuclei, swelling of mitochondria, obliteration of the lumina, destruction of cells, and presence of tissue debris in the lumina, were observed in the distal convoluted tubules. The present work demonstrated the hazardous effect of antimony on the renal function as evidenced by the significant increase of the level of blood urea, serum creatinine, and serum sodium and potassium. In conclusion, this study proposed that continuous oral administration of antimony for 8 and 12 weeks has hazardous toxic effect on the structure and function of the kidney in growing albino rat. Based on the results of the present study, it is recommended to avoid the use of any drinking water contaminated with antimony compounds and forbidden its use in infants and children foods.     

Immunohistochemical Localization and Distribution of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen in the Rabbit Mandibular Condyle Following Experimental Induction of Anterior Disk Displacement

The purpose of the present study was to identify proliferating cells in control versus experimental condyles two weeks following experimental Induction of anterior disk displacement (ADD) in the rabbit craniomandibular joint (CMJ). The right joint of 15 rabbits was exposed surgically and all diskal attachments were severed except for the posterior attachment. The disk was then repositioned anteriorly and sutured to the zygomatic arch. The left joint served as a sham-operated control. Ten additional joints were used as nonoperated controls. Mandibular condyles were excised two weeks following surgery and processed for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaining. In control and sham operated condyles, PCNA was localized in the nuclei of chondroblasts of the reserve cell layer, chondrocytes of the upper hypertrophic layer and bone marrow cells of the subchondral bone. In contrast to control joints, the PCNA positive cells of the experimental joints were located throughout the osteoarthritic condylar cartilage. In addition, the percentage of PCNA positive cells of the osteoarthritic condylar cartilage was statistically significantly higher when compared to the control group, p < 0.05. It was concluded that surgical induction of ADD in the rabbit CMJ leads to an increase in mitosis of chondrocytes, which lead to cell proliferation and subsequent hyperplasia of the condylar cartilage.     

Outcome of elastic nailing of diaphyseal forearm fractures in adolescents after failure of conservative management

Purpose

This is a prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of elastic nails for the treatment of diaphyseal forearm fractures after failure of conservative management.

Method

In 35 patients with a mean age of 15.3 years (14–17 years), elastic nails were used for the treatment of diaphyseal forearm fractures after failure of conservative management. In 32 patients (91.4%), we performed closed reduction. In the remaining 3 (8.6%), closed reduction failed and an open reduction, through a minimal approach, was required before nailing.

Results

After a mean follow-up of 31 months (range 24–48 months), 20 (60%) patients had an excellent result 10 (34.3%) patients had a good result, and two (5.7%) patients had fair result. The mean time of union was 12 weeks (range 8–15). The mean time in cast was 8.5 weeks (range 7–11). Full range of elbow movement was regained in all cases; however, supination and pronation were limited in two patients. One patient had a superficial infection at the site of entry of the ulnar nail which was successfully treated with oral antibiotics and daily dressing. Neurapraxia affecting superficial branch of the radial nerve in one patient was resolved over a period of time. One case with partial rupture of extensor pollicus longus tendon was reported. There was one case of delayed union. No cases of refracture were reported after removal of the implant.

Conclusion

In adolescents, intramedullary fixation by using elastic nail plus cast immobilization provides effective treatment for diaphyseal forearm fracture when closed management has failed. However, it is of special importance to follow the right indication and to pay attention to correct technical procedure.     

Cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty with a cerclage cable technique for unstable intertrochanteric hip fractures in elderly patients

Aim

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of cemented bipolar arthroplasty as a primary treatment for unstable intertrochanteric fracture in the elderly patients.

Methods

Twenty hips with unstable intertrochanteric fractures were followed for more than 2 years after cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty. The mean age was 69 years, and the mean follow-up period was 30.5 months. We evaluated the results by Harris hip score, complications, and radiologic findings.

Results

At the last follow-up, the mean Harris hip score was 83.3 points. Radiologically, there was no case of osteolysis. All stems were stable without significant changes in alignment or progressive subsidence.

Conclusions

Bipolar hemiarthroplasty with calcar reconstruction is a good option for unstable intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients with severe osteoporosis with strict indication selection. Longer-term studies with larger numbers of patients are required to address the issues of late complications.     

Outcomes of open bicondylar tibial plateau fractures treated with Ilizarov external fixator with or without minimal internal fixation

This study was conducted to evaluate the outcome of treatment for open fractures of the tibial plateau using external circular fixation combined with or without limited internal fixation. Twenty-five patients (16 males and 9 females) with open fracture tibial plateau were treated with circular external fixator with minimal internal fixation. The mean age of the patients was 36 years (range between 23 and 62 years). According to AO classification system, there was six (24 %) C1, eleven (44 %) C2, and eight (32 %) C3. According to Gustilo and Anderson classification, seven (28 %) were grade 1; nine (36 %), grade 2; six (24 %), grade 3b; and three (12 %), grade 3c. According to ASAMI score, Italy, the results were excellent in 8 (32 %) cases, good in 12 (48 %) cases, and fair in five (20 %) patients. The patients’ satisfaction was significantly related to the functional results (p < 0.05). Complications included skin gaping in one case 10 days postoperatively. Pin tract infection was seen in 20 % of cases, one case showed deep infection and no cases of septic arthritis. There is no correlation between the final outcome and articular depression (p > 0.05). Ilizarov external fixator provides acceptable outcomes but with a high rate of complication rate, typical of this type of fracture. It avoids extensive soft tissue dissection.     

Prevalence of neuromuscular disorders in Qena governorate/Egypt: population-based survey

Background: Few epidemiological studies of the prevalence of neuromuscular disorders have been undertaken. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of the most common types of neuromuscular disorders in Qena governorate/Egypt.

Methods: A random sample was taken from 11 districts, involving 9303 inhabitants with 57.3% urban residents and 42.7% rural residence. Patients were diagnosed using a screening questionnaire for the diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders. All positive cases were referred to Qena University hospital where they underwent full clinical, electrophysiological, and laboratory investigations.

Results: Out of 9303 participants 448 cases were identified positive during survey. Four hundred and twenty-six cases proved to have neuromuscular disorders giving a crude prevalence rate (CPR) of 4.57%; 408 cases had definite neuropathy and 18 cases had muscular disorders equivalent to CPR of 4.39% and 193/10⁵ respectively. There was a higher prevalence in the rural than urban population. The CPR of focal compression neuropathies was 1.8%, with the majority of cases having carpal tunnel syndrome (CPR = 1.67%). CPR of diabetic neuropathy was 1.67%. The CPR of compressive radiculopathy was 0.34%. Traumatic nerve injury had a CPR 0.06%. The lifetime prevalence of Bell’s palsy was 0.16%. Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy had a CPR 0.08%. The CPR of idiopathic neuropathy was 0.09% and Infective Leprotic neuropathy was 0.04%. Five patients were diagnosed as having muscular dystrophy and another 5 patients had myotonia with CPR of 54/10⁵ for each. Two cases of myasthenia gravis and another two cases with systemic myopathy were recorded giving a CPR of 21/10⁵.

Conclusion: The overall CPR of neuromuscular disorders in the general population in Qena governorate/Egypt was higher than reported in other countries.     

Prevalence of Bell’s palsy in Qena Governorate,Egypt

Background and purpose: There have been few studies to estimate the prevalence of Bell’s palsy (BP) in Arab countries. A community-based study was conducted to estimate the prevalence, incidence rates, precipitating factors, and outcome of BP in Qena Governorate, Egypt.

Subjects and methods: A door-to-door survey was carried out, with random sampling of 10 districts, involving 9303 inhabitants, 51.1% males and 48.9% females. Seventeen subjects were positive in screening questionnaire and referred to Qena University hospital and were subjected to a full clinical examination, House Brackmann’s Facial grading system.

Results: In a total population of 9303 individuals, 15 cases were confirmed as having BP giving a prevalence rate (PR) 161/10⁵ for all ages 95%CI (80–243). It was slightly but not significantly higher among women and the rural community. The incidence rate of BP was 107/10⁵. The highest age-specific rate was 40–49 years age. The most frequent precipitating factors for an episode of BP were exposure to air draft in 40%, physical stress (13.3%), and upper respiratory tract infection (13.3%). Moreover, 46.7% had predisposing risk factors, DM and hypertension in 33.3%. Sixty percent of cases had complication and poor outcome.

Conclusion: The overall prevalence and incidence rates of BP in Qena governorate were high. This could be related to the variation in day and night temperature in our community and the susceptibility to air draft exposure during the night. The high frequency of poor outcome among studied cases suggests that better local guidelines should be implemented to recognize and treat BP.     

Assessment of cardiac mass from tagged magnetic resonance images

Purpose

Tagged and cine magnetic resonance imaging (tMRI and cMRI) techniques are used for evaluating regional and global heart function, respectively. Measuring global function parameters directly from tMRI is challenging due to the obstruction of the anatomical structure by the tagging pattern. The purpose of this study was to develop a method for processing the tMRI images to improve the myocardium-blood contrast in order to estimate global function parameters from the processed images.

Materials and methods

The developed method consists of two stages: (1) removing the tagging pattern based on analyzing and modeling the signal distribution in the image’s k-space, and (2) enhancing the blood-myocardium contrast based on analyzing the signal intensity variability in the two tissues. The developed method is implemented on images from twelve human subjects.

Results

Ventricular mass measured with the developed method showed good agreement with that measured from gold-standard cMRI images. Further, preliminary results on measuring ventricular volume using the developed method are presented.

Conclusion

The promising results in this study show the potential of the developed method for evaluating both regional and global heart function from a single set of tMRI images, with associated reduction in scan time and patient discomfort.

     

Work related injuries in Qatar: a framework for prevention and control

Work related injuries (WRIs) are a growing public health concern that remains under-recognized, inadequately addressed and largely unmeasured in low and middle-income countries (LMIC’s). However, even in high-income countries, such as those in Gulf Cooperating Council (GCC) like Qatar, there are challenges in assuring the health and safety of its labor population. Countries in the GCC have been rapidly developing as a result of the economic boom from the petrochemical industry during the early seventies. Economic prosperity has propelled the migration of workers from less developed countries to make up for the human resource deficiency to develop its infrastructure, service and hospitality industries. Although these countries have gradually made huge gains in health, economy and human development index, including improvements in life expectancy, education, and standard of living, there remains a high incidence of work-related injuries especially in jobs in the construction and petrochemical sector. Currently, there is scarcity of literature on work-related injuries, especially empirical studies documenting the burden, characteristics and risk factors of work injuries and the work injured population, which includes large numbers of migrant workers in many GCC countries. This paper will focus on the current understanding of WRIs in those countries and identify the gaps in current approaches to workplace injury prevention, outlining current status of WRI prevention efforts in Qatar, and propose a framework of concerted action by multi-sectoral engagement.     

Mosquito and tick repellency of two Anthemis essential oils from Saudi Arabia

The essential oils (EOs) of Anthemis melampodina (Am) and Anthemis scrobicularis (As) (Asteraceae) were extracted from the aerial parts of the plants by hydrodistillation, and their chemical compositions were analyzed using GC-FID and GC-MS. Fifty-six components representing 85.5% of the oil composition of Anthemis melampdina were identified, and the major components were α-pinene (17.1%) and β-eudesmol (13.8%). Forty-one components representing 86% of the oil composition of Anthemis scrobicularis were identified, and the major component was β-eudesmol (12.8%). Laboratory bioassays were conducted to determine repellency of Am and As EOs against the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti L. and the lone star tick Amblyomma americanum L. The minimum effective doses (MEDs) of the Am and As EOs against mosquitoes were 0.187?±?0.000 and 0.312?±?0.063?mg/cm² respectively, which were significantly higher than that of DEET (0.023?±?0.000?mg/cm²) in human-based repellent bioassays. The As EO was more repellent than Am EO against nymphal ticks but was less effective than DEET in vertical paper bioassays.