Effect of vitamin E and selenium against aluminum-induced nephrotoxicity in pregnant rats

Abstract: Kidney is one of the most affected organs by aluminium toxicity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of aluminium chloride on the kidney of pregnant rats and to assess the efficiency of vitamin E and selenium in ameliorating this effect. Forty virgin albino rats were randomly divided into two main groups. Control rats were further divided into negative control group (C1, n = 10) which received distilled water and positive control group (C2, n = 10) that received vitamin E (VE, 150 mg/kg/day) and selenium (NaSe 150 μg/kg/day) for 3 months through intra-gastric tube. The experimental group was divided into an E1 subgroup in which rats received aluminium chloride (AlCl3, 150 mg/kg/day, n = 10) and E2 subgroup (n = 10) in which animals received the same dose of AlCl3 plus VE and selenium at the same doses as C2 group for 3 months through intra-gastric tube. Conception of rats was allowed. AlCl3, VE and NaSe were given through intragastric tube during the whole length of the pregnancy, at the same doses as before pregnancy. At the 20th day of gestation dams were sacrificed, kidneys were dissected and processed for routine histological and immunohistochemical staining for identification of T-lymphocytes and macrophages. Integrated optical density of both cell types was assessed. AlCl3 administration induced histopathological changes in the kidney of pregnant rats and increased the density of CD3 and CD68 immunoreactive cells, suggestive of the associated aluminium-induced inflammatory process. Vitamin E and selenium minimized these harmful effects. The results suggest that diets rich in vitamin E and selenium and their supplements are advised particularly during pregnancy to alleviate the effects of possible excessive aluminium exposure

The Effect of Ammonia on Frozen Foods

On March 3, 1962, a liquid-ammonia line broke in the frozen food storage room at the University of Tennessee Food Technology Department, and exposed the foods in the 0° F storage room to ammonia. Customers of the Department complained that the flavor and odor of the foods had been ruined. In January 1964, the same type of accident occurred on a commercial scale. A liquid-ammonia line broke in the 0° F storage room at a commercial company in Knoxville, Tennessee. The room was 30 by 60 by 15 feet (approximately 2700 cubic feet), and the amount of ammonia liberated was estimated to be 100 pounds. The break was in the corner of the room next to the door, which appeared to expose the stored food to different concentrations of ammonia. Experiments were made to compare the foods with similar fresh-frozen foods and to measure the effect on the foods\u27 acceptability. This study was made in an attempt to (1) illustrate the buffer effect on foods, (2) determine the effect of ammonia on the physical characteristics of three different foods: ground beef, strawberries, and green beans, (3) determine the effect of ammonia on the organoleptic qualities of these three foods, (4) compare the permeability of four different package materials to ammonia, and (5) elucidate the rate at which ammonia is able to penetrate into these three foods wrapped in wax paper

Substituent Effect on Pyridine Efficacy as a Chelating Stabilizer

Owing to the growing interest and unique properties of pyridines as bases, effects of substitution and substituent modification on electron density enrichment of the pyridyl nitrogen, and thus the effectiveness of pyridine as metal ion-stabilizers will be introduced in this chapter. Pyridines of the structure C5(S)nH5-nN (S = substituent) that have been intensively studied theoretically were selected as examples to prove the concept of this chapter. Computational results in the reviewed reports showed that: substitution and substituent modification significantly affect the electronic enrichment of nitrogen atom of the pyridine. The conclusions extracted from the covered investigations were employed to promote pyridines to act as efficient stabilizers for the coordinated metal ions. In coordination chemistry, these kinds of coordinated complexes are highly demanded in the field of chemosensation

Anatomical variations of the hand extensors

This study was performed to investigate the anatomy and variations of the humanextensor tendons of the fingers and their intertendinous connections. Ninetyfive upper limbs of adult cadavers were dissected. The variations in the extensortendons of the fingers, both proximal and distal to the extensor retinaculum, andtheir mode of insertion were observed. Also, the intertendinous connections wereexplored and the obtained data were analysed. The extensor pollicis longus andbrevis tendons were found to be single, doubled or, rarely, absent. Their insertioncould be traced to either the proximal phalanx, or through the extensor expansionto both phalanges, or rarely to the distal phalanx of thumb. The extensor indicishad a single tendon in all specimens. In the majority of specimens, extensor digitorumhad no independent slip to the little finger; it gave off a single tendonto the index, double tendons to the middle finger and triple tendons to the ringfinger. Extensor digiti minimi muscle often had double or triple tendons distal tothe extensor retinaculum. Three types of juncturae tendinum (JT) were identifiedbetween the tendons of extensor digitorum in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th intermetacarpalspaces (IMS) of hands. Types 1 and 2 JT were seen in the three IMS. Type 3 JTwas the most frequently identified of all juncturae and was always absent in the2nd IMS. The percentages of the present data were compared with other researchers’data

Variations of the abductor pollicis longus tendon: an anatomic study

This study was performed to investigate the variations, dimensions and attachment of the abductor pollicis longus (APL) tendon. Fifty upper limbs of adult cadavers were dissected in the Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Variations of APL tendon and its way of insertion were observed;its length, width and thickness were also measured and statistically analysed. Nosingle-tendon-APL was found in all the examined upper limbs. The APL exhibited 2–6 tendons in all the cases. Tendons of APL were classified into medial and lateral. The lateral was considered as the main APL tendon, which was inserted into thebase of the first metacarpal bone. The medial tendons were regarded as accessory slips and were inserted most commonly into the base of the first metacarpalbone; 80% on its anterolateral surface vs. 20% on the lateral one. The rest of themedial slips extended to trapezium, abductor pollicis brevis, thenar fascia, capsuleof first carpometacarpal joint and opponens pollicis, with a frequency of 80%,60%, 40%, 30% and 20%, respectively. Transverse tendinous fibres were noted connecting the various slips of the APL tendons. No significant difference was recorded between the length of the main APL tendon and its accessory tendons, however, a highly significant difference was found between their thicknesses aswell as their widths. Thus it is verified that the lateral tendon of APL is the main,whereas the medial tendons are accessory. The observations regarding dimensions and variations of the APL and their accessory tendons may prove useful tosurgeons as a source of grafting material

Can raisins ameliorate the hypercholesterolaemia-induced cardiac affection?

Raisins were investigated for their protective role on cardiac muscle both biochemically and histopathologically in high cholesterol diet (HCD)-fed rats. Wister male rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10): control, raisin-fed, HCD-fed and HCD-raisin fed group. Animals were anaesthetized after 13 weeks. Hearts were dissected and processed for histopathological examination. Raisins administration with HCD significantly decreased the animals’ blood glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, and low density lipoprotein levels; while increased their high density lipoprotein levels compared with rats fed HCD alone. They also decreased cardiomyocytes’ degeneration, cellular infiltration, haemorrhages and blood vessels affection. Raisins reduced fibrosis by decreasing the immuno-expression of alpha smooth muscle actin marker, whereas they significantly increased the immuno-expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Raisins showed a cardioprotective effect and were able to alleviate the biochemical and the histopathological changes induced by the HCD. Consumption of raisins or their pharmaceutical product should be recommended specially for those eating a high-fat diet

Correction of anterior hypospadias without urethroplasty: glanular rotation procedure (the Hay technique)

Objectives: The aim was to present a simple technique for the correction of anterior hypospadiases without meatal advancement or urethroplasty.Background: Most of the techniques described for the correction of anterior hypospadias had the risk of complications: recession, flaying of the glans, fistula, and meatal stenosis that is not accepted when dealing with a trivial anomaly that is done only for cosmetic correction. A simple technique for correcting granular and some forms of coronal hypospadias without meatal advancement or urethroplasty is presented.Patients and methods: From June 2013 to June 2016, 183 patients presented for surgical repair of glanular or coronal hypospadias. The technique of glanular rotation procedure (GRP) was applied only for those cases that matched the criteria settled after degloving of the penis with an incision made 2mm proximal to the meatus touching the glans on both sides for 3–4 mm. Once the uppermost part of the meatus is at the same line with the upper end of the glans on both sides, the technique is applicable. The patients were followed in the OPD for 1 year after the repair for the evaluation of the results of the technique: the urinary stream, meatal size and position, presence of fistula, and the final cosmetic appearance.Results: Ninety-eight out of 183 (53.6%) boys had matched the criteria for application of the GRP technique. Their age ranged from 6 months to 3 years. All but three had an apical, slit-like meatus with good stream without stenosis and 2–3mm glans tissue encircling the ventral side of the meatus. Four cases had complications in the form of meatal stenosis in two cases, disruption of the glans in one case, and coronal fistula in one case. The overall complication rate was 4.1%.Conclusion: In properly selected cases, GRP is a simple efficient technique that has the advantage of reconstructing the glans over the urethra without the need of meatal advancement or urethroplasty.Keywords: coronal hypospadias, glanular hypospadias, without urethroplast

Biochemical changes occurring during fermentation of camel milk by selected bacterial starter cultures

The biochemical changes in amino acids, water soluble vitamins, soluble sugars and organic acids occurring during fermentation (at 43°C for 6 h) of camel milk inoculated with Streptococcus thermophilus 37, Lactobacillus delbrueckii sub sp. bulgaricus CH2, Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus and mixed yogurt culture (S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus 1:1) were studied. Amino acids analysis revealed slight insignificant increase in alanine, leucine, histidine, lysine and argninie, while valine, methionine and tyrosine were slightly decreased. The fermentation process significantly decreased vitamin C contents, while it had no significant effect on riboflavin and thiamine content. Single as well as mixed culture fermentation resulted in decrease in lactose concentration with parallel increase in glucose and galactose. Organic acids analysis revealed the presence of lactic acid, formic acid and acetic acid, with yogurt culture showing the highest concentration of lactic acid, formic acid and acetic acid, while L. lactis showed lowest concentration.Key words: Camel milk, fermentation, amino acids, organic acids, vitamins, sugars

A histological and immunohistochemical study of beta cells in streptozotocin diabetic rats treated with caffeine

In this study, the histological, immunohistochemical, morphometric, and biochemical changes to pancreatic beta-cells in STZ-induced diabetes were evaluated in rats treated with different doses of caffeine. Fifty adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups: the nondiabetic control group, the diabetic untreated group, and three diabetic groups treated with different doses of caffeine (10, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day). Blood glucose and serum insulin levels were measured. The pancreata were collected and processed into paraffin sections. They were stained using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson trichrome stains. The insulin expression in beta-cells was assessed using immunohistochemistry. Morphometrically, the percentage area of anti-insulin antibody reaction, the percentage of beta-cells per total islet cell number, and the average area of the islets were determined. STZ-induced degenerative changes in beta-cells led to decreases in the number of functioning beta-cells and insulin immunoreactivity and to increases in the number of collagen fibers in the islets. In STZ-treated rats, caffeine significantly decreased blood glucose concentration while increasing blood insulin levels at the highest applied dose. It also induced a significant increase in the number of immunoreactive beta-cells. In conclusion, caffeine may have a protective role in the biochemical and microscopic changes in pancreatic beta-cells in diabetes induced in rats through STZ administration. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2014, Vol. 52, No. 1, 42–50

Modelling of cardiac hemodynamics: A case study

AbstractObservations made on patients under cardiac catheterization are used to develop validated models for the heart cavities and the main blood vessels, treating them as compartments of the cardiac system. The algorithm utilizes realistic nonlinear formulations and the least squares techniques for optimal parameter estimation. A comprehensive investigation made for modelling of the hemodynamics of one of the compartments is reported as a case study. The modelling procedure is broad-based in character, and may be used advantageously as an aid in the diagnosis of heart diseases