ESTROGENS IMPROVE THE CARDIOVASCULAR ALTERATIONS IN FRUCTOSE-INDUCED INSULIN RESISTANT OVARIECTOMIZED RATS

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the possible improving effects of 17-β estradiol (EST) and genistein (GEN) on the cardiovascular changes associated with fructose (21% in drinking water for 8 weeks)-induced insulin resistance.Methods: Sham-operated and ovariectomized mature female rats were included in this study. Insulin-resistant ovariectomized animals were sc treated with EST (100 µg/kg) or GEN (1 mg/kg) on the daily basis for 21 consecutive days.Results: Induction of insulin resistance in both sham-operated and ovariectomized rats decreased the vascular responsiveness of isolated aortic rings towards the vasoconstrictor norepinephrine and the vasodilator acetylcholine (Ach) with no changes towards the vasodilator sodium nitroprusside. Fructose-induced insulin resistance was also associated with an elevation in the blood pressure (BP) with decreased serum level of nitric oxide (NO). Treatment of insulin-resistant ovariectomized rats with either EST or GEN improved the vascular responsiveness of isolated aortic rings towards Ach and succeeded to reduce the elevated BP. Moreover, both EST and GEN decreased the insulin resistance/compensatory hyper insulinaemia. Treatment with EST increased serum NO level.Conclusion: EST and GEN have the ability to improve the endothelium-dependent relaxation in insulin-resistant ovariectomized rats and modulate the elevated BP.Â

Human ochratoxicosis and nephropathy in Egypt: A preliminary study

This preliminary study was designed todelineate the extent of the problem of ochratoxicosis and its relation to renal diseases mounting to endstage renal disease (ESRD) or urothelial tumors inEgypt. It comprised 71 patient with renal diseases ofdifferent presentations. They were divided into fivegroups: (group I - no.=11) patients with (ESRD)under conservati ve treatment, (group 2 - no.=15)ESRD on regular hemodialysis, (group3 - no.= 15)renal allograft recipients, (group 4 - no.=15) patientswith nephrotic syndrome and (group 5 - no.=15)patients with urothelial tumors. In addition, twocontrol groups were included; potential relateddonors for renal transplantation (group 6 - no.=15)and healthy controls with negative family history ofrenal disease (group 7 - no.=25).All groups were subjected to clinical, laboratory,radiological and histopathological evaluation of renalstatus together with determination of ochratoxin Alevel in blood, urine and in biopsy specimens ofpatients with urothelial tumors.High ochratoxin blood levels were found in allpatients with ESRD (groups 1 & 2) (p<0.01). Higherblood levels were detected in the group onconservative treatment (group 1) in comparison tocontrols possibly due to ochratoxin A clearance bydialysis. Ochratoxin A was detected in blood andurine of renal transplant recipients (group3) (p<0.01)and especially higher levels were found in patientswith nephrotic syndrome (group 4) (p<0.001). Patients with urothelial tumor (group 5), had higher levels of ochratoxin in blood, urine and tissue biopsy specimens (p<0.01).These results support the conclusion that ochratoxin-A could be related to the genesis of renal disease leading to ESRD or causing urothelial cancer. We recommend more detailed study for ochratoxicosis & renal disease in Egypt

Your professionalism is not my professionalism:congruence and variance in the views of medical students and faculty about professionalism

Abstract Background Medical professionalism is an essential aspect of medical education and practice worldwide and it must be adopted according to different social and cultural contexts. We examined the current congruence and variance in the perception of professionalism in undergraduate medical students and faculty members in one medical school in Saudi Arabia. Methods The target population was first year to final year medical students of College of Medicine, King Saud University. Out of a total of 1431 students at College of Medicine 750 students (52 %) participated in the study. Fifty faculty members from clinical and non-clinical departments of the College of Medicine were randomly selected for this study and all participated in the study. The respondents recorded their responses through the Bristol online survey system, using a bilingual (English and Arabic) version of the Dundee Polyprofessionalism Inventory I: Academic integrity, which has 34 items. Results There are 17 lapses (50 % of the total) in professional behaviour where none of the faculty recommend the ignore sanction while students recommended a variable ignore sanction in a range of 6–29 % for different behaviours. Students and faculty recommended similar sanctions for 5 lapses (14.7 % of the total) in professional behaviours. Furthermore, there is statistically significant two level difference between the sanctions approved by faculty and students in the recommended sanctions for 12 lapses (35 % of the total (p < 0.050). Conclusions These results raised concerns in relation to the students’ understanding of professionalism. It is therefore, important to enhance their learning around the attributes of medical professionalism

PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF NOAEA MUCRONATA

(Egyptian Journal of Medical Laboratory Sciences: 2001: 10(1): 13-24

PHARMACOLOGICAL RESULTS OF ASPHODELUS FISTULOSUS (CAV.)

(Egyptian Journal of Medical Laboratory Sciences: 2001: 10(1): 25-38

EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK WAVE LITHOTRIPSY AS MONOTHERAPY FOR STONES IN SOLITARY KIDNEY

Objective To evaluate extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) as a monotherapy for urolithiasis in patients with solitary kidney and to determine the factors that may affect its results. Patients and Methods Using the Dornier MFL 5000 lithotriptor, 106 patients with solitary kidney (80 men and 26 women) were treated for stone disease. The mean age ( SD) was 44.5 11.1 years (ranging from 18 to 70 years). The causes of monorenia were nephrectomy, the presence of a contralateral non-functioning kidney or a congenital solitary kidney (56.6%, 39.6% and 3.8%, respectively). The mean stone length was 13 5 mm and the mean width was 10 3 mm. Pre-treatment stenting was done in 14 patients to relieve anuria before ESWL. The follow-up data were recorded at 3 months. The statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test to detect the different factors that may affect the stone-free rate. Results The overall stone-free rate was 84.9%. Sixteen patients (15.1%) were not cleared of stones, including 12 (11.3%) with insignificant gravel o