Scanning electron microscopic study of the effect of chlorpyrifos on the developing neural tube in comparison with Arsenic in mouse embryo

Background: Arsenic is an important environmental toxicant which is usually found in drinking water in inorganic form. Arsenic exposure in pregnant mice causes neural tube defects (NTDs). Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphorus insecticide, recommended universally and in Egypt to control various pests, was evaluated for its potential developmental toxicity. Studies have shown increasing evidence to suggest an association between environmental exposure to this agricultural pesticides and adverse reproductive outcomes. The hypothesis tested in this investigation is chlorpyrifos causes significant defects on the developing central nervous system compared to the proven Arsenic.Objectives: The aim of this work was to assess congenital malformations induced by the organophosphorus insecticide chlorpyrifos on the neural tube and brain development in comparison with the positive control Arsenic.Methods: Virgin female ICR (CD-1) mice, approximately 10 weeks old were mated with adult males. The day the vaginal plug was found was considered day 0 of gestation. It consisted of 320 mice. They were subdivided into four groups of 80 bred mice each. Each group was divided into 4 subgroups, and 20 mice per each were treated by gavage as follows: 30 mg/kg/day chlorpyrifos (tested group), 40 mg/kg/day sodium Arsenite (positive control group), and corn oil and distilled water (negative control groups) on days 6–15 of gestation. Maternal observations throughout gestation were reported. In each subgroup the mice proved to be pregnant were sacrificed on gestational days; GD 10, 11, 12 and 16. The day of scarification was determined according to the neural tube developmental stages. The conceptus extraction was done and their number reported to be subjected to the SEM study. After mice scarification, the uteri were opened and a total of 30 embryos and fetuses, randomly selected from each subgroup were processed for scanning electron microscopy investigating the neural tube developmental defects.Results: CPF ingested by gravid mice at dose of 30 mg/kg/day started from 6th day of gestation proved to produce NTDs as compared to Arsenite.Conclusion: Neural tube defects are due to chlorpyrifos that may directly influence brain cell replication and differentiation

Scanning electron microscopic study of the effect of chlorpyrifos on the developing neural tube in comparison with Arsenic in mouse embryo

AbstractBackgroundArsenic is an important environmental toxicant which is usually found in drinking water in inorganic form. Arsenic exposure in pregnant mice causes neural tube defects (NTDs). Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphorus insecticide, recommended universally and in Egypt to control various pests, was evaluated for its potential developmental toxicity. Studies have shown increasing evidence to suggest an association between environmental exposure to this agricultural pesticides and adverse reproductive outcomes. The hypothesis tested in this investigation is chlorpyrifos causes significant defects on the developing central nervous system compared to the proven Arsenic.ObjectivesThe aim of this work was to assess congenital malformations induced by the organophosphorus insecticide chlorpyrifos on the neural tube and brain development in comparison with the positive control Arsenic.MethodsVirgin female ICR (CD-1) mice, approximately 10weeks old were mated with adult males. The day the vaginal plug was found was considered day 0 of gestation. It consisted of 320mice. They were subdivided into four groups of 80bred mice each. Each group was divided into 4 subgroups, and 20mice per each were treated by gavage as follows: 30mg/kg/day chlorpyrifos (tested group), 40mg/kg/day sodium Arsenite (positive control group), and corn oil and distilled water (negative control groups) on days 6–15 of gestation. Maternal observations throughout gestation were reported. In each subgroup the mice proved to be pregnant were sacrificed on gestational days; GD 10, 11, 12 and 16. The day of scarification was determined according to the neural tube developmental stages. The conceptus extraction was done and their number reported to be subjected to the SEM study.After mice scarification, the uteri were opened and a total of 30 embryos and fetuses, randomly selected from each subgroup were processed for scanning electron microscopy investigating the neural tube developmental defects.ResultsCPF ingested by gravid mice at dose of 30mg/kg/day started from 6th day of gestation proved to produce NTDs as compared to Arsenite.ConclusionNeural tube defects are due to chlorpyrifos that may directly influence brain cell replication and differentiation

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially