Effects of the pesticide Lindane on granulosa cell ultrastructure

The excessive exposure to pesticides in the Aral Sea area was correlated to the increased reproductive pathologies in those regions [1]. One of the principal chemical employed was the gamma-hexachlorocycloexane herbicide Lindane (L), a persistent organochlorine that may induces alterations in granulosa cell (GCs) survival [2, 3]. However, a comprehensive experimental study on the L-induced dose-effect morpho- logical alterations, has not yet addressed. Therefore, we studied by means of trans- mission and scanning electron microscopy, the morphological changes of mouse GCs, matured in vitro with increasing concentrations of L [4-6].GCs showed several dose-dependent changes, in respect to controls. In particular, we observed significant reduction of GC microvilli and decrease of cytoplasmic pro- cesses between adjacent GCs. In addition, peripheral aggregation of chromatin under the nuclear membrane, extensive plasma membrane blebbing, abundant GC remnants and cellular debris were also present. Mitochondria, endoplasmic reticula and Golgi apparatuses did not show significant changes. In conclusion, our results showed a dose-dependent toxicity of L on GCs, associated to morphological signs of apoptosis. Alterations of GCs may be associated to impaired oocyte competence and sterility [7].

THE TOXICITY OF LINDANE IN THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM: A REVIEW ON THE ARAL SEA

The disaster of the Aral Sea is one of the biggest environmental problem for the central Asia. The extinction of the Aral Sea began in the 60’s, as a consequence of the excessive water consumption for cotton fields irrigation. Pesticides, as the γ-hexachlorohexane (HCH) or Lindane, were used to increase cotton yields. After sea shrinkage, the infertile soil contaminated with pesticide residues dispersed salts and toxicants in the atmosphere. Due to intense winds, toxic salty dust poisoned the population around the Aral Sea, with severe health problems. Lindane, recently classified as carcinogenic to humans, showed endocrine disrupting activity. Unfavorable outcomes on pregnancy and birth seems to be due by alterations in meiotic spindle formation, polar body extrusion, embryonic development. This article revises the grave situation of the Aral Sea region on the human’s and animal’s health, with regard to the effects of Lindane exposure on female reproduction and fertility

Intra-leiomyoma hemorrhage in postmenopausal woman presented with acute abdominal pain

Intra-leiomyoma hemorrhage in postmenopausal woman is a very rare complication. This case report represents a case report of spontaneous hemorrhage inside the uterine leiomyoma in postmenopausal woman who presented with acute abdomen. A 55-year-old woman, multipara, postmenopausal for 7 years, known case of multiple fibroid uteruses, was presented to the emergency department of Ahmadi Hospital, Kuwait Oil Company, with acute abdominal pain and vomiting, without any reported trauma and/or associated vaginal bleeding. The studied woman was generally stable regarding her vital signs, her hemoglobin dropped from 12 to 10.2 g/dl. Abdominal examination revealed; palpable pelvi-abdominal mass firms in consistency with tenderness and guarding which provisionally support the diagnosis of degenerated fibroids or intra-leiomyoma hemorrhage. The diagnosis was confirmed by basic pelvi-abdominal ultrasound, followed by correction of the patient's general condition and total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy (TAHBSO). Bisected largest cystic fibroid showed brownish serous fluid inside with organized clotted hematoma which confirmed the diagnosis of intra-leiomyoma hemorrhage. Postoperatively, the studied woman received an unit of packed red blood cells for correction of the postoperative anemia and discharged from the hospital in good general condition for postoperative follow-up in the outpatients' department on iron tablets. This case report represents a rare complication of intra-leiomyoma hemorrhage in postmenopausal, diagnosed by the basic clinical and ultrasound findings. The case was managed by TAHBSO after correction of the general condition because of the increased risk of the sarcomatous changes of the uterine fibroid in postmenopausal women

Uterine suspension using I. Abdelazim sacrohysteropexy technique for treatment of uterine prolapse: Case series

Surgical treatment of uterine prolapse in woman who wishes to preserve her uterus remains a major surgical challenge. This case series describes a new surgical technique for uterine suspension in women who wish to preserve their uteri, using the Mersilene tape as an artificial uterosacral ligament to suspend the uterus to the sacral promontory. Four women with genital prolapse (two with stage 1 uterine prolapse and two with stage 2 uterine prolapse and stage 1 vaginal walls prolapse) who requested a uterine conserving procedure were offered I. Adelazim sacrohysteropexy technique as a new surgical option for treatment of the uterine prolapse. This surgical technique is formed of three basic steps: (1) exposure of the anterior longitudinal ligament over the sacral promontory and exposure of the uterosacral ligaments on the back of the uterine cervix; (2) fixation of the Mersilene tape as Y-shaped artificial uterosacral ligament extended from the sacral promontory to the back of the uterine cervix; and (3) closure of the incised visceral peritoneum over the artificial Y-shaped uterosacral ligament. The mean operative duration of I. Abdelazim sacrohysteropexy technique was 50.5 ± 8.4 min and the mean estimated blood loss was 480 ± 67.8 ml. No intraoperative or postoperative complications or recurrence of the uterine prolapse were recorded in the studied cases. I. Abdelazim sacrohysteropexy technique is an effective uterine suspension technique for treatment of uterine prolapse in women who wish to preserve their uteri, using the Mersilene tape as an artificial uterosacral ligament to suspend the uterus to the sacral promontory

Reproductive and health-related hazards of Lindane exposure in Aral sea area

Background: The Aral Sea problem arises after improper regulation of the water from cross-borders river and heavy application of the pesticides over the cotton fields in the area. Objectives: This review article was designed to highlight the reproductive and health-related hazards of Lindane exposure in Aral Sea area. Methods of Literature Research: PubMed search was done for the articles that have been published from January 2007 to December 2015 using the keywords; Lindane and related health hazards in human. Five articles were found and critically analyzed to highlight the reproductive and health-related hazards of Lindane exposure in Aral Sea area. Results: Men of reproductive age were exposed to organochlorine pesticides (including Lindane), which have estrogenic and antiandrogenic activity, and this exposure may affect the male reproductive health. The human maternal and cord blood levels of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane were higher in preterm labor than full-term labor cases. Exposure of the human farmers to Lindane may be associated with long-term abnormalities that affect sensory nerves, and short-term abnormalities that affect liver, with reduced hepatic enzymes activity and reduced hepatocyte RNA synthesis. The Lindane level of 61 ± 268 pg/g lipid detected in the newborns in Turkey. Recently; Lindane has been restricted in most countries since 2009 under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. The WHOs International Agency for Research on Cancer reported that the large epidemiological studies in the United States and Canada showed a 60% increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in agricultural workers, and pesticide applicators exposed to Lindane. Conclusion: Organochlorine pesticides, including Lindane have estrogenic and antiandrogenic activity, which may affect the male reproductive health. The human maternal and cord blood levels of HCH were higher in preterm labor than full-term labor cases. Exposure of the human farmers to Lindane may be associated with long-term abnormalities that affect sensory nerves, and short-term abnormalities that affect liver. Further future studies needed, with screening program of blood levels of Lindane in people living in Aral Sea area to confirm the Lindane health-related hazards, and the use of Lindane should be restricted in the Aral Sea area, if such relation proved