The effects of adding morphine and nalbuphine in admixture on analgesia for upper abdominal surgery is additive. Combinations of morphine and nalbuphine decreased the incidence of pruritus, nausea and vomiting. This may provide a novel combination strategy of opioid agonist and agonist–antagonist for postoperative pain management.

To evaluate the outcome of using commercially available (SIS) grafts for repairing hypospadias. Collagen-based acellular matrices, including SIS and bladder submucosa matrix, have been used to repair urethral strictures, with varying success, and patients with hypospadias and with inadequate or no genital skin need a substitute tissue for urethroplasty

To evaluate the outcome of using commercially available (SIS) grafts for repairing hypospadias. Collagen-based acellular matrices, including SIS and bladder submucosa matrix, have been used to repair urethral strictures, with varying success, and patients with hypospadias and with inadequate or no genital skin need a substitute tissue for urethroplasty

To evaluate the outcome of using commercially available (SIS) grafts for repairing hypospadias. Collagen-based acellular matrices, including SIS and bladder submucosa matrix, have been used to repair urethral strictures, with varying success, and patients with hypospadias and with inadequate or no genital skin need a substitute tissue for urethroplasty

Abstract Background The possible therapeutic benefits of using steroids to enhance muscle strength and slow disease progression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) has been examined previously. In this investigation, it was hypothesised that steroid therapy is associated with morphological changes in the dystrophic muscle. Objectives and methods To test this hypothesis, two muscle biopsies were obtained (one biopsy before treatment, and the second 6 months following prednisone therapy) from 24 patients with dystrophies (18 DMD, 6 BMD). The participants were categorised into: control (6 specimens, normal muscle), untreated and treated groups. The muscle was evaluated for ultrastructural changes using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results In the untreated group, the muscle fibres were degenerated and of variable sizes. The myofibrils were thin with either complete loss of bands and/or abnormal banding patterns. The Z-lines were irregularly spaced and loosely registered. The mitochondria of the myofibrils were small, few, spherical and irregularly distributed. Numerous dendritic cells (DCs) with euchromatic nuclei, and multiple and long dendrites, were seen among the myofibrils. The collagen fibres among the muscle fibres (endomysium) were numerous and large. The satellite cells had euchromatic nuclei with clumps of heterochromatin. In the treated group, the muscle fibres had a relatively uniform size with occasional fibres showing partial degeneration. The myofibrils had a relatively similar diameter comparable to that of normal muscle .The degenerated areas were small in size with occasional foci showing loss of banding pattern, and abnormal short bands with thick and hazy Z-lines. The mitochondria of the myofibrils were numerous, spherical, small in size and regularly arranged between the myofibrils. Few DCs, with heterochromatic nuclei, and few and short dendrites appeared between the myofibrils. The collagen fibres between the muscle fibres (endomysium) were numerous and large. As compared with the treated group, there was a statistically significant increase (p0.05) in the numbers of DCs (0.7±0.2 vs 1.6±0.3) and fibroblasts (1.9±0.2 vs 2.9 ±0.3) in the untreated group. Alternatively, there was a statistically significant decrease (p0.05) in the numbers of satellite cells (1.2±0.2 vs 0.6±0.1). Conclusion The ability of steroids to induce ultrastructural features of improvement supports the notion that they have beneficial therapeutic role. The clinical ramifications of these observations mandate further studies.

Abstract Background The possible therapeutic benefits of using steroids to enhance muscle strength and slow disease progression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) has been examined previously. In this investigation, it was hypothesised that steroid therapy is associated with morphological changes in the dystrophic muscle. Objectives and methods To test this hypothesis, two muscle biopsies were obtained (one biopsy before treatment, and the second 6 months following prednisone therapy) from 24 patients with dystrophies (18 DMD, 6 BMD). The participants were categorised into: control (6 specimens, normal muscle), untreated and treated groups. The muscle was evaluated for ultrastructural changes using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results In the untreated group, the muscle fibres were degenerated and of variable sizes. The myofibrils were thin with either complete loss of bands and/or abnormal banding patterns. The Z-lines were irregularly spaced and loosely registered. The mitochondria of the myofibrils were small, few, spherical and irregularly distributed. Numerous dendritic cells (DCs) with euchromatic nuclei, and multiple and long dendrites, were seen among the myofibrils. The collagen fibres among the muscle fibres (endomysium) were numerous and large. The satellite cells had euchromatic nuclei with clumps of heterochromatin. In the treated group, the muscle fibres had a relatively uniform size with occasional fibres showing partial degeneration. The myofibrils had a relatively similar diameter comparable to that of normal muscle .The degenerated areas were small in size with occasional foci showing loss of banding pattern, and abnormal short bands with thick and hazy Z-lines. The mitochondria of the myofibrils were numerous, spherical, small in size and regularly arranged between the myofibrils. Few DCs, with heterochromatic nuclei, and few and short dendrites appeared between the myofibrils. The collagen fibres between the muscle fibres (endomysium) were numerous and large. As compared with the treated group, there was a statistically significant increase (p0.05) in the numbers of DCs (0.7±0.2 vs 1.6±0.3) and fibroblasts (1.9±0.2 vs 2.9 ±0.3) in the untreated group. Alternatively, there was a statistically significant decrease (p0.05) in the numbers of satellite cells (1.2±0.2 vs 0.6±0.1). Conclusion The ability of steroids to induce ultrastructural features of improvement supports the notion that they have beneficial therapeutic role. The clinical ramifications of these observations mandate further studies.

SUMMARY The main objective of this study was to investigate the morphological aspects of the development of the Harderian gland (HG) in the female guinea pig. A total number of thirty animals were used and divided according to age into groups, five animals each. Specimens were taken at the following ages; birth, one week, two weeks, three weeks, four weeks and two months postnatal. Histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques were used. The gland was constituted of secretory end pieces and a duct system formed of intra- and extra-parenchymal ducts. At birth, the female guinea pig HG was active in the secretion of lipid and neutral mucin and the differentiation of several populations of cells (light and dark) was possible. However, its histological structure was still incomplete. The lining cells revealed many free ribosomes, a few and small organelles and large irregularly shaped nuclei and numerous mitotic figures. The secretory cells reached maturity by the age of three weeks, but growth in size continued up to the age of two months. They were light or dark; the light cells presented three forms that exhibited different morphological features. All modes of secretion (apocrine, merocrine and holocrine) were detected.

SUMMARY The main objective of this study was to investigate the morphological aspects of the development of the Harderian gland (HG) in the female guinea pig. A total number of thirty animals were used and divided according to age into groups, five animals each. Specimens were taken at the following ages; birth, one week, two weeks, three weeks, four weeks and two months postnatal. Histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques were used. The gland was constituted of secretory end pieces and a duct system formed of intra- and extra-parenchymal ducts. At birth, the female guinea pig HG was active in the secretion of lipid and neutral mucin and the differentiation of several populations of cells (light and dark) was possible. However, its histological structure was still incomplete. The lining cells revealed many free ribosomes, a few and small organelles and large irregularly shaped nuclei and numerous mitotic figures. The secretory cells reached maturity by the age of three weeks, but growth in size continued up to the age of two months. They were light or dark; the light cells presented three forms that exhibited different morphological features. All modes of secretion (apocrine, merocrine and holocrine) were detected.