Electrocution induces several alterations of the heart, skin, blood vessels, muscles, and nerves. The main objective of the present study was to investigate possible alterations of the sciatic nerve of rats exposed to 220 V for 5 seconds by light and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Electric current was applied on the thigh region near by the gastrocneamus muscles of rats. The Sciatic nerve and the muscles were taken immediately fixed in 10% Neutral buffered formalin and 4 % cold glutraldehyde and processed for both light and TEM and stained by toulidine blue and lead acetate respectively and photographed by image soft ware. Light microscope showed irregularity of the shape with elongation of the sciatic nerve compared to the control. Moreover, annulations of the myelin sheath were detected. Mast cell infiltration were observed around the myelin sheath and suggested a response of the nerve tissue to injury may occurred. TEM showed the myelin sheath of non-exposed rats had no remarkable changes morphologically. The thickness of myelin sheath of non-exposed nerves was ranged from 1.41+ 0.7 micron. While the exposed nerve had remarkable increase in the thickness and was 1.69 + 0.8 micron. The exposed nerves had fragmentation either in localized area of the nerve and appeared bulby or onion-like or totally surround the whole nerve. No changes were observed in Schwann cells. Mast cells were detected around the affected nerves and had shown empty vesicles and suggested degranulation occurred. These results can be a helpful tool in forensic toxicology .

Sixty five (65) rats were exposed to one tenth LD50 of crude latex of Calotropis Procera (CP) day by day for 12 weeks (long-term toxicity). Clinical signs, post-mortem lesions, and histopathological examination were made. Post-mortum examination showed marked dilatation of the stomach and contained the latex of crude CP . The stomach revealed severe necrosis of the entire mucosal epithelium. The kidney was the most affected organ with a variety of changes in long-term exposure. Absence of spermatozoa in the epididymal lumen was observed. Moreover, immature cells and cellular debris in the lumen were observed while the epithelium was intact. The livers of exposed rats in long term exposure had marked proliferation of Kupffer cells as well as dilatation of the hepatic sinusoids. In conclusion, calotropis procera crude latex is moderately toxic; in large doses has hazardous local and remote toxic effects in different body organs.

Child labor is alarmingly prevalent in Egypt, a country with a population of nearly 75 millions; there are some 1.5 million (12%) child workers between 6 and 15 years. Agricultural work posses several characteristics that are risky for health: exposure to extremes of weather, close contact with animals and plants, extensive use of chemical and biological products, difficult working postures and lengthy hours and use of hazardous agricultural tools and machinery. Aim of the study: Determine the causes of agricultural child labor in Koom Abousheel village, Assiut, Egypt and highlight some of its related health problems. Methods: Descriptive cross sectional study included 630 randomly selected students enrolled in primary and preparatory schools aged from 6 to 17 years old in Koom Abousheel village 2008-2009. Data collection from the target population using structured personal interview. Anthropometric measures: weight, height and body mass index were measured. Laboratory investigations including urine and stool examination were done to detect parasitic infections in these children. Urine samples were collected, centrifuged and examined microscopically. Stool examination was done macroscopically and stored in two different fixative (10% formalin and sodium acetate-acetic acid-formalin), concentrated and examined microscopically by: direct wet mount using saline, iodine and lacto-phenol cotton blue and stained by modified Kinyoun acid-fast stain. Data analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: 52.7% of the studied students worked in agricultural duties and 73.2% of them began work at early age (less than 10 years). Boys were more often involved in labor activities than girls. About half of the worked students helped their fathers in their work. Worked students reported negative impact on their education and social life. Health hazards at the farm such as exposure to high temperature, animal bite, and injuries were prevalent among them. Parasitic infections were more prevalent in worked students (69.3 %). The detected parasites were Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma doudenale, Hymenolepis nana, Enterobius vermicularis, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum, Blastocystis hominis and Entamoeba coli. Conclusion: The problem of child labor is serious. In rural areas especially, children work as cheap labor because their parents are poor and do not earn enough to support the family, thus the problem of child labor will persist and it exposes the children to many health hazards and risks. Improving legislation and enforcement measures to establish a legal minimum age for work, community education and mobilization are essential and have been the traditional response to the problem of child labor.

Child labor is alarmingly prevalent in Egypt, a country with a population of nearly 75 millions; there are some 1.5 million (12%) child workers between 6 and 15 years. Agricultural work posses several characteristics that are risky for health: exposure to extremes of weather, close contact with animals and plants, extensive use of chemical and biological products, difficult working postures and lengthy hours and use of hazardous agricultural tools and machinery. Aim of the study: Determine the causes of agricultural child labor in Koom Abousheel village, Assiut, Egypt and highlight some of its related health problems. Methods: Descriptive cross sectional study included 630 randomly selected students enrolled in primary and preparatory schools aged from 6 to 17 years old in Koom Abousheel village 2008-2009. Data collection from the target population using structured personal interview. Anthropometric measures: weight, height and body mass index were measured. Laboratory investigations including urine and stool examination were done to detect parasitic infections in these children. Urine samples were collected, centrifuged and examined microscopically. Stool examination was done macroscopically and stored in two different fixative (10% formalin and sodium acetate-acetic acid-formalin), concentrated and examined microscopically by: direct wet mount using saline, iodine and lacto-phenol cotton blue and stained by modified Kinyoun acid-fast stain. Data analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: 52.7% of the studied students worked in agricultural duties and 73.2% of them began work at early age (less than 10 years). Boys were more often involved in labor activities than girls. About half of the worked students helped their fathers in their work. Worked students reported negative impact on their education and social life. Health hazards at the farm such as exposure to high temperature, animal bite, and injuries were prevalent among them. Parasitic infections were more prevalent in worked students (69.3 %). The detected parasites were Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma doudenale, Hymenolepis nana, Enterobius vermicularis, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum, Blastocystis hominis and Entamoeba coli. Conclusion: The problem of child labor is serious. In rural areas especially, children work as cheap labor because their parents are poor and do not earn enough to support the family, thus the problem of child labor will persist and it exposes the children to many health hazards and risks. Improving legislation and enforcement measures to establish a legal minimum age for work, community education and mobilization are essential and have been the traditional response to the problem of child labor.