Background: Thermal tissue injury is partly mediated by reactive oxygen metabolites. Oxygen free radicals are contributory to local tissue damage following thermal injury and accordingly an interventional therapy using antioxidants may be beneficial. Copper nicotinate complex can scavenge reactive oxygen species (i.e., has antioxidant activity). Objectives: To examine time-related morphological and biochemical changes following skin thermal injury and their modulation by copper nicotinate complex. Materials and Methods: An animal model composed of 80 albino rats was established. Ten rats (nonburn group) served as a control group. Seventy rats (burn group) were anesthetized, given a 10% total body surface area, full-thickness burn. Ten rats (from the postburn group) were sacrificed after 24 h (without treatment, i.e., untreated-burn group). The remaining rats were divided into three subgroups (20 rats, each) and were treated topically either with soft paraffin, moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO, a standard therapeutic treatment for burns), or copper nicotinate complex. Five animals from each subgroup were sacrificed every week over a period of 4 weeks. The morphological and biochemical changes were evaluated and compared among the different groups. Results: High levels of the plasma and skin nitiric oxide (marker of oxidative stress) were observed in the untreated-burn group. These levels were significantly low following the application of copper nicotinate complex. Low levels of plasma and skin superoxide dismutase (marker of oxidative stress) and plasma ceruloplasmin were observed in the untreated-burn group. These levels were significantly high following copper nicotinate complex treatment. The total and differential leukocyte counts were low following the onset of the thermal injury. They gradually returned to normal levels over a 4-week period following the application of MEBO or copper nicotinate complex. Compared to untreated-burn group, postburn-healing changes (resolution of the inflammatory reaction, reepithelization of the epidermis, angiogenesis, deposition of collagen fibers, and recovery of the subcellualr organelles) were significantly accelerated following the application of either MEBO or copper nicotinate complex. Conclusions: Application of copper nicotinate complex was associated with improved healing of the thermal burns of the skin. The underlying molecular changes underlying these effects await further investigations.

Background Increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity in the endometrium is a predisposing factor for bleeding with depot medroxy progesterone acetate (DMPA) injectable contraception. Doxycycline (DOX) has been proven in vitro to inhibit MMP-mediated degradation of stromal matrix. The current study examined the effect of DOX compared to placebo in treating a current bleeding episode during DMPA use. Study Design A double-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in Assiut, Egypt. DMPA users with current bleeding episode were counseled to participate. Women who agreed to participate were randomly assigned to receive 100 mg DOX twice daily for 5 days (34 patients) or an identical placebo (34 patients). All participants were asked to report bleeding and spotting days in a menstrual diary. All participants were followed for 3 months after treatment. This trial was registered (NCT01254799). Results The relative risk to stop a bleeding episode within 10 days of starting treatment was 0.88 (confidence interval 0.64–1.21) in the treatment group compared to the control. DOX treatment caused no significant difference compared to placebo in the number of bleeding and/or spotting days in the 3 months following the treatment. Conclusion Doxycycline as MMP inhibitor is not effective in stopping a current attack of bleeding with DMPA. It also does not improve the bleeding characteristics of women for the subsequent 3 months following the treatment.

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.