A retrospective series of pediatric patients with localized malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) treated during a 20-year period at one institution is reported. Between 1976 and 1996, 24 consecutive children were treated by a multimodality approach. Conservative surgery was the treatment of choice: primary radical surgery was performed in 10. Postoperative radiotherapy was administered in 12 and adjuvant chemotherapy in 19. Eight patients were alive without evidence of disease, six in first complete remission and two in second complete remission, after a median follow-up of 230 months. The 10-year event-free survival (EFS) and survival were 29% and 41%, respectively. Survival was 80% for the patients who underwent radical surgery, and 14% for the others; 71% for patients with tumors smaller than 5 cm, and 29% for those with tumors 5 cm or larger. Local recurrence was the major cause for treatment failure (13 of 17; 76%); the rate of local relapse was 33% v 75% in patients who either received or did not receive radiotherapy. Complete surgical excision remains the most effective treatment for MPNST and represents the main prognostic factor along with tumor size. Radiotherapy seems to play a role in achieving local control, whereas the role of chemotherapy is uncertain.

Cadmium (Cd) is wide-spread toxic metal that pollutes most of the vegetables, which eaten by numerous populations all over the world. The aim of the current work is to evaluate the protective and prophylactic effects of the antioxidant materials in the grape seed extract (GSE) on the hepatic intoxication induced by cadmium chloride toxic material in male Wistar rats. Male adult Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Control group fed on balanced diet and given drinking water. Group two (control positive) given CdCl2 in the dose of 0.44 mg/kg body weight (BW) by stomach tube daily. Group three given grape seed extract GSE in the dose of (100 mg/kg BW) daily by stomach tube. Finally, the fourth group gave mixture of (GSE and CdCl2) by stomach tube in the recommended dose. Blood and liver tissues were collected for further biochemical and histopathological studies. CdCl2 significantly increased the serum levels of malondialdehyde, ALT and AST. Cadmium administration decreased levels of antioxidants (Catalase, GSH-R and GSH-Px). The liver of the control positive groups which given CdCl2 showed degenerative changes in the form of vacuolar and hydropic degeneration. Congestion was evident in the central vein and proliferation of the kupffer cells. These hepatic biochemical and degenerative changes were ameliorated by the co addition of GSE.

Background: The incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in Egypt is considered one of the highest in the world. Metformin and Sulfonylureas are usually prescribed together due to their efficacy and their relatively low cost. Organic cation transport 1, encoded by SLC22A1 gene, is the main transporter of metformin into hepatocytes, which is considered metformin site of action. Sulfonylureas enhance insulin release from pancreatic B- cells through binding to sulfonylurea receptor 1, encoded by ABCC8 gene. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the SLC22A1 and ABCC8 genes might affect the response of each drug. Aims: To investigate the influence of SLC22A1 rs622342 (A>C) and ABCC8 rs757110 (A>C) genetic variants on the efficacy of metformin and glimepiride combination therapy in Egyptian T2DM patients. Methods: Observational cross-sectional study in which patients receiving metformin and glimepiride combination therapy for at least 6 months were included for genotyping and classified into either responders or non-responders, based on their HbA1C level. Results: A total of 127 patients were included and genotyped. They were divided into 93 responders (HbA1C<7%) and 34 non-responders (HbA1C≥7%). Minor allele frequencies for rs622342 and rs757110 were 0.189 and 0.271, respectively. Only SLC22A1 rs622342 variant was found to be associated with the response of combination therapy, in which AA alleles carriers were 2.7-times more responsive to metformin than C allele carriers (Recessive model, odds ratio = 2.718, p = 0.025, 95% CI = 1.112–6.385). Conclusion: Genotyping of rs622342 can be useful in predicting the response to metformin in combination therapy in Egyptian T2DM patients.

This note presents an experimental study concerning a method of improving the bearing capacity of strip footing resting on sand subgrades utilizing vertical nonextensible reinforcement. The test results indicate that this type of reinforcement increases the bearing capacity of subgrades and modifies the load–displacement behaviour of the footing. Key words: bearing capacity, nonextensible reinforcement, loading tests, strip footing, reinforcing element.

No abstract