Background: Doxorubicin (Dox) is a powerful and greatly effective drug in cancer. However, its clinical usefulness is still restricted due to its specific toxicity to the cardiac tissue. Vitamin E is a well-known antioxidant used as a dietary supplement. Aim of the work: To evaluate the possible protective effects of vitamin E against Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. Material and Methods: Forty 3-months adult male albino rats weighing 200-250 gm were divided into four equal groups: Group (I): served as a negative control and received no treatment. Group (II): served as a positive control and treated with an intraperitoneal injection of 0.9% sodium chloride saline once daily for one week. Group (III): treated with 4mg Dox/kg b.w./ day intraperitoneally for one week. Group (IV): was pretreated with 100mg vitamin E/kg body weight/day orally for 2 weeks followed by a combination of an intraperitoneal injection of Dox and oral vitamin E for one week in the same previous doses. Then, the animals were anaesthetized and blood samples were utilized for measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), triglyceride, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C). Animals were sacrificed, and a portion of each heart was taken from all groups for determination of the levels of total cardiac antioxidant capacity (TAC). The remaining portions of the heart muscle were prepared for light and electron microscopic studies. Results: Administration of Dox resulted in histological alterations in the form of vacuolated disorganized cardiac muscle fibers, degenerated mitochondria and congested dilated blood vessels. Also, significant decreases of cardiac TAC and serum HDL-C and increases of serum levels of LDH, CK, triglyceride and total cholesterol of Dox-treated group were noticed in comparison with the control ones. Pre and concomitant administration of vitamin E with Dox improved these alterations. Conclusion: Vitamin E ameliorates the cardiac damage induced by Dox.

Background:The most common disorders of the thyroid gland are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Both have been linked to cell damage. Aim of Work: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of melatonin administration on the testis of both hyperthyroidic and hypothyroidic adult male albino rats models. Materials and Methods: Fifty adult male albino rats were used in this study and divided into five groups; ten rats each. Control group (G1) was given distilled water. Hyperthyroidic group (G2) was given thyroxin (0.2 mg/kg b.w). Hyperthyroidic+melatonin group (G3) was given thyroxin (0.2 mg/kg b.w) and melatonin (2.5 mg / kg b.w). Hypothyroidic group (G4) was given carbimazole (1.35 mg/kg b.w). Hypothyroidic+melatonin group (G5) was given carbimazole (1.35 mg/kg b.w) and melatonin (2.5 mg / kg b.w). All the treatments were given orally for 15 days. At the end of the study, the animals of all groups were sacrificed and their testes were rapidly dissected out. The testicular mass was calculated. Testicular specimens of each group were processed for light and electron microscopic studies. Results: The testicular mass was significantly decreased in both hyperthyroidic group (G2) and hypothyroidic group (G4) when compared with the control. Light and electron microscopy of the hyperthyroidic group (G2) and hypothyroidic group (G4) showed seminiferous tubular germ cells disorganization with increased intercellular spaces, necrosis and cellular damage. Melatonin supplementation to rats given Thyroxin (G3) improved the testicular mass and the cell damage. On the contrary, melatonin supplementation to rats given carbimazole (G5) did not show any improvement on both morphometrical and histological levels. Conclusion: It was concluded that simultaneous melatonin administration effectively depresses the negative effects of hyperthyroidism but not hypothyroidism on the adult male rat testis.

Background: Excess fluorides intake produces histopathological changes of many organs. Methionine is a potential natural antioxidant against oxidative radicals. Aim of the Work: To evaluate the possible protective role of methionine against sodium fluoride (NaF)-induced pancreatic toxicity. Material and Methods: Thirty 3-months (200-250gm) adult male albino rats were divided into three equal groups: group I (control), group II (Fluoride group) and group III (Fluoride+methionine group). Control group; was given 1ml distilled water. Fluoride group; was given 10 mg NaF/kg b.w. Fluoride+methionine group; was given 10 mg NaF/kg b.w. and 2 mg methionine/rat. All the treatment was given orally by gastric tube once daily for 35 days. After anesthesia, all groups were sacrificed. The pancreatic specimens were prepared for light and electron microscopic studies and anti-insulin antibody immunohistochemical staining. The mean numbers of zymogen granules and insulin positive β-cells of all groups were counted. Results: The mean numbers of zymogen granules and insulin positive β-cells of the fluoride group were significantly decreased when compared to control. The pancreatic specimens of the fluoride group revealed congested blood vessels, extravasated blood cells, vacuolated pancreatic acini, loss of the acinar cell architecture, dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum and degenerated mitochondria. By anti-insulin antibodies immunohistochemistry, there was a weak positive reactivity in the fluoride treated group when compared to control. The concomitant administration of NaF and methionine improved these changes. Conclusion: The concurrent administration of NaF and methionine ameliorates the structural alterations developed in the pancreas following excess NaF intake.

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Background: Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) is an alcohol extract of leaves from the Ginkgo biloba tree. The extract is available in form of tablets or capsules and its main medical use to improve memory and brain function. In spite of widespread human exposure to relatively high doses over potentially long periods of time, there is few studies regarding the toxicity and carcinogenicity associated with GBE. Aim: to study the potential toxicity of GBE on thyroid gland. Methods: solutions containing GBE in corn oil were administered by peroral intubationto male and female rats five times a week for three months. Groups of 20 rats received 40 mg/kg of GBE, and another group received 500 mg/kg five times a week. Another group of rats given solutions of corn oil with no chemical added. Similar group of animal of rats were given nothing except food and water and served as the blank control groups. Thyroid hormones including thyroid stimulating hormone, total triiodothyronine (T3), and total thyroxine (T4) were measured during the study. At the end of the study, thyroid tissues were examined for every animal by light and electron microscope. Results: In the small dose group ,thyroid gland showed disorganized follicles of varying diameters with little amount of the colloid in some follicles while others demonstrated absent colloid with desquamated epithelial cells in their lumens. In the high dose group, thyroid gland was composed of very small follicles. Some follicles had no apparent lumina. Follicular cells were found in more than one layer (adenoma) with Infiltration of interfollicular spaces by fatty cells. Conclusions: GBE is a complex mixture that induces only pathological changes in rat thyroid gland.

Background: Both dermatoglyphics and lip prints/cheiloscopic patterns are genetically determined. Hypertension (HTN) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and causes 17.9 million deaths worldwide each year. Hypertension is also known to have a genetic background as it runs in families.Objectives: This study was conducted to recognize individuals with a genetic predisposition to have hypertension and to determine significant dermatoglyphic parameters and lip print characters applicable to hypertension, also to assess their reliability and validity. Subjects and Methods: 100 female hypertensive patients were taken as the test subjects from the Assiut University Hospital, and an equal number of healthy normotensive volunteers from the general population were utilized as controls. Fingerprint patterns of both groups were recorded using Cummin's method. Then dermatoglyphic analysis was then performed on the prints. Lip impressions were made using red or brown lipstick, A4 size white bond paper, and cellophane tape. The types of grooves were categorized using Suzuki and Tsuchihashi's taxonomy, and the results were statistically examined. Results: Significant dermatoglyphic and cheiloscopic results were detected in the hypertensive group compared to the normotensive control. The data revealed a higher frequency of ulnar loop patterns in both normotensive and hypertensive followed by the whorl and arch fingerprint patterns. A significant decrease in the a-b ridge count and 'atd' angle was declared in the hypertensive group compared to the control. Regarding the cheiloscopic patterns, the obtained data showed significantly higher frequencies of lip-branched patterns and irregular/undifferentiated patterns in the hypertensive group in comparison to the normotensive one. Conclusion: Significant indicators of dermatoglyphic and cheiloscopic features were demonstrated in the hypertensive group compared to the control one. so, they might be employed as a reliable genetic marker for the screening of hypertension.

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Introduction:The spleen is a large lymphoid organ that plays an important role in immunity. Potassium dichromium is well-known to be toxic. Nanoselenium is a potent antioxidant trace mineral. The aim of the work was to explore the influence of potassium dichromate on the spleen and the co-administration of nanoselenium against the induced splenic injury. Material and methods: 30 adult male albino rats (200-250g) were equally randomly divided into three groups. Group I (the control group) received no treatment. Group II (the chromium-treated group) received potassium dichromate (2 mg/kg b.w. dispersed in 1 ml distilled water) intraperitoneally daily for 2 weeks. Group III (the chromium and selenium-treated group) received nanoselenium (0.5 mg/kg b.w. dissolved in 0.5 ml of phosphate-buffered saline, intraperitoneally) as well as potassium dichromate (2 mg/kg b.w. dispersed in 1 ml distilled water) intraperitoneally daily for 2 weeks. Then, the spleens of all groups were extracted and processed to be studied. Results: The chromiumtreated group revealed disturbance of the architecture of the white pulp, congestion of the red pulp, deposition of hemosiderin pigments, chromatin condensation of the lymphocytes' nuclei, and markedly dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum of the plasma cells. There were significant increases in the area percentage of collagen fibers deposition and iron staining and a significant decrease in the area percentage of Bcl-2 immune expression. The administration of nanoselenium in Group III ameliorated most of these toxic effects. Conclusion: Nanoselenium exhibited a protective role against the toxic effect of potassium dichromate on the spleen.