Methanol poisoning is a hazardous intoxication characterized by visual impairment and formic acidemia. The therapy for methanol poisoning is alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) inhibitors to prevent formate accumulation. Ranitidine has been considered to be an inhibitor of both gastric alcohol and hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase enzymes. This study aimed at testing ranitidine as an antidote for methanol acute toxicity and comparing it with ethanol and 4-methyl pyrazole (4-MP). This study was conducted on 48 Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into 6 groups, with 8 rats in each group (one negative control group [C1], two positive control groups [C2, C3] and three test groups [1, 2 and 3]). C2, C3 and all test groups were exposed to nitrous oxide by inhalation, then, C3 group was given methanol (3 g/kg orally). The three test groups 1, 2 and 3 were given ethanol (0.5 g/kg orally), 4-MP (15 mg/kg intraperitoneally) and ranitidine (30 mg/kg intraperitoneally), respectively, 4 hours after giving methanol. Rats were sacrificed and heparinized, cardiac blood samples were collected for blood pH and bicarbonate. Non-heparinized blood samples were collected for formate levels by high performance liquid chromatography. Eye balls were enucleated for histological examination of the retina. Ranitidine corrected metabolic acidosis (p = .025), decreased formate levels (p = .014) and improved the histological findings in the retina induced by acute methanol toxicity.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an intractable chronic infection. Disease treatment with anti-TB drugs remains challenging due to drug-induced hepatotoxicity. The toxicity of the anti-TB drugs rifampicin (RIF), isoniazid (INH) and pyrazinamide (PZA) either alone or in combination was investigated in HepG2 cells. Assays of intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels at 4-, 24- and 48-h post-exposure to gradient concentrations of RIF, INH and PZA were conducted. Drug-induced effects on mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), mitochondrial complex I and complex III activity, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels and cellular lactate production were assessed. Decreased ATP levels were dose-dependent and correlated with drug exposure duration. Approximate 24-h IC50s were 0.5 mM, 70 mM and 84 mM for RIF, INH and PZA, respectively. Twenty-four hours post-drug treatment, reductions of MMP ( p = 0.0005), mitochondrial complex I and III activities ( p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0003, respectively), NAD+ levels ( p = 0.0057) and increased lactate production ( p < 0.0001) were observed. Drug combinations used to mimic cumulative drug treatments induced a synergistic inhibition of mitochondrial complex I activity. An assessment of cellular ultrastructure using transmission electron microscopy indicated drug-induced mitophagy. Collectively, our study suggests that hepatotoxicity of commonly employed anti-TB drugs is mediated by their curtailment of mitochondrial function.
Mobile technology is a growing field with emerging new discoveries. The introduction of third generation mobile network services and the convergence of mobile and traditional internet services will make the mobile communication a key enabler for achieving competitive advantages in developing countries, including opportunities for mobile learning (M-learning). This study explores the possibility of applying M-learning in Egypt by looking at the factors that affect the students’ intentions to adopt M-learning. Data was collected by a survey of 239 business students of the English program in the faculty of commerce at Mansoura University. The technology adoption model is studied with two more independent variables, namely, pressure to act and resource availability. Results showed that there are four factors that can be used in modelling students’ intentions to adopt M-learning. These factors are attitude towards M-learning, perceived usefulness, availability of resources and perceived ease of use.
Objective: A clear knowledge of the location of supraorbital foramen (SOF) is vital for the surgeons, particularly in endoscopic surgery and regional block in crania. The aim of this study was to analyze SOF and notch in skulls of various ancestries.Methods: The anatomical variations of SOF and notch were examined in 100 adults skulls (55 males and 45 females) of the Malay, Chinese, and Indian ancestries by traditional measurement made with the Osirix software. The parameters included distance between supraorbital structure and nasal midline, shape, and transverse diameter of the SOF.Results: It was manifested that bilateral supraorbital notch (SON) was the most prevalent combination in both sexes and ancestries (61%), while combined SON and foramen (11%) were the least prevalent characteristic. The mean distances of supraorbital structure from nasal midline bilaterally in males were slightly greater than females. The horizontal diameter of SOF, notch and their distances from the nasal midline showed no difference between ancestries.Conclusion: This study would serve as a guide for the surgeons when surgery is performed on the scalp. It can help in the precise determination of reference points for supraorbital nerve blockade for the Malaysians. In addition, the variations exhibited in supraorbital measurements inevitably revealed that sex and ancestry should be taken into consideration when choosing samples for anatomical classification of crania.
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