Background: Identification of human skeletal remains is of major importance in medico-legal situations such as criminal cases, mass disasters and human rights abuse investigations. Sex can be established by gross examination of skeleton using metric and morphological techniques. Sexing the skeleton which is intact and entire is certainly easier and reliable with high accuracy as against done with only a part of the skeleton. A sexing accuracy of 90-95% from whole skeleton, pelvis, or one hip bone and 80% accuracy from skull alone. The occipital bone remains well protected and well preserved structure by huge volume of soft tissues, this makes occipital bone useful in the sex determination. Aim of the study: To document and analyze the dimensions of foramen magnum and to investigate its reliability in sex prediction at computed tomographic images of adult human skull. Methods: This study was carried on 100 Computed Tomographic images of the skull of adult persons (50 males and 50 females). The length and breadth of foramen magnum were measured. Results: There is significant difference between the length of foramen magnum in males and females (pv = 0.00) and there is significant difference between the breadth of foramen magnum in males and females (pv=0.00) and there is no significant difference between different ages after puberty. Conclusion: There is statistically significant expression of sexual difference in the foramen magnum dimensions, which may prove useful and reliable in predicting sex in partial remains by discriminant function analysis when other methods tend to be inconclusive.

Background: Paracetamol, is the most widely used over-the-counter analgesic and antipyretic medication in the world, which has minimal adverse effects at therapeutic dosages. But in high doses causes hepatic damage and oxidative stress. Objectives: The current study was designed to investigate paracetamol toxic effects upon the liver and oxidative stress after repeated oral dose and evaluate possible protective effect of alpha lipoic acid when co-administered with and after paracetamol. Methods: forty eight white albino rats were divided equally into four groups. Each group was subdivided into two sub groups A & B. Group I received gum acacia suspension. Group II received Alpha lipoic acid (50mg/kg) orally. Group III received paracetamol (1 gm/ kg orally) for 4 weeks. Group IV received paracetamol and alpha lipoic acid at the same doses. Sub groups A were euthanized after 4 weeks, while sub groups B were euthanized after 8 weeks. Blood was collected for evaluation of liver functions and oxidative stress marker. The livers were preserved for histopathological examinations. Results: The study proved that repeated administration of paracetamol induced disturbed liver functions and oxidative stress. But this toxic effects decline markedly when alpha lipoic acid (ALA) was coadministered with paracetamol. And more improvement occurs when ALA was administered for another 4 weeks after stoppage of paracetamol. Conclusions: The present study concluded that repeated paracetamol administration has hepatotoxic and oxidative stress effect and alpha lipoic acid has a protective effect against such harmful effects especially when ALA was administered for another 4 weeks after stoppage of paracetamol.

Introduction: Cyclosporine A (CsA) is considered powerful immunosuppressive drug which has improved the quality of life and survival rate of transplant patients and also used in autoimmune diseases. However, its use is limited by many side effects mainly nephrotoxicity. NAC is an antioxidant found to reduce CsA toxicity. Aim of the work: The study aims to determine the effect of exposure to cyclosporine on the kidney and to investigate the protective role of NAC. Methods: the study conducted on 50 adult male albino rats for 4 weeks, divided into 5 groups, group A the negative control group, group B the olive oil group (0.5 ml/d orally), group C the cyclosporine group (25mg/kg/d orally), group D the NAC group (600mg/kg/d orally) and group E the cyclosporine+NAC group. At the end of the study the evaluation was done by biochemical analysis and histopathology. Results: cyclosporine significantly affects the kidney by morphological changes in the form of dilatation of urinary space with congestion and lobulation of glomerullar capillaries in the renal corpusle. Proximal convoluted tubules showed degeneration of their cells with irregularity and destruction of brush border. Degeneration of distal convoluted tubules with exfoliation of some cells inside the lumen and the peritubular capillaries were congested and extravasated. Also cyclosporine affects the kidney by increasing serum urea and creatinine levels, while coadministration of NAC with cyclosporine attenuate its effects. Conclusion: cyclosporine causes renal injury through oxidative stress and NAC as an antioxidant attenuates but not fully protect against cyclosporine induced injuries.

Introduction: Cyclosporine A (CsA) is considered one of the potent drugs that are used extensively in organ transplant and oncology patients. It is also used in autoimmune diseases. Unfortunately, its use is accompanied with several hazards; one of these is testicular toxicity. Nacetylecysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant found to reduce CsA toxicity. Aim of the work: The study aims to determine the toxic effect of exposure to cyclosporine on the testis and to investigate the protective role of NAC. Methods: The study conducted on 50 adult male albino rats for 4 weeks divided into 5 groups, group A the negative control group, group B the olive oil group (0.5 ml/d orally), group C the cyclosporine group (25mg/kg/d orally), group D the NAC group (600mg/kg/d orally) and group E the cyclosporine+NAC group. At the end of the study the evaluation was achieved by biochemical analysis and histopathology. Results: Cyclosporine significantly affects the testis morphologically and functionally. The morphological changes are in the form of degenerative changes in the tubules with dislocation of germ cells into the lumen and irregular outlines, Congestion of blood capillaries in the interstitial tissue, and functionally the cyclosporine cause significant decrease in serum testosterone level. While co-administration of NAC with cyclosporine attenuate these effects. Conclusion: Cyclosporine causes testicular injury through oxidative stress and NAC as an antioxidant attenuates but not fully protect against cyclosporine induced testicular toxicity.

Background: Aspartame is an artificial sweetener its consumption may cause some adverse health effects like metabolic syndrome, cancer and nephro-toxicity through oxidative stress of its metabolite. N acetyl cysteine (NAC) reduces kidney inflammation and improves renal function by improving microcirculation. Vitamin C is one of the most important antioxidant agents Aim of the study: to evaluate the protective effect of vitamin C and NAC in renal toxicity of aspartame either individually or in combination in albino rats Method: Rats were divided into 7 groups each group contains 6 rats administered the doses daily via gavages for 3 months; Group I: Negative control group, Group II: ascorbic acid in a dose of 200 mg/kg b.wt/day, Group III: NAC in a dose of 600 mg/kg body weight (b.wt)/day, Group IV: Aspartame (ASP) in a dose of 100 mg/kg b.wt. Group V: ASP plus ascorbic acid, Group VI: ASP plus NAC, Group VII: ASP plus a combination of NAC and ascorbic acid. The evaluation was by histopathological examination of kidney (by light microscope), biochemical evaluation. Results: Histopathological examination of group receiving aspartame showed marked chronic inflammatory cells infiltrates in the interstitial tissues with marked hydropic degeneration and pyknotic nuclei associated with increase level of serum urea and creatinine, Treatment by any of the Vitamin C or NAC showed similar picture of kidney improvement in the form of mild to moderate chronic inflammatory cells infiltrates in the interstitial tissues with mild hydropic degeneration, and decrease in level of seum urea and creatinine compared to asprtame treated group. Combined treatment of vitamin C and NAC with aspartame resulted in similar degree of histopathological recovery as when vitamin C and NAC used separately with aspartame with non significant change in level of seum urea and creatinine. Conclusion: vitamin C and NAC individually have protective effect of nephrotoxicity induced by aspartame. There are no statically different changes on combination of both vitamin C and NAC compared to when used individually to protect against aspartame induced renal changes.