Organophosphorus (OP)

No abstract

Deaths due to fall from height are increasing yearly. Victims of fall from height tend to sustain a unique pattern of injuries that depends on many factors. Therefore, the present work aimed to determine and analyze the pattern of fatal injuries of fall from height among deaths on which medicolegal autopsies were conducted at Cairo Department of Forensic Medicine (Zenhum morgue), Ministry of Justice, Egypt, during the period from 1 st January 2009 to 31 th December 2013. Data was obtained from available medicolegal reports and was statistically analyzed. There were 270 fall from height deaths representing 3.25% of the total deaths received during the study period. Most of them were males in the age group (19-40) years and from urban areas (55.9%, 59.5% and 55.2% respectively). Most of the victims (23%) were workers followed by students and housewives (19.8% for each). There was a high prevalence (75.6%) of blunt trauma and multiple injuries were the most common injured anatomical region (67.4%), followed by the head (27.0%). Home was the most common scene of fall (50.7%) followed by workplace (34.1%). Accidental manner was the most common (37.8%) and the majority (87.4%) of cases sustained high falls (height >20 feet). The majority (77%) of cases showed negative toxicological analysis and among cases with positive toxicological analysis alcohol was the most common (32.3%). Falling at home was significantly common in females and in age groups (≤18), (19-40) and (˃60) years; meanwhile falling at work place was significantly common in males and in age group (41-60) years.

Trastuzumab (Trz) is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2; ErbB2). The combined administration of Trz and doxorubicin (DOX) has shown potent anti-cancer efficacy; however, this regimen may be accompanied by severe cardiac toxicity. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-derived exosomes are nanosized vesicles that play a crucial role in cell–cell communication and have shown efficacy in the treatment of various diseases. In this study, we aim to investigate the cardioprotective effects of MSCs-derived exosomes in a DOX/Trz- mediated cardiotoxicity model, and the possible mechanisms underlying these effects are elucidated. Forty-nine male rats were randomly assigned into four groups: Group I (control); Group II (Dox/Trz); Group III (protective group); and Group IV (curative group). Cardiac hemodynamic parameters, serum markers of cardiac injury, oxidative stress indices, and cardiac histopathology were investigated. Further, transcript profile of specific cardiac tissue injury markers, apoptotic markers, and fibrotic markers were analyzed using qRT-PCR, while the protein expressions of pAkt/Akt, pERK/ERK, pJNK/JNK, pJNK/JNK, and pSTAT3/STAT3 were evaluated by ELISA. Additionally, cardiac mirR-21 and miR-26a were assessed. A combined administration of DOX/Trz disrupted redox and Ca2+ homeostasis in cardiac tissue induced myocardial fibrosis and myofibril loss and triggered cardiac DNA damage and apoptosis. This cardiotoxicity was accompanied by decreased NRG-1 mRNA expression, HER2 protein expression, and suppressed AKT and ERK phosphorylation, while triggering JNK phosphorylation. Histological and ultra-structural examination of cardiac specimens revealed features typical of cardiac tissue injury. Moreover, a significant decline in cardiac function was observed through biochemical testing of serum cardiac markers and echocardiography. In contrast, the intraperitoneal administration of MSCs-derived exosomes alleviated cardiac injury in both protective and curative protocols; however, superior effects were observed in the protective protocol. The results of the current study indicate the ability of MSCs-derived exosomes to protect from and attenuate DOX/Trz-induced cardiotoxicity. The NRG-1/HER2, MAPK, PI3K/AKT, PJNK/JNK, and PSTAT/STAT signaling pathways play roles in mediating these effects.

Permanent infirmity is an important medico-legal issue. Objectives: this prospective study aimed to assess the pattern and methods used in diagnosis and follow up of permanent infirmity cases referred to Cairo Department of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Justice, Egypt, as well as, to compare between the national and international guidelines used to assess permanent infirmity. Methodology: only established permanent infirmity cases were studied as regard the demographic and medico-legal data, physical examination, and investigations done to the victims. Results: the incidence of established permanent infirmity cases during the period of the study was 7.2% (150 cases). Most of cases were males of age group 21-40 years, and manual workers. Most of injuries resulted from blunt trauma due to road traffic accidents. The most common investigation done was x-ray; with the majority of cases revealed fractures and amputations of bones of both extremities. The number of permanent infirmities exceeded that of examined cases as some cases sustained more than one injury. Conclusion: limitation of movements represented the highest percentage of the resulted permanent infirmities followed by amputations. The percentages of some infirmities are equal or near equal, and others showed some differences, meanwhile some infirmities were evaluated in the Florida schedule but not in the Egyptian schedule.