Background: Patients undergoing radiotherapy may suffer from many harmful effects including gut microbiota injury, therefore, the use of exogenous probiotics is suggested to reduce these effects. Aim: The present study aimed to determine the possible protective effect of Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris against radiation-induced hematological and biochemical disturbances in male albino rats. Materials and Methods: Spirulina or chlorella was administered orally at a dose level of 300 mg/kg body weight daily for one week before and one week after the exposure to gamma radiation (6Gy, single dose). Results: Whole-body gamma-irradiation induced a significant decrease in total leukocyte count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit value and platelets count, compared to their corresponding values of the control group. A significant increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, marker of liver damage, and a non-significant increase in urea and creatinine levels, markers of kidney function was observed. Spirulina or chlorella administration pre-and postirradiation has significantly attenuated the radiation-induced disturbances in the studied parameters. Conclusion: oral supplementation of spirulina or chlorella may afford protection against radiation-induced detrimental effect and may preserve the tissue integrity and the functions of different organs in the body.

Article informationBackground: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy [MRS] is of value for pediatric neurologist, as it confers relevant information from the clinical point of view. It is worth for brain tumors, infections and disorders of the white matter. MRS metabolites add additional value to the therapeutic solutions when MRS combined with other high-resolution imaging modalities. Objective:The current work aimed to assess the role of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in pediatric supratentorial brain lesions. Patients and methods: This study recruited a convenient sample of thirty patients [21 females and 9 males]. Their age ranged between one and sixteen years. All were submitted to single-voxel H-MR spectroscopy with the same MR unit using point resolved spectroscopy [PRESS] sequence, using short TE [35] and long TE [144] spectra. Then spectrum analysis was performed to obtain the important ratios: choline/Nacetylaspartate, choline/creatine and mI/Cr to reach the diagnosis of the supratentorial lesion. Result: The choline/N-acetylaspartate [Cho/NAA], choline/creatine [Cho/Cr] and mI/Cr ratios were statistically difference between neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions at cutoffs 2, 1.6, & 1.15 respectively. The peak of lipid lactate was only present and significant for differentiating high-from low-grade tumors. Conclusion: MRS is valuable in differential diagnosis of brain lesions, as it differentiates neoplastic from non-neoplastic tumors. It also plays a complementary role with magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] in the follow up of therapeutic response.