Cystone can protect cancer patients from cisplatin nephrotoxicity without interfering with its antitumor activity.

Methotrexate (MTX) has been used in combination with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of inflammatory diseases as well as malignancies. Severe adverse effects with this combination may occur, usually resulting from inhibition of renal transporters. Solid Ehrlich carcinoma was experimentally induced by implantation of Ehrlich ascites Carcinoma cells subcutaneously into the thigh of mice, and after 30 days, mice were divided into three groups: Group I that served as control group received MTX (50 mg/kg, i.p.); Group II received ketoprofen (100 mg/kg, i.p.) and then after half an hour received MTX (50 mg/kg, i.p.); Group III received indomethacin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and then after half an hour received MTX (50 mg/kg, i.p.). Plasma and tissue samples were collected at different time points and then MTX concentrations were determined by HPLC. The injection of ketoprofen or indomethacin before MTX injection resulted in significant increase in the AUC and CPmax of MTX (p < 0.05) and significant decrease in CL/F and Vd/F of MTX (p < 0.05) in mice plasma. The effects were more significant after injection of indomethacin than in case of ketoprofen. The study showed that administration of ketoprofen or indomethacin prior to MTX caused significant decrease in MTX elimination and significant increase in MTX extent of absorption which may lead to severe adverse effects if coadministered in human.

Goals: The aim of this study was to clarify whether 10-day or 14-day sequential therapy (ST) can replace conventional triple therapy (TT) as a first-line treatment in Egypt. Background: Antimicrobial resistance has decreased the eradication rates for Helicobacter pylori infection worldwide. Materials and Methods: Patients who tested positive for H. pylori infection were randomly assigned to the 14-day triple-therapy group (n=34), 10-day ST group (n=34), or 14-day ST group (n=35). Sequential treatment includes lansoprazole 30 mg and amoxicillin 1000 mg, both twice for 5 or 7 days, followed by lansoprazole 30 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg, and tinidazole 500 mg, each twice for 5 or 7 days. Triple treatment consists of lansoprazole 30 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg, and amoxicillin 1000 mg, each twice for 14 days. Six weeks after treatment discontinuation, patients were examined by the urea breath test. Eradication rates, the incidence of adverse effects, compliance, and cost-effectiveness were evaluated. Results: The eradication rate was 90% with 10-day ST, 96.7% with 14-day ST, and 63.3% for TT (P=0.001). Mild tolerated adverse effects occurred in the 3 groups. The cost-effectiveness ratio was 2194 LE, 1241 LE, 1157 LE for standard triple therapy, 10-day, and 14-day ST, respectively. Conclusions: Sequential therapies for 10 or 14 days are more cost-effective than standard TT, with 14-day ST being the most cost-effective. Accordingly, ST might replace TT as a first-line treatment for H. pylori infection in Egyptian patients.

Introduction: Death by hanging may be suicidal, accidental or homicidal. General external appearances, local external neck findings, neck autopsy and neck histological changes play a major role in differentiation between types of hanging. Aims & Objectives: Differentiation among suicidal, homicidal and accidental hanging by using different diagnostic methods including naked eye examination, neck autopsy, examination of neck structure, and histopathological features of the neck structures at the ligation mark site. Subjects and Methods: the study was carried out from March 2018 to March 2019, with 36 cases of deaths due to hanging divided into: Group 1 (18 cases): suicidal hanging, Group 2 (13 cases): homicidal hanging and Group (5 cases): accidental hanging. A thorough external and internal examination of neck structure was performed in all the cases. Results: Suicidal hanging, associated with female sex, was detected in 57.1% of cases. Homicidal and accidental hanging, significantly associated with skin hemorrhage, was detected in 80% of cases. Microscopic examination: Breaking, wrinkling and compression of the skin along with micro hemorrhages in the subcutaneous tissues were notified more commonly with homicidal hanging. Conclusion: The examination of corpse in hanging cases becomes easy by correlating current observation with the autopsy finding. The correlation of external, internal and microscopic findings leads to easy formulation of final opinion of these cases. It also, to some extent helps to differentiate between types of hanging.

BackgroundNicotine is one of the most toxic and addictive agents in cigarette smoke. Maternal cigarette smoking may affect lung development and maturation of the fetus. Recently, it has been reported that blood vessels promote alveolar growth during development and contribute toward the maintenance of alveolar structures throughout postnatal life. Aim of the workThe aims of this study were to determine the effects of perinatal nicotine exposure on the histological structures of the developing alveoli of offspring with special reference to the role of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF). Materials and methodsTen healthy pregnant rats were divided equally into control (I) and treated (II) groups. Rats of group II were subjected to a daily subcutaneous injection of 1 mg/kg of nicotine from the seventh day of gestation until the end of the experiment. Their offspring were subdivided into two subgroups at 2 and 21 postnatal days. At the time of sacrifice, all rats were anesthetized with ether and lung samples were processed for light and electron microscopic examination. Also, an immunohistochemical study was carried out for VEGF. The alveolar diameter, thickening of interalveolar septa, number of vacuolated interstitial cells, and the surface area of VEGF immunoexpression were determined and analyzed statistically. ResultsIn the nicotine-exposed groups, widening in alveoli and thinning of interalveolar septa in the offspring were observed. Also, the same offspring showed a reduction in VEGF immunoexpression. All these results were confirmed statistically especially at 3 weeks of age or at the time of weaning. Also, swelling in pneumocyte type I and deformed blood air barriers with a subsequent statistical increase in the number of vacuolated interstitial cells (pneumocyte type II) were observed. ConclusionIn the current work, it was found that perinatal exposure to nicotine altered lung development, an effect that may be mediated by decreased VEGF. Thus, avoidance of maternal smoking during pregnancy and lactation is highly recommended.