Abstract:Background: Coccyx is named as resemblance to curved beak of the cuckoo. The coccyx is a triangular bone consisting of three to five segments: the first is the largest, it articulates with the sacrum. The last three segments are smaller and form a single bony piece. The anterior surface presents three transverse grooves indicating site of fusion of these segments. Aim of the Work: To study the normal variations of coccyx in number of segments, shape, size, curves, in different age groups by plain X-ray, MRI scan. Patients and Methods: Study was carried out on 200 normal Egyptian individuals, and were divided into 4 groups:-First group from the age of 1 up to ˂ 6 years. Second group from the age of 6 years up to ˂ 12 years. Third group from the age of 12 years up to ˂ 20 years. Fourth group from 20 years up to 40 years. Each one of these groups comprises 50 persons (25 males & 25 females). A full medical history was taken and each individual was subjected for plain X-ray on the pelvis (Anteroposterior & Lateral View) to study the variations of the coccyx, forty individuals were subjected to MRI scan as ten from each group. Results: Three coccygeal segments were present in 138 (68.3%) of individuals. Most of the subjects had coccyx type I (82; 41.0%) Fig.(

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Abstract:Indomethacin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, used in the treatment of many inflammatory diseases.The major side effect limiting its clinical use is the gastric damages. The aim of this work was to study the possible protective effects of vitamin c and ranitidine on the gastric lesion induced by indomethacin in adult albino rats. Forty adult albino rats were divided into five equal groups: The control group, indomethacin group, indomethacin plus vitamin c, indomethacin plus ranitidine, and indomethacin plus both vitamin c and ranitidine. In the control group, the rats received normal daily diet for 10 days. In the indomethacin group, the rats were treated with indomethacin for 10 consecutive days. In indomethacin plus vitamin c group, the rats were treated with indomethacin as the second group, in addition to vitamin c, 5 minutes prior to the indomethacin for 10 days. In the fourth group, the rats were treated with indomethacin as the second group, and then received ranitidine 5 min prior to the indomethacin, for 10 consecutive days. The last group received the indomethacin as the second group, and then received vitamin c and ranitidine, 5 min prior to the indomethacin, daily for 10 days. After 10 days from the treatment, all the rats were anaesthetized, and the specimens of the stomach were prepared for light and electron microscopies. Indomethacin produced erosions and ulcerations of the gastric mucosa. There are focal areas of degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration in the lamina propria, the gastric gland cells showed vacuolations, degeneration and disappearance of their nuclei. It also induced dilatation and congestion of the blood capillaries in the submucosa of the stomach, also the surface mucin layer was decreased in its thickness. Electron microscopic examination showed that: Indomethacin induced degeneration and vacuolations of the gastric gland cells, with degeneration of their mitochondria and nuclei. Chief cells showed abnormalities in their zymogenic granules which appeared with dark central part and pale periphery. Administration of vitamin c and ranitidine prior to the indomethacin intake reduced the pathogenic changes of the gastric wall, with slight return to the picture of the control group.

Background: Corneal epithelial injuries are common in both physician and veterinary ophthalmology that often causes extensive damage and results in permanent visual impairment. Aim of work: to evaluate the beneficial effect of hyaluronic acid and MSCs in treatment of experimental alkali corneal burn. Subjects and methods: thirty adult albino rats of both sexes. Ten rats were used to harvest BM-MSCs while the others were divided into four groups. Group I was the control group. Group II with unilateral alkali-burnt cornea these rats were sacrificed after 1 day and the other sacrificed after 2 weeks. Group III were rats with unilateral hyaluronic acidtreated alkali-burnt corneas for 2 weeks. Group IV were rats with MSCs treated alkali-burnt corneas. Immune histochemical staining for CD44 and vimentin was performed. The corneas were examined using light microscopic, transmission electron microscopic and morphometric studies. Results: Corneal alkali burn resulted in desquamation of corneal epithelium in group II. The epithelial cell layers had vacuolated cytoplasm with pyknotic nuclei. The stroma contained irregularly arranged collagen fibers with wide spacing and congested blood vessels with cellular infiltration. Groups III and IV showed improvement of the histological and electron microscopic changes described in group II. Conclusions: The use of MSCs in the acute stage of corneal chemical trauma was associated with faster recovery of the wounded cornea when compared with the effect of hyaluronic acid sodium salt.

Introduction: One of the widely used gastro protective agents are H2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs). But these drugs may induce several adverse effects. Recent studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play an important role in the healing of gut injuries. Aim of the work: To evaluate the role of bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in the treatment of gastric ulcer, and to compare their efficacy with H2RAs therapy. Methods: 10 out of the 50 adult albino rats used in this study served as donors for stem cells and the other 40 rats were divided into four groups: Group I (control group). Group II (Gastric ulcer group), rats received 200mg /kg ibuprofen suspended in CMC-Na 1% given orally by gastric tube. Group III (Nizatidine treated group), rats with gastric ulcer were treated with 31.25 mg/kg nizatidine, given orally by gastric tube. Group IV (BM-MSCs treated group), rats with gastric ulcer were injected with BMMSCs in the rat tail vein. Results: MSCs-treated group revealed improvement of histological structure and restoration of the normal architecture of the gastric mucosa. Nizatidine-treated group demonstrated nearly similar results to that of MSCs treated group. A significant decrease of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) expression was observed in MSCs-treated group as well as nizatidine-treated group when compared to ulcer group (P<0.01). Conclusion: MSCs could be a safer alternative therapy than H2RAs, with the benefit of avoiding the side effects of these drugs.