METHODS: The behavioral and neurophysiological effects of MFA were investigated in mice with and without FMZ pre-treatment. The elevated zero maze (EZM) and marble burying tests were used to assess anxiety-like behaviors and burying activities, respectively. The standard bar test was used to evaluate catalepsy, while the actophotometer test was used to measure locomotor activity. Seizure intensity was scored, and fatalities were counted.
RESULTS: Without FMZ pre-treatment, MFA induced behavioral and neurophysiological effects in a dose-dependent manner as follows: At a dose of 20 mg/kg, i.p, MFA-treated mice exhibited anxiety-like behaviors, which was determined by a significant increase in the time spent in the closed areas and a significant decrease in the number of entries to the open areas of the EZM apparatus. These mice also showed a significant decrease in the burying activity, manifested as a significant decrease in the number of buried marbles. At 40 mg/kg, i.p., MFA-treated mice showed catalepsy that was associated with a significant decrease in locomotor activity. At a dose of 80 mg/kg, i.p., mice developed fatal tonic-clonic seizures (seizure score = 4). Pre-treatment with FMZ (5 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reversed the anxiety-like behaviors and restored marble-burying activity. Additionally, FMZ prevented catalepsy, significantly restored locomotor activity, reduced seizure intensity (seizure score = 0.3) and significantly reduced mortalities.
CONCLUSIONS: The present study's findings indicate that activation of the GABAAR is involved in the CNS toxicity of MFA, and FMZ reverses MFA toxicity by interfering with this receptor.
Methods: All patients with sellar region tumor who has underwent surgery in Queen Elizabeth Hospital from July 2010 to July 2016 were retrospectively analysed through hospital notes. VF assessment via Humphrey visual assessment for these patient pre and post-surgery were reviewed for MD value.
Results: Eighty four patients were recruited and out of them, 151 eyes were taken into analysis after excluding eyes with missing data. Mean age of patients were 45.4 years with 70.2% of them were male. Visual disturbance is the commonest presenting symptom with mean duration of symptom prior to surgery is 9.7 months. Majority of them were pituitary adenomas (75%) followed by sellar meningioma (19%), craniopharyngioma (4.8%), and rathke cleft cyst (1.2%). 70.9% of patients showed improvement in VF based on MD outcome. Mean MD for pre surgery and post-surgery were -14.0 dB and -12.4 dB, respectively. Univariate analysis reveals younger age, female sex, shorter duration of symptom, pituitary adenoma, transsphenoidal approach, and transcranial approach favours improvement in VF. Multivariate analysis shows only shorter symptom duration, transphenoidal approach, and transcranial approach are significant for favourable VF outcome when other factors adjusted.
Conclusion: Symptom duration and surgical approach were independent factors that affects the visual field after surgery in patients with sellar region tumors.
OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed at critically evaluating the available evidence on the risk factors of khat chewing among adolescents.
METHODS: A systematic review was conducted on published research studies from five databases Scopus, PubMed, Science-direct, Ovid and google scholar using keywords khat chewing OR qat chewing AND associated factors OR risk factors OR contributing factors AND adolescents OR teenagers. Articles included were either cross-sectional, cohort, case-control or qualitative studies which were published between the year 1990 till present. Excluded articles were the non-English written articles, descriptive studies and irrelevant topics being studied.
RESULTS: Out of 2617 records identified and screened, six were included for the analysis and interpretation of the data. All included studies were cross-sectional study design. All six studies reported having family members who chewed khat significantly predict khat chewing among adolescents, followed by five articles for friends or peers who also chewed khat and four articles for male gender. Smoking was also found to have the highest odds (OR = 18.2; 95% CI: 12.95-25.72) for khat chewing among adolescents.
CONCLUSION: The review highlights the crucial role of family members, friends or peers and male gender to predict khat chewing among adolescents. Effectiveness of health promotion programs to educate and reduce khat chewing among adolescents will require active participation of family members and friends.
METHODS: This case/control study was conducted in 2017 includes a control (donation oocytes) and two studies (PCO and POR) groups. The ovulation induction drugs were prescribed in all groups. After the oocyte puncture, the follicular fluid was collected and CCs were isolated were cultured. RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized and designed the primer for the ADR-α1, 2 and ADR-β2 gene expression. The protein levels were investigated by Western Blot.
RESULTS: The results showed a high level of three adrenergic expressions in PCO women compared to the control group (p-value system at the receptor levels in women with PCOS, and clonidine confirmed it by reducing this expression. In POR women, the reduction of ADR-α1, 2 expressions maybe lead to the aging process in the ovary.