Background: This study investigated the possible protective effects of bilberry extract after exposing rat eyes to ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation. Methods: Four groups of rats were included in this study, each consisting of 10 Wistar rats. The first group acted as the control, and the second group was exposed to UV-B, 5 KJ/m2 (λm = 300 nm), for 15 minutes. The third group was orally administered bilberry extract (160 mg twice per day) for two weeks before exposure to the UV-B, while the fourth group was administered the same dose of bilberry extract for two weeks before euthanisation. A comet assay was used to examine DNA damage, while the malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT), activities were measured in the lens. Results: After exposing the rats to UV-B radiation, the mean percentage tail DNA and tail moment were significantly increased (P < 0.001) when compared to the control group. In the same context, the lens tissue MDA levels and CAT activity were also significantly increased (P < 0.001). The supplementation of the bilberry extract was found to improve the comet assay parameters and enzymatic activity of the rat lens tissue. Conclusion: The administration of bilberry led to a decrease in the oxidative stress in the lens tissues and DNA damage induced by UV-B radiation in the lenses of Wistar rats.
Vaccinium myrtillus ; DNA ; Comet Assay ; Malondialdehyde

A 55-year-old man presented with a five-day history of blurring of vision, pain and redness in the right eye. He had no significant past ocular or medical history, and gave no history of trauma. Ophthalmologic examination is shown above (Panel). What is the diagnosis? Answer: refer to page 235

(Refer to page 207) Answer: Hypopyon In this case, hypopyon is seen in the anterior chamber and posterior synaechiae can also be seen at the pupil margin. Hypopyon can be defined as layering of white blood cells in the anterior chamber of the eye following acute, subacute and chronic inflammatory reactions involving the aqueous humor and anatomical structures adjacent to it. It appears as a white milky layer at the bottom of the anterior chamber.

We illustrated a case of presumed spontaneously regressed retinoblastoma in a blind eye. The tumour remained stable, with no extraocular spreading, for 20 years. Associating signs included band keratopathy, leukocoria, dislocated lens, calcified retinal masses and tractional retinal detachment.

AIM: To evaluate the visual outcome of LASIK and occlusion therapy for anisometropic amblyopia in adolescents and compare it to the visual outcome of optical correction and occlusion therapy.METHODS: This retrospective case-controlled study included 19 children,aged between 10 and 17 years,with anisometropic amblyopia. Group A included 10 adolescents with anisometropic amblyopia in whom vision did not improve with optical correction and occlusion therapy. These patients were then treated with LASIK and occlusion therapy. Postoperative visual outcomes of this group were analyzed and compared to group B which included 9 age-matched controls who were compliant to treatment of anisometropic amblyopia by optical correction and occlusion therapy.RESULTS: In group A,the mean (SD) spherical refraction was -8.9±5.2D preoperatively and -1.9±2.0D postoperatively,the mean (SD) preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.25±0.18,which improved to 0.50±0.26 after treatment. In group B,the mean (SD) pre-treatment BCVA was 0.27±0.18 and improved to 0.50±0.28 after treatment. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of post-treatment BCVA.CONCLUSION: LASIK offers a feasible solution for adolescents with anisometropic amblyopia who are not improving in vision with conventional treatment optical correction and occlusion therapy. The outcome in this group was comparable to the outcome in adolescents in whom vision improved with conventional treatment.

The routine identification of mycobacterial strains isolated from patients in different locations in Egypt was confirmed by specific DNA fragment amplification. The susceptibilities of 72 Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains against the four antibiotics used in tuberculosis treatment (Isoniazid, INH; Rifampicin, Rif; Streptomycin, St and Ethambutol, E) were examined. Our results indicated that, multi drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) represents about 19.5% of the tested strains, whereas sensitive strains represented 26.4%. The genetic polymorphism of the tested strains was examined using RAPD analysis. Six selected strains represent the different antibiotic susceptibility groups were examined using RAPD fingerprinting. No difference between the strains was recorded using the RFLP analysis of amplified specific fragment. The discrimination power of RAPD analysis was inadequate to clarify the genetic correlation between the tested strains. MDR-TB was approximately double time in 2008 compared with the value in 2007. Most of the new MDR-TB was correlated with resident dense population regions.

The detection rate of thyroid incidentalomas is increasing; in fact, as many as 2.3% of patients undergoing FDG PET-CT for other indications have been found to have thyroid incidentalomas. The risk of malignancy in these thyroid incidentalomas can be as high as 47%. The increased uptake and the focal uptake pattern of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in the thyroid during positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT), and the calcification of the thyroid incidentaloma, are associated with even higher risk of malignancy. We report a case of a lady undergoing FDG PET-CT for breast cancer staging but noted to have a calcified thyroid incidentaloma, which was proven to be follicular thyroid carcinoma.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of Artemisia herba alba (A. herba alba) intravenous injection on cardiovascular and renal function in normal rats.
Methods:The effect of intravenous injection of A. herba alba extract at the different doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg was investigated in normal rats. Diuresis, heart frequency and electrolytes concentrations were analyzed.
Results: Intravenous bolus injection of A. herba alba at the different doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg produced a dose dependent reduction in arterial blood pressure (P<0.001). A significant reduction in heart frequency was observed after A. herba alba injection at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg (P<0.001). Perfusion of aqueous A. herba alba extract at a dose of 200 mg/(kg·h) caused a significant increase in urine output after 4 h of perfusion (P<0.001). In addition, a significant increase in urinary sodium and potassium excretion was observed from the first (P<0.05) to the fourth hour (P<0.001) of A. herba alba perfusion. Urinary chlorure excretion increased after 2 h of perfusion (P<0.001). However, glomerular filtration rate remained unchanged after A. herba alba perfusion (P<0.05).
Conclusions: We conclude that the aqueous A. herba alba extract possesses a potent acute hypotensive effect on normal rats. In addition, A. herba alba perfusion may affect renal function to increase urine and electrolytes excretion.

Objective:To evaluate Brachychiton acerifolius leaf extracts as antidiabetic potential agent and to identify the main active constituents using bioactivity guided fractionation.Methods:In vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated for B.acerifolius different extracts using DPPH assay and vitamin C as control.Antidiabetic activity was then determined using STZ-induced rats treated daily with ethyl acetate and 70％ ethanol leaf extracts for 4 weeks at a dose of 200 g/kg body weight against gliclazide reference drug.Blood glucose,α-amylase,lipid profile,liver function enzymes and oxidative stress markers were assessed along with histopathological study for liver and pancreatic tissues.Isolation and structural elucidation of active compounds were made using Diaion and Sephadex followed by spectral analyses.Results:The results indicated that ethyl acetate and ethanol leaf extracts exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity compared to that of vitamin C (IC50 0.05,0.03 and 12 mg/mL,respectively).Both extracts showed potent anti-hyperglycemic activity evidenced by a significant decrease in serum glucose levels by 82.5％ and 80.9％ and α-amylase by 45.2％ and 53.6％,as compared with gliclazide 68％ and 59.4％,respectively.Fractionation of ethanol extract resulted in the isolation of 9 flavonoids including apigenin-7-O-α-rhamnosyl(1 → 2)-β-D-glucuronidc,apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide,apigcnin-7-O-β-D-glucoside and luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide.Conclusions:This study highlights the potential use of B.acerifolius leaf extract enriched in flavones for the treatment of diabetes that would warrant further clinical trials investigation.

Aims: This study focused on new fish feed additives that could supply a nutritional value and inhibit or eliminate mycotoxins. Four novel feed additives, including Albizia lebbeck (L.), Leucaena leucocephala leaf extracts, Serendipita indica and Bacillus megaterium were applied to contaminated fish feed; besides investigating the toxicity of these new fish feed additives. Methodology and results : Our data exhibited that the different tested feed additives were not toxic for brine shrimp larvae or fish. Albizia lebbeck extract at a concentration 0.5% was highly effective in detoxifying mycotoxins with efficacy ratios of 88.01%, 93.89% and 92.89% for aflaB1, aflaG1 and CPA, respectively and L. leucocephala at 0.5% had efficacy ratios of 93.52% and 100% for aflaG1 and CPA, respectively. The addition of S. indica with a concentration of 0.75% was highly effective for the usage of good feed approximately free of mycotoxins, with efficacy ratios of 85.65%, 90.81% and 100% for aflaB1, aflaG1 and CPA, respectively. Moreover, B. megaterium, with a concentration of 0.75% was recommended for detoxification. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Studied new feed additives as feed additives in fish diets to eliminate mycotoxin with the potential of providing antioxidant activity. Results suggest that mycotoxins degradation can happen in vitro and in vivo by applying new fish feed additives in the fish diet.