The anatomical variations of coracobrachialis muscle (CBM) are of great clinical importance. This study aimed to elucidate the morphological variations, innervation patterns and musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) relation to CBM. Upper limbs of fifty cadavers (30 males and 20 females) were examined for proximal and distal attachments, innervation pattern of CBM and its relation to MCN. Four morphological types of CBM were identified according to number of its heads. The commonest type was the two-headed (63.0%) followed by the single belly (22.0%), three-headed (12.0%) and lastly fourheaded (3.0%) type. Moreover, an abnormal insertion of CBM was observed in four left limbs (4.0%); one inserting into the medial humeral epicondyle, the second into the upper third of humeral shaft, the third one in the common tendon of biceps, and the fourth one showing a bifurcated insertion. Also, four different innervation patterns of CBM were identified including MCN (80.0%), lateral cord (14.0%), lateral root of median nerve (4.0%), and median nerve itself (2.0%). The course of MCN was superficial to the single belly CBM (19.0%) and in-between the heads in the other types (71.0%). Measurements of the length and original distance of CBM muscular branches originating from MCN revealed no sex or side significant difference.Awareness of the anatomic variations, innervation patterns, and MCN relation of CBM is imperative in recent diagnostic and surgical procedures to obtain definite diagnosis, effective management and good outcome.

This study was carried out to investigate the morphometric parameters and variations of coronary ostia in the hearts of adult human cadavers and coronary angiographs. The hearts of 60 adult human cadavers and 400 coronary angiographs were used in this study. The root of the aorta was carefully dissected to clear aortic sinuses, coronary ostia, and sinutubular junction (STJ). Number, locations, internal diameter distance between coronary ostia and their corresponding STJ, sinus bottom, and valve commissures were investigated. The anterior aortic sinus (AAS) revealed a single ostium for right coronary artery (RCA) in 77.5% of male and 80% of female hearts. This ostium gave a common origin for RCA and third coronary artery (TCA) in 15% of male and 20% of female hearts. However, two separate ostia for RCA and TCA origin were seen in 20% of male and 15% of female hearts. Moreover, three ostia were seen in one male and one female hearts within AAS. Meanwhile, the left posterior aortic sinus showed a single ostium for left coronary artery (LCA) in 97.5% of male and 95% of female hearts and two ostia in one male and one female hearts. The ostia were commonly seen below STJ and less commonly were observed above STJ. The distance between the bottom of aortic sinus and LCA ostium was longer than that of RCA. The internal diameter of RCA ostium was significantly (P<0.05) narrower than that of LCA but with no significant sex difference. Moreover, anomalous of coronary ostia was observed in seven out 400 angiographs and in two cadaveric hearts. Knowledge the morphometric parameters and anatomical variations of coronary ostia helps the cardiac surgeons to overcome the possible difficulties that could occur during surgical and radiological coronary interventions.
Adult* ; Angiography ; Aorta ; Cadaver ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Heart* ; Humans ; Humans* ; Male ; Sex Characteristics ; Sinus of Valsalva ; Surgeons

Adriamycin (ADR) efficacy in cancer chemotherapy is well-established. However, ADR-induced cardiotoxicity remains a significant challenge. Aged garlic extract (AGE) is a natural polyphenol with high antioxidant potential. This study was planned to determine the cytoprotective and antioxidant actions of AGE against the cardiotoxic effect of ADR in rats. Six equal groups, control, ADR-treated (single dose of 10 mg/kg on day 8); AGE-treated (one dose of 250 mg/kg for 14 days); AGE plus ADR-treated (one dose of 250 mg/kg AGE for one week plus ADR injection of 10 mg/kg on day 8); ADR plus AGE-treated (single ADR injection of 10 mg/kg on day 8 plus AGE of 250 mg/kg once from 8th to 14th day); combined AGE plus ADR plus AGE-treated (one dose of 250 mg/kg AGE for 14 days plus single ADR injection of 10 mg/kg on day 8). Sera and cardiac samples were collected on day 15 and prepared for histological, ultrastructural and biochemical study. Disorganization, focal degeneration and necrosis with apoptotic changes of the cardiac myofibrils were observed in ADR-treated rats. Also, reduction in level of total creatine kinase, lactic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase enzymes, glutathione, glutathione- peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities and elevation in malondialdehyde concentration were detected in ADR-treated rats. However, combination of AGE attenuated most of the histopathological, ultrastructural, and biochemical changes induced by ADR. Combination of AGE attenuated the cardiotoxic effects-induced by ADR through its antioxidant and cytoprotective potentials. Therefore, AGE can use as adjunct during administration of ADR in cancer therapy.

No systematic review to date has examined histopathological parameters in relation to native liver survival in children who undergo the Kasai operation for biliary atresia (BA).A systematic review and meta-analysis is presented, comparing the frequency of native liver survival in peri-operative severe vs. non-severe liver fibrosis cases, in addition to other reported histopathology parameters. Records were sourced from MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases. Studies followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and compared native liver survival frequencies in pediatric patients with evidence of severe vs. non-severe liver fibrosis, bile duct proliferation, cholestasis, lobular inflammation, portal inflammation, and giant cell transformation on peri-operative biopsies. The primary outcome was the frequency of native liver survival. A random effects meta-analysis was used. Twenty-eight observational studies were included, 1,171 pediatric patients with BA of whom 631 survived with their native liver. Lower odds of native liver survival in the severe liver fibrosis vs. non-severe liver fibrosis groups were reported (odds ratio [OR], 0.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08–0.33; I2 =46%). No difference in the odds of native liver survival in the severe bile duct destruction vs. non-severe bile duct destruction groups were reported (OR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.00–63.63; I2 =96%). Lower odds of native liver survival were documented in the severe cholestasis vs. non-severe cholestasis (OR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.01–0.73; I2 =80%) and severe lobular inflammation vs. non-severe lobular inflammation groups (OR, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.00–0.62; I2 =69%). There was no difference in the odds of native liver survival in the severe portal inflammation vs. non-severe portal inflammation groups (OR, 0.03; 95% CI, 0.00–3.22; I2 =86%) or between the severe giant cell transformation vs. non-severe giant cell transformation groups (OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.00–175.21; I2 =94%). The meta-analysis loosely suggests that the presence of severe liver fibrosis, cholestasis, and lobular inflammation are associated with lower odds of native liver survival in pediatric patients after Kasai.

OBJECTIVETo characterize, identify and investigate the anticancer properties of two new soil fungal isolates, Emericella nidulans and Fusarium solani isolated from Wady El-Natron in Egypt against colon cancer Caco-2 (ATCC) cell line.

METHODSSoil sample was cultured and two strains were chosen for morphological and phenotypical characterization. Partial sequences of the 18s rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer region ITS of the two isolates were amplified by PCR. Phylogenetic tree construction and analysis of the resulted multiple sequences from the two fugal isolates were also carried out. In vitro anticancer activity of the two strains was done against colon Caco-2 cancer cell line. Reverse transcription - PCR was carried out to detect level of expression of p53 in Caco-2 cell line.

RESULTSHF.1 displayed morphological and genotypic characteristics most similar to that of Fusarium solani while HF.2 was most similar to Emericella nidulans with high similarity of 99% and 97% respectively. The multiple sequence alignment of the two fungal isolates showed that, the maximum identical conserved domains in the 18s rRNA genes were identified with the nucleotide regions of 51st to 399th base pairs, 88th to 525th base pairs respectively. While those in the ITS genes were identified with the nucleotide regions of 88th to 463rd and 51st to 274th. The two isolates showed IC50 value with (6.24±5.21) and (9.84±0.36) µg/mL) concentrations respectively at 28h. Reverse transcription - PCR indicated that these cells showed high level of expression for p53 mRNA.

CONCLUSIONSThe morphology and molecular analysis identified HF.1 and HF.2 to be Fusarium solani and Emericella nidulans; new isolates of anticancer producing fungi from Wady El-Natroon city in Egypt. Treatment with the two isolates caused P53 expression in Caco-2 cell line. These two isolates can be used as an anticancer agents.

Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Caco-2 Cells ; Complex Mixtures ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Egypt ; Emericella ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Fusarium ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Soil Microbiology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism

Objectives To investigate the activity of Egyptian propolis extracts (ethanol and water) on cryptosporidiosis in experimentally infected dexamethasone-immunosuppressed rats. Methods A total of 180 male rats (190–220) g BWt were randomly divided into 9 equal groups (G1–G9). Groups of rats were kept as (G1): normal control, (G2–G9): immunosuppressed with dexamethasone and (G3-G9): infected with Cryptosporidium oocysts. Rats from (G4–G9) were given orally ethanol and water extract of propolis (at a dose of 50 mg/kg BWt) and nitazoxanide (standard anti-cryptosporidial drug at a dose of 100 mg/kg BWt) to infected rats with different regimes. Faecal pellets were collected from all groups to monitor oocysts shedding from the 2nd to the 15th day post infection. At the end of the experiment, blood was collected from all groups for determination of leukogram and serum proteins. Ileum specimens were also examined histopathologically. Results The highest reduction of oocysts shedding in faecal samples was 88% in rats prophylactically treated with propolis ethanol extract at the 4th dpi, and in rats prophylactically treated with water extract of propolis, was 91% at the 6th dpi. There was a marked increase in neutrophils count and α