Divergent views on abortion and the period of ensoulment.

A Muslim woman in her sixteenth week of pregnancy was informed that her ultrasound scan showed spina bifida, and laboratory results confirmed the diagnosis. The child would have various complications and, most probably, would need medical care for life. With the consent of her husband she decided to terminate the pregnancy. Her decision sparked controversy among Muslim clerics in her community, sparking debate between those who would allow abortion for medical reasons and those who oppose abortion for any reason. This paper will review the philosophical and theological arguments of the pro-life and pro-choice groups as well as the Islamic perspective concerning a woman's autonomy over her reproductive system, the sanctity of the fetus and the embryo, therapeutic abortion, and ensoulment.

Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor is up-regulated in the obstructed kidney in a cell- and region-specific manner and acts to inhibit apoptosis.

The expression of certain growth factors in the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family is altered in response to renal injury. Recent studies have demonstrated that heparin binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) expression may be cytoprotective in response to apoptotic signals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of HB-EGF in the upper urinary tract following unilateral ureteral obstruction. We present evidence that: i) ureteral obstruction induced cell-specific but transient activation of HB-EGF gene expression; ii) HB-EGF expression in renal epithelial cells increased under conditions where mechanical deformation, such as that caused by hydronephrotic distension, induces apoptosis, but HB-EGF expression did not increase in renal pelvis smooth muscle cells under identical conditions; and iii) enforced expression of HB-EGF served to protect renal epithelial cells from stretch-induced apoptosis. These results suggest a potential mechanism by which the kidney protects itself from apoptosis triggered by urinary tract obstruction.

Renal blood flow in pigs: changes depicted with contrast-enhanced harmonic US imaging during acute urinary obstruction.

PURPOSE: To evaluate contrast agent-enhanced harmonic ultrasonographic (US) imaging and Doppler hemodynamics during acute urinary obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 12 piglets, the distal ureter was obstructed for 60 minutes, followed by intravenous injection of furosemide. In six piglets, ureteral pressure was further elevated to mean arterial pressure, and in six other piglets ureteral obstruction was released. Contrast-enhanced harmonic imaging was performed, and interlobar resistive index (RI) and renal blood flow were determined at baseline and during each experimental condition. A bolus injection curve was constructed by plotting mean pixel intensity versus time, and the area under this normalized curve was compared with renal blood flow values. RESULTS: Ureteral obstruction and high ureteral pressure reduced cortical renal blood flow to 88% and 66%, respectively, of baseline values. Administration of contrast agent resulted in marked homogeneous enhancement of the renal cortex. The area under the curve diminished during ureteral obstruction and correlated well with mean cortical blood flow. RI correlated well with renal perfusion pressure but poorly with changes in renal blood flow. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced harmonic US imaging depicts changes in renal blood flow during acute obstruction. Interlobar RI is a good predictor of renal perfusion pressure but not of changes in renal blood flow.

Histological and histochemical studies of the accessory genital glands of buffalo-bull (Bubalis bubalis).

The vesicular, Prostate and bulbourethral glands of 38 buffalo-bulls were studied histologically and histochemically. These gland were tubulo-alveolar in type. The secretory units of the VG were lined by columnar and basal cells while those of PG and BG were lined by columnar or cuboidal cells. The glands were devoid of any glycogen or lipid. Although the PG and BG were mucoid in nature, the VG was free from neutral and acidic mucopolysaccharides. Some hydrolytic enzymes (ALKPase, ACPase, ATPase and Che) and one oxidative enzyme (SDH) were demonstrated in these glands. The results were discussed in the view of the available literature.