A gastric sarcoma from 3000 years ago: paleopathological diagnosis at the field.

OBJECTIVE: Ancient remains tell a lot to those who can solve their mysteries. Mummified remains of individuals have the potential to tell their life stories. Pathological conditions in mummies are identified, commonly, thorough macroscopic inspection and radiological techniques. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 2017, a hypogeum tomb was excavated close to the courtyard of Djehuty's tomb (TT11) at the archaeological site of the Spanish Djehuty Project in Luxor (Egypt). In Sector 10, a set of at least 10 mummies were recovered. All showed clear signs of plundering and were found scattered at the site. Wrappings and associated goods indicated that the individuals were from the first half of the 20th dynasty (922 to 888 BCE). RESULTS: All the individuals were male and from a high social status. Upon removing the individuals for study, two dried stomachs were found. There were clear macroscopic differences. A field histological analysis was performed which revealed that the stomach that showed no alterations, at first glance, presented a pathological pattern that was compatible with gastric sarcoma. CONCLUSIONS: Malignant diseases are seldom described in Paleopathology; to our knowledge, this is the oldest and most unique case of this type of pathology in mummies worldwide.

Vasculitis damage index in Behçet's disease

Abstract Background: Vasculitis damage index (VDI) is a validated damage index for systemic vasculitis, and as Behçet's disease is considered one of systemic vascular disease we aimed to study the relationship of the vasculitis damage index to clinical manifestations and comorbidity in patients with Behçet's disease (BD) to determine if VDI could be used to assess damage in patients with BD. Methods: A total of 109 patients with BD were recruited from the Rheumatology Department (outpatient and inpatient clinic), Cairo University Hospitals. All patients were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination, and routine laboratory investigations. Disease activity was assessed by the BD current activity form, and the VDI was calculated in all patients. The relationship of the VDI to the disease clinical manifestations was studied. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal Wallis tests were used to estimate differences in quantitative variables. Spearman correlation test was used to test for correlation between quantitative variables. Results: In the current study, the VDI ranged from 1 to 10, with a mean of 3.5 ± 1.8. It was significantly associated with total thrombosis (P = 0.022); total neurological manifestations (P = 0.000), especially stroke and cranial nerve affection; uveitis (P = 0.005); avascular necrosis (AVN) (P = 0.015); osteoporosis (P = 0.01); impaired vision (P < 0.0001); cataract (P < 0.0001); and diabetes (P = 0.012). Generally, immunosuppressive treatment was significantly associated with VDI (P = 0.039), especially cyclophosphamide (P < 0.0001), biological agent (P = 0.008), chlorambucil (P = 0.003), and anticoagulant (P = 0.02). VDI was also significantly correlated with age (P = 0.033), disease duration (P = 0.029), and duration of eye involvement (P = 0.003). Conclusion: VDI is significantly associated with most disease parameters of BD, except for parameters such as mucocutaneous manifestations and uncomplicated venous thrombosis; however, further studies may be needed to establish BD-specific damage index.

Insulin resistance in nondiabetic Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus. / Resistencia a la insulina en pacientes egipcios no diabéticos infectados con el virus de hepatitis C crónica.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus are frequently associated with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and it is thought that the presence of insulin resistance aggravates liver disease. We aimed to evaluate insulin resistance in nondiabetic Egyptian patients with chronic HCV infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty nondiabetic patients with chronic HCV infection and 30 healthy nondiabetic non-HCV-infected volunteers were enrolled in our study. They were divided into 3 groups: group 1 included 30 patients with chronic HCV infection with no cirrhosis, group 2 included 30 patients with chronic HCV infection and cirrhosis of the liver, and group 3 included 30 healthy volunteers as controls. The entire study population underwent a detailed clinical history and physical examination, weight and height measurement, routine laboratory tests, and viral marker determination that included hepatitis B surface antigen and HCV antibodies. PCR analysis was carried out on the patients with positive HCV antibodies. Fasting blood sugar and fasting insulin levels were measured in all the patients, and insulin resistance was calculated according to the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: Patients with cirrhosis of the liver (2 patients with Child class A, 12 patients with Child class B, and 16 patients with Child class C) showed higher insulin resistance levels (2.76±0.97) than the patients with chronic HCV infection and no cirrhosis (2.03±0.743) and the control group (1.22±0.38). The p value was significantly different between the 3 groups. There were direct and significant correlations between insulin resistance, fasting blood sugar, and fasting insulin levels. Patients with chronic HCV infection showed significantly higher fasting insulin and glucose levels than the control group. CONCLUSION: Chronic HCV-infected patients showed significantly higher insulin resistance levels than the normal population, even in the absence of hepatic dysfunction and cirrhosis.

Mysterious Civilizations: Is There a Connection between Medicine and Architecture in Ancient Egypt and Peru?

The ancient Egyptian and Peruvian Civilizations are two of the earliest cultures in human history. Through medical and architectural similarities, we wish to show a possible connection between these two cultures. A literature search was conducted by searching the database of Medline, National Geographic magazine, history books, and Google Scholar using the search terms: neurosurgery, pyramids, pyramidal architectures, ancient Egypt, ancient Peru, the connection between ancient Egypt and Peru. Both the ancient Egyptian and Peruvian Civilizations are well-known for their pioneering work in medicine and architecture; their accomplishments in these areas have been well-documented in the walls of uncovered tombs and discovered papyrus. Both these cultures also firmly believed in an afterlife and built pyramids to serve as tombs and homes for royalty in the afterlife. The sloping sides of the pyramids were inclined to signify the emergence of the physical body from Earth towards the Sun. Both civilizations independently pioneered the art of neurosurgery with different techniques and approaches. In this paper, we discuss the potential links between both civilizations. We recognize and appreciate the brilliance of these ancient cultures in mastering the medicinal and architectural sciences.

Phenolic-antioxidant capacity of mango seed kernels: therapeutic effect against viper venoms

Abstract In this study, mango seed kernels extract contained a considerable amount of phenolics and flavonoids (17,400 and 3325 mg/100 g seed, respectively). The HPLC profiling revealed that hesperidin was the major phenolic compound of the mango seed kernels extract. This is the first report find hesperidin in mango extracts. The phenolic compounds of mango seed kernels extract were effective in scavenging free radicals of DPPH and ABTS with IC50 values of 47.3 and 7.9 µg/ml, respectively. The total antioxidant activity of mango seed kernels extract based on the reduction of molybdenum was also measured. The phenolic compounds of mango seed kernels extract potentially inhibited the protease, fibrinogenase, phospholipase A2, l-amino acid oxidase, hyaluronidase, and hemolytic activities of the most dangerous Cerastes cerastes and Echis coloratus viper venoms. The phenolic compounds of mango seed kernels extract could completely neutralize the hemorrhage and lethality of both venoms in experimental animals. It could be concluded that the mango seed kernels extract phenolic compounds with potential antioxidant activity are considered as a new avenue in the viper bite treatment.

Morphological comparison of the filiform papillae of New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as domestic mammals and Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) as wild mammals using scanning electron microscopic specimens / Comparación morfológica de las papilas filiformes de conejos blancos Nueva Zelanda (Oryctolagus cuniculus) como los mamíferos domésticos y los murciélagos de la fruta egipcios (Rousettus aegyptiacus) como los mamíferos salvajes utilizando muestras de microscopía electrónica de barrido

This paper presents a comparison of the morphological structure of the filiform papillae in New Zealand white rabbits as domestic mammals and Egyptian fruit bats as wild mammals. This study was carried out on the tongues of adult healthy New Zealand white rabbits and Egyptian fruit bats of both sexes. There were four types of lingual papillae in both animals. In the Egyptian fruit bats, there were six subtypes of the filiform papillae; three on the anterior part (small, conical and giant), two on the middle part (cornflower and leaf-like papillae) while the posterior part contain rosette shape filiform papillae, in addition to transitional papillae and conical papillae. In New Zealand white rabbits, there were four subtypes of filiform papillae; spoonful conical (on the lingual anterior part), processed (at the anterior edge of lingual prominence), leaf-like (on the posterior area of lingual prominence) and triangular filiform papillae (on the lingual root). The shape, size, number and orientation of the lingual papillae itself and its processes varied according to their location within the tongue (region-specific) in relation to the feeding habits, strategies for obtaining food, climate conditions, and types of food particles.

Se comparó la estructura morfológica de las papilas filiformes de un mamífero doméstico (conejo neozelandes) y de un mamífero silvestre (murciélagos de la fruta egipcio). El estudio fue realizado en animales de ambos sexos. Se observó cuatro tipos de papilas linguales, en ambas especies de animales. En los murciélagos de la fruta egipcio se observaron seis subtipos de papilas filiformes; tres en la parte anterior (pequeño, cónico y gigante), dos en la parte media (aciano y hojas como papilas) mientras que en la parte posterior se observaron papilas filiformes y papilas de transición cónica. En los conejos se observaron cuatro subtipos de papilas filiformes; cónica cucharada (en la parte anterior lingual), procesado (en el margen anterior de la prominencia lingual), tipo hoja (en la zona posterior de la prominencia lingual) y papilas filiformes triangulares (en la raíz lingual). La forma, tamaño, número y orientación de las papilas linguales y sus procesos varían de acuerdo a la función y a la ubicación en la lengua (específicos de la región) en relación con los hábitos de alimentación, las estrategias para la obtención de alimentos, las condiciones climáticas y tipos de partículas de alimentos.

Medicina y literatura, un eslabón indisoluble: Enfoque literario sobre las aportaciones de la cultura egipcia a la medicina

La medicina y la literatura son disciplinas humanísticas ligadas desde el momento en que el hombre tiene la necesidad de comunicar sus inquietudes, angustias y temores acerca de la enfermedad y la muerte. Los temas médicos son un recurso frecuente en las obras literarias; en ese escenario, el escritor amalgama al paciente, al médico, la enfermedad y la muerte desde el punto de vista humano. No obstante la necesidad de dar vuelo a la imaginación en la creación de situaciones ficticias con las que realiza su narración, en la novela histórica de calidad, el autor está obligado a documentarse exhaustivamente sobre el tema en torno al cual girará su obra. Aquí se detalla una supuesta práctica médica en la cultura egipcia, referida en la novela Sinuhé, el Egipcio: la trepanación, como respuesta a un comentario científico en un congreso internacional de neurocirugía.

Medicine and literature are bound humanistically disciplines from the moment that Man has the necessity to communicate his restlessness, anguish and fears with regard to the presence of illness and death. Medical topics are a frequent resource in literary works in which the writer amalgamates the patient, the doctor, illness, and death from the human point of view. Specifically in the historical quality of the novel, the author is forced nevertheless to be documented thoroughly on the topic on which his work rotate, in such a way that he avoids incorrect historical data, combined with the necessity to give flight to his imagination in the creation of fictitious situations for his narration. Here we analyze as example of the details of medicine in the Egyptian culture beginning with the novel "Sinuhé the Egyptian", as an answer to scientific comment ary at an international on congress of neurosurgery.