Pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel alleviates lithium-induced alterations in the thyroid gland of rats by modulating apoptosis and oxidative stress.

Lithium carbonate (LC) is known to alter thyroid gland function. Pomegranate (PG) is a fruit with multiple antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties. Here, we studied the effect of PG on LC-induced morphological and functional alterations in the thyroid glands of rats. Rats were divided into four groups: control, lithium, lithium-PG, and PG. After 8 weeks, the rats were sacrificed, the levels of thyroid hormones and oxidative stress markers were estimated, and thyroid tissues were subjected to histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural evaluations. Compared to the control group, the lithium group showed significant changes in thyroid hormone levels, greater expression of the oxidant marker malondialdehyde, and lower expression of the antioxidant marker superoxide dismutase (SOD). Most of these changes improved upon PG treatment. Histological evaluation of the thyroid in the lithium group showed disorganization and follicle involution. Additionally, the periodic acid Schiff staining intensity and SOD immunoreactivity declined significantly, whereas the collagen fiber content and Bax immunoreactivity increased. The follicular ultrastructure showed marked distortion. These changes were mitigated upon PG treatment. In conclusion, PG alleviated the morphological and functional changes in the thyroid glands induced by LC by modulating apoptosis and oxidative stress.

Nasal septal anatomical variations among Saudi population and their possible coincidence with sinusitis: a computed tomography scan study.

The nasal septum is a crucial supporting factor for the nasal cavity and may develop several anatomical variants including septal deviation, spur and pneumatization. These variants could be associated with a higher incidence of sinusitis due to structural and functional alterations. So, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of nasal septal deviation (NSD), nasal septal spur (NSS) and nasal septal pneumatization (NSP) among the Saudi adult population and their links with the incidence of sinusitis by using computed tomography (CT). A retrospective study was achieved over a twenty-two months period on 681 adult Saudi subjects (420 males and 261 females) aged 20 years or older, referred for coronal CT evaluation of the paranasal sinuses. NSD and NSS were significantly more prevalent in males than females (80.0% vs. 67.4% respectively for NSD, and 34.5% vs. 24.9% respectively for NSS), while there was no statistical difference in frequency of NSP regarding gender (P=0.670). The incidence of sinusitis was significantly higher in presence of NSD and/or NSS (P<0.001 for both). On the contrary, NSP was not associated with a significant increase in the prevalence of sinusitis (P=0.131). In conclusion, NSD and NSS are more prevalent in males than females among the Saudi population with no statistical difference between both genders regarding the presence of septal pneumatization. Furthermore, sinusitis is more prevalent with the occurrence of NSD and NSS, and not related to the incidence of NSP.

Topical onion juice mitigates the morphological alterations of the cornea in the aged male rats.

Aging is associated with structural and functional changes of the cornea. Fresh onion juice contains phenolic compounds and flavonoids that may provide an anti-aging effect. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of the onion juice to ameliorate these aging changes. Rats were grouped as adult and aged groups. Rats of both groups received eye drops of diluted onion juice in their right eyes every 8 hours for 12 weeks, while the left ones were served as control eyes. The corneas of both eyes underwent histopathological, immunohistochemical and morphometric assessments, in addition to measuring their intraocular pressure (IOP). The aged group exhibited a significantly elevated IOP, decreased tear secretion, degenerated corneal epithelium and endothelium, surface erosions and stromal edema with irregular collagen fibers. Administration of onion juice led to lowering of IOP, significant increase in tearing, restoration of most of epithelial, endothelial and stromal integrity, and increased epithelial, keratocystic and endothelial cell densities. Immunohistochemically, the epithelium and endothelium revealed positive immune reactions for both epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and paired box protein-6 (PAX6) in the control and onion-treated corneas of the adult group, while these immune reactions were negative in the untreated aged ones. Onion drops in aged corneas showed a positive immune reaction for EFGR and PAX6 involving the epithelial and endothelial layers. In conclusion, topical onion juice improves corneal aging changes through its direct effect, and indirectly through lowering IOP and enhancing tear secretion.

Prevalence of the anatomical variations of concha bullosa and its relation with sinusitis among Saudi population: a computed tomography scan study.

Concha bullosa (CB) is a pneumatic cavitation inside a concha in the nasal cavity. It is one of the most widely recognized nasal variations and is mostly found in the middle concha. CB is divided according to its site into three types; lamellar, bulbous and extensive. The goal of our study was to estimate the prevalence of CB among Saudi adult population and its association with sinusitis by using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). This was a retrospective study carried out over a three-year period on 879 adult Saudi patients aged 18 years or older, referred for MDCT assessment of paranasal sinuses. Males were 540 and females were 339. Patients with facial congenital anomalies or nasal trauma were excluded from our study. CB was prevalent in both males and females among Saudi population (55.4%, 55.7%) respectively. Bilateral CB (55.5%) was more frequent than unilateral (44.5%). Extensive CB (44.0%) was the most frequent type. Sinusitis was associated more in patients with CB (48.0%) versus those who have no CB (5.9%). In conclusion, CB was prevalent among Saudi population and the most frequently recorded is the extensive type. Furthermore, the most common type associated with sinusitis was extensive CB (49.6%).

Analysis of the anatomic variations of the ethmoid roof among Saudipopulation: A radiological study

The olfactory fossa (OF) is a depression in the anterior cranial cavity whose floor is formed by the cribriform plate of ethmoid, bounded laterally by the lateral lamella of cribriform plate and medially by crista galli. Keros categorized the olfactory fossa depth into 3 types. For a successful endoscopic sinus surgery, the surgeons should pay attention to the details when dealing with the complex anatomy of the paranasal sinuses (PNS) and skull base. The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of Keros classification of the height of ethmoid roof among Saudi population by using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). This was a retrospective study conducted on 511 patients (360 males and 151 female) referred for MDCT assessment of PNS over a two-year period. The mean age of our patients was 34.47± 10.69 years, aged between 18 and 79 years. Patients with nasal trauma, surgeries or any pathological diseases affecting the ethmoid roof were excluded from the study. Keros type II was the commonest presentation observed in 53.2% of cases, followed by type I in 12.5%, then type III in 11.7% of cases. Out of the 511 patients analyzed, 115 (22.5%) cas-es had asymmetry (different types of OF) on both sides. Conclusion: The majority of studied Saudi adult population showed Keros type II (53.3%), followed by type I (12.5%). Keros type III was seen in 11.7% among the studied population

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A Morphometric Study of the Patterns and Variations of the Acromion and Glenoid Cavity of the Scapulae in Egyptian Population.

BACKGROUND: Owing to its many variations, scapula became one of the most interesting bones of the human skeleton. AIM: To measure acromial and glenoid morphology in to describe their anatomical patterns and variations in Egyptians to establish possible morphofunctional correlations related to race, geographic region and literature data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty scapulae of unknown age and sex were studied. Morphological shapes of the tip of the acromion; types of acromion; and morphological shapes of the glenoid were evaluated. Length and width of the scapulae, length, breadth and thickness of the acromion process and distances of the acromio-coracoid and acromio-glenoid in addition to glenoid diameters were measured. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The morphometric values of the two sides were analysed using an unpaired t-test. Statistical significance was set p≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The intermediate shape of the acromion presented with the highest incidence, while the cobra shaped presented with the lowest distribution in both sides. The oval shaped glenoid cavity presented with the highest incidence while the inverted coma shaped showed the lowest incidence. These results are in match with other population. However, the morphometric values of the scapula, acromion process and glenoid cavity were higher than reported in Turkish and Indians. CONCLUSION: Our data are important to compare Egyptian scapulae to those from various other races that could contribute to demographic studies of shoulder disease probability and management in Egyptian population.