Exposure to chemicals has been shown to adversely affect CNS health in rodents and humans. The objective was to evaluate, in-vivo, the effects of trichloroethane (TCE), a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, on the integrity of neural cells. A group of albino mice was injected intraperitoneally twice weekly for three weeks with TCE (100 and 400 µg/kg). Animals were followed up for signs of toxicity and death. Alterations in neural tissues have also been investigated by histopathology The results showed a large number of degenerative neural cells (pyknosis of nuclei, DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation) in the 100 and 400 µg/kg TCE-treated groups comparing to controls. Although there were no significant effect on the neural cell counts, the pattern of increased degenerative cells in TCE-treated groups was higher compared to controls. The results also showed that TCE led to a significant increase in the percent of degenerative neurons. There was also a significant reduction in the percent of neurons. These results correlated with the increase in the percent of glia. This study indicates that TCE exposure had detrimental impact on neural cells, and that neurons are more vulnerable to TCE than glia in this in-vivo mouse model.
Mohamed A. Al-Griw, Naser M. Salama, Soad A. Treesh, Lubna N. Algadi, Abdul hakim Elnfati(7-2015)

ABSTRACT We reviewed 48 consecutive patients with type II (32) and type III (16), odontoid peg fractures. The clinical & radiological outcomes were assessed over an average period of follow up of 6.8 years. Union rate was determined and we discussed several factors that may affect it. Patients were treated conservatively with initial bed rest with or without cervical skeletal traction followed by bracing for an average of 9 weeks. Results: Bony union was established in 25 of 32 (78%) type II fractures. Of 7 cases with no bony union 4 were stable probably with fibrous union. 3 remained unstable. In 13 of 16 (83%) type III fractures bony union was established. 2 of the 3 with no bony union were considered stable. Osseous non-union was higher in patients with displacement of >5mm, but there is no correlation between union and age, gender or angulation of the fracture in both types. Conclusion: non-surgical management of odontoid fractures remain a viable option in the management of these fractures arabic 9 English 60
Nabil A. Alageli(1-2017)

The GC-box is an important transcriptional regulatory element present in the promoters of many mammalian genes, and is found in most, if not all, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) promoters. In the present study we examine the effects of three Sp1 family members (Sp2, Sp3, and Sp4) on the adenine nucleotide translocase 2, cytochrome c1, F1-ATPase β-subunit, and the mitochondria transcription factor (mtTFA) promoters in Drosophila SL2 cell line. Sp3, like Sp1, strongly activates transcription all four promoters. SP4 stimulates, moderately, but Sp2 had no effect. In addition, Sp3 can, like Sp1, inhibit transcription from the proximal promoter of the ANT2 gene through binding to the Cbox GC element. By contrast, Sp4 and Sp2 do not repress promoter activity. Furthermore, since Sp4 and Sp2 bind to the Cbox repression element on the ANT2 promoter, but do not repress transcription, inhibition of transcription … arabic 21 English 97
Ahmed Zaid(1-2012)