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Biomedical subjects

A Kassem

Publications and source records attributed to A Kassem.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Bruising of the esophagus as a cause of gastrointestinal bleeding in a case of heatstroke.

Alterations in blood clotting are a frequent complication of serious heatstroke and may result in gastrointestinal bleeding. We report the case of a 26-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital with symptoms of hyperthermia associated with encephalopathy and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) after prolonged exposure to sunlight. He presented hematemesis, after which he was diagnosed with having a bruising of the esophagus that took up the upper and lower thirds, there being no other lesions in the stomach or duodenum. After supportive treatment and following the resolution of the underlying pathology, the endoscopy-revealed injuries healed with a complete normalization of the esophageal mucosa. Esophageal submucosal bruising is an exceptional cause of hematemesis in serious heatstroke not previously described in the literature.

Adult↗

Megakaryocytes and platelets in the spleen of the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius).

This study was carried out on spleens of clinically healthy camels (n = 35) of both sexes (0.5-15 years) by routine histology, electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry using 12 anti-bovine platelet antibodies. Megakaryocytes were observed in the red pulp. Their number decreased with age: they were found in the spleens of all camels under 8 years old but only in 57% of camels over 8 years old. Only two antibodies (IVA37 and IVA38) cross-reacted with camel platelets. A large number of platelets were found in the splenic cords and the marginal zone. Ultrastructurally, the platelets were oval in shape surrounded by a plasma membrane, and their cytoplasm was rich in glycogen and contained less dense granules. Microtubules and microfilaments were found at their periphery. Several platelets were observed in the red pulp. There are similarities in some surface antigens of bovine and camel platelets. The presence of megakaryocytes in the camel spleen indicates a thrombopoietic function of the spleen until adulthood but that this decreases with age thereafter.

Aging↗

The spleen of the one humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) has a unique histological structure.

The histology and structure of 38 spleens of the dromedary (aged 0.5-15 y) were studied in relation to age. The spleen was found to have a thick capsule (292+/-106 mm) divided into an outer layer (113+/-39 mm) composed mainly of connective tissue and an inner layer (180+/-81 mm) consisting mainly of smooth muscle cells. Vascular and avascular trabeculae extend from the capsule, the former containing arteries and nerves but no trabecular veins, the latter being divided structurally into primary and secondary trabeculae. Subcapsular and peritrabecular blood sinuses around primary and vascular trabeculae are unique to the camel spleen. The central artery emerges from the periarterial lymphatic sheath and branches into up to 4 penicilli which extend as sheathed arterioles (42+/-8 microm). These are found near or surrounded by blood sinusoids of the red pulp. A wide marginal zone surrounds the white pulp and contains sheathed arteries but no marginal sinuses. The red pulp is characteristically divided into cords by secondary trabeculae and contains venous sinusoids of different sizes. The camel spleen is of a sinusal type that can store blood. The thick muscular capsule and trabeculae pump the stored blood according to the body's need. Both closed and open circulations are found. The venous return is unique as the blood flow is from the venous sinusoids of the red pulp to the peritrabecular sinuses to the subcapsular sinuses to the splenic vein. No significant structural differences related to age were found.

Aging↗

Palliative balloon valvoplasty of the pulmonary valve in tetralogy of Fallot.

Balloon dilation of the pulmonary valve was performed in 54 patients with tetralogy of Fallot with severe cyanosis, high haematocrit and severe valvar pulmonary stenosis. Clinical, echocardiographic, angiographic, and haemodynamic data were analyzed before and after the procedure. After balloon dilation, the systemic oxygen saturation increased from a mean value of 66% to 85%. The mean value of the haematocrit before dilation was 55 + 13, and decreased to 47 after dilation (p < 0.002) in 2 months follow-up. Balloon dilation increased the size of the pulmonary valvar orifice from a mean value of 9 + 5 mm to 11.5 + 2 mm (p < 0.005). The mean Z score of the pulmonary valves, which was -3 + 1.3 before dilation, increased to -1.1 + 1.1 immediately after the procedure (p < 0.05). The size of the right and left pulmonary arteries increased after dilation from 9 mm to 10 mm, and from 8.7 + 2.4 mm to 9.8 + 2.3 mm, respectively (p < 0.05). The comparable mean Z scores increased from -2.8 + 1.9 SD to -1.8 + 1.4 SD, and from -2.4 + 1.9 SD to -1.5 + 1.6 SD for the right and left branches, respectively (p < 0.05). In patients with stenosis at the bifurcation of the pulmonary trunk and hypoplasia of the left artery, successful dilation of the pulmonary valve lead to an increase of flow and improvement in size of the hypoplastic segment. In conclusion, initial balloon dilation of the pulmonary valve in tetralogy of Fallot resulted in increase of the Z score for the pulmonary valve and improved antegrade pulmonary blood flow, inducing growth of the pulmonary arteries and ameliorating the anatomic and physiologic preoperative condition.

Cardiac Catheterization↗

Trapezoidal keratotomy for the correction of naturally occurring astigmatism.

We performed trapezoidal keratotomy, consisting of combined nonintersecting semiradial and transverse incisions, in 64 eyes of 45 consecutive patients with naturally occurring astigmatism. The central clear zone diameter and number and length of transverse incisions were determined by the refractive error. Mean preoperative refractive astigmatism was 3.18 +/- 1.16 diopters (D) (range, 2.25 to 7.00 D). At the 1-year follow-up examination, the mean surgically corrected astigmatism determined by vector analysis was 3.70 +/- 1.50 D (range, 0.75 to 8.5 D), and the mean residual refractive astigmatism was 0.85 +/- 0.72 D (range, 0 to 4.0 D), with 64% of eyes having 1.00 D or less. The smaller the clear zone diameter, the greater the astigmatic correction. Longer transverse incisions produced more steepening of the secondary meridian. The operative complications included microperforation (5%), misalignment of surgical meridian (6%), encroachment on clear zone (5%), and inadvertent crossed incisions (11%). Trapezoidal keratotomy reduced naturally occurring astigmatism, but with only fair predictability and with some irregular astigmatism due to irregular wound healing.

Adolescent↗

Some morphological studies on the corpus striatum of the cerebrum of the goat.

The corpus striatum of the cerebral hemisphere is carrying out automatic reflexes responsible for feeding, defence, and maintainance of pusture. Our studies were applied on 60 heads of goats from both sexes which were collected from Damanhour sloughter house and injected by 10% formalin through the common carotid artery and put in 10% formalin solution for 1 week. The corpus striatum consists of great basal nuclei and capsules, caudate nucleus, lentiform nucleus, claustrum, capsula interna, capsula externa, and amygdaloidea.

Animals↗

Clinical study on the antifungal activity of griseofulvin in the presence of surfactants.

Scales were taken from 128 human volunteers suffering from ringworm infections and grown on Sabourand's media to determine the type of organisms causing the disease. Groups of 32 patients each were treated for sixty days with griseofulvin tablets containing dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, cetyl pyridinium chloride and polysorbate 80 respectively, while another group of 32 was given tablets containing griseofulvin only for the same period. The subjects treated with griseofulvin tablets containing surfactants showed a higher rate of cure than those treated with griseofulvin alone.

Adult↗