The trace metals (antioxidants) were studied to elucidate their effects to prolong lymphocyte survival by preventing programmed cell death (apoptosis), these trace metals; ZnCl2 (4.77x10-5 M), CuSO4 (15x10-6 M) were added to the lymphocyte cultures on the third day in RPMI media. H2O2 was used to promote apoptosis.
Apoptosis was assessed morphologically (by phase contrast microscopy and DNA quantitation) and biochemically (MDA production, thiol, and selenium consumption). In this study which includes 31 samples in the control group and 31 in the test group, lymphocyte apoptosis was found to be associated with generation of free radicals and that the antioxidants significantly inhibit apoptotic process. It was noted that H2O2 enormously accelerates apoptosis.

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A 22-month-old female child was referred with failure to gain weight, chronic cough and dyspnea. In physical examination she was under 5th percentile, had respiratory distress and crackles in chest auscultation. Chest roentgenography revealed alveolar infiltration in lungs. Sweat chloride test and standard work up for pulmonary tuberculosis were non-conclusive. Regarding X-ray findings suspicious of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP), right anterolateral thoracotomy was performed and lung tissue biopsy taken. Histopathologic findings were consistent with PAP which is a rare cause of chronic cough and dyspnea in children.

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Hypertrophied anal papillae and fibrous anal polyps are not given due importance in the proctology practice. They are mostly ignored being considered as normal structures.
The present study is aimed to establish that hypertrophied anal papillae and fibrous anal polyps can cause symptoms and could produce concern to the patients and that these should be removed while dealing with patients of chronic fissure in-ano.
Two groups of patients were studied. Hundred patients were studied in Group A where the associated fibrous polyps or papillae were removed by radio frequency surgical device after performing a lateral subcutaneous sphincterotomy for relieving the sphincter spasm. Another group of hundred patients who also had papillae or fibrous polyps, were treated by lateral sphincterotomy alone. They were followed up to one year to assess their complaints.
Eighty nine per cent of patients from Group A expressed their satisfaction with the treatment in comparison to only 64% from Group B who underwent sphincterotomy alone with the papillae or anal polyps left untreated. Group A patients showed a marked reduction with regard to pain and irritation during defecation (p=0.0011), pricking or foreign body sensation in the anus (p=0.0006) and pruritus or wetness around the anal verge (p=0.0008).
Hypertrophied anal papillae and fibrous anal polyps should be removed during treatment of chronic anal fissure. This would add to effectiveness and completeness of the procedure.

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Present study was carried out on 160 women belonging to Faisalabad region (Pakistan) including diabetic and non-diabetic and as well as pregnant and menopausal women in equal number. These women were randomly selected from those coming to various hospitals of the city. Blood samples from these subjects were collected with and without anticoagulant to obtain plasma and serum for further studies. Study revealed serum total proteins to be 4.49, 5.55, 4.73 and 5.31 g/100 ml and albumin 3.35, 4.21, 3.74 and 3.80 g/100 ml in pregnant, menopausal, diabetic and non-diabetic groups, respectively. Serum globulins were 1.15, 1.34, 0.99 and 1.50 g/100 ml and serum immunoglobulins were 130.20, 150.95, 92.15 and 189.96 zst-units, respectively. Plasma fibrinogen was 292.68, 497.50, 353.66 and 435.00 mg/100 ml in four groups. Comparison of different serum proteins between diabetic and non-diabetic women revealed significant (p<0.05) difference only in immunoglobulins which were higher (p<0.05) in non-diabetic women, while comparison between pregnant and menopausal women revealed significant (p<0.05) difference in plasma fibrinogen concentration which was higher in menopausal women. When diabetic pregnant, diabetic menopausal, non-diabetic pregnant and nondiabetic menopausal women were compared, values for serum total proteins, albumin, globulins, immunoglobulins and fibrinogen were higher (p<0.05) in non-diabetic menopausal subjects. Nonsignificant difference was observed in serum total proteins and fractions between women of two socioeconomic statuses (SES) in each group.

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The present research was established to study the effect of oral supplementation of different natural oils on the anti-oxidant state, plasma trace elements, prostaglandin E2, activities of transaminases, uric acid and creatinine and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in Egyptian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The natural oils used in this study were fish oil, evening primrose and Nigella sativa, in conjunction with vitamin E and were supplemented for two months to RA patients. Additional group of patients was given synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs.
Results showed that supplementation of any of the above referred natural oils, significant reduction of the activities of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), ESR, plasma copper, prostaglandin E2, and creatinine with significant increase of plasma zinc were noticed in RA patients. Administration of either fish oil or primrose oil produced significant increase of plasma vitamin C and decrease of plasma uric acid. The serum of RA patients that were given primrose showed significant increase of plasma vitamin E. Fish oil was the only supplement that produced reduction in plasma activities of transaminases. It was noticed that administration of synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs produced significant increase of plasma vitamin C and significant decrease of plasma copper and prostaglandin E2.
The present research included studying the antioxidant state and the different biochemical parameters when the previously mentioned natural oils were administered simultaneously during consumption of either low or high caloric diet in RA patients.
Concerning the antioxidant state, especially the elevating effect of plasma vitamin C and the reducing effect of the activities of erythrocyte SOD, the best natural oil in this respect was fish oil followed by primrose then Nigella, the synthetic drug had the best least effect. Primrose was superior in elevating plasma vitamin E.
Plasma prostaglandin E2 was efficiently reduced by fish oil supplementation followed by synthetic drugs then primrose oil which was more efficient than Nigella oil.

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