Scrotal swellings are frequently encountered in surgical practice in the Sudan and other tropical countries and, because of the diversity of possible etiological agents, often pose problems in differential diagnosis. In this communication, 443 histologically verified scrotal swellings in Sudanese patients are surveyed as regards their causes and salient clinico-pathological features. Common lesions such as hydroceles have been considered as well as rarer but important conditions, including tuberculosis and Schistosomiasis. Clinicians practicing in tropical environments should consider these possibilities and the limitations of clinical diagnosis indicate biopsy confirmation. Since some conditions might respond to medical therapy, some orchidectomies could be avoided.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical, biochemical and histochemical studies on infants with Acrodermatitis enteropathica chronica.

7 infants diseased with Acrodermatitis enteropathica and 10 normal controls were included in this study. The values of anthranilic acid glucuronide, 6- aminohippuric, anthranilic acid, N-acetyl Kneurine, Kneurine and 30 H Kneurenine, were estimated in mg/24 hours urine, both basal and after tryptophane load. In addition, histopathological and histochemical studies for lactase, succinic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and alpha-non-specific esterases activities were done for the intestinal mucosal biopsies. All the previous investigations were then repeated after two months treatment with 500 mg/day diiodohydroxyquinoline. The tryptophan metabolites were significantly low in the diseased infants, both basal and after tryptophan load. Moreover, the intestinal enzymes activities were altered. After 2 months treatment with diiodohydroxyquinoline the diseased infants became clinically improved, tryphtophan metabolites became normal, but the activities of the intestinal enzymes were not altered. The biochemical and histochemical findings were discussed, giving the possibility of competitive inhibition of the diiodohydroxyquinolines and the by-product 8 OH Quinololic acid resulting in more degradation of Kneurine and 3 OH Kneurenine to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide.

Acrodermatitis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Serum copper, zinc, and iron in patients with malignant and benign pulmonary diseases.

Some environmental factors and diseases have been demonstrated to affect trace-element homeostasis. Ninety individuals were included in the present study (30 with bronchogenic carcinoma, 30 with some nonmalignant lung diseases, and 30 normal healthy controls). Serum copper, zinc, and iron levels were determined by the atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results of this study revealed that serum copper was markedly elevated in benign lung diseases followed by bronchial carcinoma. Serum zinc was significantly reduced, whereas serum iron was not significantly decreased in both benign and malignant lung diseases compared to normal healthy controls. As to the sensitivity of the studied elements in lung disorders, neither serum copper nor serum iron can be used to detect benign or malignant diseases. Serum zinc and copper/zinc ratios showed reasonable values for prediction of pulmonary diseases but cannot be recommended as tumor markers in lung cancer.

Adult↗