Effect of heavy cigarette and water pipe smoking on antioxidants and lipids in Sudanese male smokers: a case-control study

Background: Tobacco smoking is a source of many toxins such as free radicals, mutagenic substances as well as cause for developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), particularly atherosclerosis. This study aims to assess the impact of smoking on antioxidants in Sudanese male smokers. Methods: Cases were 85 and 48 men who smoke cigarettes (CS) and water pipe (WPS) respectively and they were compared with matching 50 non-smoking controls. Blood samples were collected and following parameters: Glutathione peroxidase, Superoxide dismutase, Total cholesterol, Triglyceride, LDL, HDL, Paraoxinase, and Malondialdehyde were measured. Results: There were no significant differences in biochemical parameters between light CS and WPS compared to controls. In heavy smokers of both WPS and CS, the TC, TG, LDL, and MDA were higher than controls (p>0.05), GPx, SOD, HDL, and PON were lower in smokers than controls (p>0.05). In both groups of smokers, HDL, GPx, SOD, and PON were inversely correlated with duration of smoking (p>0.05), also, HDL was positively correlated with SOD and GPx (p>0.05). Moreover, GPx and SOD were correlated with each other in both groups of smokers (p>0.05). Conclusion: In Sudanese male smokers' biochemical profile disturbances suggest that heavy smoking was leading to developing CVD, particularly WPS

Prevalence of Clostridium Difficile Toxin Genes in Pretoria

The hypervirulent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ribotype 027 strain of Clostridium difficile produces toxins A; B and a binary toxin. Toxin detection kits are commonly used in diagnostic laboratories; but have been unsuccessful in detecting all of the relevant C. difficile strains; and the toxins produced. In this study; conventional PCR was used to detect the presence of the genes of toxin A; toxin B and the binary toxin of C. difficile. Eighty-four frozen (collected between 2006-2007) and 13 fresh (collected in 2010) stool specimens; obtained in Pretoria; were analysed. The genes for toxin A; toxin B and the binary toxin were detected in one of the fresh stool specimens. This may have implications for healthcare facilities; and suggests the possible emergence of the highly virulent PCR ribotype 027 strain of C. difficile in Pretoria. This emphasises the importance of continuous surveillance and monitoring of C. difficile outbreaks

Profil physico-chimique et bacteriologique des eaux brutes de la riviere Lukaya

Les analyses physico-chimiques et bacteriologiques effectuees sur les echantillons d'eau brute de la riviere Lukaya en 1992 et 1993; ont permis d'evaluer le niveau de pollution de la riviere et de la classifier en se referant aux normes internationales. L'etude a revele que la riviere appartient a la classe 2 que ces eaux necessitent une filiere de traitement adequate pour leur epuration a des fins domestiques