ABSTRACT
This work has been carried out in order to investigate the possible ameliorative effect of Coriander seeds methanolic extract (CSE) on sodium arsenite (As) – induced toxicity in albino rats. 2,3 Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) was used as a standerd chelating agent. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks and blood samples were withdrawn 4 and 8 weeks after As and other treatments administrations. As was used to induce hepatotoxicity in rats in a dose equivalent to 100 p.p.m . In-vivo studies using the different biochemical techniques employed in hepato-renal functions as well as liver apoptotic DNA and total RNA alterations proved that As caused a significant increase in parameters concerned to hepato-renal toxicity while treatment of CSE or DMSA caused an ameliorative effect on this toxicity. Administration of CSE and DMSA together along with arsenite proves the synergistic effects of these chelating agents on arsenite toxicity.
ABSTRACT
There is little published data concerning hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection in Aden and no data concerning risk factors for infection. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV infection and risk factors for infection in Aden, Yemen. A prospective cross sectional survey of individuals attending primary health care facilities was stratified by age and population size. Five hundred and thirty five participants were interviewed and serum was screened for the presence of Immunoglobin G HBV core antibodies [antiHBc]. AntiHBc positive participants were tested for antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]. A case-control analysis of risk factors for HBV was undertaken comparing risk factors between antiHBc positive cases and seronegative controls. The age-standardized seroprevalence for antiHBc was 16.2% [95% confidence interval [CI] 13.1-19.3] and for HBsAg was 1.5% [95% CI 0.5-2.5]. The seroprevalence of antiHBc and HBsAg was estimated to range from 5.5% and 0% in infants to 40% and 4.6% in adults, respectively [p < 0.001]. Age [AOR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01-1.05], household size [>5-9 members, AOR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.1-7.6] and ownership of a landline telephone [AOR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.3-5.8] were independent risk factors for HBV infection. HBV is still a public health problem in this community, with older individuals having much higher prevalence than younger generations. The results of this study would categorise Aden as a low HBV endemic zone. Perinatal transmission does not seem to be a major route of transmission