ABSTRACT
Feeding of 2% cholesterol diet increased lipid parameters in serum and tissues of rats during a period of one month. In addition to the above, lipid peroxidation also increased and activities of certain enzymes were significantly altered in the tissues. Similar changes were also observed to a greater extent with diets containing 40% by weight of coconut kernel or groundnut with and without 2% cholesterol. The enzymes studied were HMGCoA reductase, AST, ALT and ALP in tissues and serum as the case may be. In general the atherogenic effects were observed more with groundnut containing diets than those with coconut. Even though the oil from the former is mostly unsaturated and that from the latter is mostly saturated, these analytical criteria do not relate to their atherogenic effects. When 5% garlic was incorporated with any of the high fat diets, the lipid parameters, their peroxidation and alterations in enzyme activities were significantly decreased. These results show that garlic contains some principles that counteract the atherogenicity of the above oil seeds.
Subject(s)
Animals , Arteriosclerosis/etiology , Cholesterol, Dietary/administration & dosage , Diet, Atherogenic , Dietary Fats, Unsaturated/administration & dosage , Garlic , Kidney/metabolism , Lipid Metabolism , Liver/enzymology , Male , Myocardium/metabolism , Plant Oils/administration & dosage , Rats , Rats, Sprague-DawleyABSTRACT
Between 1986 and 1996, 378 HIV cases were identified in Bahrain, of whom 51% were foreign nationals. Intravenous drug abuse was a major risk factor (38.8%) among Bahraini nationals, while transmission through sexual contact was more common (45.7%) among foreigners. Other well known risk factors were also represented in the two communities. The male to female ratio for the two communities were very different with 10:1 for nationals compared to 1:1.4 for foreigners. Among the AIDS defining manifestations, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was the commonest (50%), followed by tuberculosis (21%), oro-esophageal candidiasis, cryptosporidiosis and toxoplasmosis. Transmission through sex and maternal-foetus route could emerge as significant contributors in the spread of AIDS in Bahrain unless appropriate preventive steps are taken.