association between nitrate contamination of drinking water and changes in methemoglobinemia and other hematological parameters in young and adult male rats

The objective of this investigation was to study the effect of prolonged exposure to nitrate polluted drinking water on blood methemoglobin [Met-Hb] level and other hematological parameters, as well as nitric oxide [NO] level in serum and urine [measured as indicator for nitrate toxicity] in male rats of two different ages, young [3 weeks-old] and adult [12 weeks-old]. Rats were administered sodium nitrate in drinking water at concentrations [100 mg/L = 8.7 mg/Kg, 250 mg/L=21.7 mg/Kg or 550 mg/L 47.7 mg/Kg] daily for four months. The obtained data showed a dose dependent reduction in the values of erythrocytes, leucocytes and platelets count, as well as jib content, Het%, MCV, NCH, MCHC and serum total iron in all nitrate exposed rats, with the marked decreases being occurred among the young animals. On contrary, nitrate exposure revealed a dose dependent increase in blood Met-Fib level, as well as NO production in serum and urine of all tested rats, however the young rats were more affected than the adult ones at different nitrate concentrations. This indicated that prolonged exposure to water nitrate pollution is a risk factor for developing increased Met-Hb level and the other hematological disorders in all the rats groups, particularly the when exposure started at young age which may contribute to the excess production of NO in response to nitrate exposure

Protective effect of natural honey, urtica diocia and their mixture against oxidative stress caused by chronic ethanol consumption

Compliance/adherence of diabetic patients towards different therapeutic aspects [other than drugs] is considered one of the most important elements to control diabetes mellitus [DM]. A cross sectional study was conducted on 283 diabetic patients chosen by systematic random sample among those attending Alf-Maskan Health Insurance Outpatients clinics in East Cairo, [from April- May 2007], to assess their compliance behaviors in relation to management of their disease.Showed that most of the diabetics [61.1%] had a poor total compliance rate for the therapeutic tasks of [DM] as a whole, though the larger proportion of the diabetics [44.9%] had a satisfactory overall knowledge about the important items of DM. As regards the individual therapeutic tasks, there were also poor compliance rates concerning diet regimen, regular exercise, cessation of smoking, weight monitoring and care of eye and foot. Good compliance rate was significantly higher among patients who were males, highly educated, those of high socioeconomic level, those who had better knowledge about the disease and those who had suffered from multiple co-morbidities and suffered from DM at least ten years. Recommendations were suggested to improve patient compliance towards management tasks of the disease through health education program because increasing the information of the patients about the disease and its complications through the shared health care team including the patient himself was valuable