Effects of metformin plus gliclazide versus metformin plus glimepiride on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

High blood glucose level, lipid profile disturbances and plasma homocysteine [Hey] are important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study was conducted to evaluate and compare effects of glimepiride/metformin combination versus gliclazide/metformin combination on cardiovascular risk factors in type-2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM] patients. One hundred and eighty T2DM patients were randomly allocated for treatment with placebo [control], metformin [500mg twice daily], glimepiride [3mg once daily], gliclazide [80mg once daily], metformin plus glimepiride or metformin plus gliclazide for 3 months. We evaluated plasma levels of glucose [PG], glycated hemoglobin [HbAlC], Hey, vitamin B12, folic acid and lipid profile before treatment and 3 months post treatment. Compared to metformin treated patients, glimepiride plus metformin induced significant reductions in: fasting plasma glucose, postprandial PG level, HbAlC % and Hey level. Conversely, plasma folic acid and vitamin B12 were significantly increased. The levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly decreased; low-density lipoprotein was markedly decreased, whereas high-density lipoprotein was significantly increased and hence risk ratio was significantly decreased. Similar results but with lower values were obtained using combination of metformin plus gliclazide on glycemic control only. Combination of glimepiride with metformin was superior to gliclazide plus metformin in alleviating the cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Food Safety system application on fruit juices consumed by enteral tube feedin patients in New Kasr El- Aini hospital kitchen

A he present study was conducted to evaluate of the microbiological quality of fruit juices which are used in the tube feeding before and after application of HACCP system. The aerobic bacterial count decreased form 4.2 x 10[4] + 0.2 x 10[4] to 2.5x 10[2] +/- 0.2x10[2] + c.fu /ml in orange juice, from 2.5x 10[4] + 0.2x 10[4] to 2.5x 10[2]+/- 0.2x 10[2] c.f.u /ml in apple juice and from 2.8x 10[5] +/- 0.1 x 10[5]c.f.u /ml to 2.0x 10[1]+/- 0.2X10[1] c.f.u/ml in guava juice. Coliform count was 3.9 x 10 + 0.2x10 MPN/ml, 3.0 x10 +0.0 MPN/ml, l.lx 10[2] + 0.2 x 10[2]MPN /ml in orange, apple and guava juices respectively and became free from coliform after the application of HACCP. Fecal coliform bacteria were absent in orange, apple and guava juices before and after application of HACCP system. Staphaureuswas8.9 xl0[2] + 0.1x10[2], 6.5 x 10[2] 0.2x10[2] c.fu/ml and 3.9 x 10[2]+ 0.1x 10[2] c.f.u/ml in orange, apple, guava juices respectively and absent after the application. Bacillus cereus was absent in the previously mentioned products before and after application of HACCP system. Mold and yeast count decreased from 1.4x10[4] + 0.2x10[4] to 2.0x 10[2] + 0.2x 10[2] c.f.u /ml in orange juice, from l. x 10[4] +/- 0.2x 10[4] to l.Ox 10[2] + 0.0 c.f.u / ml in apple juice and from 2.7x 10[5]+/- 0.1x10[5] to 1.0x10[2] + 0.2x10[2] c.f.u/ml in guava juice. It was recommended that the HACCP system should be implemented at all food establishments?

IL-10 and IL-12 in the cord blood of preterm newborns with respiratory distress syndrome

The development of respiratory distress syndrome [RDS] is closely related to fetal immaturity, although the participation of inflammatory mechanisms also seems to be likely. In this study, we investigated the possible role of IL-10 and IL-12 in preterm newborns with RDS, a disease that is also related to gestational age. the cord blood levels of IL-10 and IL-12 were assessed in 60 preterm infants, 30 of them developed RDS and they were taken as cases, and the other 30 were not distressed and used as a control group. The results showed that IL-10 was higher and IL-12 was lower in preterm infants with RDS than those without RDS. IL-10 manifested negative correlation with gestational age and birth weight, while IL-12 manifested no correlation with gestational age or birth weight. There was no correlation between IL-10 and IL-12 either in cases or controls. Five cases died from RDS, these cases had significant higher IL-10 levels and lower IL-12 levels than presenting twins. We concluded from these findings that IL-12 and IL-10 can be used as indicators for the risk of developing RDS in the born preterm. IL-10 and IL-12 levels in cord blood most probably indicate functional immaturity of the preterm