Effect of combined tobacco and marijuana abuse on some liver, cardiac enzyme activities and serum testosterone level

Addiction is a worldwide problem of public health that has many dimensions. This problem is shared by developed and developing countries and in spite of the effort done to face this problem, it seems to be escalating allover the world. The objective of our study was to evaluate the biochemical effect of bhang abuse and smoking on cardiovascular system, liver and reproductive system as well. During this study, the biochemical parameters including lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT] enzyme activities were determined in serum. In addition, testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone levels were also determined in serum of controls, bhang abusers, combined bhang and nicotine abusers and smokers alone. Our results indicated a significant increase in lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate, alanine aminotransferases [AST, ALT] in all groups when compared with control group with the exception of AST and ALT activities showed no significant change in cigarette smoking group. In contrast, bhang and nicotine produced a significant decrease in testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone levels in all studied groups when compared with control group. The degree of change in these biochemical parameters was more strongly in response to combined bhang and cigarette smoking than everyone alone. However, our results along with other findings in the recent literature suggest that the obvious harmful effect of bhang abuse and smoking on cardiovascular system, liver and on fertility system

Effect of folic acid administration on plasma level of methoxy hydroxy phenyl glycol in perimenopausal women

The need for a nonhormonal approach to the treatment of subjective symptoms of menopause is evident. The present study aimed to test the effectiveness of folic acid in eliminating postmenopausal hot flushes and its effect on the related noradrenaline metabolite, 3- methoxy 4-hydnoxy phenyl glycol [MHPG] plasma level. also, its effect on the lipid profile including serum triglycerides [TG], total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], and C-reactive protein [CRP] were studied. Sixty-four menopausal women complaining of hot flushes were included into 3 groups: group I [23 menopausal women] received folic acid 5 mg tablets once daily, group 11[22 menopausal women] received folic acid 5 mg tablet twice daily and group III [19 menopausal women] received placebo tablets once daily, for 4 weeks. The women were followed up as regards the frequency of hot flushes and estimation of plasma level of MHPG by high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC], serum lipid profile and CRP as well as the appearances of any side effects of the drug during the course of the treatment. The results revealed a complete disappearance of hot flushes in 63.6% of menopausal women treated with folic acid 10 mg daily and in 32.1% of menopausal women treated with folic acid 5 mg daily. Folic acid significantly decreased plasma level of MHPG in group I and Ii after treatment, and this effect was more significant in group II than I, i.e. folic acid in a dose of 10 mg daily had a better effect than a smaller dose of 5 mg daily. There was also definite positive correlation between clinical improvements of hot flushes and lowering of plasma levels of MHPG. Folic acid caused significant improvement of total cholesterol in a dose of 10 mg daily and significant improvement in TG with both 5 mg and 10 mg daily with no significant effect on the other cardiovascular risk predictors estimated. Folic acid could be used as a safe nonhonmonal replacement treatment for hot flushes in postmenopausal women

In-vitro study of the effect of homocysteine on glutathione peroxidase enzyme

The mechanisms responsible for the pathology of diseases associated with hyperhomocysteinemia are still incompletely understood. This study aimed to test the possibility that homocysteine [Hcy], may have a direct in vitro effect on the oxidant scavenger plasma glutathione peroxidase enzyme [GPx]. We studied the effect of increasing homocysteine concentrations [12.5 micro M to 2 mM] on the activity of GPx. Also the effect of increasing H[2]O[2] [substrate] concentrations in the presence of different constant Hcy concentrations was studied, and then plotted line-weaver burk plot. Results showed that Hcy activated the enzyme significantly only in the presence of 200 micro M Hcy or more, and that Hcy acted in such concentrations as a hydrogen donor like glutathione, and that the enzyme acted by a ping pong mechanism. The changes observed previously in GPx activity in cases of hyperhomocysteinemia are not due to direct effect on the enzyme in the lower pathophysiological levels of Hcy, which only activates the enzyme at high pathophysiological levels and that the decreased activity observed by others in vivo are only due to effects on enzyme expression

Further studies an antoclaved cercarial vaccine against Schistosomasis: Safety, longevity and stability

This study was performed to adjust the dose and to assess vaccine safety, longevity and stability as well as the possibility of transplacental transmission of immune response from pregnant mice to their offspring. The results showed that two doses of the lowest most effective concentration of autoclaved cercarial vaccine [ACV] that achieved the high percentage reduction of worm burden were safe as demonstrated by the absence of any local or systemic side effects, normal blood picture and normal liver and kidney function tests. ACV is stable when kept either at 4C for 6 months or at-35C for up to 12 months and it offers a considerable duration of longevity. The offspring of vaccinated mothers did not show any signs of protection against challenge infection

role of xanthine oxid and andenosine deaminase in the oxidative stress of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis [RA] is an autoimmune connective tissue disease in which chemotaxis and excessive production of cytokines and reactive oxygen species [ROS] are characteristics of activated cytokines that play an important role in the generation of ROS in RA. Xanthine oxidase [XO] and adenosine deaminase [ADA] enzymes were reported to act as sources of ROS and advanced oxidation protein products [AOFP] was found to be a good marker of oxidative stress. To find out if XO or ADA has any role in the pathogenesis of RA; and to correlate their activities with a novel marker of oxidative stress, other cytokines, and markers of disease activities.: this study was carried out on 10 patients with RA [group I] and 10 healthy persons as a control group, [group II]. The levels of XO activity, ADA activity, AOPP, interleukin-6 [IL-6], interleukin-8 [JL-8], erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] and C-reactive protein [CRP] were estimated. XO activity, A OFF, IL-6, IL-8, ESR and CRF levels were all increased significantly in group I. Also XO and AOPP were found to have positive correlation to each other and to the acute phase reactants ESR and CRP. ADA activity showed no significant changes comparing the two studied groups. XO could be considered an important source of ROS in RA patients. XO and AOFP play at least a partial role in the pathogenesis of the disease and their levels could be used as one of the laboratory markers of the RA activity. On the other hand, ADA had no role in RA pathogenesis. It is suggested that the use of xanthine oxidase inhibitors as well as other antioxidants may be of benefit in preventing tissue damage in RA patients