Histopathological, lipid and protein profiles of BALB/c mice model fed with low phenylalanine skim milk formulae

The aim of the present study was to synthesize two low-phenylalanine diet formulae. These formulae were to be readily available from natural milk [skim milk] using two proteolytic purified enzymes [immobilized papain and protease XXIII]. Skim milk hydrolysate was adsorbed on either barium sulphate or on activated carbon. The formula was supplying 0.71 g phenylalanine/100 g protein and 0% free phenylalanine in the formula adsorbed on barium sulphate compared with 3.41% in the formula adsorbed on activated carbon. The effects of such two formulae on the cellular pathology, lipid and protein profiles were studied in an animal PKU model. BALB/c mice were used to induce hyperphenylalaninemia using 3% L-phenylalanine and 0.3% L-ethionine. The study concluded that skim milk hydrolysate formulae proved to be effective in reducing the blood level of phenylalanine and restoration of the cellular normal pattern as well as cellular lipids and protein profiles. These formulae may be helpful in the implementation of dietary management of PKU children and the hyperphenylalaninemia mothers, especially before conception and during pregnancy

Plasma and low density lipoproteins levels of fat- soluble vitamins in obese Egyptian girls

Obesity is an important health problem which is deeply rooted in human biologic system resulting in many complications namely atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. This work was designed to investigate the antioxidant status of obese Egyptian girls. Lycopene, beta- carotene and alpha-tocopherol levels were analyzed in plasma and low density lipoprotein [LDL] fraction of plasma lipids as well as the fatty acids composition of LDL as a substrate for oxidative stress. Twenty two obese girls and ten age and sex matched healthy controls were included in this work. The plasma lycopene/total lipids, beta- carotene/total lipids and alpha-tocopherol/total lipids were significantly lower in the obese girls compared to controls Moreover, the three vitamins contents in LDL fraction were significantly lower than controls, although the plasma levels of the three studied vitamins showed no statistically significant differences in obese girls compared to control In obese girls group, LDL contained more polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFA] compared to normal controls. When the peroxidizability index [PI] was calculated to estimate susceptibility of fatty acids to oxidative stress, obese girls had significantly higher PI values than normal controls. The LDL lycopene/PI, beta-carotene/PI and alpha-tocopherol/PI ratios were significantly lower in obese girls than controls. Significant negative correlations were found between the studied vitamins levels, their calculated ratios and their contents in LDL fraction when correlated to body mass index [BMI] of obese girls. The best parameters which can predict high BMI were found to be the P1 and lycopene/total lipids. These results indicate the increased susceptibility of LDL to oxidative stress in obese girls along with decreased levels of antioxidant fat-soluble vitamins. These findings may promote atherosclerosis or coronary heart disease later in their life

Study of mortality in the main University Hospital in Alexandria

The present study was carried out with, aiming to assess the mortality outcome among inpatients of the Main University Hospital [MUH] in the years 1990 and 1995 to reveal characteristics of the descendants, and to study variations encountered between 1990 and 1995. In both years, about 1/4 of deaths were from outside Alexandria, and deaths were more observed during winter and spring. The leading causes of death are varied between the study years. In 1990, they were injury and poisoning, diseases of circulatory, respiratory, digestive and genitourinary systems. While in 1995, they were diseases of the digestive system jump to the third rank and followed by diseases of the genitourinary system. Moreover, significant differences were encountered by time regarding the causes of death where malignant neoplasms, diseases of digestive system and congenital malformations were significantly more observed in 1995 than in 1990. The reverse was true regarding diseases of respiratory system, diseases of blood as well as the category of symptoms, signs and abnormal findings. Intensive Care, Hematemesis, and Burn Units had the highest death rates in both study years