ABSTRACT
Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cardio-metabolic risk factors in apparently healthy Saudi women with vitamin D deficiency. Study Design: A retrospective chart review. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in the Center of Excellence for Osteoporosis Research (CEOR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between June 2015 to October 2015. Methodology: Healthy women 20–40 years old, with no history of previous illnesses and not on any medications were included in this study. Data on anthropometric measurements as well as blood pressure (BP) were obtained. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Laboratory results including fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting lipid profile, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were also obtained. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as 25(OH)D3 concentration <50 nmol/l. Modified NCEP:ATPIII criteria were used to define cardio-metabolic risk factor cutoff points. Results: A total of 305 women were included in the current analysis. Mean (± S.D.) age of the study group was 28.4±6.1 years and median (IQR) 25(OH)D3 was 17.8 (11.9–28.2) nmol/l. Almost 97% of the study participants were vitamin D deficient and 70% had values below 25 nmol/l. 25(OH)D3 was significantly inversely associated with waist circumference, systolic and diastolic BP and PTH (P=0.011, <0.0001, <0.0001, <0.0001, respectively). Prevalence of cardio-metabolic risk factors were higher among participants who fell in the lowest tertile of 25(OH)D3 except total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, however only higher PTH was statistically significant (P=0.022). Conclusion: The results of the present study confirm the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among otherwise healthy Saudi women. The results also suggest that the prevalence of selected cardio-metabolic risk factors is higher among those with low vitamin D status. Prospective studies are needed to determine whether such deficiency will be of clinical significance with advancing age in this population, and whether vitamin D supplementation has beneficial effects
ABSTRACT
@# This study was conducted in Samsun Province of Turkey to investigate the serological status of domesticated water buffaloes for both Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD). Serum was collected from a total of 272 water buffaloes from different age groups and both genders; of the total, 48.1% had been vaccinated against LSD with heterologous sheep-goat pox vaccine. The serum samples were individually assessed by using a commercial ID screen enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA) to detect neutralizing antibodies against both CCHF virus and LSD virus. All 272 buffaloes were negative for antibodies against the CCHF virus. All the unvaccinated buffaloes (141) were seronegative for LSD virus but of the 131 vaccinated buffaloes, 10 (7.6%) were seropositive for the LSD virus. In addition, 8.6% of vaccinated animals age >1 year old were seropositive for LSD, whereas the seropositivity was 5.1% for the animals age < 1 year old. There was no significant difference for seropositivity between male and female animals in the >1 year old or < 1 year old age groups. When seroprevalances for LSD in the tested water buffaloes are evaluated by gender, there was a significant difference between females (8.6%) and males (0%) in the >1 year old water buffaloes (X2=20.24; P<0.001). Separately, the results of this study indicate that Bafra district water buffaloes are not infected by CCHFV and LSDV and some of the buffaloes that vaccinated with LSDV did not develop sufficient antibodies to protect them after they were vaccinated for the LSD virus. Furthermore, the authors of this study conclude that both the commercially produced vaccine that is currently administered and the vaccination strategy have to be urgently evaluated by the veterinary authorities in Turkey. This is essential in order to combat the spread of LSD virus infection with an effective vaccine and a comprehensive management strategy across Turkey.
ABSTRACT
To evaluate left and right ventricular functions using tissue Doppler echocardiography [TDE] and myocardial performance index [MPI] methods in patients with slow coronary flow [SCF] and to determine the relationship between these parameters and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count in SCF patients. Thirty-five patients [20 males and 15 females] with SCF who underwent coronary angiography and 35 age- and sex-matched controls [14 males and 21 females] without SCF who underwent elective coronary angiography were enrolled in the study. Left ventricular [LV] and right ventricular [RV] functions were examined using conventional echocardiography and TDE. LV systolic myocardial velocity [Sm], early myocardial velocity [Em], late myocardial velocity [Am], and Em/Am ratio were similar in both the SCF and control groups; however, isovolumetric relaxation time [IRT] was higher in the SCF group compared to the control group [IRT: 99 +/- 17 vs. 88 +/- 20; p = 0.01]. In patients with SCF, LV MPI was higher than in the control group, but this was not statistically significant [0.61 +/- 0.11 vs. 0.56 +/- 0.12; p = 0.07]. The RV tricuspid annular velocities and MPI were similar in the SCF and control groups. This study showed that SCF affected LV functions echocardiographically and could cause partially reduced LV performance. In addition, SCF did not affect RV functions echocardiographically
ABSTRACT
For thousands of years, Punica granatum L. has been used in traditional medicine all over the world and predate the introduction of antibacterial drugs. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antibacterial activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Punica granatum L. bark obtained by decoction and maceration. The different extracts of Punica granatum L. (Lythraceae) bark have been tested for antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus stearothermophilus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) by disc diffusion method. The ethanolic macerate extract showed the strong in vitro antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with zone inhibition of 24.4 mm. However, the results tests by disc diffusion method revealed the effectiveness of ethanolic decoctate against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus stearothermophilus) with diameter zone of inhibition varying with 21.1mm and 23.75 mm respectively.