Hypertension among 1000 patients with type 2 diabetes attending a national diabetes center in Jordan

In Jordan, there is a paucity of research on hypertension and its risk factors among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of hypertension, risk factors, and the level of awareness and control of hypertension among outpatients with type 2 diabetes. A cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 1000 patients with type 2 diabetes who were attending the National Center for Diabetes, Endocrine and Genetic Diseases for follow-up during the period of June to December 2006. Data were collected from medical records and through a structtured interview questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent effect of variables on hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension [BP >130/80 or on medication for high blood pressure] was 72.4% [70.9% of males and 73.9% of females]. The logistic regression indicated that hypertension was positively asssociated with age [P=.001], body mass index [P=.001], and duration of diabetes [P=.001]. About one-half of patients who were aware of having hypertension failed to keep their blood pressure under control. Hypertension is a common co-morbidity among diabetic patients. Despite a high rate of awarenness of hypertension among study subjects [93%], hypertension was not controlled to the recommended levels of blood pressure in about one-half [50.4%] of patients

Purification and partial characterization of dermatophyte keratinases: application in the treatment of tinea in a guinea pig model

Dermatophyte infection of the skin continues to be a prevalent disease. However, the factors causing the divergent clinical presentation seen with dermatophytosis remain unknown. Seven different dermatophytes [Microsporum canis, M. gypseum, M. nanum, Trichophyton violaceum, T. rubrum, T. soudanense and T simii] were isolated from patients having different clinical types of tinea and their protein profiles were differentiated. Over a period of 28 days the seven dermatophytic species were examined for their ability to secrete keratinolytic enzymes. The duration and intensity of keratinase production differed among the seven dermatophytic species. Seven different proteins were isolated with molecular weights ranging from 22 kDa up to 80kDa. M canis was found to possess the highest keratinolytic activity. Guinea pig animals were experimentally infected with M. canis. The infection of the animals was determined by the presence of hair loss, scales and pustules in the lesions. The isolated keratinases of M canis were incorporated in Syzygium aromaticum methyl cellulose gel ointment and applied on the infected lesion until a complete cure of Guinea pig was achieved after 8 weeks of daily application, keratinases were found to have a role in treatment

Ultrastructural alterations in renal tissues of rabbits induced by dicofenac sodium [Voltaren]

Although diclofenac sodium [Voltaren] is one of the most frequently prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] worldwide for the treatment of inflammation and pain; data on the ultrastructural alterations in renal tissues due to its chronic exposure are limited. Therefore, the present study was designed to identify the ultrastructural renal alterations induced by diclofenac sodium. The experiment was conducted at the animal house of the Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period from April 2003 to June 2003. A total of 30 male rabbits were exposed to intraperitoneal injection with a daily dose of diclofenac sodium [1.5 mg/kg body weight] for 70 days to investigate the resultant ultrastructural alterations in renal tissues. In comparison with the respective control rabbits, chronic exposure to therapeutic doses of diclofenac sodium produced significant ultrastructural renal alterations, which involved swelling and cristolysis of the mitochondria, marked dilatation of the endoplasmic reticulum, detachment of ribosomes, increased lysosomal structures, nuclear chromatin condensation in the tubular cells, thickening of the glomerular basement membranes, distention of glomerular capillaries, which showed lodgment of neutrophils, mesangial and endothelial cell proliferation in the glomeruli, swelling and fusion of the glomerular podocytes foot processes with focal obliteration of the filtration slits. The obtained results indicate that chronic exposure to diclofenac sodium produces significant ultrastructural alterations in renal tissues

Spectrum of pathological lesions in cystoscopic bladder biopsies: a clinicopathologic study

To determine the clinicopathologic characteristics and frequencies of different pathological lesions in cystoscopic bladder biopsies in patients with bladder diseases. Design: A single- institution based retrospective observational study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Department of Histopathology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation [SIUT], Karachi over a period of five years [December, 1996 to December, 2001]. Subjects and All patients, who presented to the urology clinic of SIUT between December 1996 and December 2001 with haematuria, dysuria, urgency and frequency and in whom a cystoscopy and bladder biopsy were performed to elucidate the nature of underlying pathology, were included in this study. A total of 784 patients were studied. Clinical and demographic data and pathological diagnoses were retrieved from the original surgical biopsy reports. Bladder biopsies were received in 10% buffered formalin, gross examination done and processed for paraffin embedding. Histologic sections were stained routinely with Hematoxylin and Eosin, PAS and PAS with diastase. Sections were examined under the light microscope to document the pathologic diagnosis. Of the total 784 patients, 577[73.6%] were males and 207 [26.4%] were females with an overall male to female ratio of 2.8:1. Age range was wide [4 to 86 years]. The spectrum of pathological lesions included tumours: 497 cases [63.7%], followed by acute and chronic non-specific inflammation: 86[11%], cystitis cystica and glandularis: 40 [5%], Tuberculosis: 17[2.16%], squamous metaplasia: 13[1.65%] and a number of other rare lesions. Among the tumours, transitional cell tumours [TCC] were most common [95.3%]. Tumours were more common in males than in females [male to female ratio: 5.3:1] and peaked in 4th through 7th decades. Pathologic staging was possible in 89.7% of the cases. A majority of these cases [62%] presented with superficial disease, while in 38% the disease was muscle-invasive when first diagnosed. Grading was possible in all except two cases, which contained only necrotic tissue. A vast preponderance of tumours [74.5%] were well-differentiated, while 25.5% belonged to poorly-differentiated category [Grade 3 and 4]. In a significant number of biopsies: 105 cases [13.4%], no significant pathology was noted. TCC is the most common lesion in cystoscopic bladder biopsies

Effects of pre-and postnatal lead toxicity on cerebellar development in rabbit offsprings

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lead on the postnatal development of cerebellum in rabbit off springs. Pregnant rabbits were divided into a control group and an experimental group. The experimental group received lead acetate in a dose of 15 mg /kg B.W. by intragastric intubation. Lead administration was continued to the rabbit offspring. Exposure to lead resulted in an increase in the thickness of the external granular layer in comparison to control group. This layer disappeared at 3 months control rabbits while it was still present in exposed animals of the same age. Also the molecular layer of exposed animals was affected where it became decreased in thickness. Moreover administration of lead affected the Purkinje cells where they became decreased in size with indistinct Nissl granules, marked shortening of dendrites and focal loss of them. Lead, also, resulted in decreased thickness and density of the internal granular layer. Moreover, there were oedema, cavitations and foci of calcification. From the previous findings, it could be concluded that lead has degenerative changes on the cerebellar development

Milk adulteration at Islamabad

Protein-calorie alnutrition is quite common in Pakistan. Use of adulterated milk is one of the many important reasons for protein-calorie malnutrition in pre-school children. The adulteration control mechanism in Pakistan has been studied in relation to sale of milk at Islamabad. Probability of sample collection for all the food items, prior to the year 1980, has roughly been 1:10 on annual and 120 on monthly basis. About 70% of the samples taken during 1981-82 were found unsatisfactory and 51% defaulters ring the year remained unpunished. Procedural delays amount to more than a year before a defaulter gets some punishment in the form of a fine. An average defaulter earns an extra amount of about 100 times the maximum fine. Forts were made [1982-85] to remedy procedural delays through appointment of a public analyst at NIH, Islamabad, ointment of a special magistrate to look after municipal functions with powers of higher financial punishment, and ceased resources for intensified sample collection. All these remedial measures proved futile and the situation in 1987 seemed to have rather deteriorate with markedly decreased frequency of samples and increased time lags. A total of 78 milk sellers in the area were interviewed to ascertain the reasons and influence of attitudes for adulteration. More than 80% vendors were part time milk sellers. About 90% accepted to have known various methods of adulteration methods. They were not really worried about the adulteration control mechanism and accepted that they Id easily avoid the sampling squad or influence laboratory tests and court procedures. About half of the respondents he respective question, ridiculed the sampling / punishment procedure and frankly admitted that wrong laboratory tits and biased decision are an important contributing factor to increase adulteration