Effect of natural and synthetic sweetners on serum lipids and glucose of alloxan diabetic rats

The effect of feeding different levels of natural sweeteners [sucrose, fructose, manitol] and synthetic sweeteners [aspartame] on serum lipid and glucose of alloxan diabetic rats was investigated. Feeding the sweeteners continued for 28 days. The Serum glucose levels revealed significant increase in diabetic control and diabetic control fed sucrose. Aspartame showed significant decrease in serum glucose at low level, while at the high level produced insignificant decrease. In this respect, fructose showed the best results for lowering serum glucose level. Feeding manitol produce significant decrease in serum triglycerides, while aspartame and fructose revealed insignificant increase, the highest value for serum triglycerides was given by sucrose diet. On the other hand, sucrose and aspartame showed significant decrease in serum cholesterol levels, whereas manitol and fructose groups [revealed insignificant increase. Rats fed sucrose and aspartame showed significant decrease in High Density Lipoproteins [HDL] cholesterol levels, meanwhile, manitol produced significant increase. Low Density Lipoproteins [LDL] was significantly reduced on feeding manitol and aspartame, while fructose group showed insignificant decrease. Sucrose group showed high significant increase in LDL cholesterol. Serum total lipids were increased in sucrose and aspartame groups. Manitol and fructose groups revealed significant decrease in total lipids

Trials for restoring the toxicity of aflatoxin

The effect of selenium as nutritional agent as well as ultracorn and levamisole as two non specific immunomodulatory agents was studied in relation to the induced aflatoxicosis in growing chicks. 7 groups of growing chicks, each of 15 were used in this study. All groups were fed aflatoxin B1 at a rate of 0.25 mug/gm feed for 45 days, except the first group which kept as a control. The second group was fed aflatoxin B1 alone; while the third, fourth and fifth groups were fed selenium at a rate of 0.1, 5 and 10 mug/gm feed, respectively. The sixth group administered ultracorn [40 mu l/kg b.wt.] as a single dose. The 7th group was treated with levamisole [25 mu g/kg S/C] for 3 consecutive days per week for 6 weeks. The results revealed a reduction of glutamic pyruvic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase activities of the serum and a decrease of urea and creatinine as well as elevation of vitamin A, total protein and body weight gain in birds fed on ration containing aflatoxin plus selenium in low concentration. Ultracorn and levamisole succeeded in decreasing the severity of some biochemical changes

Patterns of psychiatric disorders among elderly patients [more than 50 years] attending psychiatric outpatient clinics at the Buraidah mental health hospital, Buraidah, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia

200 psychiatric outpatients over 50 years of age were recruited for studying patterns of psychiatric disorders by using multiple psychiatric rating scales. It was revealed that family type, occupation and social class were significantly correlated with some clusters of mental disorders. Both sexes unexpectedly equally utilized the mental health services, 49,5% of patients had different psychopathologies with an onset of below 50 years of age, and finally 48% of probands showed physical comorbidity. In addition to the discussion of findings and limitations of this study, some clinical implications were highlighted and certain recommendations were also suggested

Some pharmacological and toxicological studies on some food by-products

Oral and intraperitoncal administration of fooder yeast [I], Proteolain [II] and Rootlets [III] decoctions in mice showed no toxic effects in doses up to 3 gm/100 gm body weight. The three extracts inhibited the isolated frog's heart. I and III inhibited the other hand I significantly decreased the haemoglobin conhibited also the intestinal activity of the isolated rabbit's intestine. Feeding the three extracts for six months as 10% of the diet to rats showed that, II and III produced to toxic effects on, the other hand I significantly decreased the haemoglobin Concentration and packed cell volume