Effect of quinine therapy on plasma glucose and plasma insulin levels in pregnant women infected with Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Gezira state

To determine if quinine has a metabolic effect during treatment of severe or complicated malaria, we studied its effects on plasma glucose and plasma insulin levels in 150 pregnant women with malaria referred to Madani maternity teaching hospital, Gezira state and 50 healthy pregnant controls. Levels were determined at baseline [day 0] before the start of quinine treatment, after 2 days of treatment [2 hours after the 4th dose] and after 7 days of treatment [day 8]. There was a statistically significant increase in plasma insulin concentrations during the quinine infusion and fall in plasma glucose concentration [P<0.001]. Quinine administered at the recommended dose and rate can disrupt plasma glucose homeostasis although it is still the drug of choice for severe and complicated malaria in Sudan

Toxicity assays applied to wastewater of 10[th] of Ramadan industrial city, Egypt

The toxic impact of wastewater of 10[th] of Ramadan industrial city [Egypt] on the receiving water body was investigated. Both algal and fish bioassay procedures were applied to the raw and treated wastewaters. In case of raw wastewater the EC50 [96 hours] for the green algae [Scenedesmus obliquus], the diatoms [Nitzschia linearis] and blue green algae [Oscillatoria limnetica] amounted to 29%, 36% and 41%, respectively. In case of Tilapia fish [Oreochromis niloticus]; the LC50 [96 hours] amounted to 13.9%. Treated wastewater did not show toxic effects on algal cultures or Nile Tilapia fish. Exposure of the fish to the raw wastewater induced an increase in the serum content of glucose, AST, ALT activities, creatinine and uric acid compared to the control

Plasma levels of endothelin-1, angiotensin II, nitric oxide and prostaglandine E-[2] in the venous and cavernous blood of patients with erectile dysfunction

To investigate the balance between the release of the smooth muscle vasoconstrictors [endothelin-l [ET-1] and angiotensin II [Ang II]] and relaxants [nitric oxide [NO] and prostaglandin E-[2] [PGE-[2]]] by determining the alterations in plasma levels of ET-l, Ang II, NO and PGE2 in the venous and cavernosal blood of patients with organic and psychogenic erectile dysfunction [ED]. Patients: The study included 32 patients complaining of ED for more than one year [mean age +/- SEM 43.7 +/- 2.07]. The patients were subdivided into two groups: 16 organic ED patients [mean age +/- SEM 48.13 +/- 2.77 years] and 16 psychogenic ED patients [mean age +/- SEM 43.0 +/- 3.03 years]. Fifteen healthy potent age matched [mean +/- SEM 44.86 +/- 2.9 years] male volunteers were enrolled as a control group. For each patient venous and cavernous blood were obtained, while only venous blood were obtained from controls. Design: A randomized, group comparative, single-center study. Setting: Assiut University Hospital. Intervention: Plasma levels of ET- 1, Ang II, NO and PGE-[2] in the venous and cavernous blood of ED patients and in the venous blood of controls were estimated. Main outcome measures: ET-1, Ang II, NO and PGE-[2]. The present study showed significant increase in the plasma levels of ET-1 and Ang II, in addition to significant decrease in the plasma levels of NO and PGE[2] in the venous blood of ED patients in comparison to the controls. Patients with organic ED showed significant higher levels of ET- 1 and significant lower levels of NO in both venous and cavernous blood in comparison to those with psychogenic ED. Significant higher levels of cavernous Ang H were found in the two groups of ED patients in relation to venous blood. However, there were also no significant differences in PGE[2] levels in venous and cavernous blood of both groups of patients. There were significant positive correlations in both venous and cavernous blood between ET-l and Ang II and between NO and PGE[2] in total ED patients and the two subgroups. In addition significant negative correlations were found between venous and cavernous ET- 1 and NO; ET-1 and PGE[2] Ang II and NO and between Ang II and PGE[2] The imbalance between vasoconstrictors and vasodilators may play an important role in the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction. ET- 1 may be a clinical marker of diffuse endothelial disease manifested by ED. Since ACE activity controls Ang II there might be a rationale for the use of ACE inhibitors to prevent or treat ED. NO and PGE2 may provide new strategies for pharmacologic treatment of ED

Anterior turbinectomy versus submucous diathermy of inferior turbinate rhinomanometric study

Sixteen patients with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis complaining of bilateral nasal obstruction were classified into two groups.Group 1: Underwent bilateral anterior turbinectomy.Group 11: Underwent submucous diathermy of the inferior turbinate.All patients were evaluiated by anterior Rhinomanometry preoperatively and 2 months. 4 months post operatively 2 months post operatively and data revealed significant improvement of the nasal air way resistance in both groups. After 4 months Group I still showed improventent. While Group 11 showed increased nasal airway resistance. The results show that anterior turbinectomy in better than submncous diathermy in alleviating nasal obstruction in patients with hypertrophied inferior turbinates