Effect of smoking on serum xanthine oxidase, malondialdehyde, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol levels in healthy male subjects

To examine the effect of smoking on serum xanthine oxidase, malondialdehyde, alpha- tocopherol and ascorbic acid levels in healthy adult male subjects. This cross-sectional comparative study was carried out at Isra University Hyderabad from July 2012 to December 2012. One hundred and twenty apparently healthy adult male subjects [60 smokers and 60 non-smokers] included in present study, were recruited from Jaindal kot, a small village located midway between Hyderabad and Matiari. Serum samples from smokers and non-smokers were analyzed for xanthine oxidase and malondialdehyde levels by standard kit methods, while for ascorbic acid and alpha- tocopherol by spectrophotometric methods. The mean xanthine oxidase and malondialdehyde levels measured in healthy smokers were 0.30 +/- 0.05 mg/dl and 37.50 +/- 4.05 micromoles/l respectively as against 0.25 +/- 0.04 mg/dl and 19.86 +/- 2.21micromoles/l in non-smokers. Both xanthine oxidase and malondialdehyde levels were significantly [p<0.001] raised in healthy smokers than in non-smokers. Likewise, mean vitamin E and vitamin C levels were respectively 0.69 +/- 0.37 mg/dl and 0.80 +/- 0.16 mg/dl in healthy smokers compared to 1.14 +/- 0.43 mg/dl and 1.22 +/- 0.29 mg/dl in non-smokers. The concentrations of both these vitamins were significantly [p<0.001] lower in smokers than in non-smokers. The results of present study demonstrate that smoking had significantly increased xanthine oxidase and malondialdehyde levels and decreased vitamins C and E [antioxidants] levels. These findings suggest that smokers have to take additional amounts of vitamins C and E in order to avoid deleterious effects of smoking on their health

Effect of smoking on serum xanthine oxidase and malondialdehyde levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction

To evaluate the effect of smoking on blood levels of xanthine oxidase and malondialdehyde in acute myocardial infarction patients. The cross-sectional study was conducted from June to November 2013 and comprised myocardial infarction in-patients at Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Hospital, Jamshoro, and Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad. Serum samples from age and gender matched smoking and non-smoking patients were investigated for the levels of xanthine oxidase and malondialdehyde by kit methods. Of the 88 serum samples investigated, 68[77.3%] belonged to men and 20[22.7%] to women. Among the 44 smokers, 35[79.5%] were men and 9[20.5%] were women. The overall mean age of the group was 49.6 +/- 8.0 years. Among the 44 non-smokers, 33[75%] were men and 11[25%] women. The overall mean age of the group was 50.9 +/- 8.4 Years. Smokers compared to non-smokers had significantly raised mean serum xanthine oxidase [0.31 +/- 0.05 vs 0.28 +/- 0.03mg/dl; p<0.05] and malondialdehyde [32.29 +/- 3.30 vs 30.30 +/- 2.87 micromol/L; p<0.04] levels. Smokers as against the non-smokers were at higher risk of developing acute myocardial infarction owing to increased level of oxidative stress caused by smoking

Evaluation of the effect of smoking on complete blood counts, serum C-reactive protein and magnesium levels in healthy adult male smokers

To examine the effect of smoking on complete blood count, serum C-reactive protein and magnesium levels in male smokers. The prospective case-control study was conducted in two villages of Matiari district in rural Sindh, Pakistan, from July to December 2013, and comprised healthy adult male smokers and an equal number of matching non-smokers as controls. The complete blood count, serum C-reactive protein and magnesium levels in all the subjects were measured to assess the effect of smoking on these parameters. The two groups had 48 subjects each with an overall age range of 20-40 years. The results of complete blood count were comparable except for lymphocyte, which was significantly higher [p<0.001], and neutrophil, which was lower [p<0.001] in smokers than in the non-smokers. Serum C-reactive protein concentrations among the cases [14.62 +/- 0.16mg/L] compared to the controls [4.81 +/- 0.38mg/L] were significantly higher [p<0.001]. However, reverse was true for serum magnesium levels which were significantly higher [p<0.001] in the controls [2.52 +/- 0.18mg/L] as against the cases [1.09 +/- 0.38mg/dl].Serum C-reactive protein-to-magnesium ratio was significantly higher [p<0.001] in smokers than in the non-smokers. Lymphocyte count was higher while neutrophil count was lower in smokers. Smoking also caused significant increase in serum C-reactive protein concentration concomitant to decrease in magnesium concentration in the smokers

Composition of urinary bladder stones in children as analyzed by FT-IR spectroscopy

Objectives: To determine the composition and hence types of bladder stones in children using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy [FT-IR]

Study design: A case control study

Place and duration: Pediatric Surgical Department of Liaquat University Hospital Jamshoro from June 2012 to October 2012

Methodology: The materials for this study were thirty bladder stones surgically recovered from as many children admitted in surgical pediatric wards. The standard FT-IR spectra of individual standards were acquired for comparison. The FTIR spectroscopy using Nicolet Avatar 330 FTIR spectrometer [Thermo Electron Corporation] in the frequency range 500-4000 cm was performed to determine the composition of bladder stones. The constituents of bladder stones were identified by comparing the spectra of stones with that of the pure standards obtained accordingly

Results: The mean age of thirty children [24 male and 6 female] was 4.84 + 2.82 years. Majority of cases 86.67% [n=26] had one, 3.33% [n=1] had two, 6.67% [n=2] had three and 10% [n=3] had more than three stones. Of thirty bladder stones analyzed by FT-IR spectroscopy, 83.3% [n=25] found to be mixed composition, with calcium oxalate monohydrate and ammonium hydrogen urate as the most frequent stone type identified in this series. Ammonium hydrogen urate in the central and was seen to be the most common constituent and calcium oxalate monohydrate in the inner and peripheral parts of the stones

Conclusion: Calcium oxalate monohydrate-ammonium hydrogen urate stone type is most frequent in children of less than ten years age. FT-IR spectroscopy may be used as a rapid, accurate and environment friendly technique for screening of urinary stones in children

Evaluation of dietary and biochemical risk factors involved in the pathogenesis of bladder stones in children of below ten years age at hyderabad Sindh

Bladder stones in children of below ten years age continue as a major pediatric health problem in Hyderabad-Sindh. To investigate dietary and metabolic risk factors involved in the pathogenesis of bladder stones in children of below ten years age. Case control study .This study was conducted at the Biochemistry and Surgery Departments, Isra University, Hyderabad from January 2011 to December 2011. Thirty four children with bladder stones admitted for treatment in the pediatric surgery unit, Liaquat Medical College Hospital Jamshoro during 6 months and 30 normal controls were examined. Information regarding diet and dietary habits of the subjects were obtained through standard questionnaire developed for that purpose. Biochemical aspect of bladder stone disease was studied by measuring creatinine, urea, uric acid, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, chloride and bicarbonate levels in serum samples of bladder stone patients and control subjects. The results of present study show that although, average intake of water and milk by patients and control subjects were comparable, majority [73.5%] of the bladder stone patients admitted to drink water when they felt thirsty, contrary to control subjects who used to take water at regular intervals. The mean tea intake by bladder stone patients was significantly [P<0.05] greater than that of the control subjects. Same was true for the intake of green leafy and seedy vegetables [P<0.05]. From the blood parameters measured in bladder stone patients and control subjects, the levels for potassium, magnesium and phosphate were found to be significantly [P<0.05] higher in bladder stone patients compared to control subjects, whereas reverse was true for creatinine, chloride and bicarbonate levels. Children with bladder stones were noted to have serum creatinine levels significantly lower than the control subjects. Their dietary and fluid intake habits were also found to be quite different from that of the control subjects. These observations suggest that malnutrition and poor dietary habits are the major risk factors involved in the pathogenesis of childhood vesicallithiasis at Hyderabad-Sindh

Comparison of serum calcium, copper and iron levels in serum samples from gallstone patients and control subjects

Present study was designed to investigate the levels of calcium, copper and iron in the serum samples of gallstone patients and control subjects with no personal or family history of gallstones. Sera of 109 gallstone patients and 100 control subjects were obtained during January 2010 to November 2010 from Memon Charitable Hospital, Hyderabad. The serum calcium, copper and iron concentrations were determined by Hitachi double beam atomic absorption spectrophotometer 180 - 50. Comparison of serum calcium, copper, and iron levels between gallstone patients and control subjects showed that all these variables were significantly [p < 0.01] higher in gallstone patients. However, no significant difference [p > 0.01] was found when mean serum concentrations for these variables were compared between male and female gallstone patients, between female gallstone patients of up to 45 and over 45 years age and between female gallstone patients having up to 3 and more than 3 children. The higher levels of calcium, copper and iron in blood samples of gallstone patients compared to controls suggest that these metals do play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of human gallstones

Effect of combination of nigella sativa and trigonella foenum-graecum seeds with glibenclamide on blood sugar levels in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients

To evaluate the effect of combination of Nigella sativa and Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds with Glibenclamide on blood sugar levels in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients. Arandomized clinical trial. Diabetic outpatient clinics of Isra University Hyderabad and Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro, Pakistan from March to August 2008. For this study, Type-2 diabetic mellitus patients on Glibenclamide, who gave written consent to volunteer in the study, were randomly divided into two groups. Fifty patients in Group [A] [Control Group] remained on routine dose of Glibenclamide, while fifty patients in Group [B] [Intervention Group] were kept on a capsule containing combined powder of N-sativa and T. foenum-graecum seeds powder, in addition to their routine dose of Glibenclamide. Patients in both the groups were evaluated for a period of 3 months for fasting and random sugar levels. It was found that the blood sugar level fasting [p-value=0.003] and the random [p-value<0.001] significantly decreased in intervention group compared to control group. This study indicates that combination therapy of N. sativa and T. foenum-graecum seeds with Glibenclamide has significant effect in controlling hyperglycemia

Association of tea and other addicitive substances with gallstone disease in southern Sindh, Pakistan

To evaluate any association of consumption and / or use of tea, paan, supari, naas, naswar, smoking, coffee and alcohol with gallstone disease. Case - Control study The study was carried out at different hospitals of Hyderabad and adjoining areas [Liaquat University Hospital, Jamshoro, Memon Charitable Hospital, Hyderabad, Wali Bhai Rajputana Hospital, Hyderabad, Naseem Medical Center, Hyderabad, and Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad] during January 1999 to December 2001. 160 hospitalized gallstone patients and 112 patients admitted in eye wards were taken as controls [age, sex and locality matched with negative personal and family history]. The justification of taking eye patients as controls lie in the fact that these patients have no gastrointestinal problem which could be associated with gallstones. All were interviewed through a standard questionnaire developed for that purpose. The consumption and / or use of tea, paan, naas / naswaar, alcohol and coffee were common among both the groups. Smoking was found to be the main risk factor for gallstone patients. Smokers as against non-smokers were however at risk 1.89 [95% CI, 0.68-5.26, p=0.105] to develop gallstones. Similarly consumers of more than 1 cup of tea per day were seen to be at higher risk [4.07, 95% CI; 1.71-9.64, p=0.001] for gallstone disease. No association of Supari, Naas and Naswar intake was found with the occurrence of gallstones. A significant inverse association [0.49 CI; 0.34-0.5, p=0.04] of paan, [0.39 CI; 0.11-0.52, p=0.00] alcohol, and [0.36 CI; 0.24-0.98, p=0.04] coffee was found with gallstone disease. Tea consumption is positively and Paan, alcohol and coffee consumptions are negatively associated with gallstone disease in Southern Sindh, Pakistan