Lifestyle Induced Oxidative Stress Among Dyslipidemic Subjects And Its Risk For Prehypertension

Dyslipidemia is a high level of lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides, or both) carried by lipoproteins in the blood. Oxidative stress is underling cause for the development of dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease.Prehypertension has been recently described as an independent category of blood pressure. Mounting evidence suggests that blood pressure in the prehypertensive range is associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Several reports have assigned a critical role for oxidative stress in these disease processes. Lifestyle behaviors such as alcohol consumption, smoking and stress have been associated with change in lipid metabolism and thereby increase in oxidative stress levels. The aim of the present study was to evaluate lifestyle induced oxidative stress by measuring the levels of lipid peroxidation as malondialdehyde (MDA) along with lipid profile among dyslipidemic subjects and its risk for prehypertension. Present study consists of 46 study subjects and 17 control subjects. The levels of lipid profile were significantly altered in the study subjects. Levels of MDA were significantly increased in study subjects than control subjects. These results provide some evidence regarding the role of increased reactive oxygen species and decreased antioxidant activity in subjects. Lifestyle modification along with physical activity, improved diet and antioxidant therapy can reduce the risk of prehypertension.

Consumption of iodized salt among households of Basra city, south Iraq

Progress towards universal salt iodization in Iraq is uncertain. A cross-sectional study with cluster sampling was carried out to investigate the sources and packaging of salt in 900 households in Basra and assess the knowledge and practice of household members regarding iodized salt and iodine deficiency disorders. Adequately iodized salt was found in only 68.3% of households. Salt from local sources was significantly less likely to be iodized than salt from imported sources [15.3% versus 86.9% had >/=15 ppm]. Salt in plastic packages was mostly adequately iodized [95.0%] compared with loose packages [70.3%]. Most respondents had heard about iodized salt [92.6%], yet only 27.1% knew about the health benefits. Significantly more household members with university education had iodized salt in the household than those who were illiterate or only could read/write [82.0% versus 57.7%]. Better monitoring of local salt supplies and more education to improve the population's awareness of iodization are needed

Clinical profile and outcomeof respiratory failure in Iraqi children

The frequency of acute respiratory failure is higher in infants and young children than in adults. Acute respiratory failure remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality for children. One hundred and twenty children under the age of 15 years presented with respiratory failure and admitted to RICU in Children Welfare Teaching Hospital and Surgical Specialty Hospital in Medical City-Baghdad in the period from the Pt of May-2003 to the 30" of June 2005 were enrolled in a descriptive study. Seventy nine [65.83%] cases were males and 41 [34.17%] were females. Male/female ratio was 1.93:1 .The mean age was 30.21 months, 35 [29.16%] cases were neonates. Sixty eight [56.7%] cases were from urban areas and 52 [43.3%] were from rural areas. Seventy eight [65%] children were admitted for medical diseases and 42 [3 5%] were admitted for surgical problems. The most common medical causes were respiratory [5 0%] followed by neurological [37. 1 7%].The most common respiratory cases were bronchiolitis [28.2%] and most common neurological cases were Guillain-Barre Syndrome [58.6%].The majority [90.47%] of surgical cases were admitted post-operatively. The average duration of stay in RICU was 9.71 days. Fifty three patients [44.17%] survived and 67 [55.83%] died. The most common age group admitted to RICU is infancy, medical cases are more commonly admitted than surgical cases, the most common medical causes of admission are respiratory followed by neurological causes, the most common respiratory cause of admission is acute bronchiolitis