ABSTRACT
Background:Diabetes mellitus is the one of the most common endocrine diseases that is characterized by hyperglycemia, altered metabolism with an increased risk of much complications. Besides drugs classicallyused for the treatment of diabetes several species of plants have been described as having a hypoglycemic activity with decreased side effects. Aim of the Work:This work aimed to investigate the possible anti-diabetic effect of oral administration of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) fruit flesh and seeds powders on Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats via studying blood glucose levels, oxidative biomarkers as well as islets of Langerhans structure changes.Materials and Methods:60 adult albino rats of Sprague-Dawely strains (200±5 gm) were classified into five groups of ten animals each except diabetic control group was composed of twenty rats as follow Group I:healthy control;Group II:diabetic control ,Group III,IVandV: diabetic rats received 2g pumpkin fruit, seeds, fruit and seeds mixture powders respectively /kg body weight daily by oral intubation Results:The results of present study showed that pumpkin powders caused significant improvements (P≤0.05) in blood glucose, insulin levels and glycated hemoglobin percent compared to diabetic control group. Also pumpkin powders improved antioxidants activities andhealed Langerhans islets by increasing their number and size in comparison with diabetic control group. Conclusion:The present study showed that pumpkin powders may normalize the various biochemical and pancreatic tissues abnormalities resulted due to diabetes metabolic disorders and it is a source of potent anti-diabetic agent. The diabetic rats that were administered with the pumpkin fruit powder, exhibited the highest improvements.
ABSTRACT
A total number of 12901 blood units were tested for syphilis by Venereal Diseases Research Laboratory [VDRL] test and confirmed by Treponema Pallidum Hemagglutination Assay [TPHA]. An overall prevalence rate was 0.89%. The prevalence increased with increasing age. There is no significant effect of gender, blood group or Rh group on the prevalence of syphilitic infection. Businessmen [1.88%] and male laborers [1.27%] showed a significantly higher rates than male clerks [0.51%]. Chadians, Ethiopians, Indonesians and Somalians showed a significantly higher rates of syphilitic seropositivity than Saudi nationals, while nonsignificant rates were found among Egyptians [0.48%] as well as other Islamic nationals
Subject(s)
Humans , Blood Donors , Blood Chemical Analysis/methodsABSTRACT
The present study was conducted to determine the prevanlence of smoking habit and social aspects of taking up smoking among secondary school students in the eastern region of Cairo. A questionnaire was aministered in March 1990 to 5294 students. The proportion of current smokers ware 24.8% for boys and 4.8% for girls. The study revealed that peer smoking was most strongly related to the student smoking status. Parental smoking sibling smoking, maternal employment and an average pocket money of about 10 L.E. were also significantly associated with the smoking status of the student. Fostering of resistance to social pressure to smoke and family involvement should be considered in smoking prevention programmes for this age group
Subject(s)
Humans , StudentsABSTRACT
The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence, age of first starting smoking and the risk factors associated with taking up regular smoking. The study included 1291 University students [861 males and 430 females], their ages ranged from 17 to 28 years. The over all percentage of smokers was 37.9% [52% males and 9% females], and 21% of males and 12% of females started smoking before the age of 14 and 80% of males and 57% of females before reaching 18 years of age. Smoker peer colleagues, high income, owning of a car, and family troubles, using drugs, smoking hashish and drinking alcohol are significant associated risk factors to taking up smoking