Breast cancer risk in relation to dietary fat along with some other nutrients

To study association of dietary intake of food groups in breast cancer patients and normal subjects. The study was conducted on 148 breast cancer patients and 149 control subjects, randomly selected and distributed among six age groups and three socio-economic statuses.The subjects were selected from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Lahore, during April to August, 2000. Intakes of various nutrients were assessed from information on past 5-8 years by food frequency questionnaire and food composition tables. The data showed that percentage of breast cancer patients was low below the age group of 25 [0.67%] and above the age group of 65 [10.13%]. It was significantly higher between the age groups of 55-65 [16.9%] and 25-33 [14.2%]. Most of the breast cancer cases were observed between the ages of 35-45 [26.4%] and 45-55 [31.7%] years. Breast cancer patients showed higher percentage in low [43.9%] and middle [39.9%] socio-economic statuses than the high socio-economic status. Results also revealed that dietary energy [kcal/day] was significantly higher in the age groups of 25-35 [1280] and above 65 [1207] of control subjects than breast cancer patients in which the values were 1262 and 1192 kcal/day, respectively. Differences in the intake of dietary proteins and fats among various age groups of breast cancer patients and controls were non-significant. However, intake of carbohydrate [g/day] was significantly more above the age group of 65 in controls [196.83] as compared to breast cancer patients [185.85]. While, all other age groups showed non-significant differences. The percentage of intake of butter [40.54%] and fried foods were found to be higher in breast cancer patients than controls [20.3%]. Positive correlation was observed between dietary fats and carbohydrate [g/day] in all age groups of breast cancer patients and controls except above 65 years of age group in controls which showed negative correlation between these nutrients. Fats [g/day] and protein also showed positive correlation in all age groups of breast cancer patients and controls. The intakes of nutrients [fats, proteins, carbohydrates] have not been found to contribute to the risk of breast cancer together with family history, breast feeding, contraceptives and menstrual abnormalities

Comparison of nutritional status in children of different socio - economic statuses

This cross sectional study was carried out to compare nutritional status amongst children of 5-10 years of age of different socio-economic status. Study was carried out at schools of Faisalabad city for almost 4 months. Height, weight, mid-arm circumference [MAC] and triceps skin fold thickness [TSFT] were measured of children belonging to three socio-economic status [SES]. The study revealed significantly [p<0.05] lower heights of both male and female children of low SES compared with of high SES at the age of 5-5.9 years and those older than 9 years. Similarly, mean weight of children of low SES was significantly [p<0.05] lower than children of middle and high SES. Mid-arm circumference was also significantly [p<0.05] lower in both males and females of low SES than high SES. In children of low SES, significantly greater TSFT was observed in females than males at 5-6.9 years and 9-9.9 years of age while in children of middle SES TSFT was observed at 6-6.9 and greater than 8 years of age. The data showed significantly lower values [p<0.05] of TSFT in children of low and middle SES than those of high SES in both male and female of all age groups. Pearson correlation statistics revealed significant negative relationship between height and TSFT [r=-0.496, p<0.001] in children of low SES in contrast with the results in middle and high SES. It may be concluded from the obtained results that the parameters studied are good indicators of nutritional assessment except height as appeared a delayed effect of nutrition, further that height has significant inverse relationship with TSFT in malnourished children but not in well nourished ones

Blood glucose; response to two local varieties of apple [pyrus malus, linn] in normal and diabetic human subjects

glycaemic indeces of two local varieties of apple have been determined in normal and diabetic subjects in order to assess their capability to raise blood glucose levels. SUBJECTS: Seven normals and seven diabetics were included in this study to compare their blood glucose responses in both the groups. A glucose tolerance test was performed on each individual for comparison using 50 g of glucose and the amount of each apple variety containing 50 g soluble carbohydrates. METHODS: The serum glucose levels were determined by the glucose oxidase method by using a kit. DESIGN: A controlled clinical trial design was used. The mean glycaemic indices of apple variety I and II were 32.2% and 36.2% in comparison to glucose in diabetic subjects. The mean +/- SEM, area under curve for 50 g glucose was 5209.28 +/- 1789.69 [mg min/dl], for apple variety I was 1174.28 +/- 904.39 [mg min/dl] and for apple variety II it was 2048.57 +/- 894.60 [mg min/dl]. These values for both varieties of apple, are highly significantly [P<0.001] lower than that of glucose. These data have suggested that inspite of high carbohydrate contents present in both varieties of apple tested, they are suitable for the use to diabetics as their dietary fibre contents decrease the blood glucose levels from rising to the abnormally high limits

Anticestodal principles of nigella sativa, linn. [kalonji] seeds

Efficacy of the total glycosides, saponins and anthraquinones isolated from Nigella sativa [Kalonji] seeds was Judged in the goats infected naturally with mixed gastro-intestinal nematodes. The glycosides were administered orally to groups of sheep in 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg body weight doses. Nilzan ' 15 ml/15 kg was similarly administered to the control sheep. Pre - and post - treatment faecal eggs per gram [EPG] counts and their percentage reductions were determined on 3rd,10th and 15th day of drug administration. Their 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg oral dose of the glycosides reduced the EPC counts highly significantly [P<0.001] on day 10 and15. Statistically 150 and 200mg/kg dose of N. sativa glycosides were as effective as Nilzan ' against goat cestodes on post-treatment days 10 day 15. However, a lower dose of 100 mg /kg of the glycosides could also produce results similar to Nilzan ' on and 15 only. The saponins and anthraquinones isolated from the N. sativa seeds, however, failed to exert any significant effect in their 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg doses. These data suggest that the total glycosides of N. sativa seeds possess considerable activity against cestodes in the goats and may be responsible for the Anticestodal efficacy of the powdered seeds already reported to be effective against tape worms of shep

Field trial of saussurea lappa roots against nematodes and nigella sativa seeds against cestodes in children

Antinematodal efficacy of Saussurea lappa roots [Qust-e-Shereen] and anticestodal effect of Nigella sativa seeds [Kalonji] was studied in children infected naturally with the respective worms. The activities were judged on the basis of percentage reductions in the faecal eggs per gram [EPG] counts. The 50 mg/kg single dose of S. lappa and equivalent amount of its methanolic extract produced on days 7 and 15 percentage EPG reduction similar to 10 mg/kg of pyrantel pamoate. Similarly, single oral administration of 40 mg/kg of N. sativa, equivalent amount of its ethanolic extract and 50 mg/kg of niclosamide reduced the percentage of EPG counts not significantly different from each other on the days 7 and 15. Therefore, it is conceivable that these indigenous medicinal plants contain active principles effective against nematodes and cestodes. The crude drugs did not produce any adverse side effects in the doses tested

Pharmacological significance of plants and herbs used in islamic medicine

This paper enlists some selected plants and herbs whose curative effects have already been proved by the modern researches and/or their active principles have been isolated. This shows correlation between empirical application and scientific use of medicinal plants for the treatment of certain diseases. In the end, some recent pharmacological screenings of medicinal plants carried out in our laboratories have been briefly described

Effects of portulaca oleracae [Kulfa] and tarasacum officinale [Dhudhal] in normoglycaemic and alloxan-treated hyperglycemic rabbits

Blood glucose levels of normal and alloxan-diabetic male albino rabbits were determined after oral administration of various doses of the whole, dried and powdered plants of the Portulaca oleracae, Linn. [Fam. Portulacaceae] and Taraxacum officinale, Wiggers [Fam. Compositae]. It was concluded that the powders of both plants produced significant hypoglycaemic effects in normal rabbits but not in alloxan treated rabbits. Acute toxicity and behavioural changes were not observed in the doses tested. It is conceivable that both the indigenous medicinal plants contain some hypoglycaemic principles which act probably by initiating the release of insulin from pancreatic beta-cells of normal rabbits

Comparative efficacy of fumaria parviflora and morantel tartrate against mixed gastrointestinal nematode infection in sheep

Faecal eggs per gram [EPG] counts were determined before and after administration of powdered whole plant of Fumaria parviflora, Lam. in 0.5, 1 and 2 g/kg body weight doses in the sheep suffering from mixed gastrointestinal nematode infection. Non-significant reduction of EPG counts were produced on post-treatment days 3rd, 10th and 15th at 0.5 g/kg body weight. However, in 1 and 2 g/kg body weight doses EPG values were significantly [P<0.05 or 0.001] reduced on days 10 and 15. The water and ethanol extracts of F. parviflora equivalent to 2 g/kg of the crude powder were.also administered orally to the infected sheep. The water extract could not significantly reduce the EPG counts on all post-treatment days checked. However, the ethanol extract produced a highly significant decrease in EPG values on days 10 and 15. Morantel tartrate [0.01 g/kg] produced a highly significant reduction of EPG counts in the treated sheep. These data suggested that 2 g/kg of F. parviflora and its equivalent ethanol extract and Morantel tartrate [0.01 g/kg] are equipotent in treating the sheep suffering from natural mixed gastrointestinal nematode infection

Study of anti-diabetic effect of a compound medicinal plant prescription in normal and diabetic rabbits

Alleged antidiabetic property of a folkloric prescription containing Bergenia ligulata [Pakhan bed], Asteracantha longifolia [Tal Makhana], Cinnamomum cassia [Taj] and Argyria cuneater [Samundar Sokh] has been evaluated in rabbits after its oral administration. The indigenous drug prescription exerted a significant hypoglycaemic effect in both normal and diabetic rabbits. In normal rabbits, oral administration of 1 and 2 g/kg body weight doses of the compound powder caused maximum decrease in blood glucose level at 10 and 24 hour intervals after its administration. In addition the 2 g/kg dose also produced a fall in blood sugar at 4 hours. In the alloxan treated diabetic rabbits, the 2 g/kg dose only could produce a significant decrease in blood glucose levels at 10 and 24 hours. The maximum decrease in blood glucose was observed at 24 hours at all dosage levels in normal as well as diabetic rabbits. It is conceivable that this folk medicine contains some hypoglycaemic principles which can reduce the blood glucose levels of diabetics. The treated rabbits did not show any signs of acute toxicity which encourages the possible use of this compound medicinal plant prescription by diabetic patients