Carbon monoxide fractions in cigarette and hookah [hubble bubble] smoke

We studied the carbon monoxide [CO] fractions in hookah and cigarette smoke, using a carbon monoxide micro smokeriyzer [model EC50, BEDFONT, U.K.]. Mean carbon monoxide fractions [% by volume] of hookah smoke, using domestic charcoal were 0.38 +/- 0.07 [large hookah; unfiltered]; 1.40 +/- 0.43 [small hookah; unfiltered]; 0.34 +/- 0.06 [large hookah; filtered]; 1.36 +/- 0.35 [small hookah; filtered] and 0.41 +/- 0.08 [cigarette smoke]. The highest fractions were obtained with small size hookah and increase in size of hookah [i.e., volume of air in water base, fire bowl volume, pipe length, etc.] reduced the CO fraction significantly [P<0.001]. The fractions of cigarette lie between large and small hookah. The fractions vary slightly with different varieties of tobacco, e.g., CO fractions with Dera wala tobacco are significantly low [P<0.05]. Use of commercial charcoal gives significant rise in CO fractions [P<0,001] Comparison of filtered and unfiltered smoke shows no significant difference in values. We conclude that the CO hazard is as high with hookah smoking as with cigarette smoking

Ramadan fasting and thyroid hormone profile

A study comprising 41 males,5 females of the age ranging from 28 to 56 years was conducted during Ramadan of 1989 to compare T[3], T[4] and TSH levels in fasting with the levels of non-fasting conditions. Each individual gave 6 blood samples: One sample was taken 20 days before the onset of Ramadan, 3 samples at different fasting days and last two samples were drawn 23 days and five months after the end of Ramadan, respectively. The results showed a significant gradual rise in TSH throughout the fasting month, although the mean levels remained within normal limits. Pre- Ramadan levels were re-attained well after the end of Ramadan. There was no significant change in T[3] and T[4] levels