Lipid profile and lipprotein [a] in chronic renal failure patients before and after hemodialysis

In this study, 20 male subjects with chronic renal failure [CRF] with no family history of ischemic heart disease were investigated for lipids and apolipoproteins before and after one year of hemodialysis in addition to 20 males matched for the same age included as a control group. After hemodialysis, these levels were significantly increased compared with the predialytic stage. Phospholipids and HDL cholesterol were significantly decreased in CRF patients and this decrease continued even after hemodialysis. Lipoprotein [a] showed no significant change in chronic renal failure patients before and after dialysis and when compared with the control group

Comparative study between the effect of nigella and phenobarbitone on microsomal enzymes

Nigella is widely used in Egypt as a food additive as well as a drug for the treatment of some respiratory diseases. It was given orally to rats [20 g/kg body weight orally for ten days] and its effects were compared with the effect of phenobarbitone [microsomal enzymes inducer]. Nigella and phenobarbitone caused an increase in the level of microsomal cytochrome P450 from rat liver. Nigella produced a decrease in the activity of UDP-glucuronyl transferase [bilirubin and phenolphthalein as substrates] from rat liver microsomes. This indicated that Nigella is an inducer of cytochrome P450 which may produce toxic free radicals from other drugs not accompanied by glucuronidation of these metabolites. Serum enzymes commonly used as liver functions were not affected