Effect of Smoking on Serum Lipid Profile among University’s Students in Dhamar City, Yemen

A cross sectional study was performed to evaluate the changes on serum lipid profile and associated risk factors in apparently healthy smoker and non-smoker students at the University of AlHikma Dhamar city, Yemen during the period between November 2021 to March, 2022. Two hundred five students were randomly selected, 104 students were smokers and 101 nonsmokers. Sociodemographic data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements and laboratory analysis for lipid profile were assessed using standard techniques. The results revealed that smokers had significantly (P<0.05) higher levels of TC (164.93 mg/dl), TG (149.63 mg/dl), LDL (71.60 mg/dl) and VLDL (29.58 mg/dl) and lower level of HDL (64.70 mg/dl) compared to the non-smokers group. Duration and numbers of cigarette smoked were positively correlated with lipid profile values of participants (r=.300; P=.000 and r= .317; P.=000) and (r=.210; P=.003 and r=.213; P=.002) for TG and VLDL respectively; while none with other values. Significant association was observed between weight (r=.235; P=.001 and r=.145; P=.000); heartbeat (r=.205; P=.003 and r=.256; P=.000); diastolic (r=.151; P=.030) and BMI (r=.155; P=.027) indices and lipid profile (TG and VLDL); (TC and LDL); (HDL and TC) of the participants respectively; whereas, none with height and systolic indices. In conclusion, smoking is clearly associated with increase serum lipid and lipoprotein values with exception HDL which significantly decreased in smoker compared to non-smokers students. This association is dependent on number of sociodemographic and anthropometric factors. Adopting anti-smoking programs among University`s students to prevent the harmful effects of smoking are urgently required.

[ influence of environmental factors on the contents of alkaloids in Datura stramunium]

The environmental factors may have an effect on the contents of the active materials in plants. Salinity is one of these factors that can have an influence through the calcium ion which competes with the Na+, which in turn, affects the manufacture of alkaloids present in the Datura stramunium. The buds of Datura stramunium have been cultured through addition of NaCl by using three successively different concentrations of 25, 50, and 100mM during a specific period of time of about 20 weeks. This has led to a rise in the content of K+ and a smaller content of Ca2+ in the leaves of plants subjected to salinity as well as a rise in the percentage of alkaloids in comparison with the control plants. The decrease in the ionic rate of K+/Na+ in the leaves of the plants subjected to salinity of less than one, namely, the decrease in the concentrations of K+ has led to an increase in the percentage of the alkaloid in the leaves of the plants subjected to the salinity in a specific rate in the concentration of 25mM. The more high concentration of salinity the more low calcium ions of Ca2+, and the ionic rate of Na+/K+ in the roots is lowest level due to the histological dying and loss of the young parts of the roots. The salinity in a low rate of 25mM can lead to an increase in the biologic metabolism and biologic manufacture of alkaloids in the leaves of the Datura stramunium in spite of the small decrease of the initial metabolism in the plants

Monitoring Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Isolated from Bangladesh during 1997-2006: Emergence and Pattern of Drug-resistant Isolates.

Gonorrhoea is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in developing countries, and the emergence of resistance to antimicrobial agents in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a major obstacle in the control of gonorrhoea. Periodical monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility of N. gonorrhoeae is essential for the early detection of emergence of drug resistance. In total, 1,767 gonococcal strains isolated from males and females (general population and those with high-risk behaviour) from different parts of Bangladesh were studied during 1997-2006. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of penicillin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, spectinomycin, and azithromycin for the isolates were determined by the agar dilution method. Isolates resistant to three or more antimicrobial agents are considered multidrug-resistant. The prevalence of plasmid-mediated penicillinase-producing N. gonorrhoeae (PPNG) and plasmid-mediated tetracycline-resistant N. gonorrhoeae (TRNG) was determined. Nine percent of the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin in 1997 compared to 87% in 2006. Multidrug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae have emerged in 1997, and 44% of the strains (n=66) isolated during 2006 were multidrug-resistant. Forty-two percent of the isolates in 2006 were both PPNG- and TRNG-positive compared to none in 1997. The rapidly-changing pattern of gonococcal antimicrobial susceptibility warrants the need for an antimicrobial susceptibilitymonitoring programme, and periodical analysis and dissemination of susceptibility data are essential to guide clinicians and for successful STI/HIV intervention programmes.

MetS and cardiovascular risk factors among Palestinians of East Jerusalem

In a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2005, we determined the prevalence metabolic syndrome [MetS] and other atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk factors among a sample of 342 Palestinians >/= 20 years in East Jerusalem. Participants were interviewed and anthropometric measurements and blood testing were done. MetS was found in 115 [33.6%] participants, with no significant difference between the sexes. The prevalence of obesity, diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors was also high, with central obesity and obesity [BMI >/= 30 kg/m[2]] being significantly higher in women [P < 0.01]. With the exception of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and haemoglobin, there was a significantly higher prevalence of atherosclerotic markers among the MetS group

Bone densitometry and immunohistochemical evaluation of animal jaw defects treated with resorbable bioactive glass

Purpose: This study was aimed to evaluate the healing of animal jaw defects treated with resorbable bioactive glass [RBG] by using bone densitometry and immunohistochemical expression of fibronectin [FN]

Materials and Methods: 20 guinea pigs randomly allocated into equal 4 groups were used in this study. In each animal, a full thickness surgical defect involving the cortex and spongiosa was made at the anterior mandible, inferior to the lower central incisors. The left surgical defect was left empty as a control side and the right was loosely packed with RBG as a study side. Animals were sacrificed at 1 week, and 1, 2 and 3 months postoperatively, whereby specimens were prepared for evaluation with bone densitometry scanning and immunohistochemistry

Results: On gross examination, no local tissue reaction was observed. The material was compatible, non-toxic, and not recognized as foreign in all animals. Although the defects filled with RBC contained the greatest amount of bone trabeculae, bone densitometry scanning revealed no statistically significant difference between groups [P>0.05] at the different intervals of the study

Conclusion: Despite the difference in healing of animal jaw defects was not dramatic between the control and study sides. RBG may be of value in large bony defects, whereby it acts as a scaffold for bone tissue ingrowth and organization, with subsequent dissolution of the scaffold material through the processes of biodegradation and bone remodeling