Association of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene Polymorphisms T-786c & 27bp (4b/4a) with Obesity in Egypt

Background and Objective:Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism (eNOS) is one of threeisoformsthat synthesizenitric oxide(NO), that participates in several biological processes have been associated with obesity. This study was undertaken to determine if eNOS gene (T786C) and 27bp (4b/4a) were associated with susceptibility of obesity. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on 200 cases divided into 100 obese patient and 100 healthy as control. The mean age cases was (27.02 ± 10.90) they include 79 female and 21 males. All participants were subjected to an estimation of their body mass index (BMI), weight hip ratio (WHR), in addition to random blood sugar (RBS), total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and lactate dehydrogenase enzyme (LDH). DNA was amplified using PCR-SSP for detection of relation between polymorphism and endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene in two parts T786C and 27bp (4b/4a).Results:All cases showed that there were significant difference between cases and controls regarding to their chemical lab’s analysis (TG, Cholesterol, LDL and HDL).All cases showed significant frequency of T786C TT, CC, TC vs. controls (p<0.001) these was considered risk factor for disease. On the other hand there no significant difference between 27bp aa, bb, and ab (p=0.618) vs. controls. Conclusion:The polymorphism T786C not the 27bp in eNOS was associated with obesity

Effects of L-carnitine and taurine on associated biochemical changes in alloxan induced diabetic rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the beneficial effects of L-carnitine and taurine in healthy and alloxan induced diabetes mellitus in rats. Results showed that diabetic rats had significant increase in the levels of plasma glucose, malondialdehyde [MDA], urea, creatinine and the activity of serum asparate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase as compared to normal control rats. While, blood glutathione [GSH] content and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase [SOD] activity were significantly lowered. The elevated plasma glucose, MDA, AST, ALT, urea and creatinine levels of diabetic rats were significantly reduced by treatment for 6weeks with L-carnitine and taurine. In addition, normal healthy rats fed on the balanced diet plus L-carnitine and taurine showed significant increase in blood glutathione [GSH] content and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase [SOD] activity as compared with healthy control. It was concluded that dietary administration of L-carnitine and taurine reduces, delays or even prevent oxidative stress in diabetic rats

Separation and identification of biologically active compounds of the wild plant, atriplex semibaccata against aphis craccivora koch

Biological and Phytochemical studies were conducted on Atriplex semibaccata to investigate the biologically active compounds of this plant against Aphis craccivora Koch. Results indicate that, fraction A with LC[50 0.036] mg/cm[2] and LC[95 0.096] mg/cm[2] was the most effective against Aphis craccivora in comparison to fractions B and C as well as the crude extract itself. The LC[50] and LC[95] values of the crude extract were 0.057 and 1.523, respectively. However, the corresponding values for fraction B were 0.047 and 0.161 and for fraction C were 0.04 and 0.097, respectively. Data also showed that these fractions consist mainly of fatty acids and their esters, terpenes and hydrocarbons. Fraction A, which is the most potent fraction consists of fatty acids with percent area 32.028, esters [41%], terpenes [11.977%] and hydrocarbons [6.095%]. Fraction C followed fraction A according to the effectiveness against Aphis craccivora. It contains hydrocarbons with percent area 24.103, fatty acids 20.610%, fatty acids esters 24.378% and terpenes 3.865%. On the other hand, fraction B had the lowest toxicity compared with the other two fractions while; it was more toxic than the crude extract. It contains methyl salicylate with percent area 9.535% and phytol 7.00% in addition to the amount of fatty acids esters [6.406%] and high amount of hydrocarbons [53.405%]

Identifying harmful birth attendant and home care practices during the antenatal, peripartum and postpartum period in Egypt

Harmful practices by birth attendants during and shortly after birth, and poor practice in the home during the first week of life, may contribute to high neonatal mortality rates in Egypt. Inability of birth attendants and mothers to identify neonatal danger signs is also an issue. In this study 217 recently-delivered mothers were interviewed about their delivery and home care practices. Some good delivery care practices were identified, including routine hand-washing by most birth attendants, sterile umbilical cord care in most cases, and postnatal visits from the birth attendant in most cases. However, a number of deficits in care and potentially harmful practices were found: poor aseptic procedures, delivery of one-third of women with complications in the home; pulling on the umbilical cord to hasten delivery of the placenta and hanging the neonate upside-down by the legs during resuscitation. Some postnatal care practices were in also accord with generally agreed-upon standards of care, such as prompt initial feeding, feeding of colostrums and most bathing practices. Substandard care practices among mothers were: a lack of hand-washing before neonatal care; lack of exclusive breastfeeding including supplemental feeds to half of newborns at the first feeding; and a lack of aseptic cord care. The mothers' assessment of the health of their newborns was in good agreement with the incidence of signs of potentially serious illnesses, suggesting that advice they received has been appropriate. Based on these findings, priorities for future investigation are proposed