Prevalence of helicobacter pylori infection in anemic and non-anemic children in Helwan, Egypt: impact on blood cell parameters

Background: Helicobacter [H.] pylori is the most common chronic bacterial infection of humans; affecting tilde 50% of the world's population. It is the cause of disease states of varying degrees of severity. Anemia is a widespread public health problem; tilde 50% of cases are diagnosed as iron deficiency anemia [IDA]. Recent studies have suggested an association between H. pylori infection and IDA in children

Aims of the work: This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of H. pylori infection in children with and without IDA diagnosis and also to determine effects of the bacterium on complete blood count parameters of those children

Subjects and Methods: A case-control [retrospective] study design was chosen to conduct this research. The prevalence of H. pylori antibody [Ab] seropositivity was compared between 50 children diagnosed with IDA vs. 50 non-anemic control children matching in age and sex

Results: A total of 18 [36%] anemic and 10 [20%] non-anemic children were found positive to H. pylori Ab [P=0.0013]. Also, comparison of the anemic to the control group revealed statistically significant lowering of ferritin, and red blood cell [RBC] parameters [i.e., hemoglobin, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin], and also platelet count in the anemic group. Moreover, comparison of H. pylori positive and negative anemic children revealed statistically significant lowering of RBC parameters in the H. pylori positive anemic children. Also, comparison of H. pylori positive and negative children revealed statistically significant lowering of RBC parameters in H. pylori positive children. In addition, correlation of H. pylori with all other parameters revealed negative significant correlation between H. pylori and RBC parameters

Conclusions: H. pylori infection had a higher prevalence among preschool children with IDA and the hematological impact was more on H. pylori positive anemic children

Recommendations: Both IDA and H. pylori are treatable diseases, so children having IDA must be investigated for H. pylori infection for early treatment to avoid serious complications of both diseases

Effects of recovery period and stem cell enhancer on bisphenol a treated female albino rats

Background: Bisphenol A [BPA] is a worldwide used endocrine disruptor that is incorporated in many plastic industries. Exposure of humans to such substance starts early during the fetal life, postnatal life, and extends throughout the life of the individual. Many agencies raised warnings against excessive use of such substance

Aim of the work: This study aimed to investigate effects of the recovery period [RP] and stem cell enhancer [SCE] on the female albino rats which received BPA

Materials and Methods: This study was performed on forty female albino rats with an average body weight of 140-160 grams. Animals were divided into four groups [10 rats per cage]; group I [control untreated for 30 days], group II [BPA treated for 15 days, and then sacrificed], group III [BPA treated first for 15 days, then left for another 15 days without any treatment "RP"], and group IV [BPA treated first for 15 days, then treated with SCE for another 15 days]. The following biochemical analyses were done to all groups; ALT [alanine amino-transferase], AST [aspartate amino-transferase], GGT [gamma glutamyl-transferase], total proteins, albumin, globulins, A/G ratio [i.e., liver function tests], creatinine, A/C [albumin/creatinine] ratio, uric acid [i.e., renal function tests], total lipids, total cholesterol, LDL-C [low density lipoprotein cholesterol], HDL-C [high density lipoprotein cholesterol], and triglycerides [i.e., lipids profile]

Results: In the BPA treated rats [group II] the biochemical results showed highly significant increases [P<0.01] in the enzymatic activities of ALT, AST, GGT, creatinine, uric acid, total lipids, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides levels, with only a significant increase [P<0.05] in globulins levels when compared to the control group. On the other hand, there was highly significant decreases [P<0.01] in total proteins, albumin, A/G ratio, A/C ratio, and HDL-C levels when compared to the control group. These results turned back to about the normal control values after stopping the use of BPA and either taking a RP [group III] or receiving the SCE [group IV]

Conclusions and Recommendations: It could be concluded that BPA has dangerous toxic effects on the liver and kidney functions as well as on the lipids profile. So, we recommend minimizing utilization of this compound [BPA] as possible to protect people from these hazardous effects. Moreover, the RP [i.e., 15 days without treatment] is better than the use of SCE which has no more benefit against the antitoxic effects of BPA

Potential effect of Aloe barbadensis and Salvadora persica [Miswak] Mixture Sap as a contraceptive therapy in female mice

Background: Evaluation of herbs has been in progress worldwide for several decades to identify effective and safe substances for fertility regulation. This approach proved to be a good alternative to synthetic drugs as the chemicals of plant origin have limited side effects. Various medicinal plant extracts were investigated for their antifertility activity in female animal models

Aim of the work: This study was designed to investigate the toxic effects of Aloe barbadensis and Salvadora persica [Miswak] Mixture sap and to assess them as a contraceptive therapy

Material and Methods: Twenty female adult albino rats [Sprague dawley strain] were used in this study. Rats were divided into two groups [10 rats in each group]; Group I [control untreated group] and Group II [mix treated group]. Mixture of Aloe barbadensis and Miswak sap was orally administered [7 mg of Miswak + 7 mg of Aloe per 100 gram body weight] for 30 +/- 2 days, where females were in the diestrus phase]. All animals were decapitated after 30 days and blood samples were analyzed for estrogen, progesterone, tumor markers CA-15.3 and CA-125, kidney and liver functions, proteins profile and lipids profile

Results: The mean serum level of estrogen was significantly increased [p<0.01], while that of progesterone was significantly decreased [p

Conclusion: It could be concluded that Aloe barbadensis and Miswak extract can be used as a safe contraceptive therapy that can increase the estrogen level due to its phytoestrogen components such as beta sitosterol, without deleterious effects on the vital organs [liver and kidneys]

Effects of recovery period and Tamoxifen on Bisphenol a treated female albino rats

Background: Bisphenol-A [BPA] is an organic synthetic polycarbonate compound [[CH[3]]2 C[C[6]H[4]OH][2]] which is widely incorporated into many plastic industries worldwide. BPA is an endocrine disruptor that exhibits hormone-like properties which may promote adverse effects in humans, triggering estrogenic signals in target tissues, which raise concern about its suitability in some consumer products and food containers. Since 2008, several governments have investigated BPA safety, which prompted some retailers to withdraw polycarbonate products. A 2010 report from the United States [US] Food and Drug Administration [FDA] identified possible hazards of BPA to fetuses, infants, and young children. However, the FDA has ended its authorization of the use of BPA in baby bottles and infant formula packaging, based on market abandonment, not safety

Aim of the work: This study aimed to investigate the antitoxic effects of the anti-estrogen drug Tamoxifen [Nolvadex] and the recovery period on the female albino rats which received BPA

Materials and Methods: This study was performed on forty female albino rats with an average body weight of 140-160 grams. The animals were divided into four groups [10 rats per cage]; Group I [Control untreated for 30 days], Group II [BPA treated for 15 days, then sacrificed], Group III [BPA treated first for 15 days, then left to a recovery period of another 15 days], and Group IV [BPA treated first for 15 days, then treated with the anti-estrogen drug Nolvadex for another 15 days]. The following analyses were done to all groups; ALT [alanine amino-transferase], AST [aspartate amino-transferase], GGT [gamma glutamyl-transferase], total proteins, albumin, globulins, A/G ratio [i.e., liver function tests], creatinine, uric acid, A/C [albumin/creatinine] ratio [i.e., renal function tests], total lipids, total cholesterol, LDL-C [low density lipoprotein cholesterol], HDL-C [high density lipoprotein cholesterol], and triglycerides [i.e., lipids profile]

Results: In the BPA treated group II the biochemical results showed highly significant increase [P<0.01] in the enzymatic activities of ALT, AST, and GGT with concomitant increase in globulins [P<0.05], creatinine, uric acid, total lipids, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides levels when compared to the control group. On the other hand, there was highly significant decrease [P<0.01] in total proteins, albumin, A/G [albumin/globulin] ratio, A/C [albumin/creatinine] ratio, and HDL-C levels when compared to the control group. These results turned back to normal control values after stopping the use of BPA alone [Group III] or stopping BPA and treatment with the anti-estrogen drug Nolvadex in the recovery period, except for ALT which was elevated [P<0.05] with Nolvadex [Group IV]

Conclusion: It could be concluded that BPA has dangerous toxic effects on the liver and kidney functions as well as on the lipids profile. Moreover, the recovery period [i.e., 15 days without treatment] is better than the use of the anti-estrogens [as Tamoxifen] which have no antitoxic effects to BPA, but caused hepatic toxicity instead which is noted by an increase in ALT levels. So, we recommend minimizing utilization of this compound [BPA] to protect people from its hazardous effects

Adiponectin levels as a marker of inflammation in Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Background: tuberculosis [TB] is a multisystem disease with myriad presentations and manifestations that may be pulmonary or extra-pulmonary. It is the most common cause of infectious diseases related mortality worldwide. Mechanisms underlying host defense to TB infection are poorly understood. Adiponectin is a protein produced exclusively in adipose tissue; it is lower in obese subjects than their lean counterparts. Another adipocyte hormone is leptin which is higher with fat mass and body mass index [BMI]. Wasting is a known feature of TB with a decrease in BMI. Patients with pulmonary TB disease often suffer from weight loss and BMI and leptin are known to be inversely correlated with adiponectin. Thus, increased adiponectin may be a promising marker for severity of the disease independent of the BMI and leptin

Aims of the work: the work aimed to evaluate the levels of serum adiponectin in patients with pulmonary TB in both active and latent TB patients as a diagnostic marker for tuberculous inflammation. Also, levels of serum leptin and measured BMI were evaluated and compared to make a relationship among active TB, latent TB, and healthy control groups

Subjects and Methods: the subjects were divided into 3 equal groups. The 1[st] group included 25 patients with active pulmonary TB. The 2[nd] group included 25 patients with latent TB after 6 months of diagnosis. The 3[rd] group included 25 healthy control volunteers. Serum levels of adiponectin and leptin were measured and BMI values were calculated to all groups

Results: Serum adiponectin levels in patients with active pulmonary TB were very highly significantly increased compared to both latent TB patients and healthy subjects [P<0.0001], while serum adiponectin levels in patients with latent pulmonary TB were only significantly increased compared to the healthy subjects [P<0.05]. On the other hand, serum leptin levels in patients with active pulmonary TB were very highly significantly decreased compared to both latent TB patients and healthy subjects [P<0.0001], while serum leptin levels in patients with latent pulmonary TB were only significantly decreased compared to the healthy subjects [P<0.05]. Also, BMI in patients with active pulmonary TB were very highly significantly decreased compared to both latent TB patients and healthy subjects [P<0.001], while BMI in patients with latent pulmonary TB were only significantly decreased compared to the healthy subjects [P<0.05]

Conclusion: the higher levels of adiponectin with lower levels of leptin in association with lower BMI measurements might indicate activity and severity of the TB disease. On the other hand, the lower levels of adiponectin with higher levels of leptin in association with higher BMI measurements might indicate stability and latency of the TB disease. Thus, increased adiponectin in the serum of pulmonary TB patients may be promising markers for severity of the disease independent of the BMI and leptin levels