Non alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] in a Sudanese population: What is the prevalence and risk factors?

Non alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] is a common clinical condition associated with obesity and considered as possible precursor of more serious disease like Non alcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH], cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. There is very little research work carried concerning NAFLD in African countries in relation to prevalence and risk factors. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of NAFLD and risk factors among asymptomatic co-patients accompanying patients admitted to gastroenterology wards at the National Centre for GI and Liver Diseases, Ibn Sina Hospital [Khartoum, Sudan]. Subjects with liver disease, excess alcohol intake [the intake of more than 21 units of alcohol per week for men and 14 units for women per week] and pregnancy were excluded from this study. The age, sex, body mass index [BMI], history and duration of diabetes and hypertension were recorded. Ultrasound was offered followed by clinical examination and blood sample was taken for assessment of liver function from each subject [total number of participants was 100]. NAFLD was diagnosed in 20 patients, giving prevalence of 20%. There was no statistical significance between the two sexes. The mean age of subjects with NAFLD was 53 years old and without NAFLD was 40 years [p < 0.05]. Importantly, the prevalence of NAFLD increased with age and BMI. Due to small number of diabetic individuals and hypertension, these two conditions were not statistically significant when related to NAFLD. The estimated prevalence of NAFLD in our study is 20% and this figure is comparable to the prevalence of NAFLD in Asian countries. Males and females were nearly equally affected and the prevalence of NAFLD increased with age and BMI, malting obesity a main risk factor

Nutritional assessment of raw, frozen and dried Egyptian mallow

The Egyptian mallow had been used since ancient Egyptian times. The fresh or frozen or dried leaves of Egyptian mallow was used as food and medicine. The present investigation was carried out in an attempt to clarify the nutritional assessment of raw, frozen and dried Egyptian mallow. The study included the determination of the gross chemical composition and caloric value as well as the beta-carotene and lutein contents were evaluated. Meanwhile, the vitamin A activity as retinal equivalents [RE] was calculated as recommended by WHO. The data revealed that the raw Egyptian mallow recorded an intermediate values for all chemical components, i.e. protein [24.74%], fat [6.43%], ash [15.79%], except for carbohydrate [49.95%]. Likewise, the caloric value of raw Egyptian mallow recorded a similar intermediate trend [354.63 k.cal./100 g] between dried and frozen Egyptian mallow. On the other hand, the frozen Egyptian mallow had the highest value of protein [25.63%], fat [13.96%] and caloric value [425.88 k.cal/100 g]. In addition, the dried Egyptian mallow recorded the highest values of ash [21.37%] and crude fibers [21.12%], an intermediate values of protein [14.02%], carbohydrate [39.10%] and caloric value [251.99 k.cal./100 g]. Moreover, the data revealed that the dried mallow contained the highest beta-carotene content [479.41 micro g/g] reaching six-fold its content in the raw mallow [79.73 micro g/g]. While, the frozen mallow recorded an intermediate beta-carotene content amounting to [200 micro g/g]. On the other hand, the data revealed close similar trend for lutein as for beta-carotene contents of both of raw, frozen and dried mallow. However, the lutein contents recorded almost half the values recorded for beta-carotene, namely: 42.70 micro g/g, 97.71 micro g/g, and 264.24 micro g/g in the raw, frozen and dried mallow, respectively. Likewise, the calculated retinal equivalent [RE] of raw, frozen and dried mallow recorded close similar trend to that of beta-carotene

Epidemiological study of the childhood disabilities: a household survey in four Egyptian governorates

This study was conducted on 1403 children from four Egyptian governorates. These governorates were; Alexandria, Al-Behira, Cairo and Al-Giza. The aim of the study was to define different types of the childhood disabilities, to find out their prevalence's in the selected governorates in Egypt, to define their distribution and to define their risk factors. A crosssectional study design was chosen to investigate the current research problem. All the children had undergone complete physical examinations. Also, children's parents were interviewed. There were specific inclusions criteria have been considered to include the child as a case in the study. The overall prevalence of the childhood disabilities in these governorates was 8.8%. The most common prevalent childhood disabilities were; visual, speech and hearing [4.5%, 2.1% and 1.9%, respectively]. While, the most common prevalent risk factors were mother delivered at home and/or not received antenatal care [7.2% and 6.3%, respectively]. Positive consanguinity and baby not strictly received vaccination were the most important risk factors, odds ratio = 3.81 and 3.31, respectively. While, only positive consanguinity was significantly correlated with all types of the childhood disabilities. Furthermore, positive consanguinity had the highest correlation with all types of the childhood disabilities. Also, childhood disabilities tend to be common among males [57.6%] and of congenital aetiology [61.8%]. The main source of habilitation was the private centers [79.2%]

Role of umbilical cord helix in foetal protection during third trimester pregnancy and labour

The objective of this study was to assess the degree of umbilical cord coiling with fetal protection during pregnancy and labor. This prospective clinical study was done on 150 pregnant women at 32-40 weeks of gestation with umbilical cord coiling by ultrasonic examination and postpartum examination of cord coiling with relation to the fetal outcome. The results showed a very highly significant correlation with non-coiled umbilical cord with fetal compromise, especially IUFD, IUGR, cord presentation and prolapse and fetal distress during labor. All these conditions were significantly increased with the non-coiled umbilical cord rather than the coiled cord. In conclusion, when non-coiled umbilical cord is diagnosed during pregnancy by ultrasound, the fetus must be put under observation, congenital anomalies should be searched for IUFD and IUGR should be avoided as well as the mode of delivery should be modulated according to the clinical finding of the pregnant women

First trimester transvaginal ultrasound examination and uterine artery doppler study in the prediction of spontaneous abortion in women with recurrent abortion

This study was performed on 100 pregnant women during the first trimester. They were divided into three groups. First group included 40 high-risk cases with a history of recurrent abortion. Second group included 40 low-risk cases with no history of recurrent abortion, but with current threatened abortion. Third group included 20 normal control cases. Transvaginal US examination was done to measure the mean sac diameter [MSD], crown- rump length [CRL] and embryonic heart rate [HER] and to study the uterine artery color Doppler indices. The outcome of pregnancy in each case was observed and its relation with the measured parameters was examined. Only one transvaginal US examination showing normal MSD, CRL and EHR is very reassuring and should be sufficient for the first trimester. However, the finding of an abnormal US parameter should necessitate a repeated US examination a week or ten days later. Slow EHR was the most accurate single US parameter in predicting spontaneous abortion. Decreasing uterine artery resistance index [RI] and pulsatility index [PI] with gestation was a good predictor of favorable outcome, but the reverse was not true. The use of a combination of more than one parameter was more predictive than any single parameter

Evaluation and utiluzation of okra seeds

Chemical composition of okra seeds and its defatted flour was investigated. The whole seeds and defatted flour contained 23.56, 60.06% protein; 21.29, 4.45% oil; 16.66, 5.44% crude fiber; 4.46, 8.19% ash and 24.26, 21.86% carbohydrates, respectively. Some functional properties of defatted okra seed flour were studied. The amino acids composition of defatted flour indicated its high lysine level, therefore it may be used as a supplement to cereal products. Addition of defatted okra seed flour to wheat flour until 10% of weight improved the protein, ash and crude fiber contents as well as amino acid composition without any dislike effect on organoleptic properties when used in biscuits

Treatment of the fungal infections of the female genital tract by different modalities of treatment

This study was done to manage the fungal infections of the lower female genital tract by different methods of treatment. It was done on 160 non-pregnant women complaining from fungal infection. After full clinical examination and taking cervical and vaginal swabs for microscopic examinations and cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar media, all cases were divided into three groups. The first group included 20 cases received oral treatment as fluconazole and ketoconazole only; the second group included 60 cases, every 10 cases received local treatment as miconazole [vag. ovule], tioconazole [vag. ovule], clotrimazole [vag. Ovule], povidone-iodine [vag. Ovule], econazole [vag. ovule] and gentian violet [as paint] and the third group included 80 cases received systemic and local treatment. Every eight cases from these groups received fluconazole plus miconazole nitrate, fluconazole plus tioconazole, fluconazole plus clotrimazole, fluconazole plus povidone-iodine, fluconazole plus econazole, ketoconazole plus miconazole nitrate, ketoconazole plus tioconazole ketoconazole, caplus tioconazole, ketoconazole plus clotrimazole, ketoconazole plus povidone-iodine and ketoconazole plus econazole

Potentiometric microdetermination of phosphate, arsenate and sulfide

For mercuri-gravi-potentiometric microdetermination of phosphate, arsenate and sulfide, optimum conditions have been investigated for their precipitation with cations of Th [IV], Fe [III] and Hg [II] respectively. Excess EDTA was then added to react with unreacted cation and the remaining EDTA was finally back titrated with Hg [II] using silver amalgam and SCE combination. For microdetermination of these anions, the standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and percentage recovery were calculated indicating the high accuracy and reliability of the applied procedures. There is a significant correlation between suggested and standard procedures which confirmed by F and t tests

Potentiometric determination of persulfate in the presence of organic substances

An excellent procedure for the quantitative determination of milligram amounts of persulfate in presence and in absence of organic substances is given. Persulfate is reduced with iodide and the unreacted iodide is titrated with mercury [II] using silver amalgam as the indicator electrode. Since all organic substances are inert towards iodide, they will not interfere with the present method. Such an advantage reveals the importance of the present work, as studies of polymerization reactions depend essentially upon persulfate as an activator

Potentiometric determination of hexacyanoferrate [III] and bismuth [III] analysis of mixtures

A rapid, accurate and highly selective method has been developed for estimation of hexacyanoferrate [III] based on reduction with iodide to hexacyanoferrate [II] and Bismuth [III] based on separating it as bismuth hexacyanoferrate [III] and reduction of excess reagent with iodide. Unconsumed iodide is then titrated with mercury [II] using silver amalgam as the indicator electrode. The method is applied to the successful analysis of binary as well as ternary mixtures with a variety of metal ions

Use of alcoholic iodine in the potentiometric titration of quinol, hexacyanoferrate [II] and succinic acid dihydrazide

The present work is undertaken to ascertain the feasibility of applying the instantaneous reactions between alcoholic iodine and a given reductant to the direct determination of quinol, hexacyanoferrate [II] and succinic acid dihydrazide. A slight excess of alcoholic iodine is added to the reductant and the equivalent iodide is titrated with mercury [II] using silver amalgam as the indicator electrode. Some prior studies on the determination of reductants are instructive. Quinol [4was determined cerimetrically, amperometrically, iodimetrieally, mercurimetrically, and vanadatimetrically. Hexacyanoferrate [II] was determined by oxidation with cerium [IV] using N-phenylanthranilic acid as indicator, or with dichromate using oxazine dyes as redox indicator or argentimetrically using chromate as indicator or potentiometrically using dibromamine T as indicator and chelatimetrically byits precipitation with a known excess of Cu [II] and subsequent titration of the unconsumed Cu [II] with EDTA. Hydrazide was determined potentiometrically with NaN0[2], coloumetrically with generated cerium [IV] in acid medium, amperometrically with NaNO2 using two identical platinum micro-electrodes or detected by chromatography. The potentiometric titrations approach now developed has several advantages, including application to reductants over a wide range of concentrations, simplicity, rapidity, reproducibility and high accuracy. The potential breaks average 280 mV per 0.1 ml titrant

Applications involving iodide and persulphate: use of persulphate and iodide in the potentiometric determination of arsenite, phosphite, hypophosphite and quinol

A new reliable potentiometric method is given for the determination of persulphate based on reduction with iodide and titration of unreacted iodide with Hg [II] using silver amalgam as the indicator electrode in conjunction with a standard calomel electrode over a wide range of concentrations. The end point potential breaks amounted to 365-440 mV per 0.1 ml titrant and hence the high accuracy of the present method. Rapid and accurate potentiometric methods have been developed for estimation of arsenite, phosphite, hypophosphite and quinol based on oxidation with persulphate and subsequent determination of unreacted pxidant potentiometrically as mentioned above. The results are quite satisfactory and the end points are well defined with very sharp potential breaks ranging from 200 to 398 mV per 0.1 ml of mercury [II]

Applications involving oxidation with KBrO3 rapid potentiometric methods for vanadium alone or in mixtures

A RAPID and reliable method is given for the determination of vanadium based on oxidation of the V [IV] with a known excess of bromate to V[V]. The unreacted oxidant as well as V[V] are subsequently reduced with sulphurous acid to V [IV]. The resulting Br was potentiometrically titrated with Hg [I] using silver amalgam as the indicator electrode. The method finds application to the analysis of some binary and ternary mixtures

Redox reaction of iodine and phenols II microdetermination of phenols with iodine by potentiometry

A new rapid and accurate method for the determination of amino, nitro-and bromophenois is adopted. This is based on their oxidation with iodine aqueous ethanolic solution and titration of the iodide equivalent to the phenol derivative with mercury [II] using silver amalgam and SCE combination. The possible schemes for the course of the redox reactions are suggested. The procedure Is also evaluated, in comparison with those mentioned in the line rature. A series of experiments is performed for each phenol, a; the optimum conditions, covering a wide range of Its concentration. The mean deviation, the relative mean deviation and the coefficient of variation are calculated for the determination of p-amino-phenol to test the reproducibility of the suggested procedure. The standard deviation 0.002 indicates high accuracy of the present method. All end points are attended with large potential breaks ranging from 140 -240 mV/O.I ml of 0.05 M mercury [II]

Redox properties of cobalt 3 heterochelates 1: Behaviour towards iodide

Aqueous solutions of trivalent cobalt heterochelates are found to be indefinitely stable in comparison with cobalt [III] salt solutions, which are almost always unstable. Their yellow coloured solutions exhibit constant extinction in the temperature range of 28 to 60 degree. They are found to behave as oxidimetric reagents towards iodide. The redox reaction is found to be quantitative under optimal conditions of acidity, iodide and heterochelate concentrations. The quantitative manner was proved by determining the standard redox potential or the [cobalt [III] complex-cobalt[II] complex] system and using it together with that of the [iodine-iodide] system for computing the equilibrium formation constant [K] of the redox reaction by aid of the relation E degree = 0.0591/n log K at 25 degree. In analysis, such a reaction is applied for the potentiometric determination of each of the cobalt chelate and iodide. Such cobalt heterochelates hold good promise as oxidant for a variety of reductians and hence as analytical reagents for their determination

kinetics of oxidation of hydroquinone by [Co3-Salen] 2 O2 complex in acetic acid media

The keaotiox of C[o] [III]-salen[2]O[2] with hydroquinone [H[2]O[2], has been studied spectrophotometrically. Spectrophotometric measurements show that an intermediate [Co[III] - salen[+], [H[2]O[2], complex is formed, and the rate of oxidation of H[2]O is of fraction order [n = 1.5] at various equal concentrations of oxidant and reductant, and depends on both acidity, in the range of 1-8 M acetic acid, and temperature in the range of 35-60 degree. The energy of activation E = 26 Kcal mole[-1] and the entropy of activation Delta S=-16.65 cal-deg.[-1] mole[-1]. This reaction is found to be first order at various concentration of Co [III] - salen [2]O[2] complex and excess H[2]O as given by the linear relation of log [At -A infinity], vs. time