Screening of the Anti-hyperglycemic activity of some medicinal plants of Jordan

Diabetes represents a group of common diseases that are characterized by dysregulation of blood glucose levels. Plants are traditionally used for management of diseases including diabetes. In this study, we screened the antidiabetic effect of extracts of 21 plants grown in Jordan. Extracts of plants were screened for their antihyperglycemic activity. Diabetes was induced in Sprague Dawley rats using Alloxan. Plant extracts were dosed at 1gm/kg. Blood glucose was measured at baseline and at every hour for 3 hours. Results showed that five plants out of the 21 screened showed antihyperglycemic activity. These plants are Phoenix dactylifera L., Tecoma stans [L.] Kunth, Cichorium pumilum Jacq., Phaseolus vulgaris L., and Teucrium polium L. On the other hand, Sarcopoterium spinosum [L.] Spach. and Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata significantly increased blood glucose levels in diabetic rats. The following plant extracts showed neutral effect on blood glucose levels: Plantago major L., Taraxacum cyprium H. Lindb, Artemisia inculta Delile, Marrubium vulgare L., Inula viscosa [L.] Ai, Rubus sanguineus Friv, Coriandrum sativum L., Cucurbita pepo var ovefera, Cucumis sativus L., Hordeum vulgare L., Apium graveolens L., Avena sativa L., Helianthus annus L., and Anethum graveolens L. In conclusion, Jordanian medicinal plants might be useful for managements of blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes

ABCA1 C69T gene polymorphism and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Saudi population.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a disease induced by complex interactions between environmental factors and certain genetic factors. Genetic variants in the Adenosine Binding Cassette Transporter Proteins 1 (ABCA1) have been associated with abnormalities of serum lipid levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C). Decreased serum levels of HDL-C have often been observed in T2DM cases, and this condition has been considered to be involved in the mechanism of insulin resistance (IR). Therefore, we investigated possible association between ABCA1 C69T gene polymorphism and T2DMin a Saudi population. This study was carried out with 380 healthy control subjects and 376 T2DM patients. Genotyping of ABCA1 C69T polymorphism was carried out by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism technique. We observed that the frequency of the T allele of the ABCA1 C69T gene was significantly higher in healthy subjects compared to T2DMpatients (0.28 vs 0.45; p<0.0001; OR (95% CI) = 0.4624 (0.3732–0.5729), and therefore the T allele may be a protective factor against T2DM in the Saudi population.

Immediate Relief TMJ Clicking Following Low Level Laser Therapy After Orthodontic Treatment :- A Case Report.

Introduction: To determine efficacy of low level laser therapy for clicking temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with a diode laser following orthodontic treatment. Methods: Performance of LLLT with a diode laser for temporomandibular clicking and postoperative findings were evaluated in a case of an orthodontic patient following the termination of treatment. Patient had a history of severe clicking before initiation of treatment protocol. Low level diode laser ((λ= 905 nm, power = 0.7 watt, mode = continuous, Time = 60 seconds)), applied for the purpose of relieving the signs.Results: During the process of intervention and establishing the proper dental occlusion sign of temporomandibular joint dysfunction i.e. clicking reduced significantly (p<0.05) but remained at the lowest level from the perspective of frequency and severity index. Patient had no sign and symptom at the end of treatment. Clicking was reemerged in the retention period, i.e. after six months. Clinical signs disappeared immediately after the application of laser once (p<0.05) with no recurrence after four months follow up.Conclusion: Low level laser therapy serves as an adjuvant to orthodontic treatment while establishing the proper occlusion of stomatognathic system has pivotal role in function and stability of outcome.

Detection of serum prostate specific antigen in lactating, pregnant, and advanced breast cancer Sudanese Women

Introduction: Although prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the most valuable tumor marker for the diagnosis and management of prostate carcinoma; it is widely accepted that PSA is not prostate specific. Objectives: The aim of this study is to address the possibility of using the PSA as marker for the sex assignment in different categories and relevance of this test in women problems. Method: We have evaluated the measurement of serum total PSA for differentiation between Sudanese women with advanced breast cancer (n= 10); and those are lactating (n=10); pregnant (n=10) compared with 20 healthy women as control group. Serum total PSA (TPSA) was measured using immuno-radiometric assay (IRMA). Results: In this study the mean age was significantly higher advanced breast cancer groups compared with lactating group (P0.01). The mean serum PSA levels in the healthy control women examined (nsignificant high level of total PSA in serum of advanced breast cancer compared with the normal group (P 0.05). Conclusion: These results indicated the possible use of total PSA to distinguish between healthy women and/or women with advanced breast cancer

Huntington's disease

Huntington disease [HD] is an inherited disorder of central nervous system: it is a autosomal dominant disease causing progressive neurodegeneration that leading to uncontrolled movements, mental and emotional problems, and loss of thinking ability [cognition]. HD can occur at any age but the mean onset is between 35 to 44 years, generally the onset of disease depending on allele size. A mutation occur on HD gene leading to trinucleotide repeat expansion [increase number of AG codon over 40 repeated] which lead to produce a mutant form of huntingtin protein that cause cell death in selective area in brain [basal ganglia]. The most probable mechanism that explains the expansion mutation is Unequal crossing over and Polymerase slippage. The incidence of HD is varies depend on type or descent of a population weather they are western European, Japanese, Chinese or African blacks, this variation due to the genetic risk factor and the variation on the HD gene. About two-thirds of affected individuals present with neurological manifestations, while others present with psychiatric changes, the manifestations start with subtle changes in coordination, minor involuntary movements and develop to increasing difficulty with voluntary activity and chorea and at the end motor disability becomes severe and the individual is often totally dependent and mute. Therapy that stop or slow the neurological degeneration is unavailable but drugs are used to alleviate the patient suffering by managing certain symptoms such as chorea, psychosis, and depression. The diagnosis is usually by the presence of clinical manifestation and family history and confirmed by molecular genetic testing which also used to predictive testing and prenatal diagnosis

Penetrating colonic injuries in wartime; our experiences in Al Yarmouk Teaching Hospital, Baghdad

Penetrating trauma is the commonest cause of surgical admissions in Baghdad following invasion to Iraq 2003. In this study, the factors that affect the morbidity and mortality in patients with penetrating colonic injuries were evaluated. Eighty six [86] patients [74 males, 12 females; age range 7 to 60 years] with penetrating colonic trauma, most of them of high velocity injuries were evaluated according to age, gender, type of penetration, trauma location and severity of colonic injury, associated injury, interval between the trauma and definitive operation, hemodynamic status, blood transfusion requirement, fecal contamination, surgical procedure, postoperative complication and mortality. The mechanisms of injuries were bullets injury in 66 [76.74%] patients, blast injury [shell] in 18 [ 20.93%] and stab injury in 2 [2.3%] patients. Injuries were evaluated according to TRISS and PATI [penetrating abdominal trauma index]. Multiple organs injuries found in 68 [79%] patients, wherease only the large bowels injured in 18 [21%] patients. Primary repair was performed in 36 [42%] of the 86 patients, and colostomy was performed in 50[58%] patients. From those with primary closure [36 patients], PATI was over 25 in 10 patients and below 25 in 26 patients. 15 patients had resection segment [destructive injuries, primary anastomosis], 7 patients had more than 25% of colonic wall injuries, and 10 had less than 25%. Symptoms of shock were present in 66 patients at admission, mortality rate was 6.97%. These results suggest that the use of primary closure should be expanded in penetrating colon trauma and that, even with moderate and severe degrees of colon injury, primary closure provides an outcome equivalent to that provided by colostomy. The primary repair of the penetrating colon trauma can be performed confidently in patients with PATI suggests that is should be included along with other injury severity indices in trauma data bases

Granular cell tumour of the ampulla of Vater.

Granular cell tumour (GCT) is a rare soft tissue neoplasm commonly encountered in the head and neck region, skin and subcutaneous tissue. GCT of the biliary system is most commonly reported in African-American females and usually presents as abdominal pain and obstructive jaundice. The neoplasm constitutes less than 10% of all benign tumours of the extra-hepatic biliary tree. No case of GCT involving the ampulla of Vater has been reported in the literature to date. We report a case of benign GCT involving the ampullary region in a 44-year-old Ethiopian male. Preoperative diagnosis was available on ERCP and deep biopsy. The patient was managed by debulking resection and biliary-enteric bypass and is symptom-free with no evidence of tumour progression after a follow-up of one year.

The effect of gum Arabic oral treatment on the iron and protein status in chronic renal failure patients under regular hemodialysis in Central Sudan

Objective To assess the effect of gum arabic (Acacia Senegal) oral treatment on the iron and protein status in chronic renal failure patients. Material and Methods Thirty-six chronic renal failure (CRF) patients (under regular hemodialysis); and 10 normal subjects participated in this study. The patients were randomly allocated into the following groups: Group A (n=12): CRF patients under low protein diet (LPD) (less than 40 gram/day); and gum arabic (50 g/day) treatment; Group B (n=14): CRF patients under LPD; gum arabic; iron (ferrous sulphate 200 mg/day) and folic acid (5 mg/day) treatment; Group C (control group; n=10): CRF patients under LPD; iron and folic acid treatment; Group D (n=10): normal volunteers who were kept on normal diet beside a daily dose of 50 gm gum arabic. Each of the above treatments was continued for three consecutive months. Predialysis blood samples were collected from each subject before treatment; and twice per month for three months. Hemoglobin (Hb); hematocrit; total protein; albumin; globulin and 24-hour urine volume as well as serum iron; total iron-binding capacity (TIBC);transferrin saturation; packed cell volume (PCV) and; mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were determined. Results Following administration of gum arabic oral treatment for three months; serum iron increased by 5.85and 4.81for groups A and B; respectively. These increases were significantly different from the baseline (P0.05); and control group C (P0.01). TIBC was significantly decreased in group A (4.44) and in group B (4.31) as compared with the baseline and control group C (P0.05). Transferrin saturation was significantly increased by 7.77; and 9.59for groups A and B; respectively; compared with the baseline (P0.05) and control group C (P0.01). Hb; PCV; MCHC; serum total protein; albumin and globulin; and 24-hour urine volume showed no statistically significant differences from the baseline and control groups. Conclusion The improvement in iron status due to oral administration of gum arabic could reduce the need for oral iron prescription

Warfarin-induced necrosis of the breast: case report.

Warfarin-induced necrosis of the breast is an unusual complication of warfarin therapy. Since its first description in 1943, up to 36 cases have been reported in the English literature. Close association between inherited or functional deficiency of protein C and S and warfarin therapy is frequently reported. A characteristic patient is an obese middle-aged female receiving anticoagulant treatment. The rapidly evolving painful lesion appears suddenly, usually within 3 to 6 days after initiation of warfarin therapy. Prevention may be achieved by identifying the high-risk patients-female gender, middle age, obesity, and avoiding large loading doses of warfarin. Early recognition and treatment are necessary to avoid significant long-term morbidity. Established necrosis necessitates debridement and sometimes mastectomy. A case of warfarin-induced necrosis of the left breast mimicking inflammatory cancer is reported. Current recommendations for the prevention and treatment of this uncommon condition are reviewed.

Central venous Tenckhoff catheter for hemodialysis

A double-cuff tenckhoff catheter was inserted through the right external jugular vein into the superior vena cava in a patient where repeated attempts to establish a classical permanent vascular access for haemodialysis had failed. Peritoneal dialysis was not possible because multiple abdominal operations. This catheter was used successfully as a permanent blood access for over 26 months and adequate dialysis was achieve

Microbial content of kohl

Three brands of commercially prepared kohl imported from India were tested and were found to vary widely in microbial content. Heavy contamination, primarily with Bacillus species, Gram-negative bacilli, and a number of fungi, was present in one brand. Moderate contamination was found in the second brand, primarily due to Bacillus species and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The third brand tested contained no microorganisms. Because of the presence of opportunistic organisms in kohl, its use-either cosmetic or medical-is not recommended in eyes with diseases that affect the ocular surface. Its use in newborn infants should also be discouraged