Antiulcer activity of methanol extract of melastoma malabathricum leaves in rats

To determine the potential antiulcer activity of methanol extract of Melastoma malabathricum leaves [MEMM] using various established rat models. Ten groups of rats were used and orally administered 10% DMSO [negative control], 100 mg/kg ranitidine [positive control] or MEMM [50,250 and 500 mg/kg] followed by gastric ulcer induction either using ethanol or in-domethacin. The stomachs were collected and subjected to macroscopic and microscopic analyses. MEMM exhibited significant [p < 0.05] antiulcer activity in the ethanol, but not in the indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer model. The percentage of antiulcer activity for 50-500 mg/kg MEMM ranged between 3 and 75%, respectively. The gross observations were supported by histological findings. MEMM also aggravated the indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer, leading toan increasein ulcer area formation and ulcer score. The M. malabathricum leaves showed antiulcer activity, which could be attributed to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This requires further in-depth studies

Assessment of patient safety culture among health-care providers at a teaching hospital in Cairo, Egypt

A previous study in Cairo, Egypt highlighted the need to improve the patient safety culture among health-care providers at Ain Shams University hospitals. This descriptive cross-sectional study assessed health-care providers' perceptions of patient safety culture within the organization and determined factors that played a role in patient safety culture. A representative sample of 510 physicians, nurses, pharmacists, technicians and labourers in different departments answered an Arabic version of the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality hospital survey for patient safety culture, The highest mean composite positive score among the 12 dimensions was for the organizational learning for continuous improvement [78.2%], followed by teamwork [58.1%]. The lowest mean score was for the dimension of non-punitive response to error [19.5%], Patient safety culture still has many areas for improvement that need continuous evaluation and monitoring to attain a safe environment both for patients and health-care providers

Safe injection practice among health-care workers in Gharbiya Governorate, Egypt

We assessed safe injection practices among 1100 health-care workers in 25 health-care facilities in Gharbiya Governorate. Questionnaires were used to collect information and 278 injections were observed using a standardized checklist. There was a lack of infection control policies in all the facilities and a lack of many supplies needed for safe injection. Proper needle manipulation before disposal was observed in only 41% of injections, safe needle disposal in 47.5% and safe syringe disposal in 0%. Reuse of used syringes and needles was reported by 13.2% of the health-care workers and 66.2% had experienced a needle-stick injury. Only 11.3% had received a full course of hepatitis B vaccination

Impact of life style on the nutritional status of medical students at Ain Shams University

This cross sectional study was carried out to assess the nutritional status of medical students and to determine its relation to their life style. The study involved 317 students at, Aim Shams University. Anthropometric measurements such as weight, height, mid-arm circumference, triceps skin fold thickness and body mass index were measured. The students completed a self-administered questionnaire including data about some life style factors and food-frequency consumption. The study revealed that 41.3% of the students were of normal weight while 9.5% of the sample were underweight, 36.9% were overweight and 12.5% were obese. The mean mid upper arm circumference [MUAC] and mid arm muscle circumference [MAMC] of males was significant higher than that of females, while the mean triceps skin fold [TSF] of females was significant higher than that of males. The food frequency questionnaire analysis showed that most of students consume all food groups items faire. There was no statistical significant difference between the body mass index [BMI] of students and different types of food consumption. About two thirds of the students used to practice exercise, 26.9% of the students practiced exercise for less than 2 hours per week, while 33.9% of them for more than 2 hours. There was no statistical significant difference between the BMI of students and different types of exercise. However, there was significant higher percentage of males play sports and practice running [44.7% and 19.4% respectively] compared to [11.7% and 8.1%] of females. Sixty four percent of the students usually have regular meals. About 87.2% of obese compared to 64.9% of normal weight students eat snacks between meals, the difference was statistically significant. Obese individuals eat more during watching television and during feeling of stress compared to non-obese and the difference was statistically significant. The duration of practicing exercise, sports and playing computer was significantly higher in males than females. However, the duration of watching television was significantly higher in females than males. Logistic regression analysis results showed that family history of obesity and some life style factors as duration of computer use, eating more during stress time and snacking between meals were important risk factors for obesity. We concluded that about half of medical students were overweight and obese. The most important life style factors responsible for obesity were longer time spent using computer, eating more during time of stress and snacking between meals. Also, genetic factors played an important role in development of obesity. It is recommended to develop nutritional education and physical activities programs to face the problem of increasing the rate of overweight and obesity among university students

Pre-eclampsia: Epidemiology and outcome of 995 cases

To study the epidemiology and pregnancy outcome of pre-eclampsia at Ain Shams University Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynecology. A case control study involved 995 cases of pre-eclampsia, 227 cases with chronic hypertension and 1375 cases with normal pregnancy delivered during the year 2000 at Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital. All these cases were critically analyzed regarding to some risk factors as age, parity, blood group, diabetes mellitus, Rhesus factor and multiple pregnancy. The outcomes of all these 3 groups were compared regarding to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Pre-eclampsia was more common in elder age, blood group B, in Rhesus negative, during summer, multiple pregnancy and in patients with diabetes mellitus. The difference was statistically significant regarding all these risk factors [p <0.01] when compared with cases of chronic hypertension and patients with normal pregnancies. In this work pre-eclampsia was found to be an important cause for maternal and fetal mortality. Also it was found to be an important cause for premature deliveries

possible alteration in the effect of glibenclamide by combined administration of calcium channel blockers on some carbohydrate metabolic aspects in rats

The effect of two calcium channel blockers [CCBs] [verapamil [Ver] and nifedipine [Nif]] when given in combination with glibenclamide [Gb] on some carbohydrate metabolic aspects was studied in male albino rats. Short- or long-term administration of CCBs along with Gb completely abolished the hypoglycemic and hyperinsulinemic effect of Gb. This was accompanied by a profound lowering of liver glycogen to 50% and 43% of the control values in combination of Ver and Nif with Gb, respectively. Hepatic glucose 6-phosphatase [G-6-Pase] activity was not affected by short-term administration of CCBs with Gb as compared to the control values. However, on long-term administration of such combinations, the lowering effect of Gb on hepatic G-6-Pase activity was abolished. Meanwhile, hepatic G-6-PDH activity was reduced in response to both short- and long-term combined therapy of CCBs with Gb to an extent comparable to that caused by CCBs treatment alone. Possible explanations for such interactions are given