Salacca zalacca: A short review of the palm botany, pharmacological uses and phytochemistry

Salacca zalacca (Gaertn.) Voss (family Arecaceae) is the snake fruit commonly known in Malay language as salak in Malaysia. This exotic fruit has diverse and potential pharmacological properties due to its high antioxidant content. It is often consumed due to its sweet taste. The abundant natural sugar and fibre along with minerals and vitamin makes it a nutritious fruit. Phytochemical investigation on this fruit has revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenolics, glycosides as well as some volatile and aromatic compounds, including gallic acid, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, proanthocyanidins, lycopene and β-carotene. Pharmacological studies on the fruit flesh and peel have shown some tremendous antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antidiabetic potential. This review provides the botanical information of Salacca zalacca as well as its scientific investigations involving the distinct pharmacological and phytochemical benefits. This could help in highlighting the lacking data and research gaps on this plant.

Salacca zalacca: A short review of the palm botany, pharmacological uses and phytochemistry

Salacca zalacca (Gaertn.) Voss (family Arecaceae) is the snake fruit commonly known in Malay language as salak in Malaysia. This exotic fruit has diverse and potential pharmacological properties due to its high antioxidant content. It is often consumed due to its sweet taste. The abundant natural sugar and fibre along with minerals and vitamin makes it a nutritious fruit. Phytochemical investigation on this fruit has revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenolics, glycosides as well as some volatile and aromatic compounds, including gallic acid, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, proanthocyanidins, lycopene and β-carotene. Pharmacological studies on the fruit flesh and peel have shown some tremendous antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antidiabetic potential. This review provides the botanical information of Salacca zalacca as well as its scientific investigations involving the distinct pharmacological and phytochemical benefits. This could help in highlighting the lacking data and research gaps on this plant.

Zoonoses from pets horses, donkeys and mules: with special references to Egypt

A zoonosis is an animal disease that is transmissible to humans. Humans are usually an accidental host that acquires disease through close contact with an infected animal, who may or may not be symptomatic. Children are at highest risk for infection because they are more likely to have close contact with pets. Pets are responsible for transmission of an extensive array of bacterial, fungal, and parasitic zoonotic pathogens. The route of transmission can be through the saliva [e.g., bites or contaminated scratches], feces, respiratory secretions, direct contact, or by the animal acting as a vehicle and source of tick or flea exposure. Although pets have been implicated in transmission of zoonoses to their owners, risk of transmission from contact with pets is low and may be further reduced by simple precautions

Attitudes of dental students towards using computers in education-a mixed design study

This mixed design study explored attitudes of dental students towards use of computers. It employed quantitative analyses of a questionnaire answered by 979 students and qualitative analysis of suggestions by a subgroup of 339. Positive attitudes towards computers were predicted by "computer use for > 1 year" and "year of study". Qualitative analysis of students' suggestions confirmed these findings and brought up new issues such as the need for establishing a website for the faculty. The results indicate that careful planning is needed to improve students' skills and incorporate computer applications in educational curricula

Prevalence of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria in early onset neonatal sepsis

To determine prospectively the prevalence of anaerobic and aerobic infection in early onset [during 72 hours of age] neonatal sepsis, in Tehran Vali-e-Asr Hospital. Among all the live birth, neonates suspecting of having septicemia were investigated for isolation of microorganisms. Culture bottle containing enriched tryptic soy broth was used for standard blood culture system to detect aerobes and an ANAEROBIC/F bottle was inoculated using BACTEC 9120 continuous monitoring blood culture system to determine the growth of anaerobic bacteria. Among 1724 live births, 402 consecutive neonates suspecting of having septicemia were investigated for isolation of micro organism. A total of 27 episodes of early onset neonatal sepsis occurred with an incidence of 15.66 [11.6 aerobe + 4.0 anaerobe] per 1000 live births. Aerobic bacteria were the major etiological agents, accounting for 20 cases. 7 [26%] cases had positive blood cultures with anaerobic bacteria. Propionibacterium and Peptostreptococccus [amongst anaerobic] and coagulase-negative staphylococci and staphylococcus aureus [amongst aerobic] were the most commonly isolated organisms. Comparison of clinical findings and demographic characteristics between aerobic and anaerobic infection did not have a significant statistical difference. Our impression is that while anaerobic bacteremia in the newborn infants can occasionally cause severe morbidity and mortality, majority of cases experience a self limited illness with transient bacteremia

Prospective randomized trial comparing between open and closed methods of hemorrhoidectomy

Hemorrhoids become manifest as a result of and downward displacement of or cushions of submucosal tissue situated normally in the anal canal. Open Hemorrhoidectomy considered the standard procedure in all cases of hemorrhoids especially advanced hemorrhoid disease. During the last two years 110 patients hemorrhoidectomy, 60 patients underwent open method hemorrhoidectomy and 50 patients underwent closed method hemorrhoidectomy. There were 85 male patients and 55 female patients, with a age of 39 years for male patients, and 45 for female patients. The median time for surgery was about minutes and the anesthesia time was 22 minutes, which was more or less the same in both groups. The time of surgery range for group 1 was 5 to 25 minutes, and the range for group 2 was 6 to 22 minutes. The median number of pethidine injections for group I was and for group 2 was 2. The median length of stay in the hospital in group I was 3 days but in group 2 was days. All methods are effective in the treatment of symptomatic hemorrhoids .the open technique has less postoperative pain than in-patients who under-went closed technique. The closed method does not in-fluence the occurrence of postoperative hemorrhage. statistical difference in postoperative hemorrhage. open method has ashorter stay in the hospital than in the closed method

Serum Neopterin as a marker of rheumatic activity in children with acute rheumatic fever: comparison of its behavior with soluble interleukin 2-receptors

This study was conducted on 30 children with acute rheumatic fever [ARF] and 15 apparently healthy children chosen as controls. Both groups were subjected to thorough history, complete clinical examination, complete blood count [CBC], erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], antistreptolysin O titer [ASOT], serum soluble interleukin 2-receptors [sIL2-R] and serum neopterin level. These investigations were repeated for 26 cases after a period of 25-30 days. Chest X-ray, ECG and echocardiography were done for cases at first examination and were repeated for some cases. Children with ARF had a significantly higher sIL2-R than controls. Serum concentrations of sIL2-R showed no significant differences in the groups of ARF. No significant correlations were detected between sIL2-R and the other parameters examined. The mean serum level of sIL2-R did not differ significantly after follow up. Children with ARF had a significantly higher serum neopterin level than controls. A higher frequency of abnormally elevated serum neopterin was detected in cases with carditis and cases with carditis and arthritis than cases with arthritis alone. Children with combined mitral and aortic valve had a significantly higher serum neopterin level than those with mitral valve lesions alone. A significant positive correlation between serum neopterin and ESR and a significant negative correlation between neopterin and hemoglobin was detected. After therapy, serum neopterin level decreased significantly and did not significantly differ from that of the controls

Heart rate variability as detected by ECG in predicting autonomic diabetic neuropathy

In order to evaluate the occurrence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in diabetic children and its relation to their metabolic control, this study was carried out on 40 children aged 10-16 years. They were divided into 2 groups, 1st group included 25 cases with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [IDDM] and 2nd group of 15 healthy age-matched children as controls. Both cases and controls were subjected to thorough history, complete clinical examination, and noninvasive cardiovascular reflex tests including valsalva ratio, 30:15 ratio, and systolic blood pressure response to st and ing up along with determination of fasting blood glucose and serum fructosamine levels. Fasting blood glucose and serum fructosamine levels were significantly higher in diabetic children than controls. Valsalva and 30:15 ratios were significantly lower in diabetic children than controls. These ECG ratios correlated negatively with both fasting blood glucose and serum fructosamine levels. These findings suggested the presence of cardiovascular dysfunction in the studied diabetic children and support a role for glycemic control in its occurrence

Growth and nutritional status of rural preschool children in El-Minia governorate

The study included 744 rural preschool children 1-71 months of age. All studied children were subjected to full history, clinical examination, and anthropometric measurements. Children were both lighter and shorter than children of similar ages studied in Assiut, Lower Egypt, some developing countries as well as developed countries. The weight, height, and head circumference of males were not significantly different than those of females. The prevalence of malnutrition [weight for age] was 72.2%, the highest prevalence was in the age group 6-23 months [83.7%]. The prevalence of wasting was 31.6% and the highest prevalence was in the age group 6-23 months [62%]. The prevalence of stunting was 76.5% and the highest prevalence was among children aged 24-35 months [87.4%]. Low socioeconomic status, increased birth order, recurrent diarrhea, and non-breast feeding were high risk factors for prevalence of malnutrition among the rural preschool children

Leishmania major and meriones crassus in North Sinai governorate, Egypt

Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis [ZCL.] now seems to be more than was once thought in North Sinai. In the present study, Meriones crassus [23] and M. sacramenti [10] were collected from limited foci of human CL. Leishmania major [four strains] were isolated from M. crassus as indicated enzymologically by the cellulose acetate electrophoresis of nine different enzymes [MDH, 6 PGD, GD, PK, PGM, NH, GPI, ME and SOD]. The four strains were equivalent to zymodeme LON 1 [three strains] and LON 2 [one strain]