Comparative study of Nigella sativa and triple therapy in eradication of helicobacter pylori in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia

A large number of diseases are ascribed to Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori], particularly chronic active gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. Successful treatment of H. pylori infection with antimicrobial agents can lead to regression of H. pylori-associated disorders. Antibiotic resistance against used herb, possesses in vitro anti-helicobacter activity. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of NS in eradication of H. pylori infection in non-ulcer dyspeptic patients. The study was conducted on 88 adult patients attending King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, from 2007 to 2008, with dyspeptic symptoms and found positive for H. pylori infection by histopathology and urease test. Patients were randomly assigned to four groups, receiving i] triple therapy [TT] comprising of clarithromycin, amoxicillin, omeprazole [n=23], ii] 1 g NS + 40 mg omeprazole [OM] [n=21, iii] 2 g NS+ OM [n=21] or iv] 3 g NS + OM [n=23]. Negative H. pylori stool antigen test four weeks after end of treatment was considered as eradication. H. pylori eradication was 82.6, 47.6, 66.7 and 47.8% with TT, 1 g NS, 2 g NS and 3 g NS, respectively. Eradication rates with 2 g NS and TT were statistically not different from each other, whereas H. pylori eradication with other doses was significantly less than that with TT [P <0.05]. Dyspepsia symptoms improved in all groups to a similar extent. N. sativa seeds possess clinically useful anti-H. pylori activity, comparable to triple therapy. Further clinical studies combining N. sativa with antibiotics are suggested

Spinal shrinkage as a measure of spinal loading in male Saudi university students and its relationship with body mass index

To compare spinal shrinkage in obese and non-obese young male adults and to find any correlation between them. In 2006, 123 second-year male students studying in the Colleges of Medicine and Dentistry, King Faisal University, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, were examined for their weights, standing heights, and recumbent lengths. In this cross-sectional observational study, the students were grouped according to body mass index [BMI]: normal range BMI <25; overweight BMI = 25-29.9; obese-BMI >30. Spinal shrinkage was calculated as the difference between standing height and the recumbent length of the subject. Influence of BMI on the magnitude of spinal shrinkage was compared by analysis of variance, and the relationship between spinal shrinkage and BMI was tested with Pearson's correlation test. The obese group presented a significantly greater reduction in standing height [1.6% of recumbent length] compared to the normal group [1%] [p=0.019]. Spinal shrinkage was found to be positively correlated with level of obesity [r=0.369]. Spinal shrinkage is positively correlated to BMI, which represents a persistent load on the spine in obese individuals. This conveniently demonstrable adverse effect of obesity might well be used as an instrument to inspire individuals to change their lifestyles