ABSTRACT
Zamzam water is the most frequently used drinking water by millions of people in Saudi Arabia. It is carried all the time by millions of pilgrims to their home countries as gifts to close and near relatives and friends. Safety of constituents of Zamzam water is a vital health topic. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) raised many health concerns regarding the high serum arsenic and nitrate contents in Zamzam water that may cause cancer. It is role of scientific research to present scientific facts to relieve such concerns. Arsenic is a carcinogen while nitrate causes methemogloinemia that affect oxygen carriage by haemoglobin. An ethical committee approval was obtained. Eighteen white albino mice (40-45 g) were used in this study. Three experimental groups were allocated (six mice per group): tap water group, distilled water group and Zamzam water group. Our data revealed that Zamzam water exerts tissue-protective effects that contradict malignancy. Our data proved that Zamzam water is pathogen-free causing no bacterial growth on CLED agar colonies. Zamzam water consumption for three consecutive months in mice was quite safe for the general health and significantly decreased serum uric acid (p < 0.05) (possibly due to Zamzam-induced urine alkalinisation facilitating uric acid excretion). Regular Zamzam water consumption significantly decreased serum cholesterol (p < 0.05) and serum triglycerides (p < 0.05). Hypolipidemic effects of Zamzam water may be due to its high mineral content facilitating increased lipids metabolism. Our data confirmed safety of prolonged use of Zamzam water comparable to other drinking water types regarding the metabolic and synthetic functions of the liver. Nitrates in Zamzam water are thought to be an original constituent that may be useful (exerting vasodilation, antithrombotic, and immunoregulatory effects) and not harmless. This may occur due to high Zamzam content of calcium, magnesium and selenium. Histologically, our data confirmed that Zamzam water was quite safe to renal parenchyma and comparable to other types of drinking water. In conclusion, health concerns raised by BBC regarding Zamzam water safety were a good chance for fruitful scientific research investigations that confirmed safety and beneficial effects of Zamzam water for human health.
ABSTRACT
Thalassemia is a major health problem in affected children due to iron overload, increased oxidative stress, atherogenic lipid profile and tissue-damage. This study aims at investigating the cardioprotective and tissue-protective benefits of Al-hijamah and their impact on cell-mediated immunity for treating thalassemic children. This study aimed also at investigating the tissue-clearance principle of Taibah mechanism: whenever pathological substances are to be cleared from the human body, Al-hijamah is indicated. Al-hijamah was done to thalassemic children (15 males and 5 females having a mean age of 9.07 ± 4.26 years) using sterile disposable sets in a complete aseptic hospital environment. Prior ethical committee agreement (in addition to written patient's consents) was obtained from Tanta Faculty of Medicine, Egypt. Twenty thalassemic children received iron chelation therapy plus Al-hijamah for one session (30-60 minutes) versus an age and sex-matched thalassemic control group treated with iron chelation therapy only. Al-hijamah is a quite safe outpatient hematological procedure that significantly decreased serum cholesterol (from 129.75 ± 3.67 to 103.5 ± 4.18 mg/dl) and decreased serum triglycerides (from 109.25 ± 8.96 to 91.95 ± 7.22 mg/dl). Interestingly, Al-hijamah exerted significant tissue-protective effects (it decreased serum GPT from 98.65 ± 12.27 to 71.65 ± 32.78 U/L and serum GOT from 96.35 ± 14.33 to 69.35 ± 34.37 U/L). Al-hijamah-induced ferritin excretion caused decreased serum ferritin (high serum ferritin negatively correlated with cell mediated immunity). Al-hijamah exerted cardioprotective and tissue-protective and hypolipidemic effects. Al-hijamah decreased serum cholesterol and is cardioprotective for thalassemic patients as it protects against atherogenesis and atherosclerosis. Medical practice of Al-hijamah is strongly recommended in hospitals. Al-hijamah cleared blood significantly from causative pathological substances e.g. serum ferritin resulting in enhanced cell-mediated immunity (in agreement with the evidence-based Taibah mechanism).
ABSTRACT
Background: Cataract is the most prevalent ophthalmic cause of reversible blindness and it is one of the primary concerns of the public health perspective surgery which is the primary and only treatment method known.Objective: Assessment of corneal endothelial changes by using specular microscopy, after uncomplicated phacoemulsification in moderately hard nuclear 3 senile cataract.Patients and Methods: The present study was performed on 30 eyes of 30 individuals preoperative assessed by pentacam to detect grade 3 nuclear cataract to be selected in our study, then corneal endothelium assessed by specular microscopy to evaluate the corneal endothelium to be reference and to be compared to 1st and 3rd month.Results: A highly significant decrease in ECD 1st month post-operative and a significant decrease in ECD 3rd month in relation to pre-operative state. Highly significant increase in the coefficient of variation 1st month postoperative and non-significant increase in the 3rd month in relation to preoperative state. Highly significant decrease in the percentage of hexagonality 1st month and 3rd month post operatively. There is a highly significant reciprocal correlation between age and pre-operative endothelial cell density. 3rd month post-operative decrease in ECD is significant correlated to male sex.Conclusion: A major finding of our manuscript is that the harder the senile cataract the more time and surgical manipulation was done in spite of the same surgeon and the same operative condition lead to more endothelium lost and the more variation between the cells and decrease in the percentage of hexagonal post-operative
