Effect of a family-based lifestyle intervention on weight reduction among Jordanian children with obesity aged 6-9 years.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a family-based lifestyle intervention on reducing body weight among Jordanian children with obesity aged 6-9 years old. The pretest-posttest control group design was conducted among 162 children (75 in the intervention group and 87 in the control group) with obesity aged 6-9 years old at four primary schools in Jordan during the period from March 2021 to July 2021. The results found that, after the intervention, there was a statistically significant change in the F scores in the control group vs. in the intervention group (M = 37.07, SD = 2.77; M = 33.48, SD = 2.73; t (160) = 8.29, P < 0.001), where the mean BMI percentile was reduced by 2.05 in the intervention group. A significant difference was demonstrated in the median BMI percentile in the intervention and control groups post-intervention (P < 0.001). A significant difference was also noticed between the average weekly reported dietary habits and the physical activities of both the control group and the intervention group post-intervention. The findings support the effect of family-based lifestyle interventions. Healthcare providers should adopt such interventions for children living with obesity. Future study is required to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of this intervention on weight reduction.

Assessment of Temper Tantrums Behaviour Among Preschool Children in Jordan.

PURPOSE: A good understanding of children's emotions, activities, and needs should be promoted. This study assessed temper tantrum behaviour, including frequency, severity, duration, common behaviours, reasons, locations, contexts, and parent's strategies, among Jordanian children aged 24-48 months. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used to conduct this study. A non-probability convenience sample was adopted to recruit 213 parents of children aged between 24 months to 48 months. All parents completed the Parents' Experience of Temper Tantrums in Children's questionnaire. RESULTS: Findings showed that about half of the children experienced weekly tantrums, however, half of the parents reported that mild tantrums were exhibited by their youngsters, with an average duration of minutes. The most frequently reported tantrum behaviour was 'screaming or shouting'. "Seeking attention" was the most frequent reason and most tantrums occurred when visiting someone else's home. Unfamiliar situations were the most commonly associated with tantrum episodes. The main strategies used by parents to lessen their child's tantrums were first, stating a consequence (e.g., timeout), and secondly, ignoring the behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: The results draw attention to significant aspects of tantrums, such as the duration, where children managed to maintain a tantrum episode for more than seven minutes on average. Tantrum behaviours, reasons, locations, context, and parents' strategies to control tantrums were significant in developing proper interv entions. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The findings of this study are of practical use in equipping parents and caregivers with the appropriate strategies to enable them to halt tantrums among children.

The ameliorative effect of curcumin on cryptorchid and non-cryptorchid testes in induced unilateral cryptorchidism in albino rat: histological evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Cryptorchidism, one or both hidden testes, is the most common abnormality of male sexual development. Subfertility or infertility is associated with both unilateral and bilateral cryptorchidism. In this study, we investigate the possible ameliorative effect of curcumin (Cur) on the induced-unilateral cryptorchidism testicular injury in both cryptorchid (Cryp) and non-cryptorchid (non-Cryp) scrotal testes through histological, immunohistochemical and morphometrics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty adult male albino rats were divided into: control group, Cur control group, Cryp group, and Cryp+Cur group. The rat model was surgically established by fixing the left testis in the abdomen. The treated groups were subjected to surgically induced-unilateral cryptorchidism on the left side then were given Cur (80 mg/kg) orally, for 20 days. Histological analysis using haematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid Schiff's reaction was done. Immunohistochemistry was performed for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA); to estimate the proliferation in the germinal epithelium, and vimentin; to evaluate Sertoli cells. The results were confirmed by statistical evaluation of the spermatogenic epithelium height, the seminiferous tubules diameter, the basement membrane thickness, the number of PCNA immunostained cells and the area per cent of vimentin immunostaining. RESULTS: Distorted seminiferous tubules, substantial degeneration of the germinal epithelium, thickening of the basement membrane with a significant decrease in PCNA and vimentin immunostaining were observed in Cryp group; mainly in the cryptorchid testis. These structural changes were significantly reversed in Crypt+Cur group. CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin proved to be an important and effective medical line for protecting against the unfavourable sequels of cryptorchidism in a rat model.

Organosulfur compounds and possible mechanism of garlic in cancer.

Garlic (Allium sativum), a member of the family Liliaceae, contains an abundance of chemical compounds that have been shown to possess beneficial effects to protect against several diseases, including cancer. Evidence supports the protective effects of garlic in stomach, colorectal, breast cancer in humans. The protective effects appear to be related to the presence of organosulfur compounds, predominantly allyl derivatives, which also have been shown to inhibit carcinogenesis in forestomach, esophagus, colon, mammary gland and lung of experimental animals. The exact mechanisms of the cancer-preventive effects are not clear, although several hypotheses have been proposed. Organosulfur compounds modulate the activity of several metabolizing enzymes that activate (cytochrome P450s) or detoxify (glutathione S-transferases) carcinogens and inhibit the formation of DNA adducts in several target tissues. Antiproliferative activity has been described in several tumor cell lines, which is possibly mediated by induction of apoptosis and alterations of the cell cycle. Organosulfur compounds in garlic are thus possible cancer-preventive agents. Clinical trials will be required to define the effective dose that has no toxicity in humans.

Production of PHB by a Bacillus megaterium strain using sugarcane molasses and corn steep liquor as sole carbon and nitrogen sources.

Poly(hydroxybutyric acid) (PHB) and other biodegradable polyesters are promising candidates for the development of environment-friendly, totally biodegradable plastics. The use of cane molasses and corn steep liquor, two of the cheapest substrates available in Egypt, may help to reduce the cost of producing such biopolyesters. In this work, the effect of different carbon sources was studied. Maximum production of PHB was obtained with cane molasses and glucose as sole carbon sources (40.8, 39.9 per mg cell dry matter, respectively). The best growth was obtained with 3% molasses, while maximum yield of PHB (46.2% per mg cell dry matter) was obtained with 2% molasses. Corn steep liquor was the best nitrogen source for PHB synthesis (32.7 mg per cell dry matter), on the other hand, best growth was observed when ammonium chloride, ammonium sulphate, ammonium oxalate or ammonium phosphate were used as nitrogen sources.

Toxoplasma antibodies in clinically suspected cases of toxoplasmosis.

One hundred and seven cases, 35 males and 72 females aging from 3 months to 32 years old were divided into 4 groups: ocular, neurological, cases with abortion and cases having Down's syndrome. 47 apparently healthy individuals were taken as control. All were serologically tested for Toxoplasma antibodies using IFAT and ELSA for detection of IgG. The positive cases as well as cases below one year old were tested by ELISA IgM for the detection of acute or congenital toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasma antibodies (IgG) were found in 28 (26%) and 43 cases (40%) by IFAT and ELISA respectively. ELISA IgM was positive in 12 (20%) out of 60 serum samples. Two cases (11%) among 27 patients below one year old positive. Statistical significance was reported concerning the positive cases in the ocular group as well as patients with abortions. Results revealed that ELISA is more sensitive and specific than IFAT.

An assessment of hepatic functional capacities and haemoglobin values in amaebiasis.

Fourty adult males with amaebiasis and a match control group of the same age and sex were subjected to complete blood examination. The results showed that the mean values for total serum protein, total serum bilirubin, A.L.P. and Hb % were within the acceptable limits i.e. statistically insignificant, whilst A.S.T. and A.L.T. were not within the acceptable limits, i.e. statistically significant. The percentages of normals as regards the frequency distribution test were as follows: Total serum protein (80%), total serum bilirubin (82.5%), A.L.P. (94.59%), A.S.T. (67.5%), A.L.T. (75%) and Hb. (86.21%). The regression analysis test, confirmed by the correlation test, were performed to indicate the relationship between the intensity of infection (indicated by the population of E. histolytica in stool analysis) and the serum levels of the tests to follow. Accordingly the serum levels of A.L.P., A.S.T. and A.L.T. showed a relatively slight increase, while the total serum protein level and Hb% showed a slight decrease. The serum bilirubin indicated no change whatsoever.