Plasma and saliva levels of three metals in waterpipe smokers: a case control study.

In this case-control study, the influence of waterpipe tobacco smoking on the plasma and saliva levels of cadmium, lead and zinc was examined in participants who were waterpipe tobacco smokers (WS) or never-smokers (NS). The concentration of metals was higher in WS relative to NS. The mean (SEM) cadmium concentration in plasma was 3.3 (0.18) µg/dL in WS versus 0.82 (0.09) µg/L in NS (p < .001) and in saliva was 5.1 (0.36) µg/L in WS versus 0.64 (0.2) µg/L in NS (p < .001). The mean (SEM) lead concentration in plasma was 5.2 (0.25) µg/dL in WS versus 3.4 (0.41) µg/dL in NS (p < .01) and in saliva was 4.8 (0.58) µg/L in WS versus 2.8 (0.27) µg/L in NS (p < .05). Similarly, a significant difference in zinc concentration was observed, with a mean of 2.0 (0.17) µg/mL in WS plasma versus 1.49 (0.16) µg/mL in NS (p < .05) and a mean 0.94 (0.07) µg/mL in WS saliva versus 0.45 (0.06) µg/mL in NS (p < .01). In conclusion, waterpipe tobacco smoking is associated with elevated levels of metals in body fluids. These results provide another demonstration of how waterpipe tobacco smoking exposes smokers to harmful toxicants.

The effect of high-fat diet on seizure threshold in rats: Role of oxidative stress.

There is increasing evidence advocating for the causal association between oxidative stress and different neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease and epilepsy. We have previously shown that consumption of High-fat diet (HFD) induces oxidative stress, which results in hippocampal neuronal damage hence impairment of learning and memory. This impairment was prevented by antioxidants. The reported damage in the hippocampus caused by oxidative stress following consumption of HFD could alter synaptic transmission in the hippocampus and may increase susceptibility to seizures. The present study was undertaken to determine if chronic consumption of HFD changes susceptibility to chemically induced seizures using the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) seizure threshold model in rats. In this study, HFD was administered to animals for 6 weeks. Thereafter, the PTZ seizure threshold was measured in control and HFD rats. Different brain regions were analyzed for the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers. Results revealed a significant reduction (50.0 ±â€¯2.5%) in PTZ seizure threshold in rats consuming HFD. This was accompanied by a decrease in the oxidative stress biomarkers and capacity enzymes such as reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase activities and increase in oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels in the hippocampus and cortex regions of the brain of HFD rats. Collectively, current data suggest that prolonged consumption of HFD increases susceptibility to PTZ-induced seizures. Such an effect may be related to HFD- induced oxidative stress in the brain.

Chromosomal damage at bone-marrow cells is induced by exposure of rats to waterpipe water filtrate.

Waterpipe smoking is continuing to spread globally. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of waterpipe water filtrate on chromosomal integrity in the bone-marrow cells of rats. Chromosomal damage was examined using in vivo chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and SCEs assays. Young Wistar male rats were exposed to WWF via drinking water. Chromosomal damage was measured in bone marrow cells after 6 weeks of treatment using fluorescent-plus-Giemsa staining. Treatment of rats with waterpipe water filtrate for 6 weeks did not affect food/liquid consumption and gain in body weight. The results showed that waterpipe water filtrate increased the frequencies of chromosomal breaks and exchanges by more than 30% (p < 0.01). In addition, waterpipe water filtrate significantly increased SCEs in the bone-marrow cells of rats. In conclusion, waterpipe water filtrate contains genotoxic compounds providing additional evidence for genotoxicity of waterpipe smoke.

Prevalence of X-chromatin in Jordanian women.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the distribution of X-chromatin among Jordanian women at different age groups. Results will be compared with other studies for possible racial and environmental effect on X-chromatin distribution. METHODS: Blood samples were drawn from all women subjected to this study by finger prick and stained with Wright's stain. X-chromatin positive polymorphonuclear cells were counted and corrected for percentage. Samples were taken during late 2002 and early 2003 from healthy women attending routine checkup in health centers in Northern Jordan. RESULTS: The number of X-chromatin was the highest (approximately 22%) in the <9-19 years age group and was the lowest (approximately 10%) > or =50 and above years age group. The number of X-chromatin was 14-18% in the other age groups. CONCLUSION: These results were in accordance with other studies. It seems that the racial and environmental factors are ineffective on the distribution of X-chromatin in Jordanian women. These data could be used as reference for further studies.