Butyrylcholinesterase activity in women with diabetes mellitus in pregnancy: correlation with antioxidant activity.

A total of: 25 women with gestational diabetes, 25 with type 2 diabetes, 21 with healthy pregnancies and 15 non-pregnant healthy controls were investigated to evaluate the relationship between butyrylcholinesterase activity and antioxidant status in the serum and placenta of diabetic pregnant women. Levels of antioxidant activities were estimated by Randox Kits and malondialdehyde and butyrylcholinesterase by colorimetric methods. Butyrylcholinesterase activity was elevated in the serum and placenta in normal pregnancy vs diabetic cohorts (p < 0.01) and there was a higher activity level in gestational and type 2 diabetes on insulin (p < 0.05) compared with diet controlled. There was higher malondialdehyde and lower antioxidant activity in diet vs insulin controlled diabetes (p < 0.01). Serum and placental butyrylcholinesterase activity showed a strong inverse correlation with malondialdehyde (r = -0.876, p < 0.001) and (r = 0.542, p < 0.01), but strong positive correlation with total antioxidant activity in serum (r = 0.764, p < 0.001) and placenta (r = 0.642, p < 0.01). Butyrylcholinesterase may therefore, be involved in reducing oxidative stress in diabetic pregnancy.

Initiation factors for substance abuse.

AIM: The study reported in this paper investigated factors that led to the initial use and abuse of drugs in 237 addicts receiving treatment at the Psychological Medicine Hospital, Kuwait. METHOD: A self-administered questionnaire was designed to elicit information regarding socio-demographic data and initiation patterns. Questions about initiation patterns were related to personal, familial and social variables in addition to accessibility to drugs. RESULTS: Almost all the sample were male (99.2%) and 42.6% were married. The findings were grouped into (1) factors associated with drug abuse and (2) initial/ significant factors for drug abuse. One way ANOVA showed that there was a significant statistical association between current age and source of drug. Also, there was a significant statistical association between the age of the addict when first started on drugs, and the source of drugs. Multiple regression analysis was also computed for initial significant factors. One factor 'excessive unsupervised free time' was statistically significant. RECOMMENDATIONS: Strategies for primary, secondary and tertiary interventions in addition to recommendation for further studies are suggested.