Abstract: Hexavalent chromium (CrVI) compounds are potent toxicants commonly used in numerous industries. Thus, potential toxic effects and health hazards are of high relevance. The present study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of okra pods and leaves extract on hepatotoxicity induced by potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) in male albino rats. Thirty-six adult male albino rats Sprague Dawley strain weighing (150± 10g) were divided into two main groups: the first group (6 rats) was fed on basal diet as negative control group. The second (30 rats) group were fed on basal diet and received K2Cr2O7 at 8 mg/kg b.w. by oral gavage for a period of 28 days to induce hepatotoxicity. The second main group was divided into 5 subgroups as follows: the first group was fed on basal diet only (as a positive control group). The second and third were fed on basal diet and okra pods ethanolic extract (OPEE) orally (200 and 400 kg b.w. respectively). The fourth and fifth were fed on basal diet and okra leaves ethanolic extract (50 and 100mg/kg b.w. respectively) orally for 28 days. Administration of (K2Cr2O7) resulted in increased levels of liver enzymes such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin (T.BIL), direct bilirubin (D.BIL), total protein, albumin, globulin and lipid peroxidation in liver tissue. It also decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) significantly in the liver tissue. On the other hand, administration of okra pods & leaves extract at high doses (400 & 100 mg/kg/b.w.) with potassium dichromate, improved the hepatotoxicity, liver functions enzymes and antioxidant enzymes. This might be due to their possible antioxidant content.
Abstract: Background: During the last decades, the prevalence of weight stigmatization has substantially increased which in turn is associated with poorer out comes as depression.
Aim: the aim of this study was to evaluate the sociodemographic and anthropometric factors affecting weight-based victimization among adult obese Egyptian Females and identifying the underlying relation between obesity, weight-based victimization and depression.
Cases and methods: an online cross-sectional study was conducted by random sampling technique, upon 462 obese adult females in the period from March 2022 to June 2022. Females were drawn through posts on social network (Facebook®), Both Weight self-stigma questionnaire (WSSQ) and Depression scale which is part of Depression Anxiety Scale (DAS) were administered online through Google forms after signing an electronic consent form to participate and share data.
Results: The multiple logistic regression analysis of different risk factors affecting WSSQ was young age group, student group, parents not being overweight, single group and high education. It was found that there was a significant relation between depression scale and WSSQ scale.
Conclusion: Research concluded that there was strong empirical evidence that experiencing weight stigma was associated with greater psychosocial impairment and increased risk of depression with increasing body mass index (BMI, Kg/m2).
Abstract: Background: Global evidence that the first 1000 days of a child’s life found to be the most precious period of child’s nutrition status development, where the impact of malnutrition during this critical period are likely to have a long term consequences which might be irreversible. Considering Mothers are mainly the caregiver of their children, sufficient maternal nutrition knowledge is essential for a healthy child with normal nutrition status and free of malnutrition. The study aimed to assess the level of nutritional knowledge and its predictors for mothers with children aged 0-24 months. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 288 conveniently recruited mothers- having children aged between 0-24 months- attending an urban primary health care center in Giza. Maternal nutrition literacy was assessed using an interview guided questionnaire. Maternal total nutrition knowledge score was calculated for each participant, out of 20. Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and spearman’s correlation non-parametric tests were used to delineate associations between different variables and the total Knowledge score. Results: The mean and standard deviation of maternal total knowledge score was 13.31 ± 2.29. There was a significant statistical relation (P ≤ 0.05) between each of the following; mothers’ education, mothers’ occupation, mothers’ residence and maternal nutritional knowledge score. A weak negative statistical significant correlation between number of mothers' children and their nutritional knowledge score was found, whereas no statistical significant correlation between mothers’ age and their nutritional knowledge level was detected. A significant multiple regression model was found with adjusted R square =27.1% &p value of 0.001. Selected variables by the model were: University level of mother’s education in relation to non- university level with (standardized b = 0.48, p-value = 0.000), maternal occupation whether working in relation to non- working mothers (standardized b = 0.40, p-value = 0.000) and Number of children with (standardized b = -0.11, p-value = 0.039). Conclusion : The participating mothers possessed a reasonable level of knowledge regarding different aspects of child healthy nutrition. Maternal nutrition knowledge scores were higher among university graduate mothers, among mothers living in higher socio-economic class and amongst mothers having less number of children.
Abstract: Acrylamide is a dietary pollutant in a variety of commonly eaten food product, and been attributed to liver and kidney damage. Some researchers suggest that saffron, and its active constituents may have preventive properties against digestive and urinary tract disorders. The purpose of this research was to examine the possible protective benefits of saffron extract against kidney and liver damage of rats produced by acrylamide.Six groups of five rats, each one of them was left on basal diet as negative control, the 2nd group received acrylamide and kept as positive control, the other groups received acrylamide; and vitamin C or saffron, or saffron and vitamin C.Rats that received orally acrylamide (1.2 µg/kg/day) and at the same time, saffron extract (200 mg/kg) + (75 mg/ daily) of vitamin C, levels of creatinine and urea, protein fractions, and serum minerals were significantly high (P<0.0001).But the rats orally given acrylamide (1.2 µg/kg/day), and after one hour were given saffron extract (200 mg/kg) + (75 mg/daily) of vitamin C, their liver functions tests and minerals were still significantly high (P<0.0001). In contrast to the control groups, vitamin C and saffron extract could reverse these alterations in the rats (P<0.05).
Abstract: The aim of this study was to know the role and importance of nutrition during and after recovery from COVID-19 via studying sample of Egyptians over 18 years old, this research was conducted using a structured scheme (questionnaire to get information related to health, social and nutritional status and its importance in facing the coronavirus, for all male and female participants. The participants (n=93) were mostly women (68%). Almost all the participants (66%) said that their income had been affected by the Corona virus and males were more affected than females with suffering rate of 75% and 69% respectively. Body mass index (BMI) mean for the women group was higher than the male group with the mean 32.25 and 29.05 respectively. Specifically, 47% of the participants testified to taking vitamins and supplements before and after infection. And, the kind of these vitamins and supplements were Vitamin C, zinc, iron, Vitamin D, Immune Supplements, Calcium, and others. 77% of the participants reported that their diet and consumption of food after recovering from the COVID-19 was changed. The results also showed a significant decrease in the number of cases who continued practicing physical activity.
Conclusions Nutrition plays an important role in the stage of infection as well as the post-recovery stage for these cases who suffered COVID-19. It was concluded that intake of nutrients by the cases such as zinc, vitamin C and D and other nutrients are needed to support immunity and to maintain weight and doing physical activity had a significant impact on the prevention or recovery or post-recovery stage.
Abstract: The effect of different percent of lentil, Chickpeas and okara with probiotics bacteria (lactobacillus acidophilus)as mixtures on some biological and histological parameters of diabetic albino rats were studied. Thirty adult female rats were distributed into five groups, The first one was fed on basal diet and kept as the negative control group. The second group being diabetic rats were fed basal diet as a positive control group while the other three diabetic groups were fed on tested diets without and with probiotic bacteria for 28 days. Results showed that body weight gain was markedly higher especially in the mixture of probiotics (2%) compared to the other diabetic rats. Also, this mixture led to low concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c(low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), VLDL-c(very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and decreased AST(aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT(alanine transaminase) enzymes nearly to normal ranges. Furthermore, the mixture caused significant increase in HDL-c and total immunoglobulin production (IgG, IgM, IgE, IgA), which were higher than the mixture of 5% lentil, chickpea, okara without probiotics .Histopathological examination showed amelioration of histopathological lesions seen in liver of rats received the mixture of tested materials at different levels with probiotics. So, it could be recommended that intake 5% of lentil , chickpea , okara mixture with 2% from probiotics for diabetic patient after pilot study on human to improve the biochemical analysis and increase the immunity production.
Open Access journal
