Bassam Abdul Rasool Hassan

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of The Crude Extracts Isolated From Zingiber officinale by Different Solvents

Background: Since primitive times, man has gone in different ways to search for cures and relief from various diseases by using several plants, plant products and plant-derived products. Recently, there is a scientific curiosity and certain popularity with regard to screening essential oils and extracts from plants used medicinally all over the world. Objective: This study design to evaluate the component of ginger extracts in different solvents by HPLC in addition to evaluate the in vitro effects of it on micro-organisms, especially the plant is used in Iraqi folk medicine as anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, anti-diabetic, relieving rheumatic pains and for treating stomach discomfort. Methods: The extraction of soluble compounds from ginger by the soxhlet method was performed by using methanol and n-hexane as solvents and the main composition of ginger extracts were analyzed by HPLC. Agar – well diffusion method tested antimicrobial activities of two crud extracts in different concentrations of plant on seven types of bacteria strains and one fungus. Results: Seven components were identified from the separation of ginger extracts by HPLC. The two extracts had antimicrobial activity, methanol extract was superior than n-hexane extract against the same tested microorganisms. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that this plant possesses some antimicrobial properties as antibiotics and antifungal, therefore they can be used as a potential source of active ingredients for food, pharmaceutical industry or preservatives.

The effects of honey compared to silver sulfadiazine for the treatment of burns: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Evidence from animal studies and trials suggests that honey may accelerate wound healing. The objective of this review was to assess the effects of honey compared with silver dressings on the healing of burn wounds. Relevant databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of honey compared with silver sulfadiazine (SSD) were searched. The quality of the selected trials was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool. The primary endpoints considered were wound healing time and the number of infected wounds rendered sterile. Nine RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Based on moderate quality evidence there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups, favoring honey in healing time (MD -5.76days, 95% CI -8.14 to -3.39) and the proportions of infected wounds rendered sterile (RR 2.59; 95% CI 1.58-2.88). The available evidence suggests that honey dressings promote better wound healing than silver sulfadiazine for burns.

Impact of chemotherapy on hypercalcemia in breast and lung cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION Hypercalcemia is mainly caused by bone resorption due to either secretion of cytokines including parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) or bone metastases. However, hypercalcemia may occur in patients with or without bone metastases. The present study aimed to describe the effect of chemotherapy treatment, regimens and doses on calcium levels among breast and lung cancer patients with hypercalcemia. METHODS We carried a review of medical records of breast and lung cancer patients hospitalized in years 2003 and 2009 at Penang General Hospital, a public tertiary care center in Penang Island, north of Malaysia. Patients with hypercalcemia (defined as a calcium level above 10.5 mg/dl) at the time of cancer diagnosis or during cancer treatment had their medical history abstracted, including presence of metastasis, chemotherapy types and doses, calcium levels throughout cancer treatment, and other co-morbidity. The mean calcium levels at first hospitalization before chemotherapy were compared with calcium levels at the end of or at the latest chemotherapy treatment. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Chi-square test for categorical data, logistic regression test for categorical variables, and Spearman correlation test, linear regression and the paired sample t tests for continuous data. RESULTS Of a total 1,023 of breast cancer and 814 lung cancer patients identified, 292 had hypercalcemia at first hospitalization or during cancer treatment (174 breast and 118 lung cancer patients). About a quarter of these patients had advanced stage cancers: 26.4% had mild hypercalcemia (10.5-11.9 mg/dl), 55.5% had moderate (12-12.9 mg/dl), and 18.2% severe hypercalcemia (13-13.9; 14-16 mg/dl). Chemotherapy lowered calcium levels significantly both in breast and lung cancer patients with hypercalcemia; in particular with chemotherapy type 5-flurouracil+epirubicin+cyclophosphamide (FEC) for breast cancer, and gemcitabine+cisplatin in lung cancer. CONCLUSION Chemotherapy decreases calcium levels in breast and lung cancer cases with hypercalcemia at cancer diagnosis, probably by reducing PTHrP levels.

Supportive and Palliative Care in Solid Cancer Patients

During this century, cancer has become one of the major problem and diseases which has caused predominant death and it will even surpass heart diseases. Many of the researchers begin to use the term lifetime risk for cancer patients which refer to the time that cancer will progress and developed or the time that the patient will die because of cancer. There are many problems (i.e., side effects) associated with cancer diseases either solid type or hematological type such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, hypercalcemia, pain, lost of appetite, anemia, fatigue, cachexia, leucopenia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. However the major problems are nausea and vomiting, neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia and hypercalce‐ mia. Hence due to these reasons cancer is consider as one of the major diseases that will effect on the quality of life for human [1-6].

A Close Look at Neutropenia among Cancer Patients — Risk Factor and Management

Neutrophils are a major type of white blood cell (WBC), and they represent about 45%-70% of 11 all WBC. Neutrophils can also be referred to as poly-morphonucleat leucocytes or granulo‐ 12 cytes, as their cytoplasm contains granules, which contains glycogen and antibacterial 13 substances [2]. Neutrophils are synthesized and produced by hematopoietic stem cells in bone 14 marrow. It takes 10 – 14 days to produce mature neutrophils. Neutrophils were first thought 15 to have a short viability period of only 6-10 hours [2, 3], but in the late 1990s, it was that 16 neutrophils may survive much longer. In addition, recent evidence has suggested that 17 neutrophils may produce anti-inflammatory molecules and may promote the resolution of 18 inflammation [4]. Moreover, it has been found that during inflammation or infection, neutro‐ 19 phils will migrate to the inflamed tissues, phagocytosis and remain active at site for about 2-6 20 days [2, 4, 5]. 21

Neutropenia onset, Severity and their Association with Solid CancerDiseases

Background: Neutropenia is a decreased in the absolute neutrophil count lower than the normal that is < 1500 cell/ μl. It has a detrimental effect on cancer patients’ quality of life, also possibly resulting in a reduction in the chemotherapy dose which could lead to an increment in the size of a cancer. There are so many causative factors for neutropenia like hematological disorders, autoimmune diseases and infection, drugs reactions and chemotherapy or radiotherapy. So the main aim of this study is to find the association between solid cancer diseases with onset and severity of neutropenia. Methods: This an observational retrospective study conducted on 117 solid cancer patients who received chemotherapy as a treatment and as a result of that they suffer from neutropenia, this study retrospectively cover the period between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2006. Statistical analysis methods used were Chi-square test, Fisher’s Exact test. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The total number of the patients involve was 117 neutropenic patients they suffer from 19 th different solid cancer diseases. Breast cancer was the predominant once it was found (75, 64.1%) followed by nasopharyngeal cancer 9 (7.7%), rectal cancer 9 (7.7%) and many others. The main finding of this study was insignificant association between solid cancer diseases with both onset and severity of neutropenia since the P values for both tests >0.05. Conclusion: Solid tumor is not considered as a risk factor for neither onset nor severity of neutropenia not like the hematological cancer diseases which play a risk role in these cases. Then the main risk factor for neutropenia within solid cancer patients is the chemotherapy intensity they receive for as a treatment.