Mohamad K. Nusier

Adverse effects of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) on reproductive function in adult male rats.

Ingestion of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) by two groups of adult Sprague-Dawley rats at levels of 250 and 500 mg/kg body wt for 63 days was investigated for its effects on fertility. Body weight and absolute and relative testes weights were not affected, but the average weights of epididymides, ventral prostates, seminal vesicles, and preputial glands decreased significantly. A significant decline in spermatogenesis in testes due to a decrease in the number of primary and secondary spermatocytes and spermatids in treatment group 2 (500 mg/kg) is attributed to a significant decrease in testosterone. Sperm motility and density were also significantly decreased in the cauda epididymis and in the testes of rosemary-treated male rats in group 2. In addition, the treatment markedly increased the number of fetal resorptions in female rats impregnated by group 2 males, thereby reducing their fertility. Exp Biol Med 232:809–813, 2007

Significance of the parkin and PINK1 gene in Jordanian families with incidences of young-onset and juvenile parkinsonism.

BackgroundParkinsons disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, where most cases are sporadic with a late onset. In rare incidences familial forms of early-onset parkinsonism occur, and when recessively inherited, cases are often explained by mutations in either the parkin (PARK2) or PINK1 (PARK6) gene or on exceptional occasions the DJ-1 (PARK7) or ATP13A2 (PARK9) gene. Recessively inherited deletions/duplications and point mutations in the parkin gene are the most common cause of early-onset parkinsonism known so far, but in an increasing number of studies, genetic variations in the serine/threonine kinase domain of the PINK1 gene are found to explain early-onset parkinsonism.MethodsIn this study all families were from a population with a high incidence of consanguinity. We investigated 11 consanguineous families comprising 17 affected with recessively inherited young-onset parkinsonism for mutations both in the parkin and PINK1 gene. Exons and flanking regions were sequenced, and segregation patterns of genetic variation were assessed in members of the respective families. An exon dosage analysis was performed for all exons in both genes.ResultsIn the parkin gene, a three generation family was identified with an exon 4 deletion segregating with disease. Both affected were homozygous for the deletion that segregated on a haplotype that spanned the gene in a haplotype segregation analysis that was performed using additional markers. Exon dosage analysis confirmed the recessive pattern of inheritance with heterozygous deletions segregating in healthy family members. In the PINK1 gene we identified two novel putative pathogenic substitutions, P416R and S419P, located in a conserved motif of the serine/threonine kinase domain. Both substitutions segregated with disease in agreement with a recessive pattern of inheritance within respective families and both were present as homozygous in two affected each. We also discuss common polymorphisms in the two genes found to be co-segregating within families.ConclusionOur results further extend on the involvement of PINK1 mutations in recessive early-onset parkinsonism with clinical features similar to carriers of parkin mutations.

Serological screening for celiac disease in schoolchildren in Jordan. Is height and weight affected when seropositive

BackgroundCeliac disease (CD) emerged as a public health problem, and the disease prevalence varies among different races. The present study was designed to investigate the prevalence of CD using serological markers in apparently healthy schoolchildren in Irbid City, Jordan. Additionally, the effect of positive serology on height, weight and body mass index (BMI) was evaluated.MethodsThe study population consisted of 1985 children (1117 girls and 868 boys), age range was 5.5 to 9.5 years. Height and weight were measured and blood samples were collected from each individual. Serum samples were analyzed for IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTG) using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). tTG positive samples were further analyzed for IgA anti-endomysium antibodies (EmA) with a commercial ELISA. Samples confirmed positive with EmA were considered seropositive.ResultsSixteen children were CD positive. The serological prevalence was estimated to be 1:124 (0.8%; 95% CI, 0.5% to 1.3%). Significant impact on growth (height) was found in seropositive children. When both sexes were individually analyzed, only boys showed height reduction. Furthermore, seropositive boys also had a significant weight reduction.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that CD is prevalent among schoolchildren in Jordan. The seropositive children tend to have lower height, weight, and BMI than the seronegative group. These differences were significant only for boys. None of the participants is known to have CD prior to the study.

Seasonal Pattern Of Leutinizing, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone, Testosterone And Progesterone In Adult Population Of Both Sexes In The Jordan Valley

Differences were observed in hormonal levels between in both sexes of people living in Irbid City (620 meters above sea level) and in the Jordan Valley (360 meters below sea level. In addition, exercise was shown to differentially affect hormonal levels of both sexes at the above and below sea level locations. Serum levels of leutinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) in adult male and serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and progesterone (P) in adult female people were investigated in Irbid City and in the Jordan Valley during the years 1997 and 1998. The levels of these hormones were followed each month during this period. In males living in Irbid City, LH and T peaked from March through June, and in females at the same site, FSH and P also peaked from March through June. These data confirm the seasonal variation in sex hormones reported elsewhere in (wo) man and in other species. In males and females of the Jordan Valley, serum levels of LH, FSH, T and P were all higher than those of Irbid City throughout the year. Additionally, peaks of LH and T in male and FSH and P in female subjects in the Jordan Valley were observed from March through September. The high levels of these hormones and the extension of their peaks are suggested to be due to effects of the environmental factors of the Jordan Valley (high temperature, high barometric pressure) compared to those in Irbid City and other areas located at above sea level altitude.

Haptoglobin polymorphism in relation to antioxidative enzymes activity in type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND Increased oxidative stress and impaired antioxidative capacity are common findings in diabetics. This study reports on the status of antioxidative enzymes in relation to haptoglobin (Hp) polymorphism in type 2 diabetes. METHODS The study comprised 165 type 2 diabetic patients and 94 controls. Erythrocytic superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT), and plasmatic ceruloplasmin ferroxidase (Cp) were measured by spectrophotometry and Hp phenotypes were determined by gel electrophoresis. RESULTS Irrespective of Hp phenotype, while the activities of Cp ferroxidase and GPx were significantly higher in patients than in controls, those of SOD were significantly lower. No significant differences observed for CAT. However, significant Hp-phenotype dependent differences were observed between patients and controls regarding the activity of these enzymes. While ferroxidase activity in Hp2-2 patients was significantly higher than that in Hp1-1 or Hp2-1 patients, that of SOD and GPx were significantly lower. When patients were analyzed as a single group, Spearmans univariate analysis has demonstrated that HbA1c positively correlates with ferroxidase activity and negatively correlates with levels of GPx and SOD. However, when patients were treated as separate Hp-dependent groups, similar but stronger correlations between these variable were noted only in the case of Hp2-2 patients. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that Hp polymorphism has some bearing on the activity of antioxidative enzymes in type 2 diabetes and that Hp2-2 diabetics are under increased oxidative stress as compared with those expressing Hp1-1 or Hp2-1.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin genotypes in breast cancer patients.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin (1-AT) is a secretory glycoprotein mainly produced in the liver and monocytes. It is the most abundant serine protease inhibitor in human plasma. Proteolytic enzymes play a significant role in the expression of the malignant phenotype, including the loss of growth regulation, invasiveness and formation of metastases. Deficiency of 1-AT is an inherited disorder characterized by reduced serum level of 1-AT. Protease inhibitors Z (PiZ) and protease inhibitors S (PiS) are the most common deficient genotypes of 1-AT. The association of deficient 1-AT subtypes with several tumors such as primary liver carcinoma, lung cancer, bladder cancer and malignant hepatoma was reported. This study aimed to determine the incidence of 1-AT genotypes (PiZ and PiS) in breast cancer female patients. Blood samples were collected from 111 patients. DNA was isolated and the PCR technique was performed to amplify the regions contain the Z and S mutations in exon V and exon III, respectively. Genotyping of the Z and S alleles was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using the Taq1 restriction enzyme. Our results demonstrated that 100% of the breast cancer patients were homozygous for the normal allele (PiMM) and no PiZ and PiS genotypes were found.

Serum homocysteine is associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome in Jordan

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrinopathy among women of a reproductive age. Although not included in the diagnostic criteria, insulin resistance (IR) is a major characteristic of PCOS and may contribute to its development. The exact cause of IR remains unknown but appears to be multifactorial. Changes in the levels of leptin, adiponectin, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and/or homocysteine have been reported in women with PCOS. However, the relative contribution of the aforementioned metabolites to PCOS has not been tested in Jordan. In the present study, 154 women diagnosed with PCOS and 151 normally menstruating women matched by age and body mass index (BMI) were recruited. The levels of leptin, adiponectin, BCAAs, homocysteine and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) were measured in the serum of the recruited participants. It was revealed that homocysteine levels were significantly elevated in women with PCOS compared with normally menstruating women (P<0.0001), while 5-MTHF (P=0.024), leptin (P=0.027) and adiponectin (P=0.010) levels were significantly lower. In multivariate analysis, serum homocysteine had the strongest association with PCOS and significantly increased its risk [P<0.0001; odds ratio 1.217; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.157-1.280]. With an area under the curve of 0.855 (95% CI 0.811-0.898) in receiver operating characteristic analysis, serum homocysteine was determined to be a good predictor for PCOS diagnosis based on Rotterdam guidelines. It was concluded that serum levels of homocysteine are elevated in women with PCOS in Jordan independent of age, BMI, or leptin, adiponectin and BCAAs levels.