Nayef S. Gharaibeh

Iron status: A possible risk factor for the first febrile seizure

Summary:  Purpose: We conducted a controlled study to investigate the relation of iron status and first febrile seizure (FFS).

Effects of indoor air pollution on lung function of primary school children in Jordan

Environmental exposure to tobacco smoke and contaminants from unvented cooking stoves has been linked to impaired pulmonary function and respiratory diseases. These risk factors exist to a greater extent in developing countries and, in the case of exposure to tobacco smoke, they are reported to be increasing. In this study, pulmonary function studies were performed on 1905 children in Jordan. The effect of exposure to these environmental factors on respiratory function was analyzed. A significant negative impact was found with regard to environmental exposure to both passive smoking and wood and kerosene unvented cooking stoves. The mean values of lung function in children exposed and not exposed to passive smoking were, respectively, FVC (L): 1.29-1.49; FEV1 (L): 1.2-1.4; FEF25-75 (L/S): 1.84-2.24; PEFR (L/S): 2.6-3.21, and to wood and kerosene were FVC (L): 1.02-1.32; FEV1 (L): 0.91-1.25; FEF25-75 (L/S): 1.24-1.86; PEFR (L/S): 1.67-2.64. This is a major problem in developing countries because of the increasing incidence of smoking and the high exposure to pollution risk factors.

Prevalence of Hemoglobin S and β‐Thalassemia in Northern Jordan*

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of HbS and β‐thalassemia in the Northern Jordan.

The Prevalence of Hemoglobin S and Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency in Jordanian Newborn

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of HbS and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in Jordanian newborn.

INHIBITION OF K+ TRANSPORT IN HUMAN SICKLE CELL ERYTHROCYTES BY OKADAIC ACID AND SODIUM FLUORIDE

1. The effect of okadaic acid and sodium fluoride on swelling‐and N‐ethylmaleimide (NEM)‐stimulated KC1 cotransport was examined in blood cells from homozygote sickle cell anaemia patients.

Detection of b-thalassemia carriers in Jordan.

Hemoglobinopathies are a major health problem in many areas of the world. Two of the most prevalent hemoglobinopathies are sickle hemoglobin (Hb S) and βthalassemia. Thalassemia is a molecular abnormality with underproduction of one of the globin chains. 3 Heterozygous states for β-thalassemia genes, known as β-thalassemia minor, are usually not associated with clinically significant disease. β-thalassemia has a high prevalence in the Mediterranean area, and in the Middle and Far East. Thalassemia screening programs have demonstrated effectiveness as antecedents to more successful management of the disease, including early intervention and prevention of complications. However, the value of screening programs has not been without controversy, due to the social and psychological impact on the individual and the family, 1 such as parental frustration, the lack of adequate information on the disease among the local population, and a cultural system which makes a carrier feel inferior. Jordan is located in an area where β-thalassemia is prevalent, but no definite screening program has yet been developed. The aim of this study is to determine the real prevalence of thalassemia carriers in Jordan, using our own cutoff points, and to develop a better understanding of this disease. This should result in a more efficient utilization of health care resources and improved planning in the provision of health care services.

Swelling-stimulated passive potassium transport in camel erythrocytes: inhibitory effects of furosemide and sodium fluoride

The inhibitory effects of furosemide, sodium fluoride, and age on volume-dependent, ouabain-resistant K+ influx were investigated in camel red blood cells. Swelling of young camel erythrocytes hypotonically stimulates ouabain-resistant potassium influx, a response that was lacking in old camel erythrocytes. The swelling-stimulated influx was partially inhibited by 1 mM furosemide and by 10 and 20 mM sodium fluoride. The inhibitory effect of furosemide was significantly increased if rubidium was added to the flux media. There was a significant correlation between potassium influx in normo- and hypotonic media which might indicate that the anion-dependent transport system operates, to some extent, to regulate cell volume.

Does sildenafil improve ventilatory function in asthmatic subjects

Present study was focused to investigate the anti-hyperlipidemic activity of Terminalia bellerica against high fat diet induced hyperlipidemia and obesity. Terminalia bellerica commonly known as Baheda is one of the most common plants being used in India since early times in many disorders one of the ingredients in many polyherbal formulations like Triphala etc used for cardiac disorders. The ethanolic extract of the fruits of Terminalia bellerica 250mg/kg & 500mg/kg body weight was administered p.o. for 20 days to test antihyperlipidemic activity. The parameters for evaluation of anti-hyperlipidemic activity are the physical parameters and the biochemical estimations. The physical parameters were gross examination of heart, heart weight: body weight ratio, liver weight, atherogenic index and basal metabolic index. In biochemical estimations various cardiac enzymes like lactate dehydrogenase, and the lipid profile were measured. The results of present study show that alcoholic extract of Terminalia bellerica (500 mg/Kg) has significant reduction in various lipid levels as well as the elevated physical parameters like heart weight: body weight ratio, body weight gain and BMI against high fat diet induced hyperlipidemia and obesity compared to clinically used drugs, Atorvastatin (10mg/kg) and Orlistat (pure drug 10mg/kg).Capecitabine, an effective anticancer drug in colorectal cancer chemotherapy, may create adverse side effects on healthy tissues. In the present study, we first induced colon adenocarcinoma with azoxymethane, a carcinogen agent, and then investigated the potentiality of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer to improve capecitabine therapeutic index and decrease its adverse side effects on healthy tissues like liver and bone marrow. Other variables such as nanoparticle concentrations have also been investigated. Drug loading concentration (DLC) and encapsulation efficiency (EE) were calculated for capecitabine/dendrimer complex. Experimental results showed an increase in DLC percentage resulted from elevated capecitabine/dendrimer ratio. Capecitabine/dendrimer complex could reduce tumor size and adverse side effects in comparison with free capecitabine form.The strategy of price liberalisation and privatisation had been implemented in Sudan over the last decade and has had a positive result on government deficit. The investment law approved recently has good statements and rules on the above strategy to pharmacy regulations. Under the pressure of the new privatisation policy, the government introduced radical changes in the pharmacy regulations. To improve the effectiveness of the public pharmacy, resources should be switched towards areas of need, reducing inequalities and promoting better health conditions. Medicines are financed either through cost sharing or full private. The role of the private services is significant. A review of reform of financing medicines in Sudan is given in this study. Also, it highlights the current drug supply system in the public sector, which is currently responsibility of the central medical supplies public corporation (CMS). In Sudan, the researchers did not identify any rigorous evaluations or quantitative studies about the impact of drug regulations on the quality of medicines and how to protect public health against counterfeit or low-quality medicines, although it is practically possible. However, the regulations must be continually evaluated to ensure the public health is protected against by marketing high quality medicines rather than commercial interests, and the drug companies are held accountable for their conduct.

The prevalence of hemoglobin S and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Jordanian newborn

Objective: Study Design: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of HbS and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in Jordanian newborn. A total of 181 male and female babies born at Princess Basma Teaching Hospital, randomly selected, and cord blood samples were collected, and the erythrocyte G6PD activity was measured, and the hemoglobin electrophoresis for blood lysate was conducted and scanned for HbS scanning. The frequencies of two major red cell genetic defects, sickle hemoglobin (HbS) and deficiency G6PD was determined, of the studied subjects 10 (11%) females and 11 (12%) males were found to be deficient in the G6PD gene. The frequency of HbS carriers among the females was 4% while it was 6% among males. The coincidence of both G6PD deficiency and sickle cell hemoglobin in the samples was 1%. No coincidence was found between G6PD deficiency and hyperbilirubinemia. A better understanding of the distributions of these genetic disorders has the potential to aid in the more efficient utilization of health care resources and improved planning.