Neuroprotective role of Bacopa monnieri extract in modulating depression in an experimental rat model.

Background: Depression is a common illness with no definite treatment.

Methods: The study involved 2 experimental periods; 45-day (P1) followed by 30-day (P2). 40 adult albino rats were randomly divided into 4 groups.

Maternal early pregnancy serum level of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To assess if early pregnancy (≤14 weeks of gestation) 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level is associated with risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods: A nested case-control study (60 women in each arm) was conducted at Saad Abualila Hospital (Khartoum, Sudan) during the period of January to November 2017. Clinical and obstetrical data were gathered, 25(OH)D concentration was measured at the first prenatal visit, and a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test was performed at 24-28 weeks of gestation.

Peripheral hematological parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: There have been few studies on hematological parameters (e.g., hemoglobin, red cell distribution width, white blood cells, and mean platelet volume), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

High haemoglobin levels in early pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus among Sudanese women.

A longitudinal study was carried out to investigate the prevalence and risk factors (including haemoglobin levels) for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Khartoum, Sudan. The study was carried out at Saad Abuelela Hospital (Khartoum, Sudan) during February to November 2017. Pregnant women in early pregnancy (gestational age <14 weeks) were enrolled in the study.

Heart rate variability and hematological parameters in pregnant women.

Background: There are few researches on hematological parameters (hemoglobin, red cell distribution width [RDW], white blood cells [WBCs], mean platelets volume [MPV], and heart rate variability [HRV]). There are no published data on this concept (HRV and hematological parameters) during pregnancy.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Saad Abul Ela hospital in Khartoum, Sudan during the period of July to August 2018.

Developing a generic model for total quality management in higher education in Saudi Arabia.

The field of higher education has been progressing at a rapid pace in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the past decade, with doubling the number of government and private universities and colleges. Quality and accreditation are of great importance to higher education institutes world-wide. Thus, developing a generic model for quality management in higher education is badly needed in the country.

Relationships between the quality of blended learning experience, self-regulated learning, and academic achievement of medical students: a path analysis.

Purpose: This study examined the relationships between the different aspects of students' course experience, self-regulated learning, and academic achievement of medical students in a blended learning curriculum.

Methods: Perceptions of medical students (n=171) from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain), on the blended learning experience were measured using the Student Course Experience Questionnaire (SCEQ), with an added e-Learning scale. In addition, self-regulated learning was measured using the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ).

Ramadan fasting ameliorates oxidative stress and improves glycemic control and lipid profile in diabetic patients.

Purpose: The effects of Ramadan fasting on public health are important. The present study characterized the metabolic effects of Ramadan fasting and evaluated its influence on oxidative stress in diabetic patients.

Methods: The current study was carried out in the city of Benha, Egypt, during the period from July 12, 2012 to October 4, 2012.

Effects of Roselle on arterial pulse pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients.

Objective: To characterize the effects of regular Roselle ingestion on blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with established moderate essential hypertension.

Methods: This non-randomized quasi-experimental study was conducted in Kafr El-Shaikh, Egypt, for 8 weeks, from September 2012 to November 2012. The effects of a 4-week period of regular Roselle ingestion followed by a 4-week recovery period on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), and heart rates (HR) was studied in 2 equal, gender- and age-matched groups (n=50 each; average age - 50+/-5 years) of normotensive subjects, and patients with moderate essential hypertension.

Ramadan fasting ameliorates arterial pulse pressure and lipid profile, and alleviates oxidative stress in hypertensive patients.

Background And Aim: Effects of Ramadan fasting on health are important. Its effects on arterial pulse pressure (PP), lipid profile and oxidative stress were characterized in hypertensives.

Methods: PP, indices of lipid profile and oxidative stress were measured pre-, during and post-fasting in equal (40 each), sex- and age-matched groups (age 55 ± 5 years) of hypertensives (HT) and controls (C).

Simultaneous measurement of blood and myocardial velocity in the rat heart by phase contrast MRI using sparse q-space sampling.

Purpose: To measure cardiac blood flow patterns and ventricular wall velocities through the cardiac cycle in anesthetized Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats.

Materials And Methods: A gradient-echo cine pulse sequence incorporating pulsed field gradients (PFGs) provided phase contrast (PC) motion encoding. We achieved a range of velocity sensitivity that was sufficient to measure simultaneously the large flow velocities within the cardiac chambers and aortic outflow tract (up to 70 cm s(-1) during systole), and the comparatively small velocities of the cardiac wall (0-3 cm s(-1)).

Magnetic resonance imaging analysis of cardiac cycle events in diabetic rats: the effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition.

Non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to characterize changes in left and right ventricular cardiac cycles following induction of experimental, streptozotocin (STZ)-induced, diabetes in male Wistar rats at different ages. The effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor captopril upon such chronic physiological changes were then evaluated, also for the first time. Diabetes was induced at the age of 7 weeks in two experimental groups, of which one group was subsequently maintained on captopril (2 g l(-1))-containing drinking water, and at 10 and 13 weeks in two further groups.

Non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging assessment of myocardial changes and the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition in diabetic rats.

A non-invasive cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique was developed to allow, for the first time, detection and characterization of chronic changes in myocardial tissue volume and the effects upon these of treatment by the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor captopril in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic male Wistar rats. Animals that had been made diabetic at the ages of 7, 10 and 13 weeks and a captopril-treated group of animals made diabetic at the age of 7 weeks were scanned. The findings were compared with the results from age-matched controls.