Effect of cement dust exposure on phagocytic function of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in cement mill workers.

Objectives: Exposure to cement dust can cause various occupational health problems due to its increasing incidence and long-term complications. However, the influence of cement dust on phagocytic function of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), has not as yet been investigated. Therefore, the aim of the study was to measure the phagocytic activity of PMNs by assessing chemilumiscence (CL) response in cement mill workers and controls.

Chronic granulomatous disease with recurrent hepatic abscesses in an adult.

Chronic granulomatous disease CGD is a condition of inability to deal with bacterial and fungal infections, due to defective respiratory burst in neutrophils leading to recurrent cutaneous and visceral infections. Usually a disease of childhood, but patients nowadays survive to adulthood, and diagnosis might be difficult if not considered. We describe a 20-year-old female with previously undiagnosed CGD, presenting with recurrent cutaneous and hepatic abscesses.

Subclinical autonomic neuropathy in Saudi type 2 diabetic patients.

Objective: To compare the results of autonomic function tests obtained from diabetic patients who had no symptoms or signs of somatic or autonomic neuropathy with those obtained from control subjects.

Methods: We studied 32 diabetic Saudi patients (17 males, 15 females) and 34 control subjects (17 of either gender) at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, in the period 2004-2005. The mean age of patients was 50.

Hazards of X-ray radiation on the quantitative and phagocytic functions of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in X-ray technicians.

Over exposure to X-ray radiation is detrimental to the living cells and may lead to development of life-threatening diseases. It is intuitive to postulate that a low level exposure may lead to functional abnormalities in human immune cells. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to study the effects of X-ray radiation on the total leukocyte count (TLC) and phagocytic activity of Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN).

The effect of vitamin E, L-arginine, N-nitro L-arginine methyl ester and forskolin on endocrine and metabolic changes of rats exposed to acute cold stress.

Objective: It is a well documented fact that under stress conditions the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) are stimulated. This results in a series of neural and endocrine adaptations known as the stress response. The current study assessed the effects of acute cold stress on adrenomedullin (ADM) levels in plasma and peripheral tissues (kidneys and heart) of rats, as well as on blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), total proteins both before and after intraperitoneal administration of each of the following: vitamin-E, L-arginine, forskolin and L-NAME.

Effect of diclofenac alone or in combination with alpha-tocopherol on the oxidative activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in healthy and osteoarthritic individuals.

Objective: To investigate the effects of diclofenac alone or when combined with alpha-tocopherol on the oxidative activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in healthy and osteoarthritic (OA) patients.

Methods: The study was carried out at the College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, over the period 1999 to 2000. Twelve healthy controls and 12 osteoarthritic patients were recruited to the study.

Interaction of allopurinol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema.

Objective: To find out the effect of combining allopurinol with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on carrageenan-induced rat paw edema.

Methods: The study was carried out at the College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, over the period 1999 to 2000. Male wistar rats were randomly divided into 12-16 rats in each group.

Effect of alpha-tocopherol on glucose uptake and contractility in rat skeletal muscle.

Background: Free radicals and associated oxidative stress play an important role in the causation and subsequent complications of diabetes mellitus. Type I diabetes can be induced in experimental animals by administration of streptozotocin which causes selective destruction of B islet cells, probably by a free radical mediated mechanism. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of administration of alpha-tocopherol two weeks before and two weeks after streptozotocin injection on contractility and glucose uptake of rat hemidiaphragm.