Annals of Medical Physiology

How calyx juice of Hibiscus sabdariffa (Zobo) affects human platelet count

2021-01-25T22:08:05+0530

“Zobo” is a popular local soft drink; made from the dried calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa; widely consumed across towns, cities and cultures in Nigeria. A lot of health benefits have been attributed to this drink, some of which include anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antihypertensive, hypocholesterolemic and antianemic effect. However, little is known on the effect of this refreshing drink on the human platelet count. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the impact of the Calx juice of Hibiscus sabdariffa “Zobo” on the platelet level on young adult, who make up the demography that consume the drink a lot. For the purpose of this study, the researches employed the local method of preparing the “Zobo” drink and 50 (24 females and 26 males) subjects, randomly selected, voluntarily participated in the study. The study lasted for a period of 14 days and samples were collected from subjects before and after the 14th day of taking 500ml of “Zobo” drink. Platelet count was determined in collected samples and the data obtained analyzed with paired sample T-test using SPSS (version 20). The result shows that there is a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the posttest (162.72 ± 0.428×109/l) when compared to the pretest was (262.7 ± 0.371×109/l) in male subjects. For the Female group, the result also shows that there is a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the posttest (204.30 ± 0.583×109/l) when compared with the pretest (258.20 ± 0.472×109/l). Conclusion was therefore reached that juice made from the dried calyces of hibiscus sabdriffa reduces the platelet count of participants in this study.

Evaluation of renal functions tests among Sudanese healthy pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) at The National Ribat University Hospital in Khartoum State in 2019

2020-12-29T21:57:19+0530

Pregnancy involves remarkable physiological changes and the functional impact of pregnancy on the kidney physiology is widespread involving practically all aspects of kidney functions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the renal functions in Sudanese healthy pregnant ladies during different trimesters. A cross sectional study was carried out during July to October 2019 on Sudanese healthy pregnant ladies attending antenatal care at the National Ribat University Hospital in Khartoum State. The study covered 60 healthy pregnant ladies (20 for each trimester). The purpose of the study was explained to all participants and they were assessed after taking their consent. Blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (BMI) were measured by standard techniques. A sample of five ml venous blood was taken in a suitable blood container for measurement of urea and creatinine using a fully automated Mindray BS-300 Chemistry Analyzer (Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China). The data was analyzed using SPSS version 25 (IBM SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), t-test was used to compare the statistical significant (p value ? 0.05 was considered statistical significant). The mean age of participants was 26.6±5.3 years with the range of 18-37 years. The mean BMI was 25.7±3.6 with the range of 18-31. The mean urea in the first, second and third trimester was 13.4, 13.9 and 13.2 mg/dl respectively with no statistically significant variation. The mean creatinine in the first, second and third trimester was 0.6, 0.6 and 0.5 mg/dl respectively with no statistically significant variation. To conclude, there was no significant variation of serum urea and creatinine during three trimesters of pregnancy in healthy pregnant women.

Emergence of MIS-C in COVID-19 pandemic

2020-12-29T21:21:26+0530

Dyslipidemia is the hallmark of the metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women

2020-07-15T07:49:31+0530

The incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) increases after menopause and may be due to changes in the plasma lipid-lipoprotein levels that occur following menopausal transition. Physiological estrogen withdrawal during menopause plays a major role in abnormal lipid metabolism such as elevated low-density lipoprotein concentration. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between dyslipidemia and the causative factors of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women. In this cross-sectional study, 290 postmenopausal Sudanese women were included. Lipid profiles were measured by spectrophotometer, estrogen hormone determined by ELISA, insulin resistance determined by HOMA-2 calculator and lipid accumulation product was calculated by the following equation (waist circumference in cm X triglyceride concentration in mM). The results revealed that total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein levels and very low-density lipoprotein levels were significantly higher in the postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome (MS) in comparison to those without the MS. Elevated total cholesterol levels were seen in 51.7 %, elevated triglycerides were seen in 49.7% and elevated low-density lipoprotein levels were seen in 29.3% whereas reduced high density lipoprotein levels were seen in 16.89% of the postmenopausal women. Total cholesterol, triglycerides and very low-density lipoprotein values showed a significant positive correlation with insulin resistance and lipid accumulation and a significant negative correlation with the estrogen hormone level. In addition, high density lipoproteins showed a significant negative correlation with lipid accumulation levels.

Resting heart rate variability in regular yoga practitioners - A cross-sectional study

2020-07-13T09:36:07+0530

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a useful and powerful non-invasive tool for quantitative assessment of cardiac autonomic function. Recent studies have shown that low heart rate variability is an indication of increased risk for cardiac diseases and sudden cardiac death. Yoga has been associated with improved cardio-respiratory performance. Thirty male regular yoga practitioners doing yoga for more than 3 years, age between 25-45 years (yoga group) and 30 male non-yoga practitioners, age-matched (control group) were included. A computerized Niviqure ECG system with HRV software was used for heart rate variability recording. Our results show that frequency-domain parameters like LF power, LF n.u, and LF/HF ratio were significantly lower in yoga group compared to control group. Time-domain parameters like mean RR, NN50, pNN50 were significantly higher in yoga group compared to control group. We conclude that the yoga increases heart rate variability by optimizing the autonomic functions, which is a good indicator of cardiac autonomic activity during rest.

Effect of tea and coffee consumption on the blood pressure, pulse wave velocity and aortic pressures in young healthy individuals

2020-07-09T09:28:32+0530

Caffeine present in tea and coffee, the most commonly used beverages, has been implicated to have long term effects on cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to document the acute and chronic effects of tea and coffee consumption on blood pressure, pulse wave velocity and aortic pressures in young, healthy individuals. This observational study was conducted on 86 healthy MBBS student volunteers of both genders between the age group of 18-27 years. Cardiovascular parameters (heart rate, peripheral blood pressure, central blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, augmentation pressure) were measured using PeriScope™. Participants were divided into 3 groups based on their history of consuming tea/coffee/both/none. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS 17.0. ANOVA or Welsh test of equality of means was used for knowing the differences for scale variables. Paired sample t test was used to know the acute effect of coffee consumption among group 1 participants in a before-after design. In regular tea consumers, the bilateral brachial SBP, DBP and MAP were significantly higher than individuals who did not consume tea regularly; similar results in these parameters were also observed in regular coffee drinkers. However the lower limb arterial parameters were not markedly differently in tea/coffee group compared to non-drinkers. In both tea and coffee group, AoSP and AoDP were significantly higher than non-drinkers. Additionally, coffee drinking has acute stimulatory effects on CVS as evident by increase in peripheral and central vascular parameters.

SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 nexus

2020-07-08T04:56:07+0530

Conflict of interest or competing interest: What is in the name?

2020-03-22T13:51:02+0530

No abstract

Precision medicine in the era of live cell imaging

2019-10-05T05:19:47+0530

Relationship between obesity, physical activity, sleeping hours and red blood cell parameters in adult Sudanese population

2019-07-16T03:30:12+0530

Ideal body weight with proper physical activity and good sleep are essential parameters for good quality of life. This study is concerned with assessing the association of general obesity, physical activity and sleeping hours with hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and red blood cell (RBC) parameters in healthy adults in Sudan. In this cross sectional study, 1086 healthy adults between 20 and 60 years were included out of which 275 were males and 811 were females. A complete blood count (CBC) was performed for Hb, RBC count, PCV, MCH and MCHC using Sysmex KX-21 automated hematology analyzer. The median and 95 percentile (2.5^th to 97.5^th) range values for Hb and RBC count in underweight were 13.0 (Range: 9.6-16.7) g/dl and 4.6 (Range: 3.6-5.8) ×10³/µL respectively, while Hb and RBC count in obese were 13.1 (Range: 10.4-17.0) g/dl and 4.6 (Range: 3.7-5.9) ×10³/µL respectively, with no significant difference. The RBC count (p=0.004) and Hb (p?0.001) were significantly high in physically active compared to physically inactive participants; whereas the hemoglobin concentration (p=0.047), red blood cells (p=0.007) and hematocrit (p?0.001) values were significantly low in long-term sleep compared to normal sleeping hours. In conclusion, there were no significant differences in hemoglobin concentration, RBC count, PCV, MCH and MCHC between unde weight, normal weight, overweight and obese persons. Increased physical activity was associated with higher Hb levels and RBC counts, while long-term sleep showed lower Hb and RBCs.