Vol. 17 Issue 3
Waleed A. Al Dali, Kamaldeen A. Oluseye
Objective: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of both high-heeled shoes and specific habitual position of the feet and ankle joints on the flexibility of calf muscles.
Design: Eighty health college female students voluntarily participated in the study. Forty of them were habitual low-heeled shoe wearers (group 1) . Their mean age was 21.7 ± 4.2 years, mean weight, 51.4 ±11.4 kg and mean height was 155 ± 8.8 cm. The remaining forty subjects (group 2) were habitual high-heeled shoe wearers. Their mean age was 20.4 ± 5.1 years, mean weight, 52. 7 ± 10.2 kg and mean height was 155 ± 6.7 cm. The index of calf muscle flexibility was the range of motions [dorsiflexion (DF) and plantar flexion (PF)] of the right and left ankle joints as measured with a standard goniometer and flexometer. The measurements taken with both devices were highly correlated (r = +0.99). The data were subjected to a one-tailed student t-test statistical analysis with p < 0.05 chosen as the level of significance.
Results: Low-heeled shoe wearers (group 1) have significantly (p < 0.05) higher DF measurements (26.6 ± 4.54 degrees for the right; 26.0 ± 4.50 degrees for the left) at the ankle joints than the high-heeled shoe wearers (group 2) (15.4 ± 5.10 degrees for the right and 14.4 ± 4.42 degrees for the left), while there was no significant difference between the two groups in respect of PF measurements (47.8 ± 5.02 degrees for the right ankle and 47.07 ± 5.47 degrees for the left in group 1 and 48.05 ± 4.86 degrees for the right ankle and 47.7 ± 4.86 degrees for the left ankle in group 2).
Conclusion: The conclusion to be made was that there existed some degree of tightness in the calf muscles of group 2 subjects.
Yousuf Abdulmalik Al-Tayib
The activities of molybdenum hydroxylases, aldehyde oxidase and xanthine oxidase, were determined eight times daily (at equal intervals) in partially purified preparations of liver of adult female hamsters. A marked diurnal variation of aldehyde oxidase activity was observed with the substrates used (phthalazine, 3- methylisoquinoline, phenanthridine). The maximum enzyme activity occurred at 0600 hr, whereas the minimum activity occurred at 0300, 0900 and 1800 hr. The differences between the maximum and minimum enzyme activities were highly significant (P< 0.005). Xanthine oxidase also showed circadian variation when xanthine was used as substrate. The maximum activity of xanthine oxidase occurred at 1500 hr whereas the minimum occurred at 0900 hr. The difference between the two extremes was statistically significant (P<0.01). These Results indicate that hamster liver aldehyde oxidase and xanthine oxidase exhibit circadian variation in activity.
Sulieman M. Al-Ogaily, Ahmed M. Al-Harbi and Amanat Ali
Disposal of sewage waste from the city of Al Riyadh and adjacent areas is partially carried out through a flood channel known as Wadi Hanifah Stream. It is a permanent stream that flows from north (Badiah) to south (southeast of the city of Al Hair) covering a distance of about 50 km. It carried only seasonal rainwater before the urbanization of the area . At present the main sources of water are sewage effluent, agricultural runoff, pumped shallow groundwater from the city of Al-Riyadh and seasonal rainwater. Samples of water, soil, plants and fish were collected from different locations outside the boundaries of the city of Al Riyadh. The water quality and the heavy metals (Ag, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu , Fe, Pb, Ni and Zn) in these samples were studied. The pH of the water was overall alkaline (average 7.38). The water appeared to be very hard (mean value 879 mg/l) with high levels of total dissolved solids (average 1601 mg/l). The levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) , biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) on the average were 4.50; 39.33 and 6.62 mg/l respectively. The amount of heavy metals in the water was lower than the amount in soil, plants and fish. The maximum concentration of heavy metals was found in the soil followed by plants and fish. Overall iron was found in the highest concentration, followed by barium, zinc, cobalt, copper, chromium and lead. Silver, cadmium and nickel showed the lowest concentrations. Highly positive correlation for various metals was observed between the water, soil, plants and fish . The results indicated that the heavy metal content of water, soil, plants and fish in the Wadi Hanifah Stream was within the acceptable limits and did not pose a high risk of accumulation at this stage. Based on the physical and chemical water quality parameters and heavy metal content of wastewater, it is concluded that it may be used for agricultural purposes.
I. M. Alhazza
This study assessed the significance of vitamin C in the protection against lead toxicity of the reproductive system of male rats. The treatment of rats with lead acetate (2%) for six weeks, caused a significant decrease in the sperm motility, sperm count, weight of seminal vesicles and prostate gland and serum LH. Moreover, sperm abnormalities were corrected to a large extent in the treated group. The abnormality of the sperm head was more than that of the tail. Some seminiferous tubules of the rats given lead appeared devoid of spermatozoa and with few spermatocytes. Vitamin C reduced the effects of lead on the sperm count and sperm morphology and the structure of the seminiferous tubules.
Ahmed M. Al-Abdulkader & Ali A. Al-Jaloud
Investment in agriculture using Greenhouses is one of the most important investments in Saudi Arabia. That is due to the potential of Greenhouses to produce vegetable crops with higher yield, and to save the water use, compared to the traditional open field agriculture. This complies with the strategic role of the agricultural sector to bridge the food gap, and to achieve the national food security in Saudi Arabia. The main objective of this study is to determine the net economic return of Greenhouses cucumbers and tomatoes using different water qualities in Saudi Arabia. Results show that the production of cucumbers and tomatoes in Greenhouses using different water qualities with salt concentration varies between 800-1400 PPM, would generate high net economical return to investors, and would give high water return too.