Vol. 26 Issue 4
Abdel Halim A. Salem Deifalla
The goal of this study was to determine the frequency ofthe single nucleotide polymorphism C3435T in MDR1 gene in the Bahraini population, and to compare them with the frequencies established in other ethnic populations. Genotyping was carried out on 184 unrelated Bahraini subjects. A PCRRFLP assay was applied for the determination of MDR-J variants. Results showed that 64 (34.8%) of the studied Bahraini subjects were homozygous for the CC genotype, 84 (45.7%) were heterozygous for the CT genotype and 36 (19.5%) were homozygous for the IT genotype. The frequencies of the wild-type allele 3435C and the 3435T variant in the MDR-J Gene were found to be 0.58 and 0.42, respectively. In conclusion, Bahrainis resemble other Arabs with regard to allelic frequencies of the MDR-J variants. The results ofMDR-1 genotyping in Bahraini individuals may provide a framework for more rational use of drugs that are substrates for MDR-J. The data obtained may be useful in clinical pharmacogenetic investigations and epidemiological studies of the MDR-J gene variation.
AbdulAmeer Al-Laith
In a previous study, we have shown that home-made Mehiawah, a fermented fish sauce commonly consumed in the Gulf States and traditionally prepared from dried Sardinella gibbosa (Indian sardines), contained high counts of Staphylococcus aureus, as well as detectable level of staphylococcal enterotoxins. The current study further confirms these findings It also reports the possible fate of inoculated S. aureus in experimentally prepared Mehiawah using four different mehiawah treatments. A coagulase-positive S. aureus isolate was used as an inoculum. Fermentation was allowed to proceed for two weeks in the presence or absence of natural flora of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Counts of S. aureus, LAB, and total aerobic (APC) were monitored. The fate of inoculated S. aureus (107 CFU/ml) in the presence and the absence of naturally occurring LAB showed similarity at early stage of fermentation but differ at later stage. By the end of two-week fermentation period, cOllnt of inoculated S. aureus was about one log higher (5.5) in the absence of LAB compared to in the presence (4.5). pH of all treatment, whether LAB were present or not and as well as in the sterilized Mehiawah, declined from about 5.75-5.9 to between 3.4-3.9). Physiochemical analyses of commercial samples and the survival pattern ofS. aureus suggest that Mehiawah may possess health hazards, especially under the conditions that prevail in home-made practice.
Ahmet Karatas, Mohammed Wedyan, and Mustafa Sozen
The Karyotypes of four bat species of two families (Rhinolophidae and Vespertilionidae) were examined from Jordan. Bat specimens were captured by use of mist-nets and hand-nets from three localities in Jordan in June 2006. Chromosomes were obtained from femoral bone marrow cells and about 20-30 metaphase cells of each animal were examined. The diploid number of chromosomes (2n) and the fundamental numbers of chromosomal arms (NFa) were determined to be 2n=58 and NFa=60 for Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rh, euryale and Rh. blasii, and 2n=44, NFa=50 for Pipistrellus kuhlii. Karyology of Rh. euryale and P. kuhlii is investigated from Jordan for the first time. The karyotypes of Jordanian bats show similarity to other populations in other countries with respect to diploid chromosome number, however, the fundamental chromosome number and the number of autosomal arms are quite different.
Mahmood. M. ltlasralla and AbdulAziz. R. Seroji
This work has been devoted to study TSP, PM,0 and PM the atmosphere of Makkah
and Mina valley during Ramadan and Hajj periods, 1424 and 1425 H. On the occasion of Hajj, about 2.5 million persons gather in Makkah and move to Mina valley (4 km2), 7 km outside east of Makkah. Pilgrims spend 3 nights in the valley. Congested traffic and the high rates of emissions in such a valley of small area coupled with severe weather conditions, make the area ideal for the accumulation of air pollutants. The present investigation shows that the diurnal cycle of PM10 in air coincides with the pattern of traffic movements. Particulate matters (PM10) daily concentrations in the atmosphere of Mina valley ranged between 191 - 262 pg/m3 during the presence of pilgrims in Mina compared to the European standard of 50//g/m3. These concentrations represent 34% - 40% of TSP. Moreover, TSP concentrations reached 665 pg1m3 in Makkah atmosphere during the last ten days of Ramadan compared to the Saudi standard of 340 jg/m3. Chemical analysis of PM10 indicated high levels of sulphates, ammonium, nitrates and chlorides. For example, the concentrations of nitrates and sulphates of PMI0 were about 4.9% and 6.1 % respectively, compared to 2.1% of nitrates and 2.7% of sulphates in TSP. Health dangers that might be encountered by pilgrims due to these pollutants were estimated. It is recommended to set a well planned air quality management program to protect the air of Makkah.
Djilali Larbaoui, Jacques Belleville, Malika Bouchenak, and Mustapha Assami
The effect of high risk atherosclerosis was investigated on HDL, HDL, amounts and
composition and Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity in 448 patients (M/W, 223/225)
with high risk atherosclerosis. The mean age was 53 4 years and the mean BMI was 26 2. The
subjects were divided into eight groups (GI- GVIII) and compared with 51 controls (M/W, 25/26) with
a mean age of 50 + 6 and BMI of 22 + 1. Triacylglycerols concentrations were 1.8- to 2.3-fold higher in
all groups than in the controls. Total cholesterol concentrations were 1.3- to 1.6-fold higher in all high
risk atherosclerosis patients, than in controls. LCAT activity was decreased in patients of GI (P<0.05).
GII, GIII, GIV (P<0.01), GV, GVI, GVII and GVIII (P<0.001), compared with the control values. A
negative correlation was noted between LCAT activity and HDL,-PL in atherosclerosis high risk patients
(r= -0.69. P<0.01), a positive correlation between LCAT and HDL - CE (r= 0.55, P<0.01). An inverse
relationship was found between LCAT activity and hypertriglyceridemia (r= -0.76, P<0.01) and between
hypertriglyceridemia and HDL-CE (r=-0.63, P<0.01). A negative correlation was also reported between
total serum cholesterol and HDL2-CE (r= -0.87, P<0.01). A positive correlation was reported between
total serum cholesterol and serum triacylglycerols (r=0.99, P<0.01). The degree of alteration in the HDL
and HDL, amounts and composition, as well as LCAT activity decrease were proportional to the number
of risk factors. According to the presence of one or several atherosclerosis risk factors, the alterations in
HDL, and HDL, amounts and composition contribute to reduced efficacy of reverse cholesterol transport,
which is another risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Ayed Radi Khanſar
The aim of this pilot study is to investigate the quality of well water in Ahad Rofidah of Assir, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Six samples were collected for the physical and chemical analysis during the month of April 2008. The results of the chemical analysis (mg/L) were: Magnesium hardness 4.52 - 1488, Calcium hardness 5.04 - 26,57 Total hardness 84,0 - 268.0, Total Alkalinity 50.0 - 240, Chlorides 100 - 1600, Nitrates 88.0 – 176,0, Sodium 86.0 – 90 1.0, Potassium 76 - 43.1, Bicarbonates 50 - 124, Sulfates 145 - 1200, and Total Dissolved Solids 314-1179, pH 7.09- 7.66, Electrical Conductivity (ms/cm) 1636-2360. A comparison between the obtained results with those of the national and international standards indicates that the water of these wells is not appropriate for drinking, nevertheless, it can be used for other purposes, such as household and irrigation uses. It is recommended that a detailed study on the quality of groundwater to be carried out in the region.
Amirat Moukhtar, Maatoug Amohamed, Belkhodja Molie, Helal Benchaben, and Taibi Khaled
Lead (Pb), originating from road traffic, is a toxic metal for the soil, the plant and ground water. The objectives of this work are to determine the effect of the physicochemical parameters of road traffic's soil on the mobility of lead. The results obtained show that the concentrations of Pb of road traffic ongin exceeded the set standards (AFNOR, 1996). However, these concentrations are influenced by a number of physical and chemical parameters of the soil: the lead concentrations increased with the rate of clays, soil pH and the cationic exchange capacity. We also noted that the concentrations of lead are high on the surface of the soil reaching 3200 ppm, then it decreases with depth to reach 680 ppm, but they always exceed the set standards, thus threatening groundwater. This situation, which threatens agricultural lands and groundwater by pollution can be controlled by using unleaded gasoline, and installing water channels at the edge of the road, for draining the rainwater which is rich in heavy metals coming from road traffic and by the renewal of the automobile park
Adel Mohamed Al-Essa, Ali Abdulmohsen Al-Helal and Faisal Abdulla Al-Saad
Date palm trees (Phoenix dactylifera L.) are widely distributed in the Eastern Province of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There are more than 70 cultivars that have been grown there for ages, Three cultivars, namely "khalas", "Shaishi" and "Ruzaiz" have been selected from each of the two localities (Al-Ahsa and AI- Qatif) and subjected to isoenzymes electrophoretic analysis. Leaflets and roots of the three cultivars were analyzed using the PAGE techniques for the occurrence of the isoenzymes EST, GOT, SOD, GDH and LAP. The results show that the three cultivars differed in their isoenzymes pattern within the same location and between different locations. The obtained results also signified that the isoenzymes patterns could be used as genetic expression markers for the cultivars and their interactions with the environmental factors in the two locations.