Volume 3 Issue 1
Authors: Mohamad Daghash; Ibrahim Mohammad; Buthaina Alowainati; Lubna Mahmood; Amin Jaiosi; Ghazi Daradkeh; Mahmoud Zerie; Mohamad Othman; Prem Chandra
Abstract: To assess the serum zinc level in Type (2) diabetic patients and their association with both blood glucose level and lipid profile. Methods: The collection of data was carried out during the period from Jan 2007 to Nov 2007 in outpatient diabetic clinic at Hamad General Hospital, state of Qatar. 315 Type (2) diabetic patients (aged 25 65) who were previously diagnosed and attended diabetic clinics were selected by systematic random sampling technique. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, and BMI) of the patients were recorded and venous blood samples drawn from each subject following an overnight fasting for 12 hours, in tube containing 0.15 % EDTA. Blood samples for Zinc determination were collected in Zinc free polypropylene tubes and the separated serum was stored at -20 o C until being analyzed. Zinc determination was performed in duplicate with an atomic absorption method by using flame atomic absorption. All lab tests were done in the central laboratory at Hamad Medical Corporation. RESULTS: The 315 subjects included, 148 (47 %) males and 167 (53 %) females 25-65 years old with a mean age of 50.04 ± 8.46. 172 (54.6 %). 116 (36.8 %) were overweight and obese and 27 (8.6 %) were with a normal body weight, with a mean body mass index of (29.25 ± 3.50), 214 (67.9 %) had uncontrolled blood sugar of HbA1C >7.5%. 51 (16.9 %) had hypercholesterolemia and 102 (23.4 %) had hypertriglyceridemia. 60 (19%) subjects were zinc-deficient (Zn < 70 µg), and 41 (68.3 %) of them had uncontrolled blood sugar of HbA1c>7.5%. 11(18.3 %) had hypercholesterolemia, and17(28.3 %) had hypertriglyceridemia, 38 (73.1 %) and 6 (10.0 %) of the zinc-deficient patients were with low HDL-c and high LDL-c levels, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that zinc deficiency is common among type 2 diabetic patients due to hyperglycemia and polyurea. Periodic serum zinc measurement is recommended for type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Keywords: Zinc; Diabetes Mellitus; EDTA; HbA1C; BMI
Authors: Susan Wilhelm; Trina Aguirre; Ann Koehler
Abstract: Obesity is an ever-growing epidemic that is accompanied by numerous comorbidities and exorbitant health care expenditures. The rural community in which this minority population was studied has the 7th fattest population in the United States and is approximately 40% Hispanic1. In order to focus on interventions, bio-impedance analysis (BIA) was completed on a segment of the population as part of a community health assessment used in the Public Health Nursing Model. Forty-nine Latina women ages 20-80, attending a Latina Red Dress Event that targeted Heart Health of Latina women, were consented and measured for body composition on a bio-impedance analyzer. The items measured were BMI, body fat percentage, weight, height, body fat mass, fat free mass, visceral fat rating, body water percentage, body water mass, muscle mass, bone mass, basal metabolic rate, and metabolic age. Correlations and frequencies were analyzed for the variable data. State statistics indicate that approximately 60% of the population in this area is overweight or obese. The study findings show the rate is much higher in this segment of the population.
Keywords: Bio-Impedance; Rural; Latina; Water
Authors: Zubair M. Azizkhan
Abstract: Food-contact surfaces are potential sources for the transmission of foodborne pathogens. Thus, it is important to eliminate bacteria by using proper sanitizing methods in order to reduce cross-contamination during food preparation and/or consumption. The objective of this study is to determine the level of contamination within certain food facilities in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, using the traditional microbiological culture (aerobic plate count) and the ATP-bioluminescence assay methods and to establish if any correlation exists between the conventional direct surface plating and an ATP reading. Different samples obtained from food processing surfaces (sampling point) such as a cream mixer, cutting boards, an orange squeezer and knives at the salad section, and also a marble worktop at the pastry site were examined. All samples that were taken from the food processing equipment/surfaces showed high levels of contamination before the cleaning stage, but reduced sharply after cleaning and sanitizing. The correlation coefficient (R) values between the traditional microbiological culture (aerobic plate count) and the ATP-bioluminescence assay methods were in the range of 0.72 - 0.99 after the cleaning stage for all the samples, whereas before the food preparation equipment/surfaces had been cleaned, the R value was very low; this is possibly due to the differences between the two detection methods. The ATP-bioluminescence assay method can detect the presence of food debris, and this was translated to a high number of Relative Light Unit (RLU) indicative of a high level of contamination, whereas the traditional microbiological culture (aerobic plate count) method can only detect microorganisms. Therefore, the correlation coefficient (R) values after the cleaning stage have shown to reach a high value of 0.72-0.99 in all the samples due to the removal of food debris during the cleaning stage. Moreover, the results indicate that the ATP-bioluminescence assay is a good tool for monitoring the cleanliness of surfaces and hygiene practices at food premises.
Keywords: ATP bioluminescence; plate count method; monitoring methods; food microbiology; Food-contact surfaces; Cleaning and disinfection; Saudi Arabia