Background: Parasitic protozoa and helminthes are responsible for some of the most devastating and prevalent diseases of humans, threatening the lives of nearly one-third of the worldwide human population leading to more than 2 million deaths annually. Objective: determine serum total cholesterol [T.C], triglycerides [TG], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] in patients infected with Schistosoma haematobium. Materials: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Sudan between August, 2011 and January, 2013. The study included 250 infected subjects with Schistosoma haematobium[males and females] and 100 volunteers apparently healthy as control. All participants aged 7-12 years. Methods: The concentration of Total Cholesterol, Triglyceride LDL and HDL were measured using direct kit methods, and detection of urinary schistosoma haematobium eggs was carried by microscopy. Results: The mean concentration of triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] and low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] were significantly lower among S. haematobium-infected subjects than in controls irrespective of the age and sex Triglyceride and Cholesterol was significantly low when the concentrations ofova in urine was high [>50], and only the cholesterol was significantly low in female patients compared to males. Conclusion: This study showed that schistosoma infection made significant alteration in plasma lipid levels with a corresponding increase in parasitemia levels in urine.

Grand multiparity is associated with an increased risk of subsequent clinical insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

Objectives: to examine the role of PCOS in alteration of TSH, T4, T3 and prolactin as well as correlating the outcome to obesity. Methods: One Hundred female patients with PCOS based on Rotterdam 2003 criteria. Together with fifty healthy volunteer females included as controls. Serum levels of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Thyroxine (T4), Triiodothyronine (T3) and prolactin were tested in the two groups. Body mass index (BMI) evaluated to be a part of the correlation. Results: A significant increase was found in TSH and prolactin (P<0.05) along with a significant decrease in T4 in PCOS females matched against controls(P<0.05). Only lean patients showed significantly high T4 in contrast to controls(P<0.05). T4 showed insignificant difference between overweight patients and controls (P>0.05). Conclusions: PCOS linked to hypothyroidism, and the latter may cause hyperprolactinemia in the same individual. Association of hyperprolactinemia and PCOS entails assessment of alternative causes of hyperprolactinemia, and this assessment should include thyroid function.

Background: Cardiac dysfunctions have been recognized as a common complication of sickle cell anaemia (SCA), and together with pulmonary disorder accounts for many deaths in these patients. However, sickle cell traits appear clinically normal, although they have genetic abnormality. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of sickle cell trait on cardiac prognostic markers by measuring high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), cardiac creatine kinase (CK-MB), ultra-sensitive C reactive protein (us-CRP), total homocysteine (Hyc), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) tests in adult Sudanese patients with sickle cell trait.Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 200 healthy volunteers as a control group and 200 diagnosed patients with sickle cell trait. It was carried out in Khartoum Specialized Hospital, Al-Bayan Hospital, Obayed Clinical Center and Dr. Nadir Specialized Hospital, Sudan between January 2015 and January 2016. All participants were between 20-32 years old. LDL-C, HDL-C, CK-MB, NT-proBNP and hs-CRP concentrations were measured by Hitachi 912 full-automated Chemistry Analyzer (Roche Diagnostics, Germany) as manufacturer procedure, while homocysteine level was measured by ELISA technique using special kit.Results: When compared to control group, the levels of LDL-C, hs-CRP and NT-proBNP revealed significant increase in patients’ sera (p<0.001), while Hyc and CK-MB levels were increased insignificantly in patients with SCT (p=0.069, p=0.054 respectively). On the other hand, comparison to control group, HDL-C showed insignificant reduction in patients (p=0.099).Conclusion: The results suggest that sickle cell trait increased the risk of patient-related complication secondary to cardiac dysfunction.

Boswellia sacra oleo gum resin (Burseraceae) commonly known as frankincense is traditionally used in many countries for its beneficial effect on male fertility. This study explores its effect on the male reproductive system after a 60-day repeated administration at two different doses to rats (in vivo) and on human Leydig cells (in vitro). The methanolic extract of B. sacra was analyzed for the presence of various constituents by preliminary phytochemical analysis and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) while quantitative analysis of boswellic acids was done by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Administration of B. sacra extract to rats elevated the serum testosterone levels with an associated reduction in serum levels of FSH and LH. An increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase and catalase, was seen. A dose-dependent increase in the sperm count and sperm motility was also observed. The in vivo results were supported by changes in the expression of the Bcl-2 gene and caspase-3 gene in human Leydig cells in vitro. The results of this study support the traditional use of B. sacra to increase male fertility.

Frankincense (Boswellia sacra Fluck.,) is traditionally used in the treatment of altered male fertile potential in several countries. This study evaluated the cytoprotective action of B. sacra oleo gum resin extract against cyclophosphamide (CP) induced testicular toxicity in rats (in-vivo) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced cytotoxicity in human Leydig cells (in-vitro). The methanolic extract of B. sacra was standardized for the presence of different boswellic acids using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and volatile constituents in the extract were detected by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Two doses of B. sacra extract were used in the in-vivo study. The HPLC analysis showed that extract contains about 36% w/w of total boswellic acids and GC–MS analysis revealed the presence of another 71 different constituents. Administration of B. sacra extract to rats increased serum testosterone levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, and sperm count with improved sperm quality in a dose-dependent manner, when compared to CP treated animals. Boswellia sacra extract also protected the human Leydig cells against LPS-induced damage and increased the expression of the Bcl-2 gene along with a decrease in caspase-3 gene expression. The results of this study show that B. sacra extract has a protective effect on the male reproductive system.

The global incidence of breast cancer among men is steadily growing. Despite this, compared to female breast cancer patients, there are very few studies on biomarkers in male breast cancer patients. A cross-sectional case control study was carried out to determine the serum levels of melatonin, ghrelin, dopamine, serotonin, epinephrine, and GABA in male breast cancer. All the recruited patients were obese, old, and had recently been diagnosed with the disease. They had not received any treatment for the cancer until the time of the study. Melatonin and epinephrine serum levels were significantly higher in breast cancer patients compared to their age-matched controls, whereas ghrelin, dopamine, GABA, and serotonin serum levels were lower in patients compared to the control group. The serum levels of most of the studied biomarkers in male breast cancer patients were similar to those observed in female breast cancer patients, except for serum melatonin levels.

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