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Background: Corn silk contains health promoting phytochemicals which could be applied in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Aim and objectives: This was designed to evaluate the effect of corn silk extract on lipid profile, CK-MB and LDH. Methods: Fifteen rabbits divided into three experimental groups of 5 rabbits each were studied. The control group(A) was not ingested with the extract throughout the period of study. Group B was ingested with the water extract for 3 weeks while group C was ingested with the mathanolic extract for 3 weeks. Plasma lipid profile, CK-MB and LDH were estimated in the rabbits biochemically by spectrophotometry. The rabbits were well kept and placed on normal diet throughout the period of study. Results: There was a significantly higher mean value of plasma Total Cholesterol Triglyceride in the control rabbits than those obtained in the test rabbits after one week of the administration of methanolic and aqueous extract of corn silk (p<0.05). There was a significantly lower mean value of plasma Total Cholesterol and Triglyceride in the control rabbits than those obtained in the test rabbits after two and three weeks of the administration of methanolic and aqueous extract of corn silk (p<0.05). There was a significantly lower mean value of plasma LDL-Cholesterol in the control rabbits than those obtained in the test rabbits after 2 and 3 weeks of the administration of methanolic and aqueous extract of corn silk (p<0.05). There was a significantly lower mean plasma CK-MB value in the test rabbits than the control rabbits after 3 weeks of administration of aqueous extract of corn silk (p<0.05). There was a significant decrease in Cholesterol and Triglyceride in the rabbits after one week of methanolic extract but prolong administration of the extract significantly increased the Cholesterol, Triglycerides and LDL-Cholesterol. The corn silk extract also has a lowering effect on CK-MB in rabbits administered with corn silk extract. Conclusion: Estimation of plasma CK-MB, Cholesterol, Triglyceride and LDL-Cholesterol in patient undergoing treatment with corn silk extract will be a useful indicies for effective management.

Background<br />Exercise has been known to have beneficial effects on human health. The kidneys play an important role in regulating acid-base and water-electrolyte balance disturbances induced by exercise. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of short term aerobic exercise (volleyball training) on the kidney function of apparently healthy individuals. <br /><br />Methods<br />An experimental study of pre-post test design was conducted involving 41 amateur volleyball players, comprising 22 males and 19 females. They were randomly divided into seven different teams. Each team trained for at least 45 minutes for four consecutive days for two weeks. Both pre-and post-exercise blood pressure (BP) was measured using an automatic blood pressure measuring device OMRON 907 (OMRON, Hoofddorp, Netherlands). Likewise, both pre- and post-exercise blood samples were collected into lithium heparin tubes and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes and the plasma separated into plain tubes. Electrolytes were analysed using ion selective electrode machine (SFRI 4000, Germany), urea using modified Berthelot method, creatinine using Jaffe-Slot method and uric acid using the uricase method and estimated glomerular filtration state (eGFR) was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula. <br /><br />Results<br />The mean levels of pre- and post-exercise systolic blood pressure, creatinine, urea, sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate and eGFR did not differ significantly (p&gt;0.05). However, serum uric acid was significantly increased (p&lt;0.05), while diastolic BP significantly decreased after exercise (p&lt;0.05).<br /><br />Conclusion<br />The study showed that short-term moderate intensity aerobic exercise does not have any significant effect on the renal functions.

Introduction: Viral seromarkers are expressed in the serum or plasma to indicate viral infection while chronic viral infections may lead to organ failures and also kidneys have receptors as a point of entry for some viruses. This work was therefore designed to characterize viral seromarkers in patients with elevated plasma creatinine of ≥ 3.5mg/dl to determine the possible contribution of viral infections to renal disease as elevated creatinine is an index of renal disease.Materials and Methods: The study population included 62 patients aged 41 – 75 years with elevated plasma creatinine of 3.9± 0.4 mg/dl as test subjects and 100 age-matched volunteers with normal plasma creatinine of 0.8±0.2mg/dl as control subjects. Anti-HCV, HBsAg, HBeAg, and HIV; HIVp24Ag/Ab were determined in the subjects by ELISA while plasma creatinine was measured by spectrophotometry.Results: The viral seromarkers obtained in the subjects include:14.5%(09) Anti-HCV; 4.8%(03) p24Ag/Ab; 22.3%(14) HBsAg and 25%(16) HBeAb in the patients with plasma creatinine of 3.9 ± 0.4 mg/dl while 5%(05) Anti-HCV; 2%(02) p24Ag/Ab ; 12%(12) HBsAg and 18%(18) HBeAb were obtained in subjects with plasma creatinine of 0.8±0.2mg/dl. Conclusions:  There was a significant relationship between viral infection and renal disease (suggested by elevated plasma creatinine) as the expression of viral seromarkers of antiHCV, HBsAg, HBeAg, and HIV; HIVp24Ag/Ab in this work were more in patients with plasma creatinine of 3.9 ± 0.4 mg/dl than subjects with plasma creatinine of 0.8±0.2mg/dl while HBsAg and HBeAg were found to be more frequent.