One hundred eighty-three young Saudi females (92 patients with gallstones, 91 controls) mean age and (SD), 30.2 (6.1) and 29.7 (6.4) years respectively were studied in detail for possible risk factors for gallstone formation. No statistically significant difference was found when the two groups were compared with regard to past history of jaundice, HBsAg carrier status, use of oral contraceptives, parity, diabetes mellitus, obesity (as Body Mass Index > 30), hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. However, it was noted that both groups were overweight; mean (SD) BMI of 27 (5.9) and 26.7 (6.8) for patients and controls respectively and both had high parity rates; mean and (SD) pregnancies of 4.7 (2.6) and 4.3 (2.9), respectively. Family history of gallstones in first degree relatives of patients was significant (.0027 < P < .01) more than in the controls (95% confidence interval of 3% to 23% ). This may suggest a genetic or an environmental factor that strikes the balance toward gallstone formation in the obese and fertile young female population. A larger nationwide, population-based study is surely justified and needed. AF Ahmed, OM El-Hassan, ME Mahmoud, Risk Factors for Gallstone Formation in Young Saudi Women: A Case Control Study. 1992; 12(4): 395-399 It is our impression that gallstones are remarkably common in Saudis; no exact prevalence figures are available.Comparison of the prevalence of gallstones among different populations is notoriously difficult not only because of differences in availability of diagnostic facilities and attitudes toward treatment, but many patients who have gallstones remain symptom-free [1]. Thus, in Britain, only one in seven individuals with gallstones results in cholecystectomy [2], whereas in one population-based Italian study, 78% of subjects found to have gallstones were asymptomatic [3].According to our local statistics in Almadinah Almounawarah, approximately 350 to 400 cholecystectomies are performed each year in King Fahd Hospital and Ohud Hospital (Al-madinah Almounawarah's two main Ministry of Health (MOH) general referral hospitals, bed capacity 500 and 200, respectively); approximately 50% of elective laparotomies. A similar rate was reported from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [4].Gallstone risk factors that could not be manipulated were female sex and advanced age [5][6][7][8][9]. We report a case control study of Saudi females, younger than 40 with and without gallstones; in relation to the following factors: parity, contraceptive pill, previous liver disease and HBsAg carrier state, family history of gallstones, obesity, diabetes mellitus, plasma lipids and total cholesterol and triglycerides. Subjects and Methods Definition of Cases and ControlsSaudi females younger than 40 who had a positive abdominal ultrasound scan for gallstones (cases) and sexand age-matched subjects with negative scan (controls) were studied. The presence or absence of symptoms or other diseases were not considered as an inclusion or exclusion criteria in selection of the cases and the...

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disease affecting nearly 25% of adults worldwide with related risk factors including obesity, metabolic, and inflammatory diseases. Many therapeutic remedies of natural or synthetic properties were used. AIM: This study aimed to investigate and compare the effects of ginger/rosuvastatin (ROSU) on the liver of rats with induced NAFLD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty adult male albino rats were used in this study and divided into four equal subgroups, Group I, control received the standard rat chow diet and given normal saline (1 ml/kg/day), Group II, high-fat diet (HFD) group, Group III, received HFD+ ROSU (15 mg/kg/day), and Group IV, HFD+ Zingiber officinale (10% W/V) for 6 weeks. At the end of our experiment, the rats were sacrificed then blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis of lipid profiles and liver enzymes, liver specimen was prepared for light and electron microscopic examination, and measurement of tissue level of malondialdehyde. RESULTS: NAFLD caused degenerative changes and lipid deposition in liver cells as evidenced by microscopic results and laboratory tests. Treatment with ginger/ROSU alleviated those changes. CONCLUSION: Ginger and ROSU could ameliorate liver functions in NAFLD and ginger effect is superior to ROSU.

The term goiter is used to designate abnormal hypertrophy of the thyroid gland. There is no good evidence that a natural goitrogens is a primary cause of endemic goiter in any areas, but there is no doubt that the major cause of endemic goiter is iodine deficiency. 1 Iodine deficiency has been recognized as a public health problem in the Sudan since 1950s, Wood man described three areas deficient in Iodine, namely: The Upper Nile, around Damar and Dar four. 2 A number of pilot studies and nationwide surveys were conducted in the 1980s in Darfour, Kordufan and Khartoum state. Endemic goiter was not reported from the areas of River Nile State, as far as stated in the literature review. 1 Objectives The overall objective of this study, to study the epidemiology of goiter in Elfigaiga area, and consequently, the frequency, determinants, and distribution of the disease.