Tea is the most consumed drink in the world after water. Green tea is a 'non-fermented' tea, and contains more catechins, than black tea or oolong tea. Catechins are in vitro and in vivo strong antioxidants. In addition, its content of certain minerals and vitamins increases the antioxidant potential of this type of tea. Since ancient times, green tea has been considered by the traditional Chinese medicine as a healthful beverage. Recent human studies suggest that green tea may contribute to a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer, as well as to the promotion of oral health and other physiological functions such as anti-hypertensive effect, body weight control, antibacterial and antivirasic activity, solar ultraviolet protection, bone mineral density increase, anti-fibrotic properties, and neuroprotective power. Increasing interest in its health benefits has led to the inclusion of green tea in the group of beverages with functional properties. However, although all the evidence from research on green tea is very promising, future studies are necessary to fully understand its contributions to human health, and advise its regular consumption in Western diets, in which green tea consumption is nowadays limited and sporadic.

Beneficial Effects of Green Tea—A Review

Multi-dimensional Roles of Ketone Bodies in Fuel Metabolism, Signaling, and Therapeutics

Dietary carbohydrate restriction as the first approach in diabetes management: Critical review and evidence base

This work consists of two volumes, and extends over eighteen hundred closely printed pages. In the preface we are informed that the greater part was in manuscript when the pen dropped from the author's hand. The section on Diseases of the Heart was not completed, and that on Diseases of the Skin was not commenced. Dr Wilks has completed the former; while the editor, Dr Pye-Smith, has supplied the latter. The range of the work is the same as that of other treatises on the Principles and Practice of Medicine, while owing to its size greater freedom has necessarily been obtained for a more elaborate treatment of the varied subjects with which such a work deals, than could be possible in one of more restricted dimensions. But this is one of the few large works which one would gladly have had even fuller; its whole contents are of such a quality that curtailment in any section would have been a loss. It is quite impossible in the space at our disposal to critically review the special teaching of the various chapters, and yet without this there is difficulty in conveying anything like an accurate impression of what the book is. Even to class it as the best work

The Principles and Practice of Medicine

Health promotion by flavonoids, tocopherols, tocotrienols, and other phenols: direct or indirect effects? Antioxidant or not?

Effect of low-calorie versus low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet in type 2 diabetes

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of two simple methods involving use of heat for extraction of bacterial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) be used in molecular techniques like polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragments length polymorphism (RFLP) and DNA sequencing and compare them with DNA extraction using commercial kits. Design: DNA extraction by improved alternative methods and commercial kit. Setting: Microbiology Research Laboratory, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, Kuwait Material: Forty isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae Intervention: DNA was extracted from isolates by either boiling for 10 minutes or microwave irradiation for 10 seconds. For comparison, DNA was also extracted using a commercial kit. All extracted DNA samples were analyzed by PCR, RFLP and / or DNA sequencing of TEM and SHV genes of the bacteria. Main Outcome Measures: Successful extraction of DNA Results: PCR, RFLP and DNA sequencing gave the expected results in all the DNA samples extracted by all the three methods (boiling, microwave irradiation and the commercial kit). The results were qualitatively equivalent in all methods. Conclusion: Heat may be used to extract DNA from K. pneumoniae which can be utilized successfully in performing PCR, RFL and DNA sequencing.

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Heat Treatment of Bacteria: A Simple Method of DNA Extraction for Molecular Techniques

Obesity is closely linked to the incidence of type II diabetes. It is found that effective management of body weight and changes to nutritional habits especially with regard to the carbohydrate content and glycemic index of the diet have beneficial effects in obese subjects with glucose intolerance. Previously we have shown that ketogenic diet is quite effective in reducing body weight. Furthermore, it favorably alters the cardiac risk factors even in hyperlipidemic obese subjects. In this study the effect of ketogenic diet in obese subjects with high blood glucose level is compared to those with normal blood glucose level for a period of 56 weeks. A total of 64 healthy obese subjects with body mass index (BMI) greater than 30, having high blood glucose level and those subjects with normal blood glucose level were selected in this study. The body weight, body mass index, blood glucose level, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, urea and creatinine were determined before and at 8, 16, 24, 48, and 56 weeks after the administration of the ketogenic diet. The body weight, body mass index, the level of blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and urea showed a significant decrease from week 1 to week 56 (P < 0.0001), whereas the level of HDL-cholesterol increased significantly (P < 0.0001). Interestingly these changes were more significant in subjects with high blood glucose level as compared to those with normal blood glucose level. The changes in the level of creatinine were not statistically significant. This study shows the beneficial effects of ketogenic diet in obese diabetic subjects following its long-term administration. Furthermore, it demonstrates that in addition to its therapeutic value, low carbohydrate diet is safe to use for a longer period of time in obese diabetic subjects.

Beneficial effects of ketogenic diet in obese diabetic subjects

Objective: Various studies have convincingly shown the beneficial effect of ketogenic diet (in which the daily consumption of carbohydrate is less than 20 grams, regardless of fat, protein and caloric intake) in reducing weight in obese subjects. However, its long term effect on obese subjects with high total cholesterol (as compared to obese subjects with normal cholesterol level is lacking. It is believed that ketogenic diet may have adverse effect on the lipid profile. Therefore, in this study the effect of ketogenic diet in obese subjects with high cholesterol level above 6 mmol/L is compared to those with normocholesterolemia for a period of 56 weeks. Materials and methods: In this study, 66 healthy obese subjects with body mass index (BMI) greater than 30, having high cholesterol level (Group I; n = 35) and those subjects with normal cholesterol level (Group II; n = 31) were selected. The body weight, body mass index, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, urea, creatinine, glucose and triglycerides were determined before and after the administration of the ketogenic diet. Changes in these parameters were monitored at 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48 and 56 weeks of the treatment. Results: The body weight and body mass index of both groups decreased significantly (P < 0.0001). The level of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and blood glucose level decreased significantly (P < 0.0001), whereas HDL cholesterol increased significantly (P < 0.0001) after the treatment in both groups. Conclusion: This study shows the beneficial effects of ketogenic diet following its long term administration in obese subjects with a high level of total cholesterol. Moreover, this study demonstrates that low carbohydrate diet is safe to use for a longer period of time in obese subjects with a high total cholesterol level and those with normocholesterolemia.

Hussein M. Dashti

Papers

Effect of low-calorie versus low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet in type 2 diabetes

Heat Treatment of Bacteria: A Simple Method of DNA Extraction for Molecular Techniques

Beneficial effects of ketogenic diet in obese diabetic subjects

Long Term Effects of Ketogenic Diet in Obese Subjects with High Cholesterol Level

Treatment of asthenozoospermia with zinc sulphate: andrological, immunological and obstetric outcome.