The Journal of Middle East and North Africa Sciences

10-19

Authors: Hassaan Tohid; Syeda Sidra Tohid; Saad Hameed; Muhammad Hamza; Najmi Shahbaz; Touba Naim; Noorulain Aqeel; Waqas A Burney; Ammar Aqeel; Ajita Acharya; Aisha Ashraf; Eden Wudneh; Radhika Krishnan; Ibad Ghouri; James Bourgeois

Background: Psychodermatology is an established branch of psychosomatics. The vast knowledge in the field of psychosomatics has also opened the door for the discussion of the dermatological side effects of psychotropic drugs. Various psychotropic drugs are found associated with skin side effects. In this review article, we highlighted some common psychotropic drugs that lead to skin damage. Method: Literature search in various databases and journals were conducted. Result: Drugs like Haloperidol, Clozapine, Asenapine, Quetiapine, Lithium, Risperidone, Cyamemazine are practically responsible for skin eruptions and lesions like, rash, alopecia areata, angioneurotic edema, pityriasis-rosea like drug reaction, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, acne, giant urticaria, rash and desquamation, symmetrical drug-related intertriginous and flexural exanthema, photoallergic reactions. Conclusion: Almost all of these side-effects were reversible when the drug was discontinued or replaced. By studying the association of the side-effects of different psychotropic medications with the human skin, we concluded that more significance should be given to the patch- tests before prescribing any anti-psychotic drug so, that allergic reaction can be avoided. We suggest more study and searches on this subject to spread awareness among healthcare professionals and patients to produce even better-working antipsychotics medications in the coming future.

5-9

Authors: Hassaan Tohid; Aisha Ashraf

Objective: To highlight the clinical problem of antenatal depression. Method: A brief literature search was done to write a short review. The search was conducted in the databases like PubMed for the articles discussing the association of pregnancy with major depression. The search for this short review was conducted from January 2015 to February 2015, in California, USA with an intention to highlight the already established association of major depression with pregnancy. Result: Pregnancy is associated with various psychiatric problems. Major depression is the most common of all the psychiatric problems seen in pregnancy. Conclusion: Because many symptoms during pregnancy are easily confused with major depression. It is very easy to misdiagnose. The wrong diagnosis or a missed diagnosis of depression are equally harmful to the maternal and fetal health. Therefore, it is recommended that appropriate measures like assessment and screening tools plus education should be taken by the hospitals in order to help gynecologists to be able to differentiate major depression from the normal symptoms of pregnancy.

5-10

Authors: Jiang Chun-Xuan

Using Jiang function, we prove Jiang prime -tuple theorem, and prove that the Hardy-Littlewood prime -tuple conjecture is false. Jiang prime -tuple theorem can replace the Hardy-Littlewood prime -tuple conjecture.

17-21

Authors: Abdalla M. Abdalla Mustafa; Mohamed El Mukhtar A. Aziz

The use of hydroquinone is forbidden as it is potentially carcinogenic and skin and respiratory irritant, nevertheless, it is still the most conventional and widely used in skin- lightening creams. In this study, thirty samples of Skin-lightening creams, local and imported, were analyzed for total hydroquinone by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The concentration of hydroquinone ranged from 0.00% to 5.75 % and from 0.00% to 3.21% for local and imported creams, respectively. However, Fair and Lovely's cream ranged from 0.47% to 4.76% respectively. The use of such creams may lead to health hazards. Therefore, it is recommended that all skin-lightening creams should be checked for hydroquinone levels before marketing.

5-12

Authors: Jiang Chun-Xuan

Using the stable number theory, Jiang’s calculates the best electron configurations of the elements and not from experimental data (Chun-Xuan, 1988, Jiang, 1998; Jiang, 2002). Jiang makes the Jiang periodic table of the elements. In studying the stability of the many-body problem we suggest two principles (Jiang, 1981; Chun-Xuan, 1979; Jiang, 1985; Jiang, 1986; Jiang, 1988; Chun-Xuan, 1988, Jiang, 1998; Jiang, 2002). (1) The prime number principle. A prime number is irreducible in the integers; it seems, therefore, natural to associate it with the most stable subsystem. We prove that 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 23, 47 are the most stable primes. (2) The symmetric principle. The most stable configuration of two prime numbers is then the stable symmetric system in nature. We prove that 2, 4, 6, 10, 14, 22, 46, 94 are the most stable even numbers. The stability can be defined as long life and existence in nature, and instability as short life or non-existence in nature. In this paper by using the prime number principle and the symmetric principle we calculate the best electron configurations of the elements. Total quantum number and orbital quantum number determine the best electron configurations of the elements

21-26

Authors: Abdalla M. Abdalla Mustafa; Mohamed El Mukhtar A. Aziz

Recently facial makeup cosmetic products have become very popular among Sudanese women in spite of the fact that they might contain toxic materials including Pb, Hg, Cd, As, Ni and Zn, and their use as ingredients in cosmetics is prohibited as they cause skin problems. Owing to the absence of control standards of these products sold in Sudanese markets, the present study aimed at developing a method for the determination of these metals by inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Eighty-six samples of different facial makeup cosmetic products were collected randomly from the local Sudanese markets. A microwave- assisted digestion with a mixture of concentrated nitric acid and hydrochloric acid was applied for sample preparation. The concentration of each metal was determined in triplicate by ICP-MS. For eye shadow, in a wide range of concentrations, all analyzed elements were detected at high levels in the imported samples, but Pb, Hg, and Cd were detected at low levels in the locally prepared not only eye shadow but also lipstick samples. Although Pb was present at low concentrations in all samples, locally prepared whitening creams, lipstick, and eye shadow showed highest concentration levels of 33.63 µg /g, 42.42 µg /g, and 52.02 µg /g, respectively. The highest concentration levels for Hg in locally prepared whitening creams and eye shadow samples were found to be 42.09 µg /g, and 21.30 µg /g, respectively. The highest concentration levels for Cd, however, were found to be 5.21 µg /g, 22.53µg /g, and 7.06µg /g, in imported lipstick, eye shadow, and local whitening creams, respectively. High concentration levels of Zn were not obtained in all analyzed samples except in the imported eye shadow, (72.46µg /g). The determination of heavy metals in cosmetic products sold in Sudanese markets increase the needs to set laws to regulate their preparation locally and to set standards to control their quality and safety.

30-33

Authors: A. D. V Ayansina; B. O. Atobatele; A. A. Sobowale

Pesticides are generally used in agriculture to eliminate un-wanted growths and reduce productivity cost with little concern for non-target organisms. Studies were carried out on the effect of two commonly used insecticides (common names-DD force & Scorpio) on some soil physicochemical parameters and microbial loads at recommended rate (x1.0) and twice the recommended rate (x2.0) over a period of 8 weeks. Generally, insecticides treatments resulted in soil pH reduction from 7.23 for the control soil to 5.98 for DD force and 7.03 for Scorpion. At recommended application rates (x1.0) there was a decrease in bacterial counts at week 0 (6 hours after treatment)-control soil = 6.90 x106 cfu/ml; DD force = 3.09 x106 cfu/ml and Scorpio = 3.09 x 106 cfu/ml. Thereafter, there was an increase in bacterial counts reaching a maximum at week 4. This was followed by a general decrease in bacterial counts. Bacteria counts in soils treated with DD force and Scorpio at twice the recommended rates (x2.0) were higher compared to counts obtained from the two insecticides treated at the recommended rates (x1.0). However, fungal counts from soils treated with the two insecticides at recommended rates (x1.0) were higher compared to counts obtained from soils treated at twice the recommended rates. A total of 55 bacterial species were isolated from the insecticide treated and control soils which are Bacillus sp (30.9%), Proteus sp (12.7%), Flavobacterium sp (14.5%), Pseudomonas sp. (1.8%), Lactobacillus sp (10.9%), Staphylococcus sp (10.9%), Antinomycetes sp (12.7%). A total of 20 fungi isolated were isolated from insecticides treated soil and control soil which includes Aspergillus sp (40%), Penicillium sp (20%), Rhizopus sp (20%).