Physiological responses of some cardiovascular pulmonary and some thyroid hormones parameters to certain factors among Sudanese population

Dissertant

al-Amin, Nur Taj al-Sirr Muhammad

Thesis advisor

Ahmad, Muna Mahjub Muhammad

University

Omdurman Islamic University

Faculty

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Department

Department of Physiology

University Country

Sudan

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Date

2006

English Abstract

This study was conducted under hot sei-arid conditions of Sudan (Khartoum State) with aim to study some physiological parameters as cardiovascular and pulmonary rates namely, pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures and respiratory rate as well as body temperature and body mass index, in addition to thyroid hormones (thyroid stimulating hormone, thyroxin and triiodothyronine), in relation to such factors as: season, location, age, sex, exercise, working under hot conditions and fasting of the holy month of Ramadan. The study comprised seven experiments, utilizing a total of 350 participants and lasted for two years (2001- 2003).

A total of 120 university non medicated students volunteers with different age groups (18-22, 23-28 years) were examined for the effect of season, location, and exercise.

For the effect of sex; 30 males were compared against 30 females.

The effect of fasting utilized 60 male students.

While working under hot environments (direct sunlight and bakeries) utilized 30 non medicated volunteers working under such conditions.

Cardiovascular and pulmonary rates as affected by season showed that, pulse rate (PR) increased significantly (P < 0.05) from winter to wet summer, but decreased significantly (P < 0.05) towards dry summer.

The systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from winter to dry summer.

Winter and wet summer did not show significant differences.

Likewise the respiratory rate (RR) increased significantly (P < 0.05) from winter to summer, although wet and dry summer values were nearly similar.

Body mass index (BMI) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in dry summer compared to winter.

Also the body temperature (BT) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from dry to wet summer and winter. Both winter and wet summer showed higher (P < 0.05) thyroxin (T4) and triiodothtyonine (T3) levels than dry summer.

However, the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was shown not to be affected by season. Effect of location on cardiovascular and pulmonary rates depicted an only significant (P < 0.05) lower difference in pulse rate (PR), where the southern and eastern students showed lowered rates than the northern ones, although no significant differences could be detected between the southerners and other locations or the northerners and other locations.

The body mass index (BMI) and body temperature (BT) changes as affected by location showed that southerners showed the highest (P < 0.05) body temperatures compared with those living in other locations, whereas BMI was not affected.

Thyroxin (T4) showed the lowest (P < 0.05) level in southerners but did not differ from westerners.

Effect of sex on thyroid hormonal levels, BMI, BT and cardiovascular and pulmonary rates showed that females had significantly (P < 0.05) higher pulse rates (PR), BMI and BT than males, whereas males had significantly (P < 0.05) higher SBP.

However, no significant differences were obtained in the thyroid hormones.

PR and RR were the highest (P < 0.05) in age group 18–22 years compared to 23–28 years, whereas BMI was the lowest (P < 0.05) in age group 18–22 compared to all other groups.

Also age group 29–34 had lower hormones (P < 0.05) BMI when compared with age group 35 -38.

As for the thyroid hormones levels, T4, T3 and the TSH had the lowest (P < 0.05) values with age group 35–38 compared to the other age groups.

However, a significant (P < 0.05) decrease was detected in age group 29–34 compared to age group 18–22 years. The results showed that PR and SBP were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by exercise.

During exercise showed the highest (P < 0.05) records in all parameters compared to pre- and post exercise.

However, a further significant (P < 0.05) increase in post exercise level of RR and decrease in BT with respect to pre exercise.

The effect of exercise on thyroid hormone levels showed only significant (P < 0.05) difference in the TSH level, where pre-exercise levels were lower than post exercise.

The effect of work for builders on the thyroid hormones and cardiovascular and pulmonary rates revealed that PR and RR, SBP and BT are shown to be significantly (P < 0.05) affected by work, where higher measurements were obtained after work than before work.

Statistical analysis showed that, the effect of working under direct sun heat had more pronounced effect (P < 0.05) than working in bakeries.

T4, T3, PR, SBP, BMI, and BT were significantly higher in subjects working under the sun than those working in bakeries, however, RR was higher (P < 0.05) in those working in bakeries than those working under direct sun heat RR, SBP, BMI, and DBP were affected by fasting, where the third week of Ramadan showed a significant (P < 0.05) in all parameters decrease compared with the first and second weeks, although the DBP did not show significant difference between the first and the third week of fasting.

Likewise the BT seemed not to be affected with the advancement of fasting.

The post-feeding effect was significant (P < 0.05) for all parameters and BMI, where significant increases were detected after breakfasting.

As for the hormones levels, only T4 increased due to the feeding effect.

Before and after one week of Ramadan did not show significant changes in the parameters under study, however, T4 was significantly (P < 0.05) higher after Ramadan than before, whereas BT was significantly(P < 0.05) lower after than before Ramadan. It could be concluded that, physiological responses to external and internal factors could be affected with various degrees; most pronounced ones under Sudan semi-arid conditions were due to season, exercise, working under hot environments and location.

Gender effect was also detected.

Most parameters under investigation decreased with advancement of fasting whereas post-fasting showed an increase.

However, no significant differences could be detected between before and after the holy month of Ramadan in parameters under study.

Main Subjects

Biology

Topics

• Physiology
• Sudanese

No. of Pages

86

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-366212