تولیدی اور جنسی صحت: اسلامی تعلیمات کی روشنی میں

Human is the combination of body and spirit, Islām pays attention to the balanced growth and construction of the human personality considering the health of both body and spirit. As Muslims, we believe that Islām is the perfect code of life, which provides guidance for the solutions of all individual and collective problems of human beings. Therefore, we believe that Islām has a complete system of instructions for the development and reformation of spirit on the one hand, and, on the other hand, it has prescribed guidelines for the upkeeping and maintenance of the body. Reproductive and sexual health is one of the major problems of human beings. Eastern societies are comparatively shy to discuss this problem, unless necessary, while the western societies have introduced sex education in their schools to teenagers. We being Muslims tend to look towards our religion to guide us in such a way, that it may educate us, on the one hand, and on the other, it may guide us to adopt the required attitude to avoid the negativity of its awareness. Although the issue of reproductive health is considered as the specialty of the modern age, however, Islamic instructions very obviously discuss them from the beginning. In this article, the author has explored and elaborated Islamic teachings regarding the reproductive health and sexual instructions and discussed them in order to prove that Islām has the full capacity to solve the current social problems of reproductive health and sexual health.

Effects of Naswar Addiction on Proinflammatory Interleukins and Oxidative Stress Markers in its Users

Naswar is a dipping type of finely ground, moistened smokeless tobacco product being commonly used in Pakistan. Nicotine is the most important psychoactive agent present in Naswar. Mounting data clearly indicate that nicotine and serotonin play an important role in regulation of immune response and inflammatory cascades by controlling the levels of cytokines. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is of vital importance in evaluating the response to stress and nicotine addiction. Additionally, the effects of Naswar consumption on thyroid hormones are not known. Also, measuring serum cotinine level can give an estimate of daily nicotine exposure from Naswar intake. Therefore, the levels of serotonin‘s precursor, tryptophan, cortisol, albumin, free throxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) as well as cotinine were determined for the first time in Naswar users in the present study. Also, as Naswar has been reported to contain various toxic metals which could lead to inflammatory reactions whereas nicotine has immunosuppressive effects, the circulatory levels of pro inflammatory markers were determined in relation to Naswar consumption. 158 healthy males aged 16-43 years were selected for the study, out of which 90 comprised regular Naswar users and 68were age-matched non-tobacco users that served as controls. To assess the impact of duration of Naswar usage on various parameters, Naswar users were further subdivided into three groups: Group I: Subjects using Naswar for a duration of <5years, Group II: Subjects using Naswar for duration of 6-10 years, Group III: Subjects using Naswar for a duration of >10 years. Serum cotinine concentrations were measured first in the morning after overnight abstinence of Naswar intake and then the second sample was drawn in the evening after about 14 hours. The mean cotinine values rose from the morning value of 366 ± 40.69 ng/ml (mean) to an evening value of 503.1 ± 42.96 ng/ml that correspond to 29 mg to 40 mg of nicotine intake the latter being equivalent to an intake of 40 cigarettes per day. Both serum free and total tryptophan, cortisol, FT3 and FT4 levels were significantly raised in Naswar users compared to the control group whereas no difference between the levels of serum albumin, interleukin (IL)-6 and TSH in Naswar users and the control group was found. However, IL-1β was found to be significantly lowered in Naswar users compared to the control group. Serum tryptophan levels were found to be elevated in those consuming Naswar for duration of more than 10 years. No significant difference in serum albumin, TSH and IL-6 of all the three groups was found when compared to controls. However, serum cortisol, FT3 and FT4 levels were consistently raised whereas serum IL-1β levels were significantly lowered in all three groups of Naswar users compared to the controls. Although, no significant difference in FT3 levels among the three groups was depicted, FT4was significantly raised in group 2 as compared to group 1. A significant positive correlation between tryptophan and cortisol whereas a significant negative correlation between interleukin-6 and tryptophan as well as between between FT3 and IL-1β in Naswar users was depicted. No association between FT3, FT4, TSH versus IL-6 might be due to the normal levels of latter. Although, HPT (Hypothalamic pituitary thyroid) axis has been linked to the serotonergic system as well as to the HPA axis, no significant correlation was found between FT3, FT4 and TSH versus serum tryptophan and cortisol in Naswar users. It could be inferred that the raised levels of serum tryptophan in Naswar users may lead to raised concentration of serotonin which in turn could be a significant factor contributing to Naswar addiction. Additionally, persistently decreased levels of IL-1β and raised cortisol concentration depict an immunosuppressive state in Naswar users. Also, raised levels of FT3 and FT4 in Naswar users, which although were in the upper limit of normal, reveal the altered effects of Naswar usage on thyroid function. Further, it was also revealed that smokeless tobacco consumption results in raised cortisol, FT3 and FT4 levels regardless of duration of consumption. It could also be inferred that the mood elevating property of nicotine with rise in serum tryptophan in Naswar users might be one of the causes for an inverse relationship between IL-6 and tryptophan in Naswar users as IL-6 has been shown to be elevated in depressive illness. Also, an inverse correlation between FT3 and IL-1β in Naswar users reflects an association between HPT axis and interleukins. The current study also aimed to evaluate the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in Naswar users assessing any correlation between various parameters related to the risk of development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Therefore, levels of the antioxidant enzymes i.e. glutathione per oxidase (GPx) and super oxide dismutase (SOD), alongside lipid profile parameters such as total cholesterol, triglycerides, High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as well as blood glucose, body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressures were determined to assess the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in Naswar users. Both GPx and SOD levels as well as serum HDL-C were significantly reduced in Naswar users, whereas serum total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides and LDL-C / HDL-C ratio were significantly increased in Naswar consumers compared to controls. Indeed, an increased LDL-C/HDL-C ratio is closely linked to the development of CVD. BMI of Naswar users was significantly raised compared to the control group whereas no significant difference was found in the values of fasting blood glucose between Naswar users and the control group. Similarly, no significant difference in the systolic as well as diastolic blood pressures was found between Naswar users and the control group. BMI was significantly raised in both group 1 and 2 of Naswar users. However, the values although higher than the control group, fall in the normal range for BMI. Fasting blood glucose levels were found to be significantly raised in group 3 as compared to those in group 1 of Naswar users. This reveals the effect of duration of Naswar consumption as no significant difference was found in group 1 and 2 of Naswar users compared to the controls. The present study also revealed an increase in the systolic blood pressure in those who have been consuming Naswar for a duration of more than 10 years which again reveals the effect of duration of Naswar consumption on systolic blood pressure. However, no significant duration dependent difference in diastolic blood pressure was revealed when the three groups were compared. Also, LDL and total cholesterol were found to be significantly raised in group 2 and 3 of Naswar users as compared to the control group whereas triglycerides were found to be raised in group 3 only. Total cholesterol in Naswar users was significant positively correlated with triglyceride and with LDL whereas a significant negative correlation between total cholesterol and HDL as well as between HDL and LDL was depicted revealing a significant alteration in all the parameters of lipid profile. Additionally, HDL was found to be negatively correlated with fasting blood glucose levels. Additionally, reduced levels of SOD in group 3 were found when compared to controls. GPx levels in groups 2 and 3 were significantly reduced as compared to controls as well as group 1. Also, both the antioxidant enzymes were significantly positively correlated with each other. A positive correlation between antioxidant enzymes and their decreased levels indicate the state of increased oxidative stress in Naswar users. Our findings indicate deleterious effects of Naswar usage on health by causing altered lipid profile, blood glucose, BMI, systolic blood pressure as well as antioxidant enzymes thereby placing its consumers at an enhanced risk of cardiovascular disease. This is the first study assessing the impact of Naswar consumption in relation to the risk factors related to cardiovascular disease in its users. Although, the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C and LDL-C in Naswar users are not in the range to cause dyslipidemia but are significantly increased as compared to controls, as are the systolic blood pressure and BMI with concomitant decrease in levels of antioxidant enzymes that in turn could increase the risk for development of CVD. Taken together, it could be inferred that consumption of Naswar could lead to alterations in the serotonergic system that in turn could lead to mood elevation thus playing a vital role in addiction. Also an aggravated HPA axis might lead to immunosuppression in Naswar users as is evident by decreased levels of interleukins. In addition to this, an important aspect of the present study was the finding of altered thyroid function in relation to naswar consumption. Additionally, the cotinine levels corresponding to an intake of 40 cigarettes per day is quite alarming Further, in a developing country such as Pakistan, that witnesses a high consumption of Naswar, alteration in the risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease, could signify a large public health problem." xml:lang="en_US