Journal of Basic and Applied Research in Biomedicine
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Association Between Thalassemia and Leucocytic DNA Damage: A Pilot Study
Get PDFObjectives: Thalassemia with frequent blood transfusion was considered under oxidative stress because of the chance of iron overload. Patients with thalassemia trait with no blood transfusion might also suffered from oxidative stress because of increased iron metabolism. This pilot study was to investigate if patients of alpha or beta thalassemia trait and received no blood transfusion were suffered from oxidative stress in term of DNA damage in peripheral leucocytes. Method: Comet assay was used to measure DNA damage of 20 normal subjects, 8 alpha and 12 beta thalassemia patients who did not received blood transfusion. The baseline and UV-mediated DNA damages of peripheral white blood cells were measured. The degree of DNA damage was quantified by visual scoring under light microscope after staining with Giemsa stain. Results: The mean (± standard deviation) comet score for normal baseline samples was 8.3 ± 6.1 whereas 105.4 ± 15.7 and 69.8 ± 20.3 for alpha and beta thalassemia respectively. While the comet scores were 71.9 ± 19.6, 193.1 ± 21.8 and 211.8 ± 51.6 for normal, alpha and beta thalassemia samples respectively in UV-treated samples. Results showed that both alpha and beta thalassemia patients had higher leucocytic DNA damage in baseline and oxidative stressed samples. Conclusion: Our data suggested thalassemia patients were under oxidative stress even no iron over loaded through transfusion
Markers of Oxidative Stress in the Saliva of Type 2 Diabetic Patients
Get PDFObjective: Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased prevalence of oral diseases for which reactive oxygen species have been implicated. The saliva contains protective antioxidants which statutorily curtail these destructive oxygen molecules. A functional compromise of the antioxidants may precipitate oxidative stress leading to the increased oral disease susceptibility. However, salivary markers of oxidative stress have not been sufficiently studied in the diabetics. Methods: A total of 166 adults were recruited for this study. They comprised of 95 Type 2 diabetic patients and 71 healthy non-diabetic controls. About 3 ml of unstimulated saliva samples were collected from participants and processed, levels of salivary H2O2, NO and MDA were measured using spectrophotometry method and compared between the two groups. Data was analysed using t-test, logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Results: Salivary H2O2 (p=0.024) and NO (p=0.002) were significantly higher in the diabetic patients when compared to the healthy non-diabetic control group. Binary logistic regression showed that patients with Type 2 diabetic mellitus are more likely to have elevated salivary H2O2 (OR= 1.013; p=0.025) and NO (OR=1.016; p=0.003) levels. ROC analysis showed statistically significant performance of salivary NO levels in distinguishing between T2DM patients and healthy controls. Conclusions: Higher levels of oxidative stress markers including salivary H2O2 and NO in the diabetic groups could be a pointer to the characteristic high prevalence of oral diseases in diabetes mellitus, given that oxidative stress predisposes to disease vulnerability. This calls for increased attention to oral health in diabetes management to minimise co-morbidity
Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-13 in Human Skin Melanoma Cancer Treated by Baccaurea angulata in vitro.
Get PDFThis study aims to explore the cytotoxicity effects of B. angulata whole fruits and berries as well as to identify the fruit’s probable role on the level of MMP-13 protein expressions in human cancer cells. Cytotoxicity effects of B. angulata were evaluated in vitro using skin melanoma (A375) through treatment with novel B. angulata fibers (whole fruit and berries) via direct contact method. The growth inhibitions of the samples were evaluated through Methylene Blue Assay (MBA) with incubation time of the fibers on cells at 24, 48 and 72 hours. The results showed significant inhibition of growth in all samples with B. angulata whole fruit exhibiting the highest level of inhibition at 72 hours (87.69 %) while its berries showed a reading of 86.16 %. Consequently, this study indicates that both whole fruit fibers and berries of B. angulata may have cytotoxic effects against human skin melanoma. The quantitative expressions of MMP-13 in A375 cell lines which were subjected to the specified amount of fibers were evaluated through ELISA analysis. The results showed no expression of MMP-13 proteins in A375 cells for both whole fruit fibers (-1217.9 pg/ml) and berries (-1222.9 pg/ml). Furthermore, the results of the ELISA analysis depict a probable regulative effect of the fibers toward MMP-13 protein expressions in cancer cells. Hence, it can be concluded that B. angulata fruit has the potential to be used as a new source of natural substitute for anticancer treatment. Moreover, further study is needed in order to find the specific bioactive compounds involved in the anticancer properties which may have been influential in the regulation of MMP-13 proteins that could be fundamental in future endeavors for prospective therapeutic applications
Survey of the Current Status and Seasonal Problems Associated with Rabbit Production in Kaduna Metropolis
Get PDFA survey was carried out to ascertain the current status and seasonal problems associated with rabbit production in Kaduna metropolis. Two hundred structured questionnaires were distributed to respondents within the ten study areas as follows: Barnawa, Kurmin-mashi, Kakuri, Kawo,Uguwan,Dosa, Mando, Unguwa-romi, Tudun-wada, Sabon-gari Zaria and Shika Zaria.The following information were sort for from the rabbit farmers: how long they have been involved in rabbits keeping, the type of breeds of rabbits kept, the maximum and minimum number of rabbits ever kept, the reasons for the choice of feeds, availability of the feeds during dry and raining season, problems faced in feeding the rabbits during dry season, common diseases during the two seasons and the advantage of keeping rabbits over other micro livestock. All the data obtained were analyzed using simple frequency distributions. Results shows that there were more male keeping rabbits than female 63.3% and 36.7% respectively. People within the age group of 21-30 years are more into rabbit farming than all other age group. There were more civil servants keeping rabbits than all other profession. 59.20% of the respondents preferred keeping rabbits during wet season when compared to the 40.80% that preferred dry season. Some of the difficulties experienced by farmers include: scarcity of greens/vegetables during dry season, high cost of feed, lack of good storage facilities for hay which does not last throughout the period of scarcity, diseases such as diarrhea and bloat. Possible ways of reducing and controlling these problems were suggested
Comparative Study on Serum Enzyme Levels in Cirrhosis of Liver and Alcoholic Liver Disease
Get PDFPatients with chronic liver diseases are asymptomatic or have only vague non-specific symptoms. Effective medical treatments for chronic liver disease (before cirrhosis is established) are becoming increasingly available and since abnormal LFTs may be the only indication of this diseases. Aims: comparative study on serum Enzyme levels in various liver diseases. Discussion: serum Alkaline phosphatase(ALP), Gamma Glutamyl transferase (Gamma GT), Alanine and Aspartate amino transferases were estimated in viral Hepatitis, Alcoholic liver diseases, Obstructive jaundice, cirrhosis of the liver. It was observed that obstructive jaundice shows higher levels of ALP levels followed by alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis, cirrhosis of liver. Viral hepatitis shows higher rise of SGOT, SGPT levels, followed by alcoholic liver disease, obstructive jaundice, and cirrhosis of liver. Gamma Glutamyl transferase enzymes highest levels are seen in alcoholic liver disease. Conclusion: These enzymatic variations are useful to diagnose the disease and classify them according to etiology
Software Tool for Optimal Placement and Sizing of Shunt Var Compensators in Power Systems
Get PDFThis paper presents a MATLAB-based power system software tool, named as OPSVC for optimal placement and sizing of shunt Var compensators in both distribution and transmission systems. The OPSVC software incorporates the developed optimization algorithms and the backward/forward sweep power flow and radial harmonic power flow methods in an open source environment. The capabilities of the OPSVC are that it can conduct several analyses, such as load flow, optimal placement and sizing of shunt capacitors, Static Var Compensator (SVC) and Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) using different optimization techniques and plotting voltage profile of the studied system before and after installing reactive power compensators
Stochastic Programming for Selection Variables in Cluster Analysis
Get PDFCluster analysis is one of the most important techniques in the exploratory data analysis; it is goal to discover a natural grouping in a set of observations without knowledge of any class labels. Variable selection has been very important for a lot of research in several areas of application. The study suggested a stochastic programming approach which selects the most important variables in clustering a set of data. The study evaluates the performance of the stochastic programming suggested approach for selection variables in cluster analysis used numerical example. The suggested stochastic programming approach selects the most important variable in cluster analysis simultaneously and the results are satisfied
A Study on Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Utilization of Maternal Health Care Services in Urban Community
Get PDFBackground: Even though the MMR dropped from 212 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2007-09 to 178 in 2010-12, India is behind the target of 103 deaths per live births to be achieved by 2015 under the United Nations-mandated Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).As per WHO, Three crucial factors understanding maternal deaths. Firstly lack of access and utilization of essential obstetric care. Secondly low social status of women in developing countries. Thirdly too much physical work together with poor diet also contributes to poor maternal outcomes. Out of these three factors, access and utilization of health care is the most crucial factor which is capable of reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. The present study was carried out to evaluate socio demographic correlates and barriers of maternal health care utilization in the urban community. Objective: To know the factors influencing the utilization of maternal health care services. METERIAL &METHODS; Study design: Cross sectional study. Area of study: UHTC Kalal galli. Bijapur (Urban field practice area)Participants: All married woman in the age group of 15-45 years who were either pregnant at the time of interview or delivered within last one year were included in the study. Study period: January to March 2015Sample size: 134 mother Methods: Interview technique using pre tested Proforma. Statistical analysis: Percentage and chi-square test. Result: Utilization of maternal health services was found more among literate (70%) mothers compared to illiterate mothers. Utilization of maternal health services increased with increase in economic status. Major reasons for non-utilization of maternal service were not having a delivery complication in the past. (57%) Conclusion: The result reveals that educational level of women, exposure to mass media, birth order and wealth index are significant predictors in explaining the use of maternal health care services. There is a need of motivation and enhancing IEC activities for bringing desirable changes in the health care practice of the mother
Structure and Process Evaluation of Cold Chain Management and Routine Immunization Services in Rural Western Gujarat
Get PDFMaintenance of cold chain points are vital for preserving potency of vaccines for immunization of children and thereby averting vaccine preventable diseases in the community. Cold chain handlers should have sufficient knowledge and skills related to cold chain equipment handling and immunization practices. The present study aims to evaluate maintenance of cold chain facilities at primary health care centers (PHCs), related logistics and observation of Mamta Day (Immunization Day). The observations include knowledge and practice of health workers about immunization activities, their communication skills, training status etc. Methods: There are total 31 Primary Health Centers in Jamnagar district, out of which, we decided to include 50% (15) of primary health centers and observed their cold chain, and Immunization day at a subcentre or Anganwadi centre of the selected PHC to assess the quality of immunization services. We included equal number of cold chain points from each block of the district to make it representative of entire district. Results: Average population served by a cold chain point is 21985. Vaccine related logistics like cold boxes, vaccine carriers etc. were adequate in all facilities. All cold chain equipments were placed as per standard guidelines. The posts of medical officers and pharmacists were vacant in almost one fourth of cold chain points and they were run on deputation from other facilities. The knowledge and skills of health workers related to immunization practices were found to be satisfactory. Conclusion: We observed that routine immunization program was implementing in the district satisfactorily. The posts of medical officers and pharmacists need to be filled up at the earliest for smooth functioning of immunization program in primary health centres
Tree leaf meal from fodder trees in silvipasture and their potential to support growth in young ruminants
Get PDFThe study was conducted with the aim of utilizing leaf meal prepared from Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium trees from silvipasture model of agroforestry as alternate feeding strategy on partial replacement of feed ingredients in compound feeds of goat kids and buffalo calves. The edible leaf biomass from Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium was 9.20 and 18.54 MT/ha/year respectively and their respective crude protein content was 14.81 and 17.66 per cent. Two feeding trials were conducted with Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium leaf meal mix (1:1 ratio) incorporated in concentrate feed for goat kids and buffalo calves at 30 per cent inclusion. The average daily gain of goat kids and buffalo calves fed tree leaf meal incorporated concentrate feed was comparable to daily gain of kids / calves fed conventional concentrate feed in 90 days feeding trial. It was concluded that tree leaf meal (Leuceana leucocephala / Gliricidia sepium - 1:1) can be included up to 30% level in concentrate feed of goat kids and buffalo calves without any change in the growth rate but reducing feed cost