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Study of Multi-Drug Resistance Associated with Anti-Tuberculosis Treatment by DOT Implementation Strategy in Pakistan
Get PDFPurpose: The present prospective cross sectional study was aimed to access the prevalence and trend of Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in different age groups and gender, in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. Tuberculosis is a disease of poverty affecting mostly young adults in their most productive years; however, all age groups are at risk.Method: The study population consisted of patients under DOT program with MDR-TB among males and females and in different categories of age groups. The data was collected from 100 MDR-TB patients from 7800 TB patients that were admitted in duration of 6 months and analyzed to evaluate the drug resistance associated with patient’s noncompliance. Moreover, drugs resistance ratio was also calculated from the data.Results: TB is a specific infectious disease, caused by M. tuberculosis strains, which is becoming resistant to anti-tuberculosis agents especially to Isoniazid and Rifampicin that are two key drugs of TB treatment and are termed as MDR-TB. The disease was seen in 66% males and 34% in female. The highest drug resistance ratio was in found in adults (age group)
Latent Class Model on Socio-Religious Data
Get PDFWe believe that in last two decades perception regarding socio-religious values had been changed in our society. Survey has been carried out on “changes in social values and their acceptance” in year 2011. Respondents have asked 74 questions (marked on Likert-scale) regarding educational system, political and religious affiliations and their impact on social values. Among these we have selected only those questions related to socio-religious issues (based on of individual and collective perceptions about the prevailing standard of the society in comparison with Islamic standards). Similar surveys using the same questionnaire had had conducted in year 1994 and 2001. Respondents, at each time of survey, were young students (youth acquiring education) from different colleges (Karachi region) and Karachi University. Perception can be explained more appropriately through latent class model (LCM). Through LCM we can explore structures in the data in term of different opinion groups. The modeling is done on the selected set of similar questions from each year. Conditional probabilities for year 2011, 2001 and 1994 are then compared in search of presence of any difference of opinion between the respondents. It is observed that by the passage of time, due to the influence of the electronic media there is a change in the opinion about the values of the society among the youth. Although, there is a reduction in the proportion of “Dissatisfied group” within the society but negative perception is penetrating among our young generation specifically about Ulmah and Imam’s role and women’s due rights toward society
New Hide Beetle (Dermestes maculatus) Recorded On Salted Dry Fishes from Pakistan
Get PDFThere are many species which cause infestation in many ways. For estimation of infestation a laboratory work has started, during experiments a new species of Dermestes maculatus has been observed on dry salted fishes at Karachi coast
Effect of Drinking Ration with Reduced Deuterium Content on Brain Tissue Prooxidant-Antioxidant Balance in Rats with Acute Hypoxia Model
Get PDFThe aim was to investigate prooxidant-antioxidant system in the blood and brain homogenates functional activity in rats with acute hypoxia model with different deuterium/protium (D/H) ratios in drinking diet. Studies have shown that consuming DDW (–665 ‰) within 8 weeks lead to deuterium concentration decrease in blood plasma at 317 ‰ and brain at 209 ‰ of rats, in comparison to control group, consuming natural water. DDW consumption before hypoxia modeling in rats improves antioxidant defense enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase) activity in the blood, increasing its antioxidant potential by 20 %, while free radical oxidation intensity in plasma and biomolecules peroxide modification rate in erythrocytes. Also, in brain tissues consuming DDW, there were no abnormalities in catalase, superoxide dismutase activity, and it was noted increase (by 71 %) in reduced thiol-containing compounds concentration, which reduces nerve hypoxi? cell damage risk. Neuroprotective effect presence is confirmed by higher (by 32 %) antioxidant activity markers of lyophilized brain tissues, and by free radical oxidation lower intensity (by 13 %) and biomolecules oxidative modification rate (by 16 %) in these lyophilized tissues. Thus, the advisability of using DDW neuroprotective effects in cerebral circulation disturbance in experimental and clinical practice
Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Profile of Syngonium podophyllum Schott Stems: A Fecund Phytopharmakon
Get PDFBackground: Oxidative stress has been shown to play an imperative role in copious disease pathology. Plants are acquaintances of mankind and mainstay for the treatment of oxidative stress linked disorders. Therefore, the objective of the existing study was to assess the phytochemical contents and antioxidant activity of crude methanol extract (CME), n-hexane (NHF), chloroform (CLF), ethyl acetate (EAF) and aqueous (AQF) fractions of Syngonium podophyllum (S. podophyllum) Schott stems.Methods: The S. podophyllum Schott stems extract and its fractions were subjected to phytochemical analysis to detect the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, saponins, tannins, resins, flavonoids and steroids. The antioxidant profile was determined by total antioxidant activity (TAA), reducing power activity (RPA) and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity tests and correlated with the estimation of total flavonoid content (TFC).Results: In CME and its fractions of S. podophyllum Schott stems all of the tested phytoconstituents (alkaloids, tannins, resins, flavonoids and steroids) were detected at various concentration except carbohydrates and saponins. In TAA test, highest absorbance (2.18 nm) which is a measure of high antioxidant activity was reported in CME compared to remaining fractions. Likely in RPA test with respect to all fractions similar denouements were found for CME (3.29 nm). In case of DPPH scavenging test, the CME showed highest scavenging activity (77.89 %) having IC50 of 41.02 ?g/ml (P < 0.05) compared to remaining fractions. The antioxidant activity is possibly due to the highest TFC (7.45 mg of GAE/g of dried extract) reported in CME compared to existing fractions.Conclusion: The aforementioned outcomes recommend that CME of S. podophyllum Schott stems can be a possible cradle of plant-derived natural antioxidant and can be used to avert diseases linked with free radicals
Physico-Chemical, Phytochemical and Antioxidant Evaluation of Zizyphus nummularia (Burm. F.) Stem Bark
Get PDFZizyphus nummularia (Burm. F.) (Family: Rhamnaceae) used as a folk medicine. The study was designed to lay down the various physicochemical and phytochemical standards which will be helpful to ensure the purity, safety, and efficacy of this medicinal plant. In the lime light of fewer and less potent antioxidant extracts, it is screened for antioxidant potency also. All physico-chemical properties were found within the measurable amount. Preliminary phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and steroids. Total phenolic content and flavonoid content was found to be 10.7±0.1 and 2.57±0.1 respectively. Extract also found to posses significant antioxidant activity which can be correlated with phenolic content. IC50 of 0.042 mg/mL was found during DPPH radical scavenging activity. 2.75 mmol AA/ mg extract was found to be as total antioxidant capacity along with a concentration of 383.4 µg/ml during reducing power activity. The study would help in the authentication stem bark useful for laying down pharmacopoeial standards and help in finding improved antioxidant agents from the extract. It is found to be posse’s significant antioxidant property, possibly by adsorbing and neutralizing free radicals
Effect of Musa acuminata and Tectona grandis Leaves as Packaging Materials on Shelf Life of Local Nigerian Corn Jell-o
Get PDFObjective: This study investigated the effect of Musa acuminata and Tectona grandis leaves as packaging materials on the shelf life of local Nigerian corn jell-o.Methods: Fungi were isolated from corn jell-o wrapped separately with leaves of M. acuminata and T. grandis, polyethylene bags and aluminium foil at the interval for 7 days. The proximate analyses were carried out on all packaging materials used to store the corn jell-o at the interval for 7 days.Results: The isolated fungi included Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Candida spp. and Trichoderma harzianum. The proximate analyses showed that the leaves of M. acuminata and T. grandis have good preservative potential after 7 days as packaging materials for corn jell-o. The carbohydrates, crude fat and fiber contents of T. grandis were 13.91%, 1.64% and 0.93%, respectively, which were higher than the contents in M. acuminata while the protein, moisture and ash contents of M. acuminata were 3.92%, 79.37%, and 0.92%, respectively and showed more considerable contents than T. grandis.Conclusion: The study was able to attest to the uses of M. acuminata and T. grandis locally for the preservation of food products
Effect of Dietary Selenium Supplementation on Morphology and Antioxidant Status in Testes of Goat
Get PDFThe fitness of animal has an enormous influence on its reproductive capability, nowadays feeding of microelements is practiced in many feed formulations because micro-nutrient possesses strong influence on animal’s reproductive ability. The male generative zone produces spermatozoa which needs a little number of free radicals for the maturation as well as for smooth fertilization. Whereas the raised level of these free radicals disturbs the entire process of sperm formation and also lead to infertility. The Selenium is a micro nutrient which naturally possess some enzymes and selenoproteins which diminish manufacture of unnecessary free radicals by acting as an antioxidant. Subsequently, it protects male gamete from destruction triggered by oxidative stress. Selenium also assistance in maintenance of semen quality by declining construction of atypical spermatozoa. Additionally, some studies have revealed that it possesses striking influence on both gross and histological characteristics of male reproductive organ, feeding this mineral improved circumference, size, the mass of the testis and speed up sperm construction by means of having a solid effect on seminiferous tubules histology. Hence, selenium shortage can cause infertility and further reproductive syndromes
Role of Metal Ions, Surfactants and Solvents on Enzymatic Activity of Partial Purified Glucoamylase from Aspergillus niger ER05
Get PDFThe glucoamylase requirement of different industries should vary in their physiochemical and functional properties, so the investigation of new sources for the novel enzymes is the only solution. The current study describe the production of glucoamylase from Aspergillus niger ER05 in a submerged fermentation. The enzyme then partially purified and then effect of thirteen different metal ions (Cs+, K+, Na+, Ba2+, Ca2+ Co2+, Cu2+ , Hg2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Zn2+ , Fe3+), surfactant as well as organic solvent on catalytic performance of glucoamylase was studied. A newly isolated Aspergillus niger ER05 is hyper producing strain of glucoamylase. Specific activity for the crude enzyme was found to be 6.87 KU/mg. The crude enzyme was partially purified via fractional ammonium sulphate precipitation. Ammonium sulphate saturation from 40-80% was found suitable to precipitate the enzyme. After dialyzing precipitates, the specific activities were found to be 66.33KU/mg with percent yield of 26.5. The inhibitory influence of all metal studies was interestingly found on glucoamylase activity. The strong inhibition was demonstrated in presence of Hg2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Fe3+. Only Na+ ions were able to maintain the 101% relative activity at 1mM concentration. The SDS completely inhibits the enzyme activity and in presence of tween-80 and triton X-100 glucoamylase exhibited less than 45% relative activity. Furthermore, formaldehyde, isopropanol, ethanol, methanol, and DMSO stabilized the enzyme activity while chloroform inhibits enzyme activity by 48%
Effect of Potassium Chloride on Seed Germination and Early Growth of Three Rape Seed Varieties
Get PDFSalinity stress is one of the crucial factors affecting at different stages of growth and development of the crop. In the present research, the seeds of three rape seed varieties like Toria selection, Sindh Raya and Sarhein-95 were exposed to increasing concentrations (1 and 2%) of KCl to demonstrate the effect of salt stress on seed germination and early seedling growth of rape seed varieties. Seed germination and seedling growth decreased with the increase of KCl grown in Petri dishes within seven days. Highest germination and seedling growth was recorded in Sindh Raya than Toria and Sarhein-95. On the basis of all growth characteristics, the three genotypes were found to be more sensitive under KCl salt stress