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Types of Hospital Waste and Waste Generation Rate in Different Hospitals of Faisalabad City, Pakistan
Get PDFHospital waste has been one of the major problems in underdeveloped and developing countries in recent times. The present study is an attempt to analyze hospital waste generation of Faisalabad city. Forty four hospitals were selected out of which five were public, two were semi-government, six were trust and thirty one were private hospitals with a minimum capacity of ten beds. It was very difficult to acquire exact data related to the waste generated by hospitals as these health care centers were not following the international standards to handle waste generation. The primary data were collected through questionnaire, formal and informal meetings, interviews with the hospital staff and through personal observations. The secondary data were collected from the office of the Executive District Officer Health and Environment Protection | department, Faisalabad. Data analysis showed that about 7646 kg/day waste was generated by these hospitals out of which 6529 kg (85.40%) was non-infectious and 1117 kg (14.60%) was infectious waste. The government hospitals’ waste generation rate was 1.51 kg/bed/day, semi government 1.49 kg/bed/day, trust hospitals rate was 1.29 kg/bed/day and private hospitals 0.99 kg/bed/day. The overall waste generation rate of the hospitals of the study area was 1.28 kg/bed/day. It was recommended that the hospital staff must be trained to handle hospital waste so that the garbage should not create problems to human health
Influence of Different Polypeptides Fractions Derived from Sus Scrofa Immune Organs on the Rats Immunological Reactivity
Get PDFThe influence of protein-peptide compounds, extracted with deuterium water as solubilizer agent from mixture of Sus scofa thymus, spleen and lymph nodes extracts, was carried out on Wistar rats with cytostatic-induced immunodeficiency model. Intragastric administration of extract fraction with molecular weight more than 30 kDa, did not lead to significant changes. Thus, polypeptide compounds with molecular weight less than 30 kD, extracted from Sus scofa immune organs, significantly increased T-lymphocytes amount, affected macrophages system by T-helper (CD4) stimulation and activated cycle of complementary cascade. Differences between the experimental results in T-helper synthesis activation (CD4) in animals treated with the medium and low molecular weight fractions can be explained by the ability of biomolecules having a molecular weight less than 30 kDa (in particular, isolated from the spleen, which, in its cellular structure contains key regulatory factors) to change the speed of cell differentiation
Effects of Antrodia Camphorata Mycelia Extract Containing Antroquinonol on Lowering Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol: A Randomized Double-Blind Study
Get PDFObjective: Antrodia camphorata is a type of true fungus that grows only on Cinnamomum camphora trees, also known as Cinnamomum kanehirae (“kashi”) in Taiwan. Antroquinonol is a characteristic component of A. camphorata mycelia extract and was previously shown to exhibit antitumor action and lower blood cholesterol (total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol) in cellular and animal models. So, This study examined the ability of A. camphorata mycelia extract to reduce LDL cholesterol in humans.
Methods: We conducted a randomized double-blind trial in 26 subjects with either borderline LDL cholesterol (120–139 mg/dL; n = 11) or mildly elevated LDL cholesterol (140–159 mg/dL; n = 15). Participants ingested tablets containing either 25 mg of A. camphorata mycelia extract (antroquinonol: 0.68 mg; n = 14) or a placebo (n = 12) for 12 weeks.
Results: The test group showed a significant reduction in LDL cholesterol when compared with the placebo group after 12 weeks of tablet ingestion (p < 0.05), demonstrating the effects of A. camphorata mycelia extract on LDL cholesterol. A. camphorata mycelia extract also tended to reduce total cholesterol when compared with the placebo (p < 0.10). The borderline LDL cholesterol and mildly elevated LDL cholesterol subgroups showed a significant reduction in LDL cholesterol in subjects who ingested A. camphorata mycelia extract compared with those who ingested the placebo, again demonstrating the LDL cholesterol-lowering effect of the extract.
Conclusion: A. camphorata mycelia extract lowers LDL cholesterol in individuals with somewhat high LDL cholesterol levels.
This clinical trial was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN no. # 000019670)
Testing Neurotransmitters for Toxicity with a Luminescent Biosensor: Implications for Microbial Endocrinology
Get PDFBackground: The human organism is a complex superorganism including numerous eukaryotic, eubacterial, and archaean cells. The qualitative and quantitative assessment of the microbiota toxicity of chemical agents, i.e., their inhibitory effects on the microbial inhabitants of the human organism in health and disease, seems to hold much value in this context. In this work, a bacterial luminescence-based express test system for microbiota toxicity is applied to neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and histamine.
Methods: The biosensor was based on a GM Escherichia coli K12 strain (TGI) that contained the lux operon of the luminescent soil bacterium Photorhabdus luminescencens ZMI. The biosensor was exposed to the action of the tested neurotransmitters for 5 to 60 minutes The intensity of bacterial luminescence (counts.sec-1) was monitored in the control and the experimental samples with a Biotoks 6 ms luminometer (Russia); the toxicity index (T) of the neurotransmitters was determined.
Results: A marked toxic effect on bioluminescence was produced by serotonin, histamine, and dopamine at concentrations exceeding 80 µg/ml, 100 µg/ml, and 1 mg/ml, respectively. At lower concentration, these neurotransmitters were “negatively toxic”, i.e. stimulatory in terms of the effect on bacterial luminescence. In contrast, norepinephrine inhibited luminescence at all concentrations tested.
Conclusions: The bacterial luminescence-based testing method is applicable to the assessment of the destructive and stimulatory effects of neurotransmitters; the data obtained are of microbiological and clinical relevance
Influence of the Preparation "Nicavet-1000" on a Morphofunctional Condition of some Organs of Rats at Experimental Aluminium Intoxication
Get PDFDuring the conducted research, it is established that aluminium chloride intoxication leads to the considerable changes of composition of red blood, development of a hypercalcemia and change of a bone structure of animals. A number of significant morphofunctional changes in the hippocampus of the examined animals are also noted. The use of the tissue preparation "Nicavet-1000" leads to the normalization of both hematocrit and other parameters of red blood, as well as to the intensification of erythropoiesis. Use of the preparation "Nicavet-1000", judging from the results of research, prevents pathological changes in a bone tissue, caused by aluminium chloride. "Nicavet-1000" leads to the expressed normalization of both the morphological, and micromorphometric parameters characterizing a hippocampus of rats
Preliminary Studies on the Occurrence and Abundance of Zooplankton Major Taxa in Keamari, Karachi- Backwaters
No full textA preliminary study was conducted on the occurrence and abundance of zooplankton in the Karachi backwaters. Zooplankton sampling was conducted on monthly basis and the study was carried out on the basis of three seasons including pre-monsoon (January to May), monsoon (June to September) and post-monsoon (October to December) from a permanent station Napier Mole bridge (24o50’34’’.90 N, 66o59’17’’.55 E) during June 1996 to May 1998. The hydrographic parameters including air temperature (oC), water temperature (oC), salinity (ppt), dissolved oxygen (mg/L), pH, and transparency (cm) were recorded. Total 14 groups of zooplankton were recorded; hydromedusae, copepoda, mysids, amphipoda, acetes, lucifer, chaetognath, penaeid pl, caridean pl, zoea, megalopa, squilla larvae, fish larvae, fish eggs and others. Pre-monsoon season shows highest number of individuals and copepods were found to be the dominant group in all seasons. Zooplankton diversity, equitability and margalef index were measured seasonally. Highest shannon – wiener diversity index H\u27 = (1.83), equitability E= (0.69) and margalef species richness Index d= (1.37) were measured in post-monsoon season. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) was performed in between seasons and zooplanktonic groups. No significant difference (at P>0.05, 0.148) was observed between zooplankton and seasons
Analysis of Socio-Economic Well-Being of Population in Khirthar National Park, Sindh: A Geographical Study
No full textPakistan’s two-third population lives in rural areas where the dependence on natural resources is foremost. National parks are protected areas where the natural environment is preserved for the future generations. The purpose of this study is to investigate the socio-economic aspects of the people living in such areas. For this a comparative study has been designed by selecting two areas of Kirthar National Park (KNP), Sindh, one within the boundary of park; Core and the other at the transition zone of the park. The data have been collected through extensive field survey and analyzed using correlation technique. The study can be helpful in assessing the interaction that exists between humans and dry natural environment. The results indicate a clear difference in the standard of living of the people living in these two selected areas. Such studies are very important from the point of view of rural development of local communities
Wavelet Characterization of Seismicity and Geomagnetic Coupling at Coastal Regions of Pakistan
No full textEarthquake recurrence is depicted on the basis of the time following subsequent seasons at the coastal regions of Pakistan. Recurrence time for intricate shock waves is simulated by using earth positions at equinoxes and perihelion-aphelion positions of the earth from the Sun. In connection to the spatial and temporal behavior of earth, the external geomagnetic variation is significant not only influenced by the distances between the Sun and earth and annual revolving period of earth around the Sun at heliocentric path but also affected by a lunar revolving period on an elliptical path around the earth. The Apparent path of the Sun during the year where earth is the center of the celestial sphere and relative to earth, the Sun appears on ecliptic sphere which intersects the celestial equator in two points known as the vernal equinox of 21st march and autumn equinox of 21st September. The perihelion position on earth is nearest to the Sun and aphelion is the furthest position of the earth from the Sun, these are empirically distributed on the basis of mutual interaction. The seasonal effects are recognized by the wavelet characterization on maximum amplitudes of shock waves with reference to vernal – autumn equinoxes of distributed perihelion-aphelion periods. The seasonal period of geomagnetic seismicity is a manifestation of the mean time between earthquakes within a specified region where many faults are activated. The cyclic nature of earthquakes and geomagnetic influences on seismic waves by stress-strain tectonic process and releasing energy for the relaxation mechanism are experienced in nature, therefore the issues relevant to their aphelion – perihelion periodicities, influential conditions of geomagnetic instability and their coupling for shock waves propagation are tackled by the wavelet applications
Carotenoid Content and Composition in 20 Medicinal Plant Species of Traditional Malay Midwifery Postnatal Bath
Get PDFToday in Malay community, midwifery traditional knowledge of herbal medicine has disappeared and extinct. The facts are Malay midwives are becoming rare and the more crucial is medicinal plants are over-harvested. The aim of this research is to identify and investigate the active pharmaceutical ingredients content in 20 selected species used in the Malay traditional bath. There is a solid need to analyse the potential of these natural bioactive compounds, particularly carotenoids to be fully utilised and commercialised especially in halal market and health advantages. Through High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, all 20 species were found to have at least four individual carotenoid pigments with a relatively high concentration of lutein and β-carotene and lower concentrations of zeaxanthin. Strobilanthes crispus (Pecah Kaca) leaf was detected to have the highest total carotenoid content (1546.80±283.45 μg/g DW)while Psidium guajava (Jambu Batu) shoot has the lowest total carotenoid content (112.9±82.2 μg/g DW). The significant outcome of the research was a new findings of new natural bioactive compound sources as health promoting agents which covers not only the Shariah requirement, but also safety aspects. Moreover, it will preserve the traditional knowledge of Malay traditional bath practices
Impact of Different Oils as Biopesticide against Sucking Insect Pests in Cotton
Get PDFThe study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various botanical products on population of sucking complex on cotton crop. The study was conducted at the experimental area of Entomology section, Agriculture Research Institute, Tando Jam during the Kharif Season-2004. Five bio-pesticides i.e. neem oil (500ml/acre), cooking oil (750 ml/acre), linseed oil (750ml/acre), hing (290gm/acre) and cotton oil (750ml/acre) were applied twice against sucking complex (jassid, thrip and whitefly) and compared with an untreated control. It was observed that the efficacy of different bio-pesticides against sucking complex (jassid, whitefly and thrips) varied significantly. All products reduced pest population during both sprays. On an average, neem oil (63.27%) and cotton oil (62.01%) were found to be superior in reducing sucking pest, followed by hing (58.25%), cooking oil (57.18%) and linseed oil (55.24%) respectively