Sex hormones alter the effect of aspirin on bleeding

Background: Interaction of aspirin and sex hormones was investigated through bleeding time.Methods: Bleeding time in 32 males and 105 unmarried females with previous 6 normal menstrual cycles and all aged between 18 to 21 years was found by Duke’s method before and after 2 hours of aspirin administration. Phase of menstrual cycle of each female was determined by present menstrual history.Results: Bleeding time in 32 male was 69.33± 4.94 seconds and in 105 female was 73.03±1.89 seconds which were not statistically different (P>0.05).This time was increased to 107.66±4.76 seconds in males and 113.65±3.73 seconds in females after aspirin administration which were statistically different (P0.05) difference after aspirin administration with a greater effect in Follicular phase probably due to estradiol.Conclusion: Males respond to aspirin more as compared to females which is likely the effect of the drug and testosterone interaction. Similarly females in the follicular phase respond to aspirin more as compared to females in the luteal phase which may be a result of interaction of estrogen and aspirin

Microwave Assisted Extraction of Phenolics from \u3cem\u3eTrachyspermum ammi\u3c/em\u3e (L.) Sprague

Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the family Apiaceae and is mostly administered for stomach disorders. During the present research work, cold maceration and Microwave Assisted Extraction (MAE) of T. ammi Sprague was done by using methanol, dichloromethane and n-hexane separately as extracting solvents. For cold maceration, 2, 4, 6, 18 and 24 hours of time durations were used for each solvent. Maximum extract (50mg/g) was obtained at 18 hours of cold maceration with methanol, while maximum phenolics were also obtained from the same extract, which were calculated to be 170.89μg/g equivalent of Gallic acid. For Microwave Assisted Extraction, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180seconds of time durations for microwaves irradiations were used at power levels 200W, 500W, 800W and 1000W. Maximum extract (35mg/g) was obtained at 90 seconds with methanol at power level 800W, while maximum phenolics were obtained after 30 seconds of MAE in methanol (196.90μg/g). Hence, it is concluded that cold maceration has better extraction efficiency for extracts of T. ammi than MAE. It was also concluded that the amount of phenolics were obtained in a higher quantity by MAE of T. ammi, as compared to the cold maceration in the lesser time of extraction

Effects of Aluminium Exposures on Growth, Photosynthetic Efficiency, Lipid Peroxidation, Antioxidant Enzymes and Artemisinin Content of Artemisia annua L.

Acid soils are widely distributed at a global scale; under acidic conditions, the solubility of aluminium (Al) increases and the elevated concentration of toxic Al3+ in soil solution seriously limits crop production. There is no information on the effects of aluminium (Al) on Artemisia annua L., which is a most important antimalarial plant in the recent time being artemisinin; responsible for its antimalarial activity. In this report, we describe the effects of Al contamination on growth, photosynthetic efficiency, membrane damage, antioxidant enzyme activities and changes in artemisinin content in A. annua. Al addition to the soil medium significantly reduced the yield and growth of the plants. Lower values of net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, internal CO2 and total chlorophyll content were observed as a result of different Al concentrations applied. The activities of nitrate reductase (NR) and carbonic anhydrase (CA) were also found to be hampered by Al exposure to the plants. Al enhanced lipid peroxidation rate (TBRAS content) and activated the activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes in the treated plants. The elicitation in the endogenous ROS levels, due to the Al treatments, was also noticed in the present study. Furthermore, enhanced artemisinin content and yield was obtained at 0.10mM concentration of soil applied Al. Our study provides evidence that excess Al in soil hamper the growth and yield, slow down the activities of NR and CA, induce lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes but a low level of Al-toxicity can induce artemisinin content in A. annua plants.Key words: Aluminium (Al); Artemisia annua L.; Artemisinin; Lipid peroxidation; Reactive oxygen species (ROS)Tariq Aftab et al. Effects of Aluminium Exposures on Growth, Photosynthetic Efficiency, Lipid Peroxidation, Antioxidant Enzymes and Artemisinin Content of Artemisia annua L. J Phytol 2/8(2010) 23-37

Genetics And Interrelationship of Yield and Yield Related Attributes in Some Genotypes of Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius L.) Under Rainfed Conditions

In order to estimate variability, heritability, genetic advance and relationship of grain yield with other yield related attributes, the experiments were carried out in field research Area of Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal, Pakistan during two rabi growing seasons 2011-12 and 2012-13. The experimental materials were comprised of 40 genotypes of safflower and were sown in randomized complete block design with three replications each year. The analysis of variance showed that all the safflower genotypes were significantly different for all the traits studied except days to physiological maturity. Among the attributes studied the estimates of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were generally higher than the genetic coefficient of variation (GCV).  Highest GCV was found in grain filing rate plant-1 (49.34 & 48.25) followed by seed yield plant-1 (49.09 & 48.18) during 2011-12 & 2012-13 respectively. Grain filing rate plant-1 showed maximum PCV (49.78 & 48.96) followed by seed yield plant-1 (49.64 & 49.44) during both years (2011-12 & 2012-13) respectively. The high heritability coupled with high genetic advance was measured in biological yield plant-1, harvest index (%), number of heads plant-1, and seed yield plant-1. These results revealed that high estimates of heritability and genetic advance for these traits would be helpful for the plant breeders to select the suitable combination and to achieve the enviable level of seed yield potential in safflower under arid environment conditions. The correlation results of two year studies revealed that seed yield plant-1 had significant and positive relationship with days to maturity, plant height, biological yield plant-1, number of seeds head-1, 1000-grain weight, grain filing rate plant-1, effective head weight, number of primary branches  plant-1 and plant height. On the other hand, days to 50% flowering, days to physiological maturity, number of seeds head-1, seed weight head-1 and 1000- grain weight showed low heritability with low genetic advance. Key words: Safflower, Rainfed, Variability, Heritability, Genetic Advance, Correlatio

Does 10mg versus 12.5mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine influence the incidence of epigastric discomfort encountered during caesarean section under spinal anesthesia?

Objective: To determine effect of two different volumes of 0.5 % hyperbaric bupivacaine in relation to epigastric discomfort during Cesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. Study design: Randomized double blind study. Place and Duration of study: Department of anaesthesiology, Combined Military Hospital Lahore over period of twelve months from June 2020 to May 2021. Methodology: A total of 168 women presenting for elective Cesarean section were divided in two equal groups. In group A, 2 milliliters of hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine was given in intrathecal space while in group B, 2.5 milliliters of hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine was given after standard volume loading. Presence or absence of epigastric/visceral pain was observed. Mean arterial pressure was also recorded at 1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 minutes.    Results: Demographic data including age, body mass index and American society of anesthesiology status was comparable in both groups. Hypotension was seen in 44 (52.38%) in group A whereas it was seen in 52 (61.9%) in group B. This difference was insignificant with p-value of 0.212. In group A, 22 (26.19%) patients complained of epigastric discomfort, while in group B, 12 (14.29%) patients complained of epigastric discomfort. Though fewer patients in group B suffered epigastric discomfort but this difference was statistically insignificant with a p-value of 0.055. Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference between 2 ml and 2.5 ml 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine in terms of frequency of visceral pain

Factors Affecting Career Choices of Newly Admitted and Graduating Medical Students

To assess factors affecting career choices of newly admitted and graduating medical students .Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in four private medical colleges of Islamabad. Two hundred students of first and final year were selected for this study. Data was collected by using self-developed questionnaire after extensive literature review by the researchers. Questionnaire was pilot tested. Data was analyzed by using SPSS v. 16.0.Results: Study results indicated mean age 21.13 years (± 2.48), 101 (53.72%) males and 87 (46.28%) female. Majority (96.80%) were unmarried., 51.10% (96) MBBS first year and 48.90% (92) in final year students. Although medical specialties remain of overall highest preference of all medical students but male students preferred surgical specialty as first choice as compared to female students. Study results revealed that interest and motivation to help others were main factors to affect choice of a particular specialty. Students of both gender and years agreed with the influence from a mentor/teacher, however male students thought expected income (51) and good working atmosphere (74) are main factors affecting careers. Among social factors parent’s choice or wish, having doctor in the family and personal interest were highly associated with career choice (p-value less than 0.05).Conclusion: Factors affecting on career choice should be identified and managed timely

Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of three new Schiff bases derived from amino acids and their Ag(I) complexes

ABSTRACT. Three Schiff base ligands which were derived from glycine, asparagine and alanine L1, L2 and L3 were designed and used to synthesized their Ag(I) complexes. 1H NMR, FT-IR, UV-Visible and conductance techniques were used to characterize the ligands and their metal complexes. The synthesized compounds showed antioxidant activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Schiff bases and their Ag(I) complexes were screened for antimicrobial activity, in vitro antibacterial activity against three gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhi with two gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis by micro plate almar blue assay (MABA), antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata by agar tube dilution protocol. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity was performed by heat induce denaturation method and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was performed by induced paw edema method. Cytotoxicity of the synthesized compounds was recorded against cyclohexamide by MTT assay. Ag(I) metal complexes showed more significant biological activities as compared to ligands.                 KEY WORDS: Schiff bases, Metal complexes, Cytotoxicity, Antifungal, Antibacterial, Anti-inflammatory Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2022, 36(1), 45-56.                                                                    DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v36i1.5                                                       &nbsp