Effect of Oral intake of Stevia Leaf Powder on Body Weight – An Experimental study

Introduction: The steviol glycosides are found  in the stevia leaf. These glycosides possess sweetening properties as well as they have antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, and anti-hypertensive effects. This study was conducted to  find out the effect of Stevia leaf on body weight in obese Sprague Dawley male rats. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was carried out on 90 Sprague Dawley male rats. Group1(normal control) was given a standard diet for the entire study period, while the remaining sixty rats were given a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks to induce obesity. The obese rats were randomly assigned to group 2 (Obese Control) and Group 3 (obese + Stevia) and given HFD for another 6 weeks. The stevia leaf powder was added to the diet of group 3. Diet intake was noted for all the groups. Rats were weighed on the first day of every week, for six weeks, and then at the end of the study period.      Results: Body weights of rats in each group, at the start and end of the 6-week intervention period, when compared, showed a significant increase in group 1 (p=0.001), and group 2 (p = 0.001), while group 3 showed a non-significant increase (p = 0.248). The percentage increase in body weight for groups 1, 2, and 3 was 4.8, 9.3, and 1.1, respectively. Graphically, the weekly increase in average body weights of the three experimental groups showed maximum values for group 2. Conclusions: Stevia leaf possesses weight-reducing effects which may be due to inhibition of appetite, reduction in food intake, and consequent weight loss. Keywords: Obesity, weight loss, Natural non-nutritive sweeteners, Stevi

Alanine Transaminase levels in Patients of Dengue Fever in the Suburbs of Islamabad

Introduction: Hepatic dysfunction is a highly varied condition that can show up as minor damage with elevated levels of transaminases, or appear as extensive damage and failure of liver cells. Thus, in order to reduce associated morbidity and mortality, this ailment should be diagnosed at the earliest possible so that appropriate therapy can be instituted. Our study was carried out to observe hepatic damage in patients with dengue fever (DF) by measuring alanine transaminase levels. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of three months duration was carried out in the Department of Medicine, Dr. Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital affiliated with Islamabad Medical & Dental College, Pakistan. The sampling technique was Non-Random consecutive sampling and 118 patients were included in our study. Serum Alanine Transaminase (ALT) (normal = 7-56 IU/L), serum Aspartate Transaminase (AST) (normal = 10-40 IU/L) were determined and ultra-sound abdomen was performed. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Version 24. The Chi-square test was used to observe the relationship between categorical variables. Phi, Cramer’s V, Pearson’s, and Spearman’s Correlation tests were used to study the association of age and gender with ALT levels. Results: There were 72% males (n=85) and 28% females (n=33). Patients were grouped according to age and mean ALT (95+86 IU/L) and AST (134.7+ 98 IU/L) levels were calculated in the different age groups. These levels were found to be significantly raised (P=0.00) in the age groups of 9-18 years and 19-25 years as compared to the other age groups. Moreover, males had high ALT levels as compared to females, however, a significant difference was not observed. There was also no association seen of gender with raised ALT levels (P=0.564), Phi & Cramer’s V=0.56, and Spearman’s correlation coefficient=0.320.Conclusions: ALT and AST levels were elevated above the normal in our sample indicating hepatic involvement

Spirit and Innovation at Work in Software Houses of Pakistan: How Does Job Satisfaction Intervene the Relationship?

The study in hand is an effort to find the relationship of spirit at work with Innovative work behavior of employees using job satisfaction as mediator. The data was collected from employees of software houses of Punjab province through self-administered questionnaire. We distributed 560 questionnaires among which 361 questionnaires were received filled thus making response rate 67.3%. This study employs confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test the overall fitness of measurement and structural model using AMOS graphic. The results of the study revealed that spirit at work had positive effect on innovative work behavior of employees. It is proved through results that job satisfaction has mediating effect on the relationship between Spirit at work and IWB. Job satisfaction demonstrated three dimensions of spirit at work to be mediated. However, Job satisfaction does not mediate the relation of spiritual connection and Innovative work behavior. As the employees are the integral part and most important asset of the organization so managers should focus on maintaining and lifting up the level of spirit at work among employees. This high level of spirit at work will help employees to show more innovative behavior that assists organizations to grow

Association Of Maternal Age And Hemoglobin Level With Apgar Score Of Newborns In A Tertiary Care Hospital Of Suburbs Of Islamabad

Objectives: To determine the association of Apgar score with maternal age and hemoglobin. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on mothers (n=306) delivering live, full-term, singleton babies by spontaneous vertex delivery. Women who suffered stillbirths had babies of unknown gestational age or showed co-morbidities were excluded. SPSS version 26 was used for data analysis. Mean + standard deviation, and percentages were calculated. Cross-tabulation and logistic regression were done to see the association between dependent and independent variables. A p-value of <0.05 was statistically significant. Results The ages of women ranged from 20 to 40 years (mean= 25+1.9).  The number of patients aged 24 years with Hb <7g/dl was 6 (37.5%). Out of all, 90 (29.4%) patients had Hb >11g/dl, and their ages were 30 years which was significant (p = 0.000). Apgar score for the neonates showed that 258 (84.3%) had an Apgar score >7 while 48 (15.7%) had a score < 7. Babies of mothers whose age was 26 years had Apgar score < 7(25%) (p = 0.001). Neonatal birth weight, of <2kg was observed in infants born to young mothers of 26 years of age (20%) (p = 0.001), and a weight >3.5kg was recorded in 20 infants (6.5%). The younger mothers had lower Hb, and their babies had low Apgar scores <7 at the time of birth (p = 0.001). Conclusion Women of younger age and lower hemoglobin levels give birth to infants with low Apgar scores and birth weight. Low birth weight in neonates is significantly associated with a low five-minute Apgar score

Root-Cause Analysis of Persistently High Maternal Mortality in a Rural District of Indonesia: Role of Clinical Care Quality and Health Services Organizational Factors

Background: Despite significant reduction in maternal mortality, there are still many regions in the world that suffer from high mortality. District Kutai Kartanegara, Indonesia, is one such region where consistently high maternal mortality was observed despite high rate of delivery by skilled birth attendants.Method: Thirty maternal deaths were reviewed using verbal autopsy interviews, terminal event reporting, medical records\u27 review, and Death Audit Committee reports, using a comprehensive root-cause analysis framework including Risk Identification, Signal Services, Emergency Obstetrics Care Evaluation, Quality, and 3 Delays.Findings: The root causes were found in poor quality of care, which caused hospital to be unprepared to manage deteriorating patients. In hospital, poor implementation of standard operating procedures was rooted in inadequate skills, lack of forward planning, ineffective communication, and unavailability of essential services. In primary care, root causes included inadequate risk management, referrals to facilities where needed services are not available, and lack of coordination between primary healthcare and hospitals.Conclusion: There is an urgent need for a shift in focus to quality of care through knowledge, skills, and support for consistent application of protocols, making essential services available, effective risk assessment and management, and facilitating timely referrals to facilities that are adequately equipped

DETECTION OF ANTI-HELICOBACTER PYLORI IgG ANTIBODIES IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS

ABSTRACT Introduction: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are Gram -negative microaerophilic, spiral organisms. Factors such as family history of gastric disease, source of drinking water, number of siblings, sharing beds, and level of hygiene have been linked to acquisition of H. pylori infection. Most of the infected people do not have clinical symptoms. The study was planed to determine the level of anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies in the serum of healthy individuals. Material and Methods: The study included 80 healthy subjects and was conducted in the Department of Immunology, University of Health Sciences Lahore. The studied population was divided on the basis of (a) eating food from outside home daily, twice a week or once a week, (b) using filtered or tap water for drinking, and (c) having family history of gastric ulcer or without family history of gastric ulcer. Level of anti H. pylori IgG antibody was determined by ELISA technique. Results: Among 80 asymptomatic healthy individuals anti-H pylori IgG antibody was detected in 28 (35%) subjects who did not have these antibodies (p-value < 0.001). Mean level of anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies was 43 ± 39.3 U/ml, 30.7 ± 37.3 U/ml and 14.9 ± 19.7 U/ml in subjects eating food from outside their homes once a week, twice a week and daily respectively. Statistically significant difference was observed in the level of H. pylori antibodies with different eating habits (p = 0.015). However no statistically significant difference was observed in the level of anti-H. pylori antiodies between two genders, individuals using tap water and filtered water for drinking and with family history of gastric ulcer. Conclusion: H. pylori IgG antibodies were present in asymptomatic healthy individuals of both the genders

Estimation of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients with Normal BMI on Ultrasound

Background: Non-Alcoholic fatty liver disease is common in adults and it is increasing in patients with normal BMI in Asian countries. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs not only in obese individuals but also in non-obese ones. The association between NAFLD and metabolic events in a non-obese population is also evident.. Objective: To estimate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with normal BMI on ultrasound. Methodology: Analytical Cross-sectional prospective study in which 59 patients were enrolled in the research. All the patient’s data had been composed from indoor of hospital, outdoor of hospital, DHA Medical Center, Lahore. After well-versed consent, data was composed through ultrasound machine. The data, such as patient characteristics, hypertension, impaired fasting glucose, were extracted from medical records, and statistical analysis was performed. Results: The present study is retrospective cross sectional observational study.60 patients (29males 49.2% 31 female 50.8%) were enrolled in this study. According to abdominal ultrasonography, 72.9% of patients with normal BMI were diagnosed to have Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and identified to have fatty changes in the liver. Conclusion: In our study we estimated that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was present in patients with normal body mass index by imaging the echotexture of liver on ultrasound. Having increased echogenicity, due to poor diet and other associated diseases such as high blood pressure, impaired fasting glucose and low HDL cholesterol patients were getting NAFLD. Keywords: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Body Mass Index (BMI), Ultrasonography (USG). DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/92-03 Publication date:August 31st 202