Changes in the Characteristics of Water-in-Oil-based High Internal Phase Emulsion Containing Moringa Leaves Extract at Various Storage Conditions

Purpose: To explore changes in the characteristics of water-in-oil-based high internal phase emulsion containing Moringa oleifera (Moringa HIPE) extract at various storage conditions and time intervals.Methods: Moringa leaves extract (3 %) was entrapped into HIPE. Color, liquefaction, conductivity, pH, and centrifugation were assessed by keeping the samples of Moringa HIPE at 8, 25, 40 and 40 °C, and 75 % RH (relative humidity) over time up to 54 days. Rheological measurements were made on freshly prepared emulsion and after one and two months. Data were analysed using Brookfield Software Rheocalc version (2.6) with IPC Paste and Power Law (PL) math models.Results: There was no change in color, electrical conductivity, liquefaction and phase separation (after centrifugation) in any sample of Moringa HIPE at the various storage conditions and periods. The pH of freshly prepared Moringa HIPE was 5.5 which gradually decreased with slight variation in the storage conditions. The viscosity of freshly prepared emulsion was 3256.65 cP and this decreased with increase in shear stress. Flow index and shear sensitivity factor of freshly prepared emulsion were 0.36 and 0.65, respectively. The rheograms of Moringa HIPEs indicate non-Newtonian behaviour and pseudo-plastic tendency. Power Law and IPC paste provided the data of confidences of fit.Conclusion: Moringa HIPE showed stability and can be guided exclusively to protect skin against ultraviolet radiation-mediated oxidative damage.Keywords: Moringa oleifera, High Internal Phase Emulsion, Rheogram, Pseudoplastic, Non-Newtonian, Shea

Enhancement of Human Cheek Skin Texture by Acacia Nilotica Bark Extract Cream

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a topical application of a cream formulation containing extract of Acacia nilotica bark extract on human cheek skin texture.Methods: A cream containing 3 % concentrated extract of Acacia nilotica bark was developed by entrapping the extract in the internal aqueous phase of the cream having strong antioxidant activity. A similar cream but without the extract was also prepared. Each of the formulations was applied to the cheeks of 11 human volunteers for a period of three months. Both cream formulations were assessed, using Visioscan VC 98, for various parameters including texture parameters (energy, contrast and variance) as well as for skin roughness (Ser), skin scaliness (SEsc), skin smoothness (SEsm) and skin wrinkles (Sew).Results: Unlike the cream base, the extract cream exhibited steady, significant improvement in skin parameters over the 3-month period of application. Images showed visible improvement of the overall skin appearance and reduction of fine lines by the extract cream. Furthermore, skin texture (variance and contrast) and SELS (SEr, SEsc, SEsm and SEw) parameters showed significant decline (p < 0.05) and the texture parameter of energy showed significant increase (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the cream containing 3 % Acacia nilotica bark extract possesses anti-aging effect and improves skin surface appearance..Keywords: Acacia nilotica, Cream, Visioscan VC 98, Skin texture, Anti-agin

Sonographic fetal biometry charts for a Pakistani cohort.

This study aimed to develop growth centiles at different gestational weeks for fetal biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference, femur length and head circumference in a Pakistani cohort. Data were collected at a tertiary referral hospital from pregnant women at gestational ages 13-40 weeks referred for obstetric ultrasound as a part of routine antenatal care. A total of 1599 fetal sonographic biometric measurements were collected after screening for the inclusion criteria. For each measurement, separate regression models were derived to estimate the mean, standard deviation and reference percentiles at each week of gestational age for this cohort. The best fitting model for each variable was selected. These charts will help radiologists and clinicians in predicting dates of delivery, assessing fetal growth and identifying intrauterine fetal insufficiency in the Pakistani population

EFFECT OF INBREEDING ON PRE-WEANING GROWTH TRAITS IN THALLI SHEEP

Pedigree records of 17250 Thalli sheep with 17030 lambings maintained at the Livestock Experiment Station, Rakh Ghulaman, Distt. Bhakkar, Pakistan during the period from 1975 to 2004 were utilized in the present study. Average values for birth weight, weights at 60 and 90 days of age, weaning weight and pre-weaning average daily gain were 4.11 ± 0.82, 11.58 ± 3.57, 14.92 ± 4.56, 18.95 ± 4.56 and 0.12 ± 0.04 kg, respectively. Coefficients of inbreeding ranged from 10.15 to 37.50 percent for 295 animals, being 1.70 percent of the flock. Inbreeding significantly (P<0.01) affected birth and 60 days weight. Birth weight and 60 days weight decreased by 0.051 and 0.048 kg for each 1 percent increase in the level of inbreeding. However, inbreeding had non significant effect on weight at 90 days of age, weaning weight and pre-weaning average daily gain. The regression values for these traits were 0.010, 0.083 and 0.105, respectively. It was concluded that inbreeding showed deleterious effects only in early stages of life but as the lambs grew older the effect of inbreeding on pre-weaning traits diminished

Magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients with schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: To determine structural abnormalities in the brain of patients with schizophrenia by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). STUDY DESIGN: Comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Departments of Radiology and Psychiatry, the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2007 to June 2008. METHODOLOGY: Thirty-three cases of schizophrenia (n=33) and thirty-three age-matched controls, (n=33) were enrolled for this study. Screening Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of brain was done in order to see structural changes in brain matter. Findings were compared among groups using chi-square and Fisher\u27s exact test with significance at p \u3c 0.05. RESULTS: Among the total of 66 (n=66) MRI films studied for brain abnormalities, brain atrophy, presence of septum pellucidum and enlarged Virchow-Robins spaces were significantly associated with schizophrenia (p \u3c 0.001). There was no significant difference between cases and controls for ventricular dilatation (p=0.5). Sinusitis was mostly associated with controls and well correlated with their symptoms (p \u3c 0.001). CONCLUSION: Brain atrophy was the most commonly seen brain change in the studied sample of patients with schizophrenia. MRI brain can be used to identify structural abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia

Tissue Culture of Rubus sp. by Different Methods and Assessment of Genetic Fidelity of Regenerated Plants Using RAPD

Different methods employed in plant tissue culture can provide a valuable source of plants for the horticultural industry and novel germplasm for breeding programs, but the genetic fidelity and lack of somaclonal variation of regenerated plants needs to be verified. In this study, the genetic fidelity of blackberry (Rubus hirtus Waldst. & Kit.) plants regenerated in vitro was assessed with 11 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Three routes were assessed: callus induction on Yasuda medium with 6-benzyladenine (BA, 8.88 μM), 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA, 10.84 μM) and glycerol (2%, v/v), somatic embryogenesis on Murashige and Skoog (MS) supplemented with 7.57 μM abscisic acid (ABA), and micropropagation from single nodes on MS basal medium containing NAA (0 and 2.86 μM) and BA (0, 4.44, 8.88 and 17.76 μM). MS medium with 2.86 μM NAA and 8.88 or 17,76 μM BA was the most effective medium for axillary shoot multiplication of R. hirtus and Rubus sanctus Schreb. from nodal segments. A total of 618 fragments were successfully generated by RAPD and the maximum of loci was observed in primer 1204-209 that show 10 and 69 bands. Genetic similarity exceeded 86% when regenerated plants were compared to mother plants. Based on the RAPD data profile, almost true-to-type plants were produced by different methods of plant regeneration (direct shoot regeneration, somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis)

Tissue Culture of Rubus sp. by Different Methods and Assessment of Genetic Fidelity of Regenerated Plants Using RAPD

Different methods employed in plant tissue culture can provide a valuable source of plants for the horticultural industry and novel germplasm for breeding programs, but the genetic fidelity and lack of somaclonal variation of regenerated plants needs to be verified. In this study, the genetic fidelity of blackberry (Rubus hirtus Waldst. & Kit.) plants regenerated in vitro was assessed with 11 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Three routes were assessed: callus induction on Yasuda medium with 6-benzyladenine (BA, 8.88 μM), 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA, 10.84 μM) and glycerol (2%, v/v), somatic embryogenesis on Murashige and Skoog (MS) supplemented with 7.57 μM abscisic acid (ABA), and micropropagation from single nodes on MS basal medium containing NAA (0 and 2.86 μM) and BA (0, 4.44, 8.88 and 17.76 μM). MS medium with 2.86 μM NAA and 8.88 or 17,76 μM BA was the most effective medium for axillary shoot multiplication of R. hirtus and Rubus sanctus Schreb. from nodal segments. A total of 618 fragments were successfully generated by RAPD and the maximum of loci was observed in primer 1204-209 that show 10 and 69 bands. Genetic similarity exceeded 86% when regenerated plants were compared to mother plants. Based on the RAPD data profile, almost true-to-type plants were produced by different methods of plant regeneration (direct shoot regeneration, somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis)

Salvia fruticosa Induces Vasorelaxation in Rat Isolated Thoracic Aorta: Role of the PI3K/Akt/eNOS/NO/cGMP Signaling Pathway

Salvia fruticosa (SF) Mill. is traditionally used for its antihypertensive actions. However, little is known about its pharmacologic and molecular mechanisms of action. Here we determined the effects of an ethanolic extract of SF leaves on rings of isolated thoracic aorta from Sprague-Dawley rats. Our results show that SF extract increased nitric oxide production and relaxed endothelium-intact rings in a dose-dependent (0.3 µg/ml–1 mg/ml) manner, and the maximum arterial relaxation (Rmax) was significantly reduced with endothelium denudation. Pretreatment of endothelium-intact rings with L-NAME (a non-selective inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, 100 µM), or ODQ (an inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase, 10 µM) significantly diminished SF-mediated vasorelaxation. Furthermore, SF induced Akt phosphorylation as well as increased cGMP levels in rings treated with increasing doses of SF. Prior exposure to PI3K inhibitors, wortmannin (0.1 µM) or LY294002 (10 µM), decreased cGMP accumulation and attenuated the SF-induced vasorelaxation by approximately 50% (Rmax). SF-evoked relaxation was not affected by indomethacin, verapamil, glibenclamide, tetraethylammonium, pyrilamine or atropine. Taken together, our results indicate that SF induces endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation through the PI3K/Akt/eNOS/NO/sGC/cGMP signaling pathway. Our data illustrate the health-orientated benefits of consuming SF which may act as an antihypertensive agent to reduce the burden of cardiovascular complications.Scopu

Research Notes: Children as Scavengers (Rag Pickers) “A Case of Karachi”

In developing countries, the emerging mega cities face a number of interlinked issues, such as, increased flow of trading activities (particularly in the coastal cities), expansion in manufacturing and service sectors (because of a relatively developed infrastructure). As a combined effect of these factors there is a significant increase in population from within and neighboring countries. The situation aggravates even further when the huge influx of population exerts enormous pressure on limited physical and social infrastructure of a city. The obtained situation is thus observed with increased environmental degradation and significant rise in poverty levels. The coastal city of Karachi which is the largest city of Pakistan is now considered as one of the ten biggest mega cities in the world and appears as a classic case of such type of expansion in its size of population. As per the last population census of 1998 in the country, Karachi had a population of 9.8 million (though controversial). In absence of the new population census which was due in 2008, different estimates suggest that the current population size of Karachi city would be around 20 to 25 million. Along with the population growth, an average income level of its inhabitants has also caused upward shifts in consumption expenditures. The simultaneous raise in production of solid waste, as an outcome of improved standards of living and increased business activities, has impaired the city’s institutional capacity to properly dispose off and recycle the solid wastes. In the obtained situation, the remaining part of solid waste is disposed off and recycled by the private sector