Accumulation and Degradation of Thiabendazole Residues in Eggs in Administered Layer Hens

Administration of thiabendazole (TBZ) to laying hens may cause accumulation of the drug residues in eggs. Twenty five week old hens (n=6) were administered with a single oral dose of 75 mg TBZ/day/layer hen for 5 consecutive days and its residues in eggs were quantified by HPLC-FD. The highest TBZ (0.4308±0.0253 ppm), below maximum residue limit (0.0886±0.0161 ppm) and below limit of detection (LOD) residue concentrations in eggs were observed on mean time of 127.54, 177.62 and 252.58 h after first feeding, respectively. The highest TBZ concentration (0.5260 ppm) and total residue on any day from 2 to 9 day in the entire egg white portion were significantly (P<0.01) higher than those in the yolk. The highest residue concentrations as well as the highest total residue in egg albumin (0.5944 ppm), yolk (0.6587 ppm) and whole egg (0.5867 ppm) were quantified. The highest TBZ concentration (0.5260 ppm) as well as total TBZ residue on any day from day 2 to day 9 in the entire white portion of egg were significantly (P<0.01) higher than those in the yolk . Egg white, yolk and whole egg from the TBZ fed hens had residues at 50.71 to 153.50, 75.62 to 153.50 and 50.71 to 153.50 h after first feeding, respectively. The highest concentration TBZ residue in whole egg is 0.4308±0.0253 ppm and cumulative residue is 8.1886±6.5385 ppm and also calculated in microgram is useful to show as per the standard values. The work indicated that safe dose and days to consume egg. Safe time/days can be reduced for consuming eggs after administration of thiabendazole by using different types of decontamination techniques.Keywords: Thiabendazole Residues Yolk Albumin Hen’s eg

Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity of Green Tea Polyphenols

Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity is one of the most popular approaches for treatment of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s  disease and others. In the present study, we evaluated inhibition of  acetylcholinesterase activity by different concentrations of green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) extract using acetylthiocholine as substrate. The green tea extract inhibited AChE activity dose dependently with an IC50 value of 42.05µg/ml. The observed inhibitory activity could be ascribed to the polyphenolic content of green tea extract. Consumption of green tea might provide protection against neurological disorders

Nanopackaging of Silver using Spice Extract and their Characterization

The aim of the present study was to synthesize silver nanoparticles using spice extracts as reducing agents and further evaluate their anti-microbial activities. Silver has been shown to possess antimicrobial activity. The silver nanoparticles were prepared by solvent evaporation method. The silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The functional groups present in the phyto-constituents on the plant extract were determined by FT-IR studies. The particle size of the silver nanoparticles was determined by Dynamic Light Scattering and was found to be 143, 50 and 56 nm for cloves, cinnamon and neem silver nanoparticles respectively. They exhibited antibacterial property against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi strains, tested using Well Diffusion method. Plant extracts however reduce the antimicrobial activity of the nanoparticles. In conclusion, antimicrobial activities of silver nanoparticles were reduced by plant extracts certifies vital potential in biomedical application.Keywords: Silver nanoparticles Neem Cinnamon Clove

Anisotropic Dark Energy and the Generalized Second Law of Thermodynamics

We consider a Bianchi type $I$ model in which anisotropic dark energy is interacting with dark matter and anisotropic radiation. With this scenario, we investigate the validity of the generalized second law of thermodynamics. It is concluded that the validity of this law depends on different parameters like shear, skewness and equation of state.Comment: 12 pages, accepted for publication in Phys. Scr. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1008.0692 and arXiv:1106.241

Kaluza-Klein Cosmology With Modified Holographic Dark Energy

We investigate the compact Kaluza-Klein cosmology in which modified holographic dark energy is interacting with dark matter. Using this scenario, we evaluate equation of state parameter as well as equation of evolution of the modified holographic dark energy. Further, it is shown that the generalized second law of thermodynamics holds without any constraint.Comment: 13 pages, accepted for publication in Gen. Relativ. Gravi

A potent nonporphyrin class of photodynamic therapeutic agent: cellular localisation, cytotoxic potential and influence of hypoxia

We have developed a totally new class of nonporphyrin photodynamic therapeutic agents with a specific focus on two lead candidates azadipyrromethene (ADPM)01 and ADPM06. Confocal laser scanning microscopy imaging showed that these compounds are exclusively localised to the cytosolic compartment, with specific accumulation in the endoplasmic reticulum and to a lesser extent in the mitochondria. Light-induced toxicity assays, carried out over a broad range of human tumour cell lines, displayed EC50 values in the micro-molar range for ADPM01 and nano-molar range for ADPM06, with no discernable activity bias for a specific cell type. Strikingly, the more active agent, ADPM06, even retained significant activity under hypoxic conditions. Both photosensitisers showed low to nondeterminable dark toxicity. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that ADPM01 and ADPM06 were highly effective at inducing apoptosis as a mode of cell death. The photophysical and biological characteristics of these PDT agents suggest that they have potential for the development of new anticancer therapeutics

Delay in diagnosis of tuberculosis in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Delay in diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) may enhance the chances of morbidity and mortality and play a key role in continuous transmission of the bacilli. The objective of this study was to describe health care seeking behavior of suspected TB patients and initial diagnostic work up prior to consultation and diagnosis at National TB Center (NTC).</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Interviews of 252 sputum smear positive patients were taken from NTC, Rawalpindi. The duration between on-set of symptoms and start of treatment was considered as the total delay and correlated with general characteristics of TB patients. The proportion of males and females were 49.6% and 50.4% with median age of 25 and 24 years respectively. A median delay of 56 days (8 weeks) was observed which was significantly associated with age, cough and fever. More than 50% of the current patients had a history of contact with previously diagnosed TB patients. The majority of patients (63%) visited health care providers within three weeks of appearance of symptoms but only thirty five percent were investigated for TB diagnosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Cough and fever are being ignored as likely symptoms of TB by patients as well as health care providers resulting in delay. Engaging private practitioners through public private mix (PPM) approach for expansion of TB diagnosis and increasing public awareness could be more beneficial to reduce delay.</p

A moral panic? The problematization of forced marriage in British newspapers

This paper examines the British media’s construction of forced marriage as an urgent social problem in a context where other forms of violence against women are not similarly problematised. A detailed analysis of four British newspapers over a ten-year period demonstrates that media reporting of forced marriage constitutes a moral panic in that it is constructed as a cultural problem that threatens Britain’s social order rather than as a specific form of violence against women. Thus, the current problematisation of forced marriage restricts discursive spaces for policy debates and hinders attempts to respond to this problem as part of broader efforts to tackle violence against women

Real-time PCR assay and rapid diagnostic tests for the diagnosis of clinically suspected malaria patients in Bangladesh

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>More than 95% of total malaria cases in Bangladesh are reported from the 13 high endemic districts. <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>and <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>are the two most abundant malaria parasites in the country. To improve the detection and management of malaria patients, the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) has been using rapid diagnostic test (RDT) in the endemic areas. A study was conducted to establish a SYBR Green-based modified real-time PCR assay as a gold standard to evaluate the performance of four commercially-available malaria RDTs, along with the classical gold standard- microscopy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Blood samples were collected from 338 febrile patients referred for the diagnosis of malaria by the attending physician at Matiranga</p> <p>Upazila Health Complex (UHC) from May 2009 to August 2010. Paracheck RDT and microscopy were performed at the UHC. The blood samples were preserved in EDTA tubes. A SYBR Green-based real-time PCR assay was performed and evaluated. The performances of the remaining three RDTs (Falcivax, Onsite Pf and Onsite Pf/Pv) were also evaluated against microscopy and real-time PCR using the stored blood samples.</p> <p>Result</p> <p>In total, 338 febrile patients were enrolled in the study. Malaria parasites were detected in 189 (55.9%) and 188 (55.6%) patients by microscopy and real-time PCR respectively. Among the RDTs, the highest sensitivity for the detection of <it>P. falciparum </it>(including mixed infection) was obtained by Paracheck [98.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 95.8-99.9] and Falcivax (97.6%, 95% CI 94.1-99.4) compared to microscopy and real-time PCR respectively. Paracheck and Onsite Pf/Pv gave the highest specificity (98.8%, 95% CI 95.7-99.9) compared to microscopy and Onsite Pf/Pv (98.8, 95% CI 95.8-99.9) compared to real-time PCR respectively for the detection of <it>P. falciparum</it>. On the other hand Falcivax and Onsite Pf/Pv had equal sensitivity (90.5%, 95% CI 69.6-98.8) and almost 100% specificity compared to microscopy for the detection of <it>P. vivax</it>. However, compared to real-time PCR assay RDTs and microscopy gave low sensitivity (76.9%, 95% CI 56.4-91) in detecting of <it>P. vivax </it>although a very high specificity was obtained (99- 100%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of this study suggest that the SYBR Green-based real-time PCR assay could be used as an alternative gold standard method in a reference setting. Commercially-available RDTs used in the study are quite sensitive and specific in detecting <it>P. falciparum</it>, although their sensitivity in detecting <it>P. vivax </it>was not satisfactory compared to the real-time PCR assay.</p

Cancer is a Preventable Disease that Requires Major Lifestyle Changes

This year, more than 1 million Americans and more than 10 million people worldwide are expected to be diagnosed with cancer, a disease commonly believed to be preventable. Only 5–10% of all cancer cases can be attributed to genetic defects, whereas the remaining 90–95% have their roots in the environment and lifestyle. The lifestyle factors include cigarette smoking, diet (fried foods, red meat), alcohol, sun exposure, environmental pollutants, infections, stress, obesity, and physical inactivity. The evidence indicates that of all cancer-related deaths, almost 25–30% are due to tobacco, as many as 30–35% are linked to diet, about 15–20% are due to infections, and the remaining percentage are due to other factors like radiation, stress, physical activity, environmental pollutants etc. Therefore, cancer prevention requires smoking cessation, increased ingestion of fruits and vegetables, moderate use of alcohol, caloric restriction, exercise, avoidance of direct exposure to sunlight, minimal meat consumption, use of whole grains, use of vaccinations, and regular check-ups. In this review, we present evidence that inflammation is the link between the agents/factors that cause cancer and the agents that prevent it. In addition, we provide evidence that cancer is a preventable disease that requires major lifestyle changes