The effect of the maternal vitamin D level on the risk of spontaneous pregnancy loss in the first trimester

Background: Pregnancy loss in the first trimester is one of the most disappointing matters for a mother. But spontaneous pregnancy loss in the first trimester is the most common negative outcome of pregnancy. It's estimated that about 10% of known pregnancies are lost in the first trimester whereas fewer than 4% of pregnancies miscarry in the second trimester. Aim of current study was to assess the effect of the maternal vitamin D level on the risk of spontaneous pregnancy loss in the first trimester.Methods: It was a case-control study conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Sir Salimullah medical college Mitford hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period of September 2018 to August 2019. A total of 100 patients were included in this study. Statistical analyses of the results were obtained by using window-based computer software devised with SPSS version 22.0.Results: In analyzing the association of serum vitamin D status with first-trimester pregnancy state it was observed that more than half (52.0%) patients had severe deficiency (<10 ng/ml) in the case group and 14 (28.0%) patients in the control group. In total 24 (48.0%) patients had deficiency (10-20 ng/ml) in case and 35 (70.0%) in control group. Only 1 (2.0%) patient had insufficiency (21-29 ng/ml) in control group. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.05) between the two groups.Conclusions: Maternal serum vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with early spontaneous pregnancy loss in the first trimester

Women, health, and poverty in Gwadar, Balochistan, Pakistan

This study presents results of field research on women\u27s income-generating activities and their impact on their health status. The research was conducted in Gwadar, a coastal town in Makran, Balochistan, Pakistan.^ The population of Gwadar is primarily of Baloch ethnicity. However, there is significant diversity among the populace based upon socioeconomic status of the families. There are two major categories: the higher social status groups (Mirs, Rinds, Raees, etc.), and the lower social status groups of Maids (fishermen) and Darzadics (laborers). The Mirs, Rinds, and Raees are of white complexion, and are considered real Baloch. In contrast, the Maids and Darzadics have Negroid features with dark complexion, and are believed to be the indigenous people of Gwadar.^ The results of my general survey conducted on a sample of 117 households indicate that 42 (35.9%) women were involved in various types of income-generating activities both inside and outside their households. The majority of these women belonged to poor Maid and Darzadic families.^ Those women who were making a substantial amount of money expressed higher degree of decision-making power over their household and personal matters. As far as mother and child health status is concerned, malaria, upper respiratory infections, and gastro-intestinal illnesses were very common among both women and children in Gwadar. A total of 58 women and 68 children were either ill or had been ill during the two weeks prior to being interviewed.^ In general, modern medicines were most popular in Gwadar. However, traditional medicines were also used for various illnesses, especially those which were believed to be caused by supernatural powers, along with a number of home-based treatments.^ Data generated from this study provide important guidelines upon which future health care planning for maternal and child health (MCH) and women\u27s income-generating activities can be based.

Health-seeking behavior and the meaning of medications in Balochistan, Pakistan

A wide variety of health care options--home-based, indigenous, and cosmopolitan--exists in northern Balochistan, Pakistan. This paper examines health-seeking behavior in the area of mother and child health for villagers in this pluralistic medical setting. The analysis of a specific series of illness episodes shows that the majority of cases obtain treatment from different medical systems for a single episode. Interest in medications takes precedence over practitioners, and the meaning the villagers attach to such substances is explored. Long-established patterns of behavior relating to indigenous medicine continue to occur when cosmopolitan medicine is utilized. Information presented here helps to explain problems in utilization of cosmopolitan pharmaceuticals and delineates areas for future health programme activity.health-seeking behavior mother and child health medical pluralism medications Balochistan Pakistan

Identification of Natural Compounds as Inhibitors of Pyruvate Kinase M2 for Cancer Treatment

The reliance of tumor cells on aerobic glycolysis is one of the emerging hallmarks of cancer. Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), an important enzyme of glycolytic pathway, is highly expressed in a number of cancer cells. Tumor cells heavily depend on PKM2 to fulfill their divergent energetic and biosynthetic requirements, suggesting it as novel drug target for cancer therapies. Based on this context, we performed enzymatic-assay-based screening of the in-house phenolic compounds library for the identification of PKM2 inhibitors. This screening identified silibinin, curcumin, resveratrol, and ellagic acid as potential inhibitors of PKM2 with IC50 values of 0.91 &micro;M, 1.12 &micro;M, 3.07 &micro;M, and 4.20 &micro;M respectively. For the determination of Ki constants and the inhibition type of hit compounds, Lineweaver&ndash;Burk graphs were plotted. Silibinin and ellagic acid performed the competitive inhibition of PKM2 with Ki constants of 0.61 &micro;M and 5.06 &micro;M, while curcumin and resveratrol were identified as non-competitive inhibitors of PKM2 with Ki constants of 1.20 &micro;M and 7.34 &micro;M. The in silico screening of phenolic compounds against three binding sites of PKM2 provided insight into the binding pattern and functionally important amino residues of PKM2. Further, the evaluation of cytotoxicity via MTT assay demonstrated ellagic acid as potent inhibitor of cancer cell growth (IC50 = 20 &micro;M). These results present ellagic acid, silibinin, curcumin, and resveratrol as inhibitors of PKM2 to interrogate metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells. This study has also provided the foundation for further research to validate the potential of identified bioactive entities for PKM2 targeted-cancer therapies

Bombax ceiba extract and its metabolites as α-glucosidase inhibitors for diabetes

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors characterize a major class of Type II antidiabetic drugs and play a significant role in lowering postprandial hyperglycemia. Currently, the market offers a limited number of synthetic inhibitors, highlighting the necessity for the discovery of new and potent compounds with enhanced efficacy in this area. For this purpose, an already established library of 51 plant extracts was screened against α-glucosidase, among which Bombax ceiba extract exhibits significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50; 1.95 ± 0.29 µg/mL) as compared to acarbose (IC50; 3.14 ± 0.49 µg/mL). Moreover, in order to investigate the specific phytochemicals responsible for this activity, a literature-based library of 78 compounds from B. ceiba were curated and subsequently screened against α-glucosidase using molecular docking. The selection of hit compounds was evaluated on the base of computational tools. Out of these 78 compounds, nine potent compounds (Pelargonin, Simalin B, Linarin, Rutin, Nicotiflorin, Simalin A, Mangiferin, Quercetin and Apigenin) exhibited best binding affinities with α-glucosidase. These phytochemicals exhibited favorable binding energy, hydrogen bonding, and protein–ligand interactions as compared to acarbose. These results were further validated by in vitro α-glucosidase inhibition assay of commercially available phytochemicals. To the best of our knowledge, this report unveils B. ceiba as a highly effective inhibitor of α-glucosidase. The findings suggest that B. ceiba and its metabolites exhibit promising characteristics for the development of leading drugs in the field of anti α-glucosidase medications, which could play a crucial role in the management of diabetes

The Impact of Covid- 19 Pandemic on Mental Well-Being of Health Care Workers: A Multicenter Study

The study determines the effect of fear of being infected on anxiety and influence of anxiety on the disturbance of their mental well-being and to analyze the indirect effect of anxiety between fear of being infected and mental well-being. Cross-Sectional study carried out in the months of November –December 2020, by conducting a survey from health care workers (Doctors, Nurses and Trainees) covering hospitals from the region of Hyderabad, Jamshoro and Karachi. Analysis of the data done using two-step method of Structural Equation Model (SEM) approach. The findings of the study supported the positive and negative relationship fear of being infected to anxiety and anxiety to mental wellbeing respectively. In addition, the indirect relationship of anxiety also supported. Numerous unanswered queries pertinent to COVID-19 pandemic, and dubious situation leads towards huge size of disturbance in the lives of health care workers across the globe, therefore literature entails the necessity for researchers to study various factors that could have influence on mental well-being of an individual . The majority of relevant literature focused on mental well-being is from China, Europe, USA and other developed countries, however, fewer studies focused on South Asian region in general, and Pakistan in particular. So, present study fills the gap to unearth the factors of well-being for Pakistani health care workers. Pakistan have so far lost the lives of 58 healthcare providers to COVID-19 in the country and still counting while 240 healthcare providers are hospitalized. So there is intense need to study effect of mental well-being on health care workers as there is a need to save the survivors

Effect of Heavy Metals on Liver, Kidney, Gills and Muscles of Cyprinus carpio and Wallago attu inhabited in the Indus

ABSTRACT: The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of heavy metals on an important tissue of two fish species Cyprinus carpio and Wallago attu, sampled from the Indus river, Mianwali District, Pakistan. The concentration of selected heavy metals Fe, Cr, Cu, and in gills, muscles, kidney and liver was compared with an International standard of food fish. The overall metal concentrations among different weight categories in C. carpio were in the order of Fe > Cu > Cr >. In W. attu the overall accumulation of these metals were, in order of Fe > Cu > Cr > Pb The order of accumulation of metals in gills and muscle of C. carpio was Fe > Cr > Pb > Cu; kidney and muscles of W. attu was Fe > Cr > Cu > Pb; liver Fe > Cu > Cr > Pb. An increasing trend of concentration of iron, copper, chromium and lead occurred with an increase in weight of C. carpio and W. attu. There was a significant difference in the accumulation of heavy metals in different organs of both species (p<0.01). All studied heavy metals except Cr were within permissible limits described by various international agencies like WHO, FAO and FEPA in edible tissues of C. carpio and W. attu

Toxicity, Phytochemical Composition, and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of Some Indigenous Weed Plant Extracts in Fruit Fly, Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster being used as model organism is considered as pest of homes, restaurants, and fruit markets. The damaged fruits are also reported to serve as a carrier for various diseases. The current study was designed to evaluate the toxicity of petroleum extract of some weed plants, namely, Euphorbia prostrata, Parthenium hysterophorus, Fumaria indica, Chenopodium murale, and Azadirachta indica, against D. melanogaster. Mortality at 10, 20, and 30% concentrations after 24 and 48 hours was found comparatively low. E. prostrata caused high mortality (51.64%) at 30% concentration and was found more toxic (LC50 27.76; P value 0.00) after 72 hours. A. indica showed high LC50 value (P value 0.15) compared to other weed plants. The combination of E. prostrata and Bti showed highest mortality (100%; LC50 12.49; P value 0.00) after 72 hours. Similarly, the same combination caused maximum reduction in the activity of AChE, AcP, AkP, α-Carboxyl, and β-Carboxyl enzymes. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, steroids, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, anthraquinones, and terpenoids. FTIR analysis of E. prostrata showed the presence of phenolic compounds. It is suggested that further studies are needed in order to incorporate weed plant extracts in combination with Bti for the management of fruit flies