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

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

Association of Serum Ferritin Levels with Haematological Parameters in Thalassaemia Major Patients

Background: To study the association of serum ferritin levels with haematological parameters in thalassaemia major patients.Methods: A total of 135 patients of thalassemia major were selected for this descriptive, cross sectional study. Patients were divided into three groups. Group I consisted of patients with ferritin levels <2500 ng/ml. Group II comprised of patients having ferritin levels 2500 to 5000 ng/ml. Group III comprised of patients having ferritin > 5000 ng/ml. After taking patient history, complete blood count analysis and serum ferritin level determination was performed.Results: The mean ferritin level of study group was 6062.61 + 3641.796 ng/ml. Most of our patients were receiving less than optimal level of chelation therapy. The number of red cells and platelets in patients with ferritin levels >5000ng/ml were found to be significantly lower ((p=0.0262, and 0.0265 respectively), when compared with patients having ferritin levels <2,500 ng/ml. Other CBC parameters did not show any significant difference between the three ferritin groups.Conclusion: High ferritin levels are associated with less than optimal chelation therapy. Lower red cell and platelet counts were observed in patients with high ferritin levels. A complete blood count analysis is essential to avoid complications associated with low cell count

Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Blood Donors

Background: To find out the frequency of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in blood donors and to analyze it’s trend over a five year period in Pakistan.Methods: In this retrospective and descriptive study screening of all blood donors was done to separate healthy donors from unhealthy donors by a questionnaire and blood complete picture. Apparently healthy subjects of 18 years or more with a hemoglobin level of twelve or more were allowed to donate blood. Sera were checked for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).Results: A total of 246,611 patients blood were screened during the five years of our study. The frequency of HBV was 1.63%. The overall frequency of HBV showed a statically significant decreasing trend over the five years of our study. Conclusion: The decreasing trend in the frequency of HBV in blood donors is a positive aspect and should be further sustained

Impact of COVID-19 on Antenatal, Natal, and Postnatal Care of pregnant females at Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital

Objective: To determine the perception of pregnant patients regarding the COVID pandemic, preventive measures taken by the patients during the pandemic, and the impact of COVID on their Natal, Intrapartum, and Postpartum Care.Materials and Methods: This study included 850 patients presenting in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department for antenatal care, inpatient care (delivery and caesarean section), and postpartum complications. Percentages were calculated for descriptive variables like demographic factors, source of information, and opinion of patients about COVID-19, preventive measures are taken by the patients, their Antenatal, Natal, and Postnatal fears. An independent t-test was applied and a p-value of ˂0.05 was taken as statistically significant.Results: We enrolled 850 patients in this study with a mean age of +28 years,mean gravidity of +3, 50% were matriculated and 75% of our patients belonged to middle-class families.. Among our patients, 96% were in fear of getting infected along with their fetus, if they visited the hospital for antenatal care, which is why a majority of them did not visit the hospital for antenatal care and a statistically significant percentage (80%) of them missed antenatal care for 5 months. While the same number of patients (96%, p-value ˂0.05) shared their fear regarding contracting the infection from the hospital during delivery and postnatal care in the hospital, and the same percentage were of the opinion that the baby would get infected during and after delivery in a hospital.Conclusion: Antenatal care is a basic right of every pregnant female. During emergencies like pandemics ways and means should be devised, not only to provide care but, also, to address the fears of pregnant females to prevent complications during this important phase of life