Antimicrobial Activity of Shilajit

Shilajit is a pale-brown to blackish-brown exudation of variable consistency, exuding from layers of rocks in the mountainous ranges of this world, especially Himalayan and Hindu Kush ranges of Indian subcontinent. The aim of study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of shilajit against different microorganisms. The diluted sample (80%) was used to find the activity which was assessed by agar well diffusion method. The microbial inhibition was more effective. Among all species, Candida albicans was found to be highly susceptible while Acinetobater was highly resistant. Other bacterial species were also susceptible to this material. Shilajit not only helps to overcome physiological activities of human, but can also protect the body by inhibiting the pathogenic organism of respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. This indicates that shilajit contain antimicrobial compounds to control pathogens

Keratitis Causing Micro-Organisms Isolated from Ophthalmic Contact Lens Solutions

This study aimed to determine the disinfecting potential of some contact lens solution used by the students of Jinnah University for Women. We investigated the possible contaminating rate and identified microbial contamination. 25 samples were collected in this study. Were used Multipurpose disinfecting solutions with protein remover of different companies. We have isolated 43 strains among which 20 were Gram positive and 23 were Gram negative. S.aureus, Pseudomonas Serratia was most common organisms isolated i.e. 26%, 16% & 14% respectively. All isolated strains were resistant to antibiotic used in this study except Bacillus which gives intermediate-resistant to streptomycin

Antimicrobial Activity of Fresh and Old Honey

Honey is a thick sugary natural substance that is produced by honeybee from the nectar of flowers of different plants. The objective of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity against different clinical isolates and to compare the activity of fresh honey with old honey. Unbranded honey samples were taken from a local market of Karachi. One sample was fresh and other was four year old. This activity was assessed by agar well diffusion method. Honey samples were diluted as 100%, 80% and 50% with saline as control. Undiluted and diluted old honey was inhibitory to Gram positive and Gram negative species. Fresh and old honey showed good antibacterial activity against E. coli, Acinetobacter, S. paratyphi A, S. dysenteriae, K. pneumoniae, Citrobacter, S. aureus, S. saprophyticus, B. subtilis, with the strongest activity seen against P. fluorescens. S. typhi was resistant to both old and fresh honey. S. pneumonia was inhibitory to fresh honey only. Both honey samples also inhibit Candida albicans (yeast). Antibacterial activity of old honey is more than fresh honey

Caracterização molecular e bioquímica de micróbios biodegradadores de resíduos sólidos isolados da lixeira municipal da cidade de Karachi

Solid waste dump site-based pollution is one of the colossal health concerns globally due to presence of cellulose, starch, protein, and lipids, which is a perfect nutrient waste for the development of biodegrading potential microbes. The current study aimed to determine the productive microorganisms for waste biodegradation. Ten samples were collected from different areas of Karachi waste dump sites. The identification and characterization of isolates were done by morphological and biochemical tests. The isolated microbes were qualitatively screened for the action of making industrially key bio-enzymes. The potential enzymes producing microbes were subjected to waste degradation test for 90 days. Changes of odor, color and weight loss of decomposing garbage were noted. The highest degradation ability in term of weight loss was shown by Aspergillus (SSI14) and Bacillus (SSI6). Four metals (zinc sulphate, cadmium chloride, copper sulphate and iron sulphate) were chosen for the purpose of metals tolerance test and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the isolated microbial strains. Current study reported that Zn was found to be more lethal in in comparison to  Cu and Fe. Molecular identification of the isolated microbes was done by polymerase chain reaction. The microbial strains were characterized by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by confirmation of product by agarose gel electrophoresis. The findings can be served as baseline data to develop microbial apparatus for biodegradation and management of solid waste.O presente estudo visou determinar os microrganismos produtivos para a biodegradação de resíduos. Foram recolhidas dez amostras de diferentes áreas de depósitos de resíduos de Karachi. A identificação e caracterização dos isolados foram feitas através de testes morfológicos e bioquímicos. Os micróbios isolados foram selecionados qualitativamente para a ação de fazer bio-enzimas industriais chave. Os potenciais micróbios produtores de enzimas foram submetidos a um teste de degradação de resíduos durante 90 dias. Registaram-se alterações no odor, na cor e na perda de peso do lixo em decomposição. A maior capacidade de degradação em termos de perda de peso foi demonstrada por Aspergillus (SSI14) e Bacillus (SSI6). Foram escolhidos quatro metais (sulfato de zinco, cloreto de cádmio, sulfato de cobre e sulfato de ferro) para o ensaio de tolerância dos metais e para a concentração mínima inibitória (MIC) das estirpes microbianas isoladas. O estudo atual relatou que Zn foi considerado mais letal em comparação com e Fe. A identificação molecular dos micróbios isolados foi feita por reação em cadeia de polimerase. As estirpes microbianas foram caracterizadas pela reação em cadeia de polimerase (PCR) seguida de confirmação do produto por eletroforese de gel de agarose. As descobertas podem ser servidas como dados de base para desenvolver aparelhos microbianas para a biodegradação e gestão de resíduos sólidos

Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4% (62.3 (55.1–70.8) million) to 6.4% (58.3 (47.6–70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target of <5% in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2% (30 (22.8–38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0% (55.5 (44.8–67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P &lt; 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Antibacterial Activity of Cinnamon Oil and Extract Against Common Bacterial Pathogens

The study expected to survey the in-vitro hostile to bacterial effect of cinnamon oil and extract tested against gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Enterococcus faecalis) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhi) pathogens by using agar well diffusion method. According to the result cinnamon oil had best inhibitory activity showing widest zone of 44mm against Klebsiella pneumoniae and a zone of 37mm against Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes. In the case of cinnamon extract have low antibacterial activity as compare to oil, showing maximum 18mm zone against Streptococcus pyogenes and zone of 17mm against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli. This study was proved that cinnamon essential oil and extract were important as herbal drug to use in pharmaceutical industries to treatment infectious diseases

Frequency of Abnormal Placentation in Patients with Previous Caesarean Section

Background: To assess relationship between previouscaesarean scar and subsequent development of placentapraevia and its morbid adherence.Methods: This analytical study was conducted inthe Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, MilitaryHospital, Rawalpindi from 1st July to 31st December 2006.122 pregnant women with history of previous caesareansections beyond 32 weeks of gestation whether booked orunbooked, irrespective to number of caesarean scars withor without bleeding per vagina were included in thisstudy. Cases with previous myomectomy, uterine repair,placental abruption, bleeding per vagina due to localcauses were excluded. Patients were divided into fourgroups. Group A with previous one caesarean section,group B with previous, two caesarean sections, Group Cprevious three caesarean sections and, Group D withprevious four caesarean sections.Results: Group A included 69 patients and 07 (10%)were found to have placenta praevia. In Group B 32patients were studied and placenta praevia was diagnosedin 5 (15.6%) of them. Similarly in Group C 12 patients werestudied and 4 (33.3%) had placenta praevia. The study ofGroup D showed placenta praevia in 3 out of 9 (33.3%)patients. There was 2 case of placenta accreta in group A, Cand D and one in group B.Conclusion: The percentage of placenta praevia andmorbidly adherent placenta rises with increasing numberof caesarean sections