Culturable aerobic and facultative anaerobic intestinal bacterial flora of black cobra (Naja naja karachiensis) in southern Pakistan

Using morphological analysis and biochemical testing, here for the first time, we determined the culturable gut bacterial flora (aerobes and facultative anaerobes) in the venomous Black Cobra (Naja naja karachiensis) from South Asia. The findings revealed that these snakes inhabit potentially pathogenic bacteria including Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shewanella putrefaciens, Aeromonas hydrophila, Salmonella sp., Moraxella sp., Bacillus sp., Ochrobactrum anthropi, and Providencia rettgeri. These findings are of concern, as injury from snake bite can result in wound infections and tissue necrosis leading to sepsis/necrotizing fasciitis and/or expose consumers of snake meat/medicine in the community to infections

Relationship of Nucleated Red Blood Cells with Severity of Perinatal Asphyxia and its Short-Term Outcome

Objective: To compare the nucleated red blood cell (NRBC) counts of healthy and asphyxiated newborns as a key clinical indicator of the severity of birth asphyxia and short-term outcome. Methodology: This case control study was conducted at the department of neonatology of Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital Muzaffargarh from June 2020 to November 2020. Study A total of 112 term newborns, including 56 cases (with birth asphyxia) and 56 controls (normal babies) aged <24 hours, were included. After obtaining informed consent, blood samples were taken immediately after birth for the measurement of the NRBC count. All the enrolled cases were admitted to the NICU as per indication and observed for the severity of birth asphyxia. The relationship between the cord blood NRBC count and the severity of birth asphyxia was assessed. All the information was recorded using a self-structured study proforma, and SPSS version 26 was used for the purpose of data analysis. Results: The overall average age of the neonates was 6.18+2.66 hours. Mean age, birth weight, and gestational age were statistically insignificant in accordance to cases and controls. Males were in the majority (75.0%), and females were 25.0% of the case group. The mean NRBCs in the cases were 16.62 + 17.10, which was significantly higher than the controls at 1.69 + 2.42 (p- 0.0001). The neonatal NRBs average was statistically insignificant according to gender in both cases and controls, while it was significantly associated with the severity of perinatal hypoxia (p 0.0001). The average NRBC count was also significantly higher in cases of cardiomegaly, those having ventilation needs and respiratory distress. Conclusion: The mean NRBC was observed to be significantly higher in cases compared to controls. The NRBC was considered to be a non-invasive, simple prognostic marker for neonatal asphyxia, may indicate substantial severity of perinatal hypoxia and its related complications

Regeneration of Plantlets from various Explants of Tetraploid watermelon

Micropropagation of tetraploid watermelon is important to cope with high cost of seed. Seeds of tetraploid watermelon were grown in vitro to raise seedlings. Hypocotyl and cotyledonary explants and media supplemented with plant growth regulators (BAP and NAA) was explored for callus induction and organogenesis. Data was collected for callus, shoot and root induction. Maximum callus induction was observed at BAP 5 mgL-1 (76.66%) from cotyledon and (73.33%) from hypocotyls explant. The callus induced from different explants was sub-cultured on the shoot regeneration medium. Higher shoot induction (96.66%) was observed  from cotyledon and hypocotyl explant (76.66%) on MS + 1.0 mgL-1 BAP + 0.2 mgL-1 NAA with maximum number (6.3) of shoot per explant and average shoot length 4.5 cm. Among different types (NAA and IAA) and concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.7, 1.0 mgL-1) of auxins investigated for root induction, maximum frequency of rooting was observed in 0.1 mgL-1 NAA while no root formation was observed at higher levels of auxin (1.0 mgL-1). Similarly in case of number of roots per shoot maximum root (4.3) was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mgL-1 NAA. Key Words: Regeneration, Explant, Tetraploid, Water Mello

Comparison of Garden Soil with Nitrogen and Potassium for Growing Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in Glass House.

The experiment was conducted during the year 2019-20 by Vegetable Section, Agriculture Research Station (ARS) Baffa Mansehra to compare garden soil with nitrogen (Urea) and potassium (Murate of Potash) for lettuce production in glass house. Lettuce is an important summer off-season and high valued crop cultivated at District Mansehra in the months of July-August. The produce is transported to other metropolises with handsome earning,  but excessive use of minerals and synthetic fertilizers may render the produce less profitable in one or another way. Hence this experiment was designed to compare garden soil with  nitrogen and potassium doses.  It is evident from the statistical analysis that garden soil has a significant effect on  number of leaves, leaf area, seed per plant, yield per plant and yield per acre. Seed production is noticeable for garden soil when the prevailing temperature during seed formation was 250C.  In terms of leaf area maximum leaf area 576.10 cm2was recorded for garden soil while minimum leaf area 303.43 cm2 was recorded with nitrogen applied @ 200 kg ha-1 and potassium applied @ 100 kg ha-1 respectively. Maximum number of leaves 28.03 was recorded for garden soil while the minimum number 21.96 was recorded for nitrogen applied @ 200 kg ha-1 and potassium applied @ 100 kg ha-1. Seed formation was successful with mean temperature 250C in glass house for 30 days, here again garden soil surpassed nitrogen and potassium with 4.03gm plant-1. Yield per plot 3.69 kg was recorded for garden soil and the minimum value 1.1843 kg was recorded for nitrogen and potassium applied @ 200 kg ha-1 nitrogen while potassium applied @ 100 kg ha-1. Garden soil gives maximum yield of 13600 kg acre-1 compared with the lowest production 6070.5 kg acre-1 of nitrogen and potassium applied @ 200 kg ha-1 nitrogen while potassium applied @ 150 kg ha-1.  Keywords:, Lettuce, garden soil, leaf area, seed production, glass house DOI: 10.7176/CEIS/14-2-06 Publication date:May 31st 202

Formulation, characterization and optimization of nebivolol-loaded sustained release lipospheres

Purpose: To formulate, characterize and optimize nebivolol-loaded sustained release lipospheres (LPs) using beeswax (BW) as the drug carrier.Methods: Nebivolol-loaded LPs were formulated using solvent evaporation technique (SET) and characterized. The impact of independent variables on responses such as percentage yield (PY), entrapment efficiency (EE) and drug release after 12 h (DR12) was assessed using central composite design (CCD). Numerical and graphical optimization techniques were also used to evaluate outcomes of the measured responses.Results: Twenty micron-sized (20 - 100 μm), smooth spherical LPs with good rheological properties were produced. The yield ranged from 33 (F10) to 81 % (F6), while EE ranged from 32 (F4 and F9) to 69 % (F6). The results of rheological evaluation revealed angle of repose > 24 o, Hausner’s ratio > 1.5, and Carr’s index ranging from 13 to 19 %. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed nebivolol and BW compatibility, and the absence of possible interactions between formulation components. Duration of nebivolol release was strongly associated with BW concentration and formulation F15 showed minimum drug release (46%). Drug release was significantly higher in formulations with similar BW concentrations and low Tween-20 (T-20) concentrations (F1 and F11) than in formulations with high T-20 concentrations (F2, p < 0.05). The zeta potential of deflocculated LPs ranged from +15 to +35 mV. Nebivolol release (46 - 85 %) at pH 6.8 was significantly affected by BW concentration and it followed zero order model.Conclusion: The results obtained in this study have shown that BW is a suitable material for producing an effective sustained release formulation. The mechanism of drug release in nebivolol- loaded LPs is diffusion accompanied by erosion.Keywords: Lipospheres, Nebivolol, Beeswax, Formulation, Central composite desig

Sustained release biodegradable solid lipid microparticles: Formulation, evaluation and statistical optimization by response surface methodology

For preparing nebivolol loaded solid lipid microparticles (SLMs) by the solvent evaporation microencapsulation process from carnauba wax and glyceryl monostearate, central composite design was used to study the impact of independent variables on yield (Y1), entrapment efficiency (Y2) and drug release (Y3). SLMs having a 10–40 µm size range, with good rheological behavior and spherical smooth surfaces, were produced. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffractometry pointed to compatibility between formulation components and the zeta-potential study confirmed better stability due to the presence of negative charge (–20 to –40 mV). The obtained outcomes for Y1 (29–86 %), Y2 (45–83 %) and Y3 (49–86 %) were analyzed by polynomial equations and the suggested quadratic model were validated. Nebivolol release from SLMs at pH 1.2 and 6.8 was significantly (p ˂ 0.05) affected by lipid concentration. The release mechanism followed Higuchi and zero order models, while n ˃ 0.85 value (Korsmeyer-Peppas) suggested slow erosion along with diffusion. The optimized SLMs have the potential to improve nebivolol oral bioavailability