Soluble Fraction of Trichosanthes diocia Peroxidase in Decolorization of Reactive Orange 15

Salt fractionated proteins from Trichosanthes diocia was used to study decolorization of Reactive Orange 15 under multifarious experimental conditions like pH, temperature, time interval, enzyme concentration and in the presence of redox mediator 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT)/ vanillin. T. diocia peroxidase showed extensive decolorization of Reactive Orange15 in the presence of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT) / vanillin. The dye was decolorized effectively with HOBT and so further studies were performed in the presence of HOBT.  At an enzyme concentration of 0.45 EUmL-1 the peroxidase was able to remove the reactive dye up to a maximum of 94.6% with 1.0 mM 1-hydroxybenzotriazole. Maximum decolorization was achieved at a temperature of 40°C, pH 5.0 and with an incubation period of 90 min. Thus, the data indicates that T. diocia peroxidase could be a potential source for developing an inexpensive and efficient method for the treatment of recalcitrant Reactive Orange15 dyes that are potentially toxic. ---Department of Biochemistry (DST-FIST & UGC-SAP Supported), Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, Faizabad-224001, U.P. (India)---Please Cite This Article As: Farrukh Jamal, Tabish Qidwai and Prabhash K Pandey. 2010. Soluble Fraction of Trichosanthes diocia Peroxidase in Decolorization of Reactive Orange 15. J. Ecobiotechnol. 2(5):36-41.Â

Are we ready for a person-centered care model for patient- physician consultation? A survey from family physicians and their patients of East Mediterranean Region

Background: Person-centered care has long been identified as a key component of health systems and one of the six domains of quality. This study aimed to identify the perceptions of patients and physicians regarding person-centered care in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). Methods: A multicountry, cross-sectional study was conducted in 6 countries of EMR during July 2012 to September 2012. From each country, an expert Family Physician (FP) was identified and invited for the study. During the first phase, 190 FPs practising for at least 6 months were recruited. In the second phase, the recruited FPs approached 300 patients aged > 18 years with 1 or more recurring problems. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 19. Results: Of a total of 360 patients, 53% were between 25-40 years of age and the majority 55.7% were females. Among physicians, 66.8% were females and 72.1% had undergone specialization in Family Medicine from EMR. About 36% of the patients, while 62.6% of the physicians, preferred a person-centered care model of care. Among physicians, field of specialization (AOR= 0.7; 95% C.I: 0.3-0.9) and regularity in continuing medical education sessions (AOR= 0.3; 95% C.I: 0.1-0.5) were significant factors for preferring a person-centered care model. Educational status (AOR= 3.0; 95% C.I: 1.1- 7.9) was associated with a preference for person-centered care among patients. Conclusion: The results of the study highlight that a majority of physicians prefer person-centered care, while patients prefer a mix of both patient- and physician-centered care. Strategies should be developed that will help physicians and patients to embrace person-centered care practices

Health promotion, disease prevention and periodic health checks: perceptions and practice among family physicians in eastern Mediterranean region

Introduction: The aim of this study was to identify the current practices and perceptions of family physicians regarding health promotion, disease prevention including periodic screening and health checks in Eastern Mediterranean Region. Methods: A multi-country cross-sectional study was conducted in six countries of EMR, from September 2014 to March 2015. Family Physicians who were currently practicing in different countries of EMR were invited to participate in the study through email. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was entered and analyzed on SPSS 19 and logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: A total of 100 physicians data was included in the final analysis. The majority were female physicians (76%): 63% were 25 to 35 years of age. Approximately 53% of Family physicians always recommend periodic screening and health checks to their patients. The common screening question asked to patients in medical history was related to their blood pressure (86%). Almost all (99%) of the Family physicians believe they should conduct periodic health checks. Those who had postgraduate training in Family Medicine (OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.39-1.67) and attended CME sessions regularly (OR: 0.11; 95% CI: 0.01-0.93), are more likely to recommend periodic screening and health checks to their patients. Conclusion: Periodic screening and health check is an important strategy to prevent disease and maintain health. It is an underutilized practice and a great need exists for its implementation in family practice

Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System for Prediction of Surgery Time for Ischemic Stroke Patients

With the advent of machine learning techniques, creation and utilization of prediction models for different medical procedures including prediction of diagnosis, treatment and recovery of different medical conditions has become the norm. Recent studies focus on the automation of infarction volume growth rate prediction by the utilization of machine learning techniques. These techniques when effectively applied, could significantly help in reducing the time needed to attend to stroke patients. We propose, in this proposal, a Fuzzy Inference System that can determine when a stroke patient should undergo Decompressive Hemicraniectomy. The second infarction volume growth rate and the decision whether a patient needs to undergo this procedure, both predicted outputs of two trained models, act as inputs to this system. While the initial prediction model, that which predicts the second infarction volume growth rate is adopted from an earlier model, we propose the later model in this paper. Three Machine Learning techniques - Support Vector Machine, Artificial Neural Network and Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System with and without the feature reduction technique of Principle Component Analysis were modelled and evaluated, the best of which was selected to model the proposed prediction model. We also defined the structure of Fuzzy Inference System along with its rules and obtained an overall accuracy of 95.7% with a precision of 1 showing promising results from the use of fuzzy logic

Variations in host genes encoding adhesion molecules and susceptibility to falciparum malaria in India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Host adhesion molecules play a significant role in the pathogenesis of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>malaria and changes in their structure or levels in individuals can influence the outcome of infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of SNPs of three adhesion molecule genes, <it>ICAM1</it>, <it>PECAM1 </it>and <it>CD36</it>, with severity of falciparum malaria in a malaria-endemic and a non-endemic region of India.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The frequency distribution of seven selected SNPs of <it>ICAM1</it>, <it>PECAM1 </it>and <it>CD36 </it>was determined in 552 individuals drawn from 24 populations across India. SNP-disease association was analysed in a case-control study format. Genotyping of the population panel was performed by Sequenom mass spectroscopy and patient/control samples were genotyped by SNaPshot method. Haplotypes and linkage disequilibrium (LD) plots were generated using PHASE and Haploview, respectively. Odds-ratio (OR) for risk assessment was estimated using EpiInfo™ version 3.4.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Association of the ICAM1 rs5498 (exon 6) G allele and the CD36 exon 1a A allele with increased risk of severe malaria was observed (severe versus control, OR = 1.91 and 2.66, P = 0.02 and 0.0012, respectively). The CD36 rs1334512 (-53) T allele as well as the TT genotype associated with protection from severe disease (severe versus control, TT versus GG, OR = 0.37, P = 0.004). Interestingly, a SNP of the <it>PECAM1 </it>gene (rs668, exon 3, C/G) with low minor allele frequency in populations of the endemic region compared to the non-endemic region exhibited differential association with disease in these regions; the G allele was a risk factor for malaria in the endemic region, but exhibited significant association with protection from disease in the non-endemic region.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The data highlights the significance of variations in the <it>ICAM1</it>, <it>PECAM1 </it>and <it>CD36 </it>genes in the manifestation of falciparum malaria in India. The <it>PECAM1 </it>exon 3 SNP exhibits altered association with disease in the endemic and non-endemic region.</p

The use of biomedicine, complementary and alternative medicine, and ethnomedicine for the treatment of epilepsy among people of South Asian origin in the UK

Studies have shown that a significant proportion of people with epilepsy use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). CAM use is known to vary between different ethnic groups and cultural contexts; however, little attention has been devoted to inter-ethnic differences within the UK population. We studied the use of biomedicine, complementary and alternative medicine, and ethnomedicine in a sample of people with epilepsy of South Asian origin living in the north of England. Interviews were conducted with 30 people of South Asian origin and 16 carers drawn from a sampling frame of patients over 18 years old with epilepsy, compiled from epilepsy registers and hospital databases. All interviews were tape-recorded, translated if required and transcribed. A framework approach was adopted to analyse the data. All those interviewed were taking conventional anti-epileptic drugs. Most had also sought help from traditional South Asian practitioners, but only two people had tried conventional CAM. Decisions to consult a traditional healer were taken by families rather than by individuals with epilepsy. Those who made the decision to consult a traditional healer were usually older family members and their motivations and perceptions of safety and efficacy often differed from those of the recipients of the treatment. No-one had discussed the use of traditional therapies with their doctor. The patterns observed in the UK mirrored those reported among people with epilepsy in India and Pakistan. The health care-seeking behaviour of study participants, although mainly confined within the ethnomedicine sector, shared much in common with that of people who use global CAM. The appeal of traditional therapies lay in their religious and moral legitimacy within the South Asian community, especially to the older generation who were disproportionately influential in the determination of treatment choices. As a second generation made up of people of Pakistani origin born in the UK reach the age when they are the influential decision makers in their families, resort to traditional therapies may decline. People had long experience of navigating plural systems of health care and avoided potential conflict by maintaining strict separation between different sectors. Health care practitioners need to approach these issues with sensitivity and to regard traditional healers as potential allies, rather than competitors or quacks

Geriatric patients' expectations of their physicians: findings from a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Geriatric health is a neglected and under-explored area internationally and in Pakistan. We aimed to ascertain the expectations of the geriatric patients from their physicians and the factors associated with patient satisfaction in this particular age bracket.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional survey was carried out at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Data collection was carried out via face-to-face interviews based on structured, pre-tested questionnaires. All consenting individuals aged 65 years or above were recruited into the study. Convenience sampling was used to draw the sample. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 16. Geriatric patient's expectations from physicians were elicited using a set of 11 questions that were graded on a scale of 1-3 where 1 = not important, 2 = important, 3 = very important.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three hundred and eighty geriatric patients were interviewed. The response rate of this study was 89.8%. The mean age of the respondents was 73.4 ± 6.8 years. Two hundred and forty eight respondents (65.3%) were female. Diabetes mellitus (53.7%), hypertension (59.5%), arthritis (40.5%) and renal disease (32.1%) were common ailments among geriatric patients. More than 50% of the patients were visiting their physicians once every two to three months. Discussing treatment options and letting patients make the final decision (79.2%), prescribing minimum possible medications (84.5%), physician's holistic knowledge about the spectrum of care issues for geriatric patients (79.2%), being given a realistic but optimistic picture of future health by physicians (85.5%) were ranked as very important expectations by patients from their physicians. Cumulative household income (p = 0.005), most important health complaint (p = 0.01) and frequency of experiencing health complaint (p < 0.001) emerged as independent predictors of the satisfaction of geriatric patients from care provided by physicians.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have documented the expectations of the geriatric patients from their physicians in a developing country. Physicians belonging to all disciplines should keep these expectations in mind during clinical encounters with geriatric patients.</p