In vitro free radical scavenging and thrombolytic activities of Bangladeshi aquatic plant Aponogeton undulatus Roxb

This article was published in Global Journal of Pharmacology [© IDOSI Publications, 2011] and the definite version is available at: https://idosi.org/gjp/5(1)11/6.pdfInvestigation with the crude methanolic extract of Aponogeton undulatus was carried out to evaluate its possible antioxidant and thrombolysis activity. In DPPH free radical scavenging assay, the extract exhibited potent antioxidant activity with a IC50 values of 2.43±1.06 μg/ml while in ascorbic acid, the value become 50 2.14±0.11 μg/ml. In thrombolytic activity using in vitro clot lysis assay method, the crude methanolic extract was found to have significant (p<0.001) thrombolytic activity at a dose of 10 mg/ml with a miximum effect of 20.23±1.56% while the standard streptokinase showed 46.13±3.87%. The extract was also investigated for its antibacterial and toxic potentiality using agar diffusion and Brine Shrimp lethality bioassay, respectively. The highest antibacterial effect was shown against Bacillus cereus (zone of inhibition 12±0.65 mm) followed by Escherichia coli (zone of inhibition 10±0.71 mm). In this bioassay the extract showed significant toxicity to Brine Shrimp nauplii with the LC50 value of 2.24±0.98 μg/ml. The study clearly indicated that the extract 50 possesses good antioxidant and thromolytic activity along with broad spectrum antibacterial and toxic potentiality.Publishe

Prevalence of anxiety, depression and associated factors among pregnant women of Hyderabad, Pakistan.

Background: Few studies have examined the relationship between antenatal depression, anxiety and domestic violence in pregnant women in developing countries, despite the World Health Organization\u27s estimates that depressive disorders will be the second leading cause of the global disease burden by 2020. There is a paucity of research on mood disorders, their predictors and sequelae among pregnant women in Pakistan. Aims: To determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression and evaluate associated factors, including domestic violence, among pregnant women in an urban community in Pakistan. Methods: All pregnant women living in identified areas of Hyderabad, Pakistan were screened by government health workers for an observational study on maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes. Of these, 1,368 (76%) of eligible women were administered the validated Aga Khan University Anxiety Depression Scale at 20-26 weeks of gestation. Results: Eighteen per cent of the women were anxious and/or depressed. Psychological distress was associated with husband unemployment (p = 0.032), lower household wealth (p = 0.027), having 10 or more years of formal education ( p = 0.002), a first (p = 0.002) and an unwanted pregnancy ( p \u3c 0.001). The strongest factors associated with depression/anxiety were physical/sexual and verbal abuse, 42% of women who were physically and/or sexually abused and 23% of those with verbal abuse had depression/anxiety compared to 8% of those who were not abused. Conclusions: Anxiety and depression commonly occur during pregnancy in Pakistani women, rates are highest in women experiencing sexual/physical as well as verbal abuse, but they are also increased among women with unemployed spouses and those with lower household wealth. These results suggest that developing a screening and treatment programme for domestic violence and depression/anxiety during pregnancy may improve the mental health status of pregnant Pakistani women

Dietary regimens for chronic hepatic diseases: advice and compliance

Background: Nutrition is coming to the fore as a major determinant of chronic diseases, and scientific evidence supports this view. The link between diet and chronic liver disease is an important area of study, as it could help reduce the suffering and the economic burden caused by liver disease. The study aimed to assess the current dietary guidelines of chronic hepatic disease patients and to determine their compliance and that of service providers to following these guidelines.Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in the inpatient section of one of Cairo’s University hospitals in Egypt for a duration of 12 months. Interviewing questionnaires were used to collect the required data from 60 patients and 20 service providers. The objective of the study was adequately explained to participants and their consensus was obtained with assured confidentiality.Results: The majority of patients (73.5%) received dietary advice from hospital physicians only or in conjunction with their private physician. The advice was given orally by 100% of hospital physicians though only by 21% of private physicians which could have negatively affected patients’ compliance. About 60 % of the patients claimed to be compliant with the dietary regimens prescribed. Non compliance was related to lack of supportive measures&nbsp; 52.2%) or to negative patient attitude (48.8%). Hospital meals were not satisfactory neither to the service providers nor to clients. Hospital physicians did not properly prescriberegimens for reasons related to insufficient knowledge (66.7%), patients' attitudes (20%) and patients’ overload (13.3%).Conclusions: A standardized comprehensive set of dietary guidelines for different liver disease patientsshould be developed and communicated to service providers so as to promote compliance amongst patients

Integration of mental health into primary healthcare: Perceptions of stakeholders in Pakistan

Background: In Pakistan, there is high prevalence of mental health disorders, but mental health services to address these are not well developed. To provide effective mental health services, the World Health Organization emphasizes the integration of mental health into primary health care (PHC).Objectives: This study aimed to assess the views of key stakeholders about integration of mental health into PHC in Karachi, Pakistan.Methods: A qualitative, exploratory study was conducted between June and September 2013 among 15 decision-making (from the Department of Health) and implementation-level stakeholders (mental health and public health professionals and primary care staff) from both the public and private sectors. Face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Data were collected until theoretical saturation was achieved and conventional content analysis was carried out.Results: Although there was general support among all the stakeholders for integration of mental health services within PHC, there were also a number of reservations. First was the perceived lack of support within the system in terms of resource allocation and acceptance from the community. Second was the lack of human resources in the field of mental health. In addition, resistance at the PHC level is likely as staff are already burdened with other preventive care services.Conclusions: The study suggests that strong political commitment, adequate human and financial resources, and strong advocacy are needed for the integration of mental health into PHC in Pakistan

Antecedents of Sustainable Financial Performance: Evidence from the Banking Sector of Pakistan

This research aims to investigate the determinants of the sustainable financial performance of banks listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange. The data for the present research is collected from 30 banks over the period of 2012-2022. The panel cross-linear regression was employed to analyse the data by employing Stata. Various bank-specific factors were found to be positive and statistically significant antecedents of banks’ financial performance. However, bank size, business model and financial structure have negative and insignificant impacts on the bank’s financial performance. In a similar vein, macro-economic factors have a significant negative and insignificant positive impact on banks’ financial performance. Concerning social factors, only hospital funding has an adverse effect on financial performance. Last but not least, environmental financing is negatively and insignificantly linked with banks’ financial performance. Accordingly, this research concludes that managers and policymakers of commercial banks must keep their social and environmental investments in check to attain sustainable financial performance

Emerging infectious disease, the household built environment characteristics, and urban planning: Evidence on avian influenza in Vietnam

Recent concerns with pandemic outbreaks of human disease and their origins in animal populations have ignited concerns regarding connections between Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) and development. As disasters, health, and infectious disease become part of planning concern (Matthew & McDonald, 2007), greater focus on household infrastructure and EID disease outbreaks among poultry is warranted. Following Spencer (2013), this study examines the relationship between the mix of household-scale water supplies, sanitation systems, and construction materials, and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) among poultry in a developing country: Vietnam. Findings of our multivariate logistic regressions suggest that a non-linear, Kuznets-shaped urban transition (Spencer, 2013) has an independent effect on the outbreak of HPAI, especially as it relates to household-level sanitation infrastructure. We conclude that the Kuznets-shape development of household infrastructure characteristics in Vietnam play a significant role in explaining where poultry outbreaks occur. Using secondary data from the Census of Population and Housing, and the Agricultural Census at the District and Commune levels for the country of Vietnam, we performed logistic regression to test the relationship between outbreaks of HPAI in poultry and newly-developed “coherence indices” (Spencer, 2013) of household water supply, sanitation, and construction materials that measure nonlinear, transitional development. Results show that district-scale coherence indices are negatively and independently correlated with HPAI outbreaks, especially for sanitation. Findings also suggest that community-scale coherence of urban infrastructures is a powerful tool for predicting where HPAI poultry outbreaks are likely to occur, thereby providing health planners new tools for efficient surveillance

Creation of a hyperplane device for horizontal cellular migration assays

Cell culture studies routinely seek to monitor cell migration in response to chemoattractant stimuli. Common assays of cell migration employ well inserts and vertical cell migration assessment. This approach does not allow real-time monitoring of cell behavior. To address this need, we sought to develop a horizontal culture platform conducive to time course cell assessment changes in migration, morphology, phenotype etc. Modification of a commercial chamber slide allowed us to quantify cell migration in response to a 20% serum gradient. Based upon this finding, we designed and fabricated a prototype chamber slide for high replicate, real time assessment of cell migration in the serum gradient. The novel chamber slide design was effective for quantifying not only cell migration differences but visualizing cell movement. Optimization of the fabricated design will provide a novel tool for cell biology research.https://commons.und.edu/bms-pp/1000/thumbnail.jp

Giant condyloma acuminatum of vulva

In this paper, A 23 year old married woman who was diagnosed as a case of giant condyloma acuminatum of vulva measuring about 15 x 8 x 3 cm, irregular surface with multiple projections, oval in shape, firm to hard in consistency, mildly tender, exophytic, cauliflower like growth involving the whole vulva (lower part of mons pubis, labia, vestibule, clitoris, around vaginal opening). Another multiple small lesions were present at perineal region but there was no inguinal lymphadenopathy. She underwent a combined electro cauterization and cryotherapy for small to moderate size multiple primary and recurrent warty lesions and wide surgical excision with fasciocutaneous advancement flaps procedure for a giant lesions in the vulva. Excisional biopsies were performed to detect potential malignancy but malignancy was not found histologically. The patient was advised to first follow-up 1 month after operation when multiple small warty lesions were developed and treated and the subsequent follow-ups for 3 months