Traditional Medicinal and Economic Uses of Gymnosperms of Kaghan Valley, Pakistan

The ethnobotanical data of total 12 gymnosperms belonging to four families was collected from the local people of the Kaghan Valley. A complete list of the plants is given with their name, family and ethnobotanical use, distribution and occurrence. Indigenous knowledge of local inhabitants about the use of native plants were collected during field trips through questionnaire The inhabitants of the area have to use the medicinal plants for various purposes and have for a long time been dependent on surrounding plant resources for their food, shelter, fodder, health care and other cultural purposes. Pinus roxburgii, P. wallichiana, Cedrus deodara, Abies pindrow and Taxus wallichiana are prominent gymnosperms of Kaghan Valley which are not only source of timber but also utilized as fuel wood and for medicinal purposes

Course and outcomes of complicated gallstone disease in pregnancy: a single centre experience

Background: The incidence of acute abdomen during pregnancy is approximately 1 in 500 pregnancies. The incidence of symptomatic gallstone disease in pregnancy is reported in approximately 0.2-0.5 per 1,000 pregnancies. Symptoms are similar to those in the nonpregnant state. A delay in diagnosis may increase the risk of perforation. Treatment in most cases is conservative. However, recent trends, newer instrumentation and skilled personnel encourage arranging laparoscopic cholecystectomy at the time of diagnosis.Methods: This study was a retrospective study, included 117 pregnant patients with acute gallstone disease, who were treated and followed-up at Government Medical College, Srinagar, Department of General Surgery and Department of Gynae And Obstetrics, between January 2015 and April 2017.Results: The mean age of patients in our study was 28.6 years. Majority of patients 56 (47.86%) were in is trimester of pregnancy. Parity of the patients varied from 1 to 6, with a mean parity of 2.67. The presentation of majority of patients was colicky pain right upper abdomen,108 (92.30%). All patients had gallstones on USG scan.101(86.32%) patients had acute cholecystitis, while 8 (6.83%) patients had predominant features of acute pancreatitis,8(6.83%) patients had accompanying choledocholithiasis The average wall thickness of gallbladder in our patients was 4.62 mm. Majority 106 (90.59%) patients were managed conservatively. 8 (6.83%) patients underwent cholecystectomy in same admission, after failure of conservative management, 7 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and one underwent open cholecystectomy. 3 patients (2.56%), who had features of cholangitis were managed by ERCP. The average length of hospital stay in our patient group was 8.61 days. There was one maternal death reported in our study, there were a total of 8 (6.83%) preterm deliveries.Conclusions: Symptomatic gallstone disease in pregnancy is a common surgical problem. Diagnosis during pregnancy can be difficult, majority of cases can be managed conservatively, intervention whenever indicated must be undertaken

In vivo evaluation of ziram induced acute toxicity on pathomorphology of broiler chicken

Fungicides are usually used in agriculture and often find their way in poultry feed. Therefore, a study was undertaken to study the in vivo effect of one such fungicide (ziram) induced intoxication on pathomorphology of broiler chicken. After 2 weeks of age the birds were given fungicide (Ziram) in feed as a single oral dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. Out of 10 birds, 3 died due to ziram intoxication (30% mortality rate). Birds that died rapidly showed pronounced neurological signs like convulsions. The carcasses of ziram intoxicated birds appeared dehydrated and their mucous membrane was pale in colour. Marked vascular congestion was observed in brain on gross examination. The livers showed congestion and haemorrhages with necrotic foci. Kidneys and lungs had ecchymotic haemorrhages and heart revealed gelatinization of pericardium, distention and pericarditis. Atrophy of bursa of Fabricius and thymus; hypertrophy of thyroid was found. Histopathological examination revealed neuronal degeneration and necrosis associated with mild gliosis in brain. Lungs, pericardium and epicardium had severe congestion and there was degeneration with separation of myofibers. Glomeruli were congested and frequently revealed hypercellularity. There were sinusoidal congestion and varying degrees of hepatocellular degeneration. Bursa revealed mild depletion of lymphoid cells in few lobules while as thymus showed hypoplasia with depletion of lymphocytes. Thyroid had mild mononuclear cell infiltration and caecum showed marked necrosis and denudation of the mucosa. In conclusion, the depletion of lymphoid tissue from lymphoid organs was suggestive of immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory effects of ziram toxicity in broiler chicken

OLA-DRB1 microsatellite variants are associated with ovine growth and reproduction traits

The DRB1 intron 2 (GT)n (GA)m microsatellite was genotyped in experimental flocks of seven Merinoland rams and 249 ewes as well as their offspring (381 lambs) from consecutive lambings. A total of 16 DRB1 alleles were detected, ranging between 353 and 857 bp. In comparison with carriers of other alleles, the ewes carrying the predominant 411 bp allele had higher values of all the recorded fertility traits. For ewes carrying the 394 and 857 bp alleles, the birth weight of lambs was about 400 g higher as compared to the residual group of ewes. The observed associations could be due to differences in disease resistance, cell recognition or tissue differentiation between carriers of various MHC haplotypes which can in turn affect individual fertility and growth performance

Effect of apple pomace on quality characteristics of brown rice based cracker

AbstractFormulation of gluten free crackers based on brown rice flour from two varieties and apple pomace was studied during the present investigation. Pomace flour blends were prepared by incorporating 0%, 3%, 6% and 9% apple pomace in brown rice flour. Viscosity profile showed decrease in pasting properties except pasting temperature which increased with increase in pomace level. The hunter colour value (L∗) and fracture force of crackers are decreased with increase in pomace level. The crackers were investigated and compared for composition, antioxidant properties (DPPH, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, reducing power), minerals and sensory properties. The increased amount of apple pomace in the flour formulation resulted in higher antioxidant properties, total dietary fibre and minerals in the final product. Based on the present study, pomace based rice crackers have good potential for consumer and regarded as health promoting functional food, especially for coeliac disease patients

A Study on the Antioxidant Defense System in Breast cancer Patients.

Hospital based case control study carried out for reduced Glutathione levels (GSH), Superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), Total Antioxidant Potential (AOP), Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Nitrate levels in a  major referral hospital in Kashmir, North India involving patients with breast cancer (N=40) and healthy Controls (N=20). Patients with history of drug use or some other similar disorder which might influence antioxidant enzyme activity were not included in the study. The results were analyzed statistically using the Student’s t-test for unpaired variables. MDA, SOD and nitrite levels were increased in breast cancer patients as compared to controls (p<0.005, P<0.01 and P<0.05) respectively. GSH, and AOP levels in plasma of breast cancer patients were low as compared to healthy voluntary controls (P<0.005 and p<0.005). Increased oxidative stress in patients is indicated by increased SOD activity and is evident by depleted GSH levels and AOP. Key words: Reduced glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Antioxidant potential (AOP), Malondialdehyde (MDA).

Relationship between the levels of Serum Thyroid Hormones and the Risk of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is still one of the leading causes of cancer death in women, but there has been a sustained decline in mortality rates over the last decades the relationship between breast cancer and thyroid diseases is controversial many works have been done in past also. The relation between autoimmune and non-autoimmune thyroid diseases has been investigated in patients with breast cancer and age-matched control individuals without breast or thyroid disease. Determination of serum thyroid hormone and antibody levels was done in 100 breast cancer patients and 75 control individuals. The mean values for thyroid hormones and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies were significantly higher in breast cancer patients than in control individuals. Our results indicate an increased prevalence of autoimmune and non-autoimmune thyroid diseases in breast cancer patients. Keywords: breast, cancer, autoimmune thyroid diseases

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Organic Acids on Performance, Intestinal Histomorphology, and Serum Biochemistry of Broiler Chicken

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of organic acids on the performance, intestinal histomorphology, and blood biochemistry of broiler chicken. The birds in the control (T1) group were fed the basal diet whereas in other treatment groups basal diet was supplemented with 2% butyric acid (T2), 3% butyric acid (T4), 2% fumaric acid (T4), 3% fumaric acid (T5), 2% lactic acid (T6), and 3% lactic acid (T7). Broiler chicken fed diets supplemented with organic acids had significantly (P < .05) improved body weight gains and feed conversion ratio. No effect (P < .05) on cumulative feed consumption was observed. The addition of organic increased villus height in the small intestines but the differences were not significant (P < .05) in case of the ileum. Serum calcium and phosphorus concentrations were increased (P < .05) but no effect (P < .05) on the concentration of serum glucose and cholesterol, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and serum glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) was observed. The results indicated that the organic acid supplementation, irrespective of type and level of acid used, had a beneficial effect on the performance of broiler chicken

Short term results of a single autologous whole blood injection for treatment of resistant tennis elbow

Background: Lateral epicondylitis commonly called tennis elbow is a common cause of elbow pain and involves degeneration of common extensor origin with no unanimously supported algorithm for the treatment. Recently, autologous blood injection has been reported for the treatment of resistant cases. We present the short term results of a single shot of autologous whole blood for the treatment of resistant tennis elbow.Methods: The study was conducted on 56 patients who fulfilled the other inclusion criteria’s. 2 ml of autologous whole blood was introduced just proximal to the lateral epicondyle and the contents were injected on the under surface of the extensor carpi radialis group of muscles. Pain severity using VAS and Nirschl Staging was assessed before injection and re-evaluation was done at 4 weeks, 12 weeks and 6 months.Results: Before the procedure average pain score was 7.5(range 5-9). The average Nirschl stage was 5.5 (range 4-7). After autologous blood injections the average pain score decreased to 4 at 4 weeks, 2.8 at 12 weeks and 2.5 at 6 months. The average Nirschl stage decreased to 3.53 at 4 weeks, 2.45 at 12 weeks and 2.3 at 6months. The reduction was statistically significant (p&lt;0.001). 28 out of 56 patients (50%) were completely relieved of pain with a pain score of 0 at 6 months. There was no major complication.Conclusions: A single injection of autologous whole blood for resistant tennis elbow is an economical and effective treatment and has an excellent safety profile

Isolation and characterization of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) from Salmonella Gallinarum in chicken and antibiogram of the isolates

Salmonella isolates should be distinguished as it may assist in tracing the source of an outbreak and monitoring trends in antimicrobial resistance associated with a particular type. The specific detection of these Salmonella serotypes is therefore extremely important in order to attribute an isolate to a previously known epidemic outbreak. The present investigation was to isolate and identify S. Gallinarum, to study variation in the profile of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) and to determine in vitro antibiogram of S. Gallinarum in poultry. A total of 228 faecal samples and 22 visceral samples suspected for Salmonellosis were collected, of these 15 samples (6.0%) were found positive for S. Gallinarum. In the present study, rfbS gene sequence was helpful in the serotype-specific detection of S. Gallinarum giving a 187 bp product. Salmonella Gallinarum crude protein extracts determined by SDSPAGE showed migration of OMPs as several bands at approximate moleculer weights of appx. 45 kDa, 55 kDa, 64 kDa, 65 kDa, 74 kDa, 110 kDa, 120 kDa, 135 kDa, 150 kDa,155 kDa, 200 kDa and above 200 kDa. The study indicated a definite variation in the profile of OMPs of various Salmonella Gallinarum strains with major OMPs in the range of appx 80-100 kDa which could be the target for vaccine production. All the isolates tested against 14 antimicrobial agents showed variable susceptibility pattern with highest resistance to nalidixic acid, ampicillin and sulphadiazine and sensitivity to chloramphenicol, gentamicin and enrofloxacin