In vitro efficacy of selected medicinal plants from Cholistan desert, Pakistan, against gastrointestinal helminths of sheep and goats

Gastrointestinal helminths are a major constraint to small ruminants in extensive husbandry systems of tropical regions. Yet, unavailability, high prices, side effects, and development of parasite resistance often limit the use of synthetic anthelmintics. Traditional medicinal plants might be an effective low-cost alternative. Therefore the in vitro anthelmintic activity of leaf extracts of the ligneous plants Capparis decidua, Salsola foetida, Suaeda fruticosa, Haloxylon salicornicum, and Haloxylon recurvum from Cholistan, Pakistan, was investigated against adult worms of Haemonchus contortus, Trichuris ovis, and Paramphistomum cervi. Various concentrations (from 7.8 to 500 mg dry matter ml^(−1)) of three extracts (aqueous, methanol, and aqueous-methanol) of each plant were tested at different time intervals for their anthelmintic activity via adult motility assay.Plant species (p=0.01), extract type (p=0.001), parasite species (p=0.001), extract concentration (p=0.001), time of exposure (p=0.001) and their interactions (p=0.001) affected the number of immobile or dead helminths. The 50% lethal concentration (LC_(50)) values indicated that the methanol and aqueous-methanol extracts of C. decidua, H. recurvum, and H. salicornicum as well as the methanol extract of S. fruticosa have the potential to be developed into plant-based remedies against the studied helminths. Further studies are needed to investigate the in vivo anthelmintic activity of these extracts, in order to develop effective, cheap and locally available anthelmintics for pastoralists in Cholistan and neighbouring desert regions

Snake Bite: Clinical Profile and Evaluation of Effective Anti-Snake Venom Dose

Background: To determine the optimal dose of antisnake venom required to treat hemotoxic snake bite more effectively. Methods: In this interventional study, out of 52 patients 46 patients with the features of systemic envenomation .i.e. deranged coagulation profile, nephrotoxic or neurotoxic features were assessed clinically and through laboratory tests, while 06 patients had no feature of envenomation. Patients with systemic envenomation were given Antisnake venom. Results: Hemotoxicity was the most common clinical manifestation of snake bite i.e. 39 patients of hemotoxic envenomation, 4 with neurotoxic features while 03 patients had mixed toxicity i.e. hemotoxic, neurotoxic and nephrotoxic. 12 patients responded to single dose of 06 vials (10 ml each vial; total dose of 60 ml), 28 patients required further dose of anti snake venom after initial dose of 6 vials while 06 patients received even higher dose of anti snake venom i.e. 18 vial (180 ml) with blood transfusion. Of these 06 patients, 02 required mechanical ventilation, 02 with nephrotoxicity were referred to dialysis unit, and 02 mortalities were encountered, one with intracranial bleed and other with mixed toxicity and delayed presentation of patient. Conclusion: Most patients with envenomation require higher dose of anti snake venom . An increase in morbidity and mortality is mainly due to delayed presentation after snake bite and under dosage of ASV

An Adaptive Approach for Multi-National Vehicle License Plate Recognition Using Multi-Level Deep Features and Foreground Polarity Detection Model

License plate recognition system (LPR) plays a vital role in intelligent transport systems to build up smart environments. Numerous country specific methods have been proposed successfully for an LPR system, but there is a need to find a generalized solution that is independent of license plate layout. The proposed architecture is comprised of two important LPR stages: (i) License plate character segmentation (LPCS) and (ii) License plate character recognition (LPCR). A foreground polarity detection model is proposed by using a Red-Green-Blue (RGB) channel-based color map in order to segment and recognize the LP characters effectively at both LPCS and LPCR stages respectively. Further, a multi-channel CNN framework with layer aggregation module is proposed to extract deep features, and support vector machine is used to produce target labels. Multi-channel processing with merged features from different-level convolutional layers makes output feature map more expressive. Experimental results show that the proposed method is capable of achieving high recognition rate for multinational vehicles license plates under various illumination conditions. Document type: Articl

The era of sharing economy: factors that influence the behavioral intentions of user and provider to participate in peer-to-peer sharing economy

The Sharing Economy is a fastest growing and heavily debated Socio economic model. In the platform-based sharing economy, the provider provides the service and the consumer using the service from a two-sided market. However, there is a lack of studies that cover the both sides of platform based sharing market. This study aims to examine the effect of Indulgence, trust, economic benefit, social interaction, enjoyment and sustainability on user and provider intention to engage in peer-to-peer sharing. This explanatory study uses a quantitative methodology involving data collection through structured questionnaire from service users (n=220) and service providers (n=170) of Uber and Careem by adopting snowball sampling technique. Structured Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied to analyze data by using AMOS 24. The empirical results of this study indicate that indulgence, social interaction, economic benefit and enjoyment have significant positive association with user and provider intention. Further, a positive relationship was found between provider trust in user and provider intention to engage in peer-to-peer sharing. This study makes its significant contribution by providing new insights to literature and practice by studying two sided market. In addition the study explored the effect of indulgence on peer-to-peer sharing intention which is found yet to be explored in the literature. This study suggests practical implications for the Marketing managers to develop effective platform business strategies and marketing campaigns in accordance with the individuals’ intention to engage in sharing

PERSONAL AND CULTURAL FACTORS INFLUENCING CONSUMERS’ IMPULSE BUYING BEHAVIOR: A DEVELOPING COUNTRY PERSPECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of Personality, shopping enjoyment   tendency, materialism, impulse buying tendency, and cultural dimension namely collectivism and individualism on impulse buying behavior. This study employed a quantitative approach that involved a convenience sampling technique to collect data from customers (n=320) using a structured survey. Structured Equation Modeling was applied to analyze data by using AMOS 24. According to the study's findings, shopping enjoyment tendency and materialism strongly affect impulse buying. Further, buyers with a high tendency to impulsiveness, buy more spontaneously. More importantly, the findings revealed that personality traits; neuroticism and extraversion, have also a strongly positive impact on consumers’ IBB. This study provides important information regarding the buying behavior of consumers from the retail sector of a developing nation and checks the effect of the above-mentioned important factors on consumers’ impulse buying. The outcomes of this study will help retailers and marketers to develop effective strategies in accordance with consumer buying behavior

Outcome of radiologically placed tunneled haemodialysis catheters

Objective: To study the outcome of radiologically placed double lumen tunneled haemodialysis catheters for the management of renal failure.STUDY Design: Case series.PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Interventional Suite of Radiology Department at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from April 2010 to June 2011.METHODOLOGY: All consecutive patients who were referred to the department of radiology by the nephrologists for double lumen tunneled haemodialysis catheter (Permacath) placement during the study period were included. Patients with septicemia, those for whom follow-up was not available, those coming for catheter exchange or who died due to a noncatheter related condition were excluded. A radio-opaque, soft silicone double lumen catheter was inserted through a subcutaneous tunnel created over the anterior chest wall. The catheter tip was placed in the right atrium via the internal jugular vein. Ultrasound guidance was used for initial venous puncture. The rest of the procedure was carried out under fluoroscopic guidance. Technical success, catheter related bacteremia rates, adequacy of dialysis, patency, and adverse events were analyzed.Results: Overall 88 tunneled haemodialysis catheters were placed in 87 patients. Patients were followed-up for duration of 1 - 307 days with mean follow-up period of 4 months. Immediate technical success was 100%. The procedural complication rate was 5.6% (5 catheters). Eight patients died during the study period, seven from causes unrelated to the procedure. One patient died due to septicemia secondary to catheter related infection. Of the remaining 69 patients, 50 (72.4%) predominantly had uneventful course during the study period. Twelve patients developed infection (17.3%); two were successfully treated conservatively while in 10 patients catheter had to be removed. Seven catheters (10.1%) failed due to mechanical problems. In 3 patients the internal jugular veins got partially thrombosed. One catheter was accidentally damaged in the ward and had to be removed.CONCLUSION: Radiological guided tunneled haemodialysis catheter placements are a safe and reasonable means of providing temporary vascular access for haemodialysis patients

Development and in vitro characterization of 5-flurouracilloaded, colon-targeted drug delivery system

Purpose: To prepare chondroitin sulphate–polyvinyl alcohol cross-linked microcapsules (miCAPs) for controlled delivery of 5-flurouracil (5-FU) in cancer patients.Method: Nine different miCAP formulations were prepared using emulsion cross-linking procedure. The formulations were evaluated for their physicochemical properties, complex formation, stability at variable temperatures, safety, as well as drug-loading and drug-release characteristics. The effects of glutaraldehyde (GA), polymer concentration and stirring speed on 5-FU release at various pH were also assessed.Results: One of the miCAP formulations (miCAP-1) was adjudged the most suitable based on its particle size, high drug loading (75.3 %, p = 0.034), and high entrapment efficiency (85.2 %, p = 0.031). Best-fit drug release model was Higuchi model based on regression coefficient value (R2) while drug release mechanism was Fickian.Conclusion: Highly stable, crosslinked, amorphous and drug delivery system has been successfully developed. The delivery system is potentially suitable for acid-sensitive therapeutic moieties and where controlled release is desired.Keywords: Emulsion cross-linking, Colon-specific delivery, 5-Flurouracil, Glutaraldehyde, Kinetic model

Genomic analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase gene sequence variations and its association with D-9- tetrahydrocannabinol dependence in addicts

Purpose: To elucidate the genetic basis of drug addiction by conducting a genetic analysis of TH (tyrosine hydroxylase) gene and the novel polymorphisms that might help in understanding addiction and its molecular basis. Methods: Forty-two subjects were recruited into three groups for this study. DNA was isolated from the individuals. PCR amplification of TH gene was carried out and amplicons were sequenced. Genomic characterization of TH gene provided five polymorphic loci – TH 1, TH 2, TH 3, TH 4 and TH 5 which were found among all the groups. Results: According to Shannon’s diversity index, the studied population was between 0.0762 and 0.6032. Heterozygosity index depicted that TH 1 locus was less heterozygous (0.3288), followed by TH 5 (0.3152). TH 1 (0.1462) was the least heterozygous. Genotypic analysis predicted that among these five loci, TH 4 (p = 0.039898) and TH 2 (p = 0.851716) were non-significant (p > 0.05) and obeyed Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) law. There are few genetic changes in the studied population that can statistically be associated with drug addiction. Still, their genotypic distribution in the gene pool was very low. Conclusion: On the basis of these findings, drug addiction in the studied population is more likely a social issue rather than a genetic one. Keywords: Tyrosine hydroxylase, SNP, Drug dependenc

In vitro anticoccidial activity of Trachyspermum ammi (Ajwain) extract on oocysts of Eimeria species of Chicken

Background: Due to development of synthetic anticoccidial drug resistance there is improvement of anticoccidial medicines due to which exploration of diverse therapeutic agents is attractive now a days. Amongst original agents’ miscellaneous botanicals have shown encouraging properties against coccidiosis. Present study is also a part of probing innovative therapeutic drugs against coccidiosis which can provide replacement solution to treat coccidiosis.Methods: In current experiment in vitro anticoccidial effect of Trachyspermum ammi (seeds) extract was evaluated. For this purpose, an in vitro sporulation inhibition assay was used. Collected oocysts of four Eimeria species were exposed to six different concentrations (w/v) of T. ammi in 10% Dimethyl sulphoxide solution (DMSO), while Dimethyl sulphoxide and Potassium dichromate solution (K2Cr2O7) served as control groups.Results: Results of study revealed that T. ammi extract showed in vitro anticoccidial effect by affecting on sporulation (%) and damaging (%) Eimeria oocysts in dose dependent manner. T. ammi extract also damaged the morphology of oocysts in terms of shape, size and number of sporocysts.Conclusion: The results strongly support the botanicals applications of T. ammi extract and also demonstrate its potential for use in Poultry coccidiosis control strategies.Keywords: Trachyspermum ammi extract; In vitro; Eimeria; Oocyst