Prioritizing family planning for achieving provincial maternal child health and development goals

This report presents an argument for prioritizing family planning to achieve the maternal, child, and development goals of four major provinces in Pakistan, using the latest available provincial data, especially the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2012-13. The analysis is based on provincial projections generated by the Population Council. Opportunities for enhancing family planning are identified, and the number of maternal, infant, and child lives that could be saved in each province through an accelerated family planning program is estimated. The analysis establishes that none of the provinces are on track to meet Millennium Development Goals 4 or 5. The report’s key message across all provinces relates to the need for an accelerated family planning program. The health sector in general, and health departments in particular, will have to step up the delivery of family planning services at their outlets and hospitals, and provide referrals and outreach in conjunction with population welfare departments. The report also recommends revitalizing the Lady Health Workers Program in each province, and providing services to areas not covered by the population welfare and health departments or by Lady Health Workers

Pharmacognostic, phytochemical, biological and spectroscopic analyses of Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew root and stem bark

Purpose: To investigate the pharmacognostic, phytochemical, biological and spectroscopic analyses of Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew root and stem bark.Methods: Plant material (root and stem bark) was collected, authenticated, shade-dried and extracted by maceration using methanol as a solvent separately. Powder microscopy was performed using a binocular microscope. Fluorescence, physico-chemical analysis and phytochemical screening for the presence of secondary metabolites were performed using standard methods. Brine shrimp lethalitybioassay was carried out using Artemia salina bioassay, while enzymatic modulatory study was performed by α-amylase inhibition assay. Microscopic analysis was carried out with scanning electron microscopy. Spectroscopic analysis was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).Results: Powder microscopy showed the presence of different cellular structures. Various colors were observed under ultraviolet (UV) and ordinary light when treated with different reagents. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins and flavonoids but phenol and cardiac glycosides were absent from both extracts. The root bark of the plant showed significant brine shrimp lethality activity.Conclusion: Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew root and stem bark contain a variety of bioactive compounds that have medicinal and therapeutic potentials. Therefore, further investigations are required to elucidate their pharmacological properties. Keywords: Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew, Phytochemical, Spectroscopy, α-Amylas

Prevalence of malnutrition in children with congenital heart disease

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of malnutrition in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 children diagnosed with CHD who were being managed in pediatric cardiology clinics. As part of the study, various anthropometric measurements such as height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were recorded for each child. The assessment of malnutrition was determined based on the Z score, where a Z score below -2 denoted moderate to severe malnutrition, and a Z score below -1 indicated mild malnutrition. Results: There were 300 participants in the research who had been diagnosed with congenital cardiac disease, and 59% of them were men. The median age ranged from 17.8 to 14 months. The study population had an overall malnutrition prevalence of 86.7%.  13.3% of the total individuals were malnourished-free, 27% had minor malnutrition, 36.6% had middle-range malnutrition, and 23% had severe malnutrition. Analysis of group 1, which included patients with cyanotic illness and pulmonary hypertension, revealed that all of the patients were malnourished. 6.6% of the individuals in this category had moderate malnutrition, whereas 93.3% had severe malnutrition. Patients in Group 2 had cyanotic illness but no pulmonary hypertension

Multifaced Assessment of Antioxidant Power, Phytochemical Metabolomics, In-Vitro Biological Potential and In-Silico Studies of Neurada procumbens L.: An Important Medicinal Plant

This work was undertaken to explore the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, and enzyme-inhibiting properties of Neurada procumbens L. extracts/fractions of varying polarity (methanol extract and its fractions including n-hexane, chloroform, n-butanol, and aqueous fractions). A preliminary phytochemical study of all extracts/fractions, HPLC-PDA polyphenolic quantification, and GC-MS analysis of the n-hexane fraction were used to identify the phytochemical makeup. Antioxidant (DPPH), enzyme inhibition (against xanthine oxidase, carbonic anhydrase, and urease enzymes), and antibacterial activities against seven bacterial strains were performed for biological investigation. The GC-MS analysis revealed the tentative identification of 22 distinct phytochemicals in the n-hexane fraction, the majority of which belonged to the phenol, flavonoid, sesquiterpenoid, terpene, fatty acid, sterol, and triterpenoid classes of secondary metabolites. HPLC-PDA analysis quantified syringic acid, 3-OH benzoic acid, t-ferullic acid, naringin, and epicatechin in a significant amount. All of the studied extracts/fractions displayed significant antioxidant capability, with methanol extract exhibiting the highest radical-scavenging activity, as measured by an inhibitory percentage of 81.4 ± 0.7 and an IC50 value of 1.3 ± 0.3. For enzyme inhibition experiments, the n-hexane fraction was shown to be highly potent against xanthine oxidase and urease enzymes, with respective IC50 values of 2.3 ± 0.5 and 1.1 ± 0.4 mg/mL. Similarly, the methanol extract demonstrated the strongest activity against the carbonic anhydrase enzyme, with an IC50 value of 2.2 ± 0.4 mg/mL. Moreover, all the studied extracts/fractions presented moderate antibacterial potential against seven bacterial strains. Molecular docking of the five molecules β-amyrin, campesterol, ergosta-4,6,22-trien-3β-ol, stigmasterol, and caryophyllene revealed the interaction of these ligands with the investigated enzyme (xanthine oxidase). The results of the present study suggested that the N. procumbens plant may be evaluated as a possible source of bioactive compounds with multifunctional therapeutic applications