In-Vitro Synergy of Aqueous Garlic Extract with Ciprofloxacin Against Clinical Isolates of Salmonella Typhi

Objective: To detemine the emerging issue of treatment failures in typhoid by evaluating the activity of a new combination of aqueous garlic extract and ciprofloxacin. Study Place and Duration: Department of Microbiology, University of Health Sciences Lahore, Pakistan from April 2013-April 2014Methodology: Synergism of garlic with ciprofloxacin against   Typhi was assessed to solve the critical issue of treatment failure with the best known anti-typhoid drugs till now i-e fluoroquinolones. Twenty five ciprofloxacin susceptible Typhi isolates were selected. Aqueous garlic extract (AGE) was prepared and was screened for antibacterial activity by agar well diffusion method which exhibited an inhibition zone of 25.36±1.60 mm against 1 tested isolate.Results: Minimum Inhibitory concentration 90 (MIC90) of ciprofloxacin and AGE was > 0.25µg/ml and > 20mg/ml respectively as determined by micro broth dilution method. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) was used as a reference strain. Synergism of the combination was assessed using microdilution checkerboard titration technique. The fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICIs) for all the isolates were >0.5 <4.Conclusion: Thus, ciprofloxacin and Aqueous garlic extract (AGE) showed significant antibacterial activity individually against Typhi but Cipro-AGE combination did not prove to be synergistic against Typhi nor against ATCC Pseudomonas aeruginosa 27853.Keywords: , ,&nbsp

An Assessment of the Consumption Function for Iran

In this study, the real private consumption model for Iran was estimated by applying yearly data from 1990 to 2018. The ARDL method is used to assess short-term and long-term relationships between private consumption, labor income, interest rate, wealth, and unemployment rate. According to long-term estimates, income and wealth determine the actual consumption in Iran. However, in the short run, current incomes, wealth, real interest rates, and the unemployment rate are the key determinants of private consumption in Iran. The dynamic of the consumption function shows that all the factors of consumption i.e. real disposable income, wealth, and unemployment rate, real interest rate, have a noteworthy effect on aggregate consumption. The minor and significant coefficient of wealth indicates that the consumption decision is weakly affected by wealth. It provides evidence of the validity of AIH for Iran

An Assessment of the Consumption Function for Iran

In this study, the real private consumption model for Iran was estimated by applying yearly data from 1990 to 2018. The ARDL method is used to assess short-term and long-term relationships between private consumption, labor income, interest rate, wealth, and unemployment rate. According to long-term estimates, income and wealth determine the actual consumption in Iran. However, in the short run, current incomes, wealth, real interest rates, and the unemployment rate are the key determinants of private consumption in Iran. The dynamic of the consumption function shows that all the factors of consumption i.e. real disposable income, wealth, and unemployment rate, real interest rate, have a noteworthy effect on aggregate consumption. The minor and significant coefficient of wealth indicates that the consumption decision is weakly affected by wealth. It provides evidence of the validity of AIH for Iran

Gamma power in rural Pakistani children: links to executive function and verbal ability

Children in low- and middle-income countries are at high risk of cognitive deficits due to environmental deprivation that compromises brain development. Despite the high prevalence of unrealized cognitive potential, very little is known about neural correlates of cognition in this population. We assessed resting EEG power and cognitive ability in 105 highly disadvantaged 48-month-old children in rural Pakistan. An increase in EEG power in gamma frequency bands (21–30 Hz and 31–45 Hz) was associated with better executive function. For girls, EEG gamma power also related to higher verbal IQ. This study identifies EEG gamma power as a neural marker of cognitive function in disadvantaged children in low- and middle-income countries. Elevated gamma power may be a particularly important protective factor for girls, who may experience greater deprivation due to gender inequality.This research was supported by Grand Challenges Canada Saving Brains Initiative Grant 0061-03. The preparation of this article also was supported by a Scholar's Award from the William T. Grant Foundation to Jelena Obradovic. (0061-03 - Grand Challenges Canada Saving Brains Initiative; William T. Grant Foundation)Published versio

Digestible threonine and its effects on growth performance, gut morphology and carcass characteristics in broiler Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Threonine is the third limiting amino acid in corn-soy-based poultry diets and has an important role in body and intestinal development of chicken. Although work on threonine (Thr) in chicken is well established, information about the effects of digestible threonine (dThr) on quail performance is limited. Therefore, the current study was designed to determine the impact of increasing levels of dThr on growth performance, feed conversion ratio (FCR), gut health and carcass characteristics in meat-type quails. A total of 324 mixed-sex day-old quail were randomly allocated to three treatments with six replicates per treatment and 18 birds per replicate. There were three dietary treatments, namely control (C) with recommended levels of dThr according to the Brazilian Tables guidelines for Japanese quails: 10% dThr (C diet supplemented with 10% more dThr) and 20%dThr (C diet supplemented with 20% more dThr). At day 35 of the experiment, three birds from each pen were slaughtered. A duodenal sample was collected and preserved to evaluate gut health. The carcass characteristics were determined from the slaughtered birds. Total feed intake and average daily feed intake were higher in the C treatment than in 10% dThr. Final bodyweight (BW), weight gain and average daily gain (ADG) increased linearly. The birds fed diets supplemented with 20% extra dThr had the highest final weight and bodyweight gain (BWG) compared with those birds that were fed on C and 10% dThr supplemented diets. Feed conversion ratio was improved in 10% dThr compared with the C birds. Villus height (VH) was similar among treatments. The highest crypt depth (CD) was observed in C, followed by 10% dThr and 20% dThr. The birds fed 20% dThr had higher VH:CD than 10% dThr. The birds in the C treatment had lowest VH:CD. Carcass weights with and without giblets were higher in the 20% dThr than in the 10% dThr and C treatments. Breast mass yield (BMY) was greatest in 20% dThr compared with C and 10% dThr. It may be concluded that supplementation of Thr higher than the requirements referred to in Brazilian Tables improves growth performance and gut health of meat-type quail.Keywords: Crypt depth, mucin, performance, quail, villus heigh

The Effect of Teaching Professionalism by Using Real Lifetime Scenarios in Undergraduate Medical Students: An Educational Trial

The objective is to evaluate the effect of teaching professionalism by real lifetime scenario to undergraduate MBBS medical students. This was a non-randomized controlled trial conducted in OBGY departmenIntroduction: The objective of this research is to evaluate the effect of teaching professionalism by real lifetime scenario to undergraduate MBBS medical students.Methods: This comparative quasi-experimental trial was conducted in OBS/GYN department from May 2019 to Jan 2020. The final year MBBS students of Shalamar Medical and Dental College, Lahore, who attended the clinical rotation of Gynae OBS were enrolled in the study using consecutive sampling. Each batch consists of 15 students. The first two batches were taken as active control, whereas the third batch was taken as an interventional group. The certified faculty in medical education assessed professionalism by using P-MEX at the start and end of the rotation in the gynae ward. P-MEX data are presented as mean and standard deviation. The comparison between the two groups was done using independent sample t-test, and pre- and post-comparison within group was done by paired sample t-test. P-value less than 0.05 was considered as significant.Results: Among the 45 students, 28 (62.22%) were male and 17 (37.78%) were female. Age and gender were statistically similar in both groups. The average total score, at the start of the rotation of the intervention group was 1.95±0.294, whereas the active control group was 2.23±0.31. At the end of the rotation, the average total score of the intervention group was 3.22±0.48 and active control was 2.56±0.53. Pre- and post P-MEX score was statistically significant with P<0.001.Conclusion: This research showed that the teaching of professionalism using real lifetime scenarios led to statistically significant improvement of professionalism in the form of P-MEXmean score among final MBBS students.t of Shalamar Medical & Dental College( SMDC) from May 2019 to Jan,2020. Final year MBBS students of SMDC who attended the clinical rotation of OBGY were enrolled for study. The students in first two batches were taken as control and assessed for professionalism by using P-MEX at the start and end of rotation with the traditional teaching being taught. The third batch was taken as interventional group & were assessed in the start of rotation. Then professionalism was taught in the teaching session of 2 hours by lifetime scenario ,twice at interval of one week. Then they were evaluated at the end of rotation by using P-MEX. The comparison between the two groups was done by entering data in SPSS version 24. Data presented as mean and standard deviation. Comparison between two groups was done through independent sample t test. Result showed the statistically significant improvement in doctor patient relationship, reflective skills, and time management & interprofessional skills. The P-MEX score remained “below expectation” in control group whereas improved to “met expectation” in intervention group.Conclusion:This nonrandomized controlled educational trial showed the teaching of professionalism using real lifetime scenarios lead to improvement of professionalism among final MBBS students from the level of below expectation to level of met expectation as assessed by P-MEX

Radiological locations of mental foramen in local population

Objective: To evaluate the accurate radiographic location of the mental foramen and its prevalence by gender and different age groups.Methodology: This Cross-sectional study was conducted at dental department at ISRA University Hospital Hyderabad, from September 2014 to Feb 2015. We studied 70 patients. All patients &gt; 18 years age and both sex and presence of the canine, first premolar, second premolar and first molar in the images were included. Detailed patients’ history was taken and detailed clinical examination was done. Patients were subject to relevant investigation panoramic digital images. All the data was recorded in the proforma.Results: Out of total 70 patients included in this study 30 were male (42.85%) and 40 females (57.14%); with male to female ratio of 1:1.3. The mean age was 22+3.20 years. Mental foramen on radiographic were visible below first premolar in 35(50%) cases followed by mental foramen at below 2nd premolar in 30(42.85 %) cases and below first premolar in 5(7.14%) cases. Variation in the inferior alveolar canal observed. Variation in the inferior alveolar canal was Bifid canal only in two patients.Conclusion: Mental foramen on radiographic were visible below first premolar 50%, below 2nd premolar 42.85% and below first premolar in 7.14%. While no significant relationship was found with gender and age

Radiological locations of mental foramen in local population

Objective: To evaluate the accurate radiographic location of the mental foramen and its prevalence by gender and different age groups.Methodology: This Cross-sectional study was conducted at dental department at ISRA University Hospital Hyderabad, from September 2014 to Feb 2015. We studied 70 patients. All patients &gt; 18 years age and both sex and presence of the canine, first premolar, second premolar and first molar in the images were included. Detailed patients’ history was taken and detailed clinical examination was done. Patients were subject to relevant investigation panoramic digital images. All the data was recorded in the proforma.Results: Out of total 70 patients included in this study 30 were male (42.85%) and 40 females (57.14%); with male to female ratio of 1:1.3. The mean age was 22+3.20 years. Mental foramen on radiographic were visible below first premolar in 35(50%) cases followed by mental foramen at below 2nd premolar in 30(42.85 %) cases and below first premolar in 5(7.14%) cases. Variation in the inferior alveolar canal observed. Variation in the inferior alveolar canal was Bifid canal only in two patients.Conclusion: Mental foramen on radiographic were visible below first premolar 50%, below 2nd premolar 42.85% and below first premolar in 7.14%. While no significant relationship was found with gender and age

Drug repurposing: In-vitro anti-glycation properties of 18 common drugs

Drug repositioning or repurposing, i.e. identifying new indications for existing drugs, has gained increasing attention in the recent years. This approach enables the scientists to discover ?new targets? for known drugs in a cost and time efficient manner. Glycation, the non-enzymatic reaction of sugars with proteins or nucleic acids to form early glycation (Amadori or fructosamine) products, is a key molecular basis of diabetic complications. Inhibiting the process of non-enzymatic protein glycation is one of the key strategies to prevent glycation-mediated diabetic complications. The present study focuses on the anti-glycation activity of 18 drugs, commonly used for the treatment of gastrointestinal, central nervous system, inflammatory diseases, bacterial infections, and gout. This study was carried out by using two in-vitro protein anti-glycation assay models. Results revealed that nimesulide (3), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, possesses a good anti-glycation activity in in-vitro BSA-MG and BSA-glucose glycation models with IC50 values of 330.56 ± 2.90, and 145.46 ± 16.35 μM, respectively. Phloroglucinol dihydrate (11), a drug used for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, showed a weak activity in BSA-MG glycation model (IC50 = 654.89 ± 2.50 μM), while it showed a good activity in BSA-glucose assay (IC50 = 148.23 ± 0.15 μM). Trimethylphloroglucinol (9), a drug used for the treatment of pain related to functional disorders of the digestive and biliary tracts, also showed a good antiglycation activity in BSA-MG model (IC50 = 321.15 ± 1.26 μM), while it was found to be inactive in in-vitro BSA-glucose assay (IC50 = 12.95% inhibition). These activities of drugs were compared with the anti-glycation activity of the standard, rutin (IC50 = 294.5 ± 1.50 μM in BSA-MG glycation model, and IC50 = 86.94 ± 0.24 μM in BSA- glucose model). Rest of the drugs exhibited a relatively weak antiglycation activity. This study identifies nimesulide (3), and phloroglucinol dihydrate (11) as new inhibitors of in-vitro protein glycation for further investigations as potential anti-diabetic agents.Fil: Rasheed, Saima. University of Karachi; PakistánFil: Sanchez, Sara Serafina del V.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Yousuf, Sammer. University of Karachi; PakistánFil: Honore, Stella Maris. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Choudhary, M. Iqbal. King Abdulaziz University; Arabia Saudita. University of Karachi; Pakistá

Assessment of genetic divergence in wheat lines (Triticum aestivum L.) involving biochemical and protein markers in rainfed conditions

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the important and strategic cereal crop for the majority of world’s populations. It is significant staple food of about two billion people. In next few years, world demand for wheat is expected to be 40 percent higher than that of its level today. Keeping in view the importance of the crop research work was conducted in the laboratory of Plant Breeding and Molecular Genetics, University of Poonch Rawalakot, AJK, Pakistan. The aim of the research was to find out the genetic diversity of different wheat lines. In the experiment, 50 different lines of wheat species (Triticum aestivum L.) was used to detect genetic diversity by utilizing Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis and biochemical analysis. On the basis of biochemical analysis lines 3111 and 3123 was diverse among 50 lines for antioxidant activity by using DPPH radical and 3135 and 3139 for phenolic contents and for flavonoid 3148 and 3107 was found more promising. Molecular characterization by SDS PAGE showed diversity in three wheat lines 3136, 3138 and 3110. These wheat lines could be our potential lines for future wheat improvement program as they were also promising regarding to the high yields