Liver-based infant complementary food

Abstract- Weaning of infants involves the gradual introduction of solid foods and fluids along with the usual milk fed in their diet. After around six month of age, it becomes difficult to meet the nutritional requirements from the breast milk alone. This study developed beef liver based infant food as a complementary food for infants and determined its nutrient composition and sensory quality. Addition of liver to the vegetable base-formulation significantly improved the nutrient composition (P < 0.05) and consumer acceptance (P < 0.05) ofthe infant food compared to the treatments formulated with vegetables alone. The results of this study supports the importance of incorporating beef liver in to infant complementary food

Utilization of and Satisfaction With Antenatal Care in Jordan

Aims and objectives: The aims of the study were a) to explore the determinants of both the utilization of antenatal care and the general satisfaction of women with the MCH care system in Jordan; b) to identify the weaknesses of the present MCH care system; and c) to formulate intervention strategies, to improve the utilization of antenatal care and the general health of the mothers and their children

Active Tuberculous Infection among Adult Sudanese Patients on Long Term Peritoneal Dialysis

Introduction: The prevalence of tuberculosis in Sudan is 209 cases per 100,000 populations. There are no reports available regarding the prevalence of tuberculosis among the end-stage kidney disease and dialysis populations.Methods: We reviewed the medical records of all adults who were on peritoneal dialysis (PD) in the Sudan Peritoneal Dialysis Program, during the period from June 2005 to December 2011. Those diagnosed ashaving active tuberculous infections were retrospectively studied regarding their demography, clinical presentation and outcomes.Results: Out of 350 patients in our program, 19 were diagnosed as having active tuberculosis (5.4%). All patients were diagnosed during their first year on peritoneal dialysis, 74% were males; the mean age was37 &#177; 11 years, extrapulmonary tuberculosis was seen in 16/19 (84%) patients and it was abdominal in nine of the 16 (47%) patients. In addition to high clinical suspicion, the diagnosis of active tuberculosis was supported by tissue biopsy findings in 16%, positive polymerase chain reaction in 26%, exudative ascites with suggestive radiological features in 21%, strongly positive tuberculin test in 21% and a favourable response to empirical antituberculous therapy in 26% of patients. HIV test wasnegative in all 19 patients and only one patient tested positive for hepatitis B viral infection. Antituberculous drugs side effects were seen in 68% of patients. Forty seven percent of patients showed complete recovery and continued on peritoneal dialysis. Our case fatality was 32%.Conclusion: Abdominal tuberculosis is common among PD patients and its diagnosis should always be considered in suspected patients

Factors Associated with Contraceptive Use among Jordanian Muslim Women: Implications for Health and Social Policy

The objectives of this quantitative study were to identify factors associated with contraceptive use by Jordanian Muslim women; to estimate factors that predict the variance in contraceptive use; and recommend appropriate health and social policies to enhance quality of life of Jordanian women. A cross -sectional design was used to collect data from 487 married non-pregnant women aged 18 to 49 years who resided in three southern governorates in Jordan using a structured interview guide. Results showed that 63.2% of women used some form of contraceptive method; IUD was the most frequently used method (44.2%). The percentage of women exposed to violence was 5% and 9.2% for physical and verbal abuse respectively. Findings also showed that there was a significant relationship between psychological wellbeing of women and contraceptive use. Furthermore, no relationship between women’s perceived religious stance towards contraceptives and their use. Predictors of contraceptive use were: women aged 40-45 years explained 23.3% of the variance in contraceptive use; and the woman’s approval of contraceptive use for birth spacing explained 21.4% of the variance in contraceptive use. The Islamic stance towards contraceptive use was not significant in these women; however further studies are needed to confirm these findings as well as the generalizability to Muslim women in other countries. The study findings have implications for health and social policies relevant to family planning services in order to enhance and increase the use of contraceptives to reduce the TFR in Jordan. Furthermore, health care providers, social and economical policy makers need to integrate women’s cultural views and contraceptive use in strategies and policies beyond health to improve women’s quality of life and build on the global consensus for women and children to achieve the Millennium Development goals

Comparison of urine with urethral swabs for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in men attending an STD clinic

Urethral swabs and first-catch urine specimens for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis were collected from 370 black men with urethritis who attended a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in Pretoria. An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for C. trachomatis was carried out on all urethral swabs and urine specimens. Chlamydial culture and a direct immunofluorescent antibody (DFA) test (Imagen, Dako, UK) were also carried out on urethral swabs; DFA was used for confirmation of urine EIA positives.Based on culture and/or DFA, C. trachomatis was detected in 96 (26%) urethral swab specimens. The sensitivity of urine EIA investigation was 94% and the specificity 99%, compared with those of urethral swab EIA which. were 97% and 99% respectively. The positive and negative predictive values for urine were 96% and 98% compared with 96% and 99% respectively for urethral swabs. Urine examination was therefore sensitive and specific compared with urethral swab examination in these STD patients. In view of this, the advantage of urine as an alternative to urethral swabs for C. trachomatis detection is that sampling is non-invasive and non-traumatic

Categorization of slope failure in southern Malaysia using total estimated hazard (TEHD) method

Slope is a measure of steepness or the degree of inclination of a feature relative to the horizontal plane. One of the phenomenon or incidents of a slope was called as slope failure or landslide. Slope failure was a major natural disaster that had affected the country in terms of injuries, deaths, property damage, destruction of services, public inconvenience and economic as well as financial losses. Slope failure cases were very serious geologic hazard disaster that happened in many countries around the world. The aim of this paper is to determine the category of slope failure in the state of Johor based on Landslide Hazard Zonation (LHZ). Data were calculated by using Total Estimated Hazard (TEHD) value method which considered six factors effecting the slope failure, including lithology; slope steepness, topography, land use class, annual rainfall and type of soil. Data on the factors were collected from Malaysia Public Works Department (JKR) inspection form, website, and secondary data resource. After that weight for each factor were identified by referring to Landslide Hazard Evaluation Factor (LHEF) rating scheme. Then determination of LHZ was done according to TEHD values which have five hazard zones; (1) very low; (2) low; (3) medium; (4) high; and (5) very high. The results of this study found that out of total fifty two cases there were three medium hazard (MH), twenty seven high hazard (HH) and twenty two very high hazard (VHH). Comparison between actual data from JKR and total 52 locations of slope failure in Johor showed that 94% accuracy, TEHD equation could calculate potential slope failure hazards in Johor very well

Preliminary investigation of myo-inositol phosphates produced by ASUIA279 phytase on MCF-7 cancer cells.

Phytate or myo-inositol hexakisphosphates (IP6) is widely distributed in plants like rice brans. The production of myo-inositol phosphate intermediates has received much attention due to the remarkable potential health benefits offered by the compounds. In this study, the cytotoxicity of the partially purified myo-inositol phosphate fractions and commercial IP1 and IP6 were investigated against MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. The study showed that the commercial standard IP1 and IP6 showed good inhibition towards the MCF-7 cell line. The MCF-7 cells growth was inhibited in minimum concentration of myo-inositol phosphates (<1000 µg/ml). However, no inhibition observed on the MCF-7 cell line by the myo-inositol phosphates fractions partially purified from rice bran at concentration <1000 ?g/ml. The inhibition of MCF-7 was only observed at concentration more than 30 mg/ml with more than 40% cells were inhibited. This indicates that the partially purified rice bran myo-inositol phosphates degraded by ASUIA279 phytase on MCF-7 breast cancer cells exhibit positive results towards the inhibition of cancer cells growth at relatively high concentration

Autolysis of rice bran phytate in long-term study on batch fermentor

Microorganisms especially bacteria produce a diverse of phytate-degrading enzymes. Rice bran is excellent media for bacterial growth and enzymes secretion. The aim of the study was autolysis of rice bran phytate (6%) in long-term on batch fermentor (with constant agitator speed (300 rpm) and fixed air flow rate (0.5kg/cm2). The phytase production in the fermentor was with gradual color change from initial light green to dense green during the fermentation processes. The pH and temperature changes during production of phytase in the rice bran media over 10 weeks were observed. Initial 3 weeks, a reduction in pH from pH 6 to pH 4.2. After the middle of 4thweek and 5thweek considerable increase in pH towards the neutral range was observed i.e. from pH 6.2 to pH 6.99. In the 5thand6thweeks the pH range was found to be pH 7 to pH 7.9. Starting from the beginning of 8thweek to 10thweek pH was in the near alkaline range pH 8-pH 8.2. The temperature of the media during the initial stages of fermentation for first 3 weeks was 22-25°C. Increase in temperature was noticed after the end of the third week. The remaining weeks from 3 to 10 the temperature range was 25°C-29°C. The temperature of the media inside the fermentor was in between 22°C and 29°C throughout the study (environment temperature 20-40°C). Enzymatic partitional hydrolyzed of rice bran phytate into lower myoinsitolphosophates will have many health benefits applications

Design coordination in BIM: Decision criteria for determining tolerances

Building information modeling (BIM) has popularly grown among construction, enabling cross-disciplinary collaborations across the whole life cycle of building construction. Using BIM could improve cost estimates and control, more efficient construction planning and administration, higher design and project quality. However, there are some barriers towards BIM adaptation, including tolerance issues which are the main problems that slow the process of BIM implementation. Thus, this study objective is to identify decision criteria involved in determining the tolerance during BIM-based clash resolution. To do that, the study involves interviewing twenty industry practitioners with experience in managing BIM-based design coordination. The data collected were analyzed using thematic analysis. The analysis results concluded that two criteria groups affect acceptable tolerance: existing standard and project involved categories. The existing standard categories include ‘standard,’ and ‘value.’ While the project involved categories include ‘experience,’ ‘discipline,’’ process,’ and ‘system.’ The research findings would help researchers and industry practitioners determine the tolerance and assist in the BIM implementation