JBAS Articles
Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences - Volume 8 Number 2
Frequency of Vitamin B12 and Red Cell Folate Deficiency in Macrocytic Anaemia
Tanweer Ahmed, A. Sabeen Rahman, Shaista Ahmed, Afshan Siddiqui, Aisha Javed, Jawed Kamal and Laeeq Ahmed
http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.68
Abstract: Background: Macrocytosis refers to a condition in which red blood cells are larger than normal, with or without anemia. Macrocytic anemia occur due to variety of illnesses and requires further clinical and laboratory assessment. Both folate and vitamin B12 have been known to cause macrocytic anemia since the deficiencies of these two vitamins are very common in Pakistan, it would be imperative to investigate their role in causing megaloblastic anemia.
Objective: To determine the frequency of vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies in cases of macrocytic anemia.
Material and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the department of medicine of Abbasi Shaheed hospital from January 2012 to June 2012. A total of 95 patients (65 males and 30 females) with an age of above 13 years, who admitted with macrocytic anemia (MCV>96) with hemoglobin < 12 mg/dl in females and < 13 mg/dl in males were enrolled and data pertaining to complete blood count, serum level of vitamin B12 and RBC folate were analyzed.
Result: A total of 95 patients (65 males and 30 females) with hemoglobin < 12 mg/dl in females and < 13 mg/dl in males were taken. Mostly were non vegetarian and majority of the patients belongs to age group of 34-54 years. It was found that 69 patients (48 males and 21 females) from total of 95 had vitamin B12 deficiency which is 72.6% and 43 patients (20 males and 23 females) from total of 95 had folate deficiency which is 45.26%.
Conclusion: Our study concludes that vitamin B12 is a major contributing factor of macrocytic anemia in our population. Dietary insufficiency, poor absorption and increase demand might be contributing to high prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in our population. Therefore our medical community should seriously consider the merit of early screening for vitamin B12 deficiency and take precautions against the clinical consequences of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Keywords: Macrocytic anemia, vitamin B12, folate, megaloblastic anemia.
Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences - Volume 8 Number 2
In Vitro Comparative Study on Antiherpetic Effect of Chlorhexidine and Persica Mouthwashes with Acyclovir
Sara Pourshahidi, Fahimeh Rezazadeh, Mohammad Motamedifar, Mahdi Davarmanesh, Hooman Ebrahimi and Abbas Alipour
http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.05
Abstract: Introduction: Recurrent intraoral herpes in one of the common oral diseases that causes painful ulcers and viral shedding. The question was if chlorhexidine and persica mouthwashes has antiviral effects comparing to acyclovir.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, virucidal effects of both mouthwashes were examined, before and after HSV-1 infection of the vero cells, in the presence of various concentrations (½,¼,¹/8) of mouthwashes applied at different time intervals(0.5,1,5 minutes), by using quantal assays then were compared with acyclovir. The data were analyzed by one way and two way ANOVA.
Results: Before inoculation, both mouthwashes showed virucidal effects on HSV-1, at all concentrations and persica showed more virucidal effect than chlorhexidine and acyclovir (p=0.0001,p= 0.04, respectively). After virus inoculation although persica and chlorhexidine indicated antiviral effect, this already were so far less than that of acyclovir which caused more significant reduction on virus titer (p=0.0001).
Conclusion: Because of the better direct anti-HSV effect of the herbal mouthwash, persica, and its less side effects than chlorhexidine, it can be used for reduction of oral fluid contamination caused by viral shedding and also reduction of infectivity of oral ulcers.
Keyword: Herbal mouthwash, chemical mouthwash, acyclovir, HSV1, ulcer oral.
Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences - Volume 8 Number 2
Effect of Different Infestation Levels of Chilo Infuscatellus (Snellen) on Quantity and Quality Parameters of Sugarcane
Raza Muhammad, Maqsood Anwar Rustamani, Nazir Ahmad and Qadeer Ahmad
http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.67
Abstract: Population dynamics of sugarcane stem borer on commercial varieties of sugarcane were evaluated. The adults of Chilo infuscatellus (Snellen) emerged from over wintering larvae during fourth week of February. The population of adults of C. infuscatellus remained low in early vegetative growth stage of sugarcane crop. The number of moth/ trap increased gradually as the growth of the crop advanced and the maximum population of 37.4± 2.20 was recorded during August. When mean number of 18.98 moth/ trap were collected. The population of C. infuscatellus was declined after August and 28.6±2.42, 14.6 ± 1.74 moths were captured/ trap in month of September and October, respectively. The infestation of sugarcane stem borers was inversely proportional to the quantity and quality of sugarcane. Maximum cane weight of 13.5 ± 0.21 and 12.1± 0.05 kg were recorded in CPF-237 and Thatta-10 varieties at 0% infestation level, while minimum at 20% infestation (9.3±0.12 and 8.5 ±0.12 kg), respectively. Highest sugar recovery (11.0 ±0.08 and 10.2±0.11%) was observed at 0% infestation while lowest (9.3±0.12 and 8.5 ±0.12%) at 20% infestation in both the varieties.
Keywords: Infestation, Chilo infuscatellus, quantity, quality, sugarcane.
Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences - Volume 8 Number 2
Effect of Heavy Metal Pollution on Leaf Litter Decomposition of Two Species of Mangroves, Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata
Waqar Ahmed and S. Shahid Shaukat
http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.66
Abstract: Decomposition of litter is influenced by physicochemical characteristics of the habitat which is affected by pollution. In this study the effect of heavy metals on leaf litter decomposition of two mangrove species, Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata is investigated. An experiment was conducted in which litter bags were half-buried in mangrove soil in earthen pots in a greenhouse in which close to natural conditions were maintained and they were treated with 0, 5 and 10 ppm Ni and Pb as a solution of sea water for 16 weeks. Periodic observations were taken on the dry weight remaining and the four factor ANOVA was performed. All four factors (species, heavy metals, concentrations, time) were found to be significant (P at the most 0.05) while some of the interactions were also significant. Half-life and rate of decomposition, k were calculated on the basis of 12 periodic weight loss observations. The litter decomposition followed an exponential decay curve in all cases. The highest rate of decomposition (0.0155 gDWd-1) and the shortest half life (7.44 days) were found for the control of Avicennia marina. In general, decomposition rate of A. marina was more rapid compared to that of R. mucronata. Whereas, the decomposition in treatments with heavy metals were found to be slower than in the controls, the minimum of which (0.0105 gDWd-1) and the longest half life (18.17 days) were found in Rhizophora mucronata leaves treated with 10 ppm Pb. Lead appears to be more inhibitory to the process of litter decomposition compared to nickel. The two mangrove species responded differentially to the heavy metal concentrations. The influence of heavy metals in the decomposition process is discussed.
Keywords: Litter Decomposition, Heavy metals, Avicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronata.
Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences - Volume 8 Number 2
Exponential Sum Modeling of Reswick and Rogers Pressure-Duration Curve: A New Analysis and Model
Oscar A. Linares, Darko Stefanovski and Raymond C. Boston
http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.64
Abstract: Reswick and Rogers model is not valid for predicting the effects of short- and long-time tissue exposures to contact pressures because it lacks intercepts. A different model, without those asymptotic properties, that could fit the shape of the curve well, could potentially provide useful information. We used modeling to test the hypotheses that an exponential model could fit Reswick and Rogers pressure-duration curve, and, if so, to determine the order of the best fit exponential model. Up to four exponential sum models were fit. Three exponentials provided the best fit [Weighted sum-of-squared residuals 72, Akaike Information Criterion 89, r=0.997]. Thereby identifying three homogeneously distinct anatomical pressure-load containing tissue compartments: skin, fat, and muscle. A fourth compartment, bone, could not be identified because of limited resolution of the data. Our results suggest that the fat pressure-load containing compartment may play an adaptive compensatory preventive role in response to pressure loads—“a cushion effect.” Exponential sum modeling of pressure-duration curves provides a new approach for studying the dynamics of compression in normal and disease states in humans, and it may be useful for practical application at the point-of-care to assist with prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers.
Keywords: Nonlinear regression, curve fitting, parameter estimation, modeling, pressure sores, pressure ulcers, wounds, pressure-duration curve, SAAM, WinSAAM.