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Abstract: The use of extrusion can be regarded as beneficial due to its short production time and wide variety of foods produced by this method. South Africa as a developing country has been involved in food extrusion since the 1980’s and this technology is gaining momentum in academic research areas. A number of research efforts related to extrusion in South Africa have shown the consumption of extruded dry beans can reduce plasminogen activator inhibitor levels in hyperlipidaemic men; the production of sorghum-cowpea extruded instant porridge resulted in a nutritional acceptable product and can be used to supplement the diet of young children to assist with protein deficiencies. Furthermore, research has proven extruder parameters play a role in the outcome of the product and can influence product properties. Based on these research initiatives, Vaal University of Technology/Centre of Sustainable Livelihoods (VUT/CSL) has acquired an Extrusion Pilot Plant to implement interdisciplinary research of nutrition and engineering science. The research will look at process optimisation studies to obtain maximum product output and evaluating nutritional compositions of the products under various conditions. It is hoped the future research efforts at VUT/CSL will address food and nutrition insecurity and showcase the pilot plant as a testing facility and potential advancement to commercialisation. Keywords: |
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Abstract: Background: Oxidative stress is intensely linked with several pathological manifestations. Searching for medicinal plant with the superior safety profile for the treatment of oxidative stress related disorders are ongoing due to multiple unwanted effects associated with synthetic antioxidants. Therefore the purpose of this study was to examine the phytochemical content, in vitro antioxidant potentiality of crude methanol extract (CME), carbon tetrachloride fraction (CTF), petroleum ether fraction (PEF), chloroform fraction (CLF) and ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) of aerial parts of Gnaphalium luteoalbum (GL) L. Methods: The aerial parts of the GL were extracted with methanol followed by fractionation using carbon tetrachloride, petroleum ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate. The phytochemical screening of this plant was performed by using standard methods to evaluate the existence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, phenols, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, terpenoids and fixed oils. Antioxidant potentiality was estimated by, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl (OH) and nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging tests. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were also measured. Results: Phytochemical analysis of the aerial parts of GL confirmed the presence of carbohydrates, phenols, flavonoids and saponins in crude extract and its all fractions. The CME showed the highest scavenging activity (43.28%) with IC50 of 398.49 μg/mL in the DPPH radical scavenging test. The IC50 values of EAF, CME were statistically significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) with respect to ascorbic acid (ACA). For OH and NO radical scavenging tests maximum scavenging (48.39%, 69.64%) was also reported for CME compared to CTF, PEF, CLF and EAF. Compared to ACA, in case of OH and NO radical scavenging activities the IC50 values of CME were markedly significant (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). In the TAC test, CME showed the highest antioxidant activity (absorbance, 2.6 nm) related to other fractions. TPC was found to be the highest in the CME (115.96 mg of gallic acid equivalent/g of dried extract) rather than other fractions. The ranking order of CTF, PEF, CLF, EAF and CME for TFC was 48.67 < 55.75 < 65.29 < 71.35 < 82.29 mg quercetin equivalent/g of dried extract. Conclusion: The existing study suggested that CME of the aerial parts of GL can be used as a natural source of antioxidant which might be effective towards preventing or slowing oxidative stress related disorders. Keywords: |
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Abstract: Two sliding scale regular human insulin (RHI) algorithms (SSI) were retrospectively evaluated to identify those who develop severe hyperglycemia (blood glucose (BG) > 180 mg/dL) and for glycemic management of continuously-fed, critically ill trauma patients with mild to moderate hyperglycemia (BG 126 to 179 mg/dL). Assignment of low or high SSI was based upon anticipated severity of difficulty in glycemic control. BG was obtained every 3 to 6 hours. Target BG range was 70 to 149 mg/dL. Patients who were unable to achieve a BG < 150 mg/dL with SSI and who required a continuous intravenous RHI infusion were identified. Twenty-five of 121 patients (21%) failed SSI necessitating more intensive insulin therapy. The low and high intensity SSI groups exhibited a baseline BG of 123 + 33 mg/dL and 164 + 20 mg/dL (P = 0.001). Average BG for each group was 129 ± 14 mg/dL and 145 ± 21 mg/dL (P = 0.001). Each group spent 20 ± 4 and 16 ± 5 hours/day within the target BG range (P = 0.001), respectively. Mild hypoglycemia (BG 40 - 60 mg/dL) occurred in 11% and 7% of patients from each group (P = N.S.). Severe hypoglycemia (BG < 40 mg/dL) occurred in zero and two (5%) patients, respectively (P = N.S). SSI served as a useful technique to identify those requiring more intensive insulin therapy and was safe and efficacious for continuously-fed, critically ill trauma patients with mild to moderate hyperglycemia. Keywords: |
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Abstract: Objective: This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of Snake anti-venom Immunoglobulin [IgG] manufactured by Anti-Snake Venom [ASV]/Anti-Rabies [ARV] Serology Laboratory, Health Department, Government of Sindh. Methods: The prospective, observational single arm study was conducted after the approval of IRB. Study included six patients with viper [Echis carinatus sochureki] snakebites referred to the emergency ward of Peoples University of Medical & Health Sciences Hospital, Nawabshah and District Headquarter Hospital Mithi, Sindh, Pakistan with consultation of Clinical and Principal investigator. The study was conducted over a period of three months [August 2015 to November 2015]. All patients were given IV infusion of 10 mL [1 vial] investigational ASV diluted in 100 mL normal saline except one patient who received 5 mL management dose and 5 mL subsequent dose for the recovery of coagulopathy. The efficacy was assessed by Primary and secondary efficacy endpoints, i.e. the dose at which maximum no of patients were treated [permanent restoration of normal blood coagulation tested by 20-minute whole blood clotting test [20-minute WBCT] with minimum toxicity. Results: All patients recovered from coagulopathy after receiving IV infusion of 10 mL investigational ASV diluted in 100 mL normal saline tested by 20-minute WBCT. Mean Recovery time was 9:15 ± 3:25 hours. Conclusion: Safety and efficacy was assessed for the Bivalent Anti venom Immunoglobulin-NQ1 [IgG] manufactured by ASV/ARV Serology Laboratory, Health Department, Government of Sindh.. Keywords: |
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Abstract: Background: The human organism is a complex superorganism including numerous eukaryotic, eubacterial, and archaean cells. The qualitative and quantitative assessment of the microbiota toxicity of chemical agents, i.e., their inhibitory effects on the microbial inhabitants of the human organism in health and disease, seems to hold much value in this context. In this work, a bacterial luminescence-based express test system for microbiota toxicity is applied to neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and histamine. Methods: The biosensor was based on a GM Escherichia coli K12 strain (TGI) that contained the lux operon of the luminescent soil bacterium Photorhabdus luminescencens ZMI. The biosensor was exposed to the action of the tested neurotransmitters for 5 to 60 minutes The intensity of bacterial luminescence (counts.sec-1) was monitored in the control and the experimental samples with a Biotoks 6 ms luminometer (Russia); the toxicity index (T) of the neurotransmitters was determined. Results: A marked toxic effect on bioluminescence was produced by serotonin, histamine, and dopamine at concentrations exceeding 80 µg/ml, 100 µg/ml, and 1 mg/ml, respectively. At lower concentration, these neurotransmitters were “negatively toxic”, i.e. stimulatory in terms of the effect on bacterial luminescence. In contrast, norepinephrine inhibited luminescence at all concentrations tested. Conclusions: The bacterial luminescence-based testing method is applicable to the assessment of the destructive and stimulatory effects of neurotransmitters; the data obtained are of microbiological and clinical relevance. Keywords: |