New Issue Published; 9(3)

Methods: Different phytochemical tests were carried out to analyze the plant for active biocomponents. The disc diffusion method was used to screen the plant for different pathogenic bacterial strains. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of various plant bioactive compounds (alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, carbohydrates, and proteins) in variable amount.

Results: Among all solvents extracts, butanoic and aqueous fraction showed abundant presence of bioactive compounds, while n-hexane showed least intensity of various phytochemicals. For antimicrobial potential, methanolic and butanoic fractions showed maximum growth inhibition against all strains tested at 1.5mg disc^-1. Ethyl acetate and n-hexane also showed better activity against all tested bacteria at all concentrations. The most susceptible microbe was Bacillus subtilis. These results further revealed that least activity was recorded by water extracted solvent and showed no activity against Staphylococcus aureus at all concentrations.

Conclusion: The current work highlights the apparent antimicrobial potential of extract derived from of Berberis vulgaris. This plant may be explored for further activities and can be used for the production of antibiotics.  

Methods: Nine hundred female birds of the same age (26 week) were divided in nine groups having one hundred birds in each group.  Three different dietary treatments were offered. The group A, B and C were given feeds having 2750, 2900, 2950 Kcal ME / kg and 14.5%, 15%, 15.5% CP respectively along with 165, 155 and 150 grams peak feed allowance at 60 % production.  The second and third groups were given 10 g separate calcium source in the evening.  The experiment continued for a period of twelve weeks.

Results: The feed intake was significantly lower in group C as compared to A and B. A significantly lower feed cleanup time and higher hatchability percentage was observed in group B compared to groups A and C. The FCR eggs was significantly lower for groups B and C compared to group A.  The FCR chicks was significantly lower in group B and C compared to group A.  The cost of feed to produce chicks was significantly lower for group B compared to group A and C. Feed consumed to produce one chick was higher for group A compared to groups B and C.  The feed cost to produce one chick was highest for group A and lowest for group B.

Conclusion: These results suggested that feed B has lowest feed consumption, cost to produce one chick and feed cleanup time while highest hatchability hence it can be used in the broiler breeder industry to decrease the cost of production and increase profitability.  

Methods: A total of 457 married women aged 18-60 years, who referred to health centers in Khorramabad city, were included in this cross-sectional study using a multi-stage (stratified-cluster-random) sampling method. Information on demographic characteristics, pregnancy history, cervical cancer screening status, including taking or not taking screening tests so far, frequency and intervals of screening and the reason for not taking screening tests were collected using a multi-part questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results: The mean age of participants in the study was 36.1± 9.69 years. About 66.7% of the participants stated that they had the history of taking at least one Pap smear (Papanicolaou smear) by the time of the study. The age of first Pap smear in most participants was 25-29 years and the frequency of taking a Pap smear test in most cases (28.9%) was once. Most participants reported that they did not take Pap tests because they were unaware of the importance and necessity of taking a Pap smear test. The frequency of Pap smear screening in the women surveyed was statistically significant by age (PV=0.001), education level (PV<0.001), occupation (PV=0.001), and place of residence (PV=0.001).   

Conclusion: The level of awareness and subsequently cervical cancer screening frequency can be increased in women of the community with proper planning and training women in the community at various levels, including the comprehensive health center.  

Methods: From August to December 2021, cross-sectional research was undertaken at the Department of Radiology, Amin Medical Complex, Sialkot. This research comprised participants of both gender having knee discomfort, ranging in age from forty to eighty yrs. SPSS version 24 was employed to record the data and analyze the information.

Results: Total 100 Patients (M=45, F=55) were enrolled in this study. Out of 100 participants with knee pain 45(45%) patients had abnormal knee radiographic findings. Osteoarthritis of the knee accounted for 35% of all abnormal radiographic findings in this study, with synovial effusion accounting for 8% of the total, and erosion only contributing for 2%. Knee osteoarthritis was found to be more prevalent in females than in males (24% vs. 11%), demonstrating that gender is a significant predictor for knee osteoarthritic disease. Findings corroborate the implementation of the Kellgren-Lawrence marking scheme to characterize Knee osteoarthritis in population research.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that radiographic aspects of knee Osteoarthritis are substantially linked to knee discomfort, and that it is more frequent in people over the age of 55. Knee osteoarthritis is substantially linked with gender, with females suffering from it at a higher rate. The findings authenticate the implementation of the Kellgren-Lawrence grading scheme to characterize Knee osteoarthritis in population research. 

Methods: 516 subjects are included in the study from different HIV centers of Pakistan. The test results of Calypte-HIV-1 Urine EIA were compared with the routinely used 3-kit method.

Results: The results exhibited 100% specificity but low sensitivity (74.67%). However, the positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 100% and 52.94%, respectively. Overall accuracy result for this kit was observed to be 81.40% for Calypte HIV-1 Urine EIA in the selected sample.

Conclusion: Pakistan has a low population prevalence of HIV and keeping in view of the WHO recommended guidelines for HIV testing, the use of Calypte HIV-1 Urine EIA is not ideal in the current scenario. Even though the test can be of great value in high prevalence populations and can be an excellent means of surveillance procedures, it is not as fit to be used in diagnostic settings in the current situation in developing countries. 

Methods: The duration of this cross-sectional study was 6 months, from December 2018 to May 2019. ANA profiles of 155 subjects were evaluated using the indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) technique.

Results: Amongst 155 enrolled subjects 101(65.2%) were females and 54(34.8%) were males. Rheumatoid factor was positive in 61 (39.3%) patients. ANA was found positive in 35 (22.5%) individuals, 5(14.3%) males, and 30(85.7%) females. Homogenous pattern was positive in 25(71.4%), 5(14.3%) fine speckled, 5(14.3%) centromere, and 1(2.8%) presented nuclear dots. The most frequent titer observed was 1/320 in 14(40%) individuals.

Conclusion: The homogenous pattern was frequently observed patterns ANA positive subjects. There was also a significant relationship between age group and their patterns. The homogenous pattern was most frequent among the 60-69-year age group. 

Methods: A total of 102 participants with problems in the gastrointestinal tract were taken from June 2021 to May 2022. Stool antigen was performed to confirm H. pylori infection. A complete blood count (CBC) was also performed on the blood sample. 

Results: The current study showed that a total of 102 samples were collected in this study. It was concluded that out of 102 participants, 63 (61.8%) were H. pylori positive and 39 (38.2%) were H. pylori-negative participants. Females were more infected with H. pylori 38 (60.3%) as compared to males 25 (39.7). The frequency of factors such as smoking (52% vs 51%), weekly consumption of junk food (52.4% vs 43.6%), fizzy drinks (33.3% vs 23.1%) and drinking of unfiltered water (54% vs 53%) was more in H. pylori-infected group compared with the uninfected group but difference was not statistically significant with odds ratio less than 1.

Conclusion: The current study concluded that female genders, ethnicities, and history of stomach infection are risk factors for H. pylori. Exposure to Smoking, unfiltered drinking water, fizzy drinks, and Junk food is more in the affected group than in the unaffected group. 

Methods: Records and observations were carried out from May 2019 to September 2020 at the collection site of the biological polygon of the Federal State Budgetary Research Institution Siberian Physical and Technical Institute in the Novosibirsk Region.

Results: During the years of the study, the weather conditions of the spring period developed successfully for the growth and development of strawberries. Thus, on average, over the years of the study, high yields were shown of different maturity groups.

Conclusion: The obtained yield indicators obtained were not inferior to previously zoned and local varieties, which shows that planting can be carried out both in traditional soil and in soilless culture. Thus, the quality and quantity of fruits does not change with the physicochemical properties or methods of cultivation but depends on the age of the plant and the seasonal crop cycle.. 

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial that was carried out on 95 patients with confirmed cutaneous leishmaniasis. The subjects were assigned to an intervention and a control group. All patients received the standard treatment for leishmaniasis. In addition, the intervention group received a 5% ointment prepared from the methanolic extract of S. ebulus fruit, while the control group received a placebo. Healing rate and clinical characteristics of the lesions were assessed before the intervention and once weekly until complete epithelialization of the lesions (or up to 12 weeks).

Results: The 5% topical ointment of S. ebulus fruit had no significant effect on healing probability, healing rate or treatment outcome, but it significantly reduced the lesion size.

Conclusion: Combination therapy with pentavalent antimonials and the S. ebulus fruit ointment could significantly reduce the lesion size but has no effect on the treatment outcome. 

Methods: An online cross-sectional survey of 200 participants was conducted from eight different regions (Jawa Timur, DKI Jakarta, Kalimantan Tengah, Yogyakarta, Bali, Sulawesi Selatan, Jawa Tengah) of Indonesia who speak Bahasa. A standardized questionnaire was used to obtain information about COVID-19 impacts on health, employment, the economy, and social life from the respondents. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were conducted to analyze the data.

Results: According to the findings, out of 200 participants, 40% stated that the impact of COVID-19 did not affect their salary. People under the age of 20 with an intermediate education who worked in government sectors were more likely to lose their jobs (p-value 0.05), which would result in a loss in salary that would have an impact on the education of their children. Only the "use of hand sanitizers" indicated a statistically significant difference between the practices of male and female respondents (p-value = 0.038), which is one of the activities that helps to prevent fever and respiratory difficulties during the present pandemic.

Conclusion: The finding of the study depicted that COVID-19 has no immediate collateral effects on the economy of the study participants. However, the pandemic has a negative impact on the employment, health, and social life of the people. To mitigate the negative effects of this pandemic on health, employment, economy, and social life, a complete evaluation of COVID-19 impacts, as well as public health interventions, should be conducted. 

Methods: This work included eighty women aged between (22-60) years. Sixty were afflicted with RA and attended the department of rheumatology and medical rehabilitation centre for rheumatic diseases at Rzgary teaching hospital-Erbil, Iraq, compared to twenty healthy women. The concentrations of Anti-CCP antibodies as a diagnostic test, Vitamin D3 and IL-17, were assessed by ELISA. The Mann-Whitney U test and normality were applied for the statistical analysis of the results. Also, the relationship between the study parameters was examined using Pearson's correlation.  The ideal cutoff value for IL-17 with the highest sensitivity and specificity was detected using a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve.   

Results: This study revealed that serum IL-17 levels were significantly higher in RA women than in the control group (p < 0.001) and that serum VD3 levels were significantly lower in RA women than in healthy controls. Seropositive anti-CCP Ab was found in about 42% of RA patients.  The pro-inflammatory IL-17 serum level was positively correlated with vitamin D, age, and obesity in RA women. The best IL-17 cutoff for predicting the presence of RA was 69.5 pg/ML, with a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 75%. 

Conclusion: In patients with RA, vitamin D deficiency was common and correlated with age. Consequently, a high level of suspicion is needed when assessing at-risk patients, particularly women who complain of vitamin D deficiency. 

Methods: Preparation of magnesium oxide nanoparticles was conducted by sol-gel method at room temperature. For anti-parasitic activity of nanoparticles and commercially available anthelmintics, the adult worms and eggs (collected from gravid female worms) were subjected to adult motility assay and egg hatch assay, respectively. The relative efficacy of both nanoparticles and anthelmintics was classified by identifying the lethal dose LC50.

Results: Wormicidal effects of MgO-NPs were found to depend on both the concentration and the amount of time, they were exposed to. The lower concentrations of the nanoparticle (1 to 5 µg/mL) have not shown any mortality during the first four hours of the incubation. However, the higher concentrations of the nanoparticle (10, 15, 20, and 25 µg/mL) harmed the parasite during this time. The highest dose (25 µg/mL) was capable of killing almost all the worms during the first 16 hours. The highest concentration of nanoparticle induced 90±2.89% egg hatch inhibition and 91±3.3% adulticidal activity for egg hatch assay and adult motility assay, respectively.

Conclusion: Magnesium oxide nanoparticles have shown potent anti-parasitic properties. The study may provide potential alternative anthelmintic to control gastrointestinal parasites particularly haemonchosis in the scenario of emerging anthelmintic resistance.  

Methods: The present study was conducted to study the effects of NaCl stress on three pea (Pisum sativum) cultivars (Climax, Lina Pak and Pea-267) of different maturity level (Late, early, and mid-season flowering) under In vitro conditions. Two weeks old In vitro grown shoots of three pea cultivars were subjected to stress condition in MS medium supplemented with five levels of NaCl (0, 20, 40, 80 and 100mM NaCl) for one month and different morphological and physio-biochemical traits including length of shoot, number of leaves, shoot biomass, chlorophyll, proline and total phenolic content, total proteins and non-enzymatic antioxidant (DPPH) activities were studied.

Results: The results were analyzed using different statistical approaches (ANOVA, MNOVA, PCA, correlation and regression) to identify the tolerance level of each genotype. Shoot length and shoot fresh weight were increased at 20 and 40mM in Climax, while proline content progressively increased with an increase in stress concentration in all the genotypes. Total protein content increased in cvs. Climax and Pea-267 and  decreased in Lina Pak above 20mM and DPPH was increased in Climax and Pea-267 at 20 and 40mM, while in Lina Pak it showed an increase at only 20mM NaCl concentration. According to the results of MNOVA and regression analysis, significant changes occurred in biomass, proline content and DPPH values. A strong positive correlation of shoot dry weight was found with total phenolic and proline content. Maximum value of stress tolerance index was recorded for Climax.

Conclusion: Biplot analysis clustered cvs. Climax and Pea-267 cultivars into tolerant group and Lina Pak in sensitive group based on the mean performance of studied parameters to NaCl stress and control treatments.  

Methods: The methanolic extracts of two different variants of F. assa-foetida and B. persicum gum-resin were prepared and then antioxidant effects were evaluated by ferric reducing-antioxidant power assay.

Results: Our results showed that methanolic extracts of B. persicum gum-resin could significantly revealed antioxidant effect in comparison to two different variants of F. assa-foetida (P<0.05). While antioxidant capacity between bitter and sweet varieties of F. assa-foetida were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Our results showed that both B. persicum and the bitter and sweet varieties of F. assa-foetida native to Ilam province, located in west of Iran, could have medicinal therapeutic effects relatively through direct oxidation prevention.  

Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional descriptive study. People in the study were 40 medical students at Ilam University of Medical Sciences. The study population was randomly selected from boy and girl medical students. Questionnaires were adjusted based on the partial goals and research questions of design. The questions were designed in three categories of operation, belief, and knowledge about the use of antianxiety and antidepressant herbs.

Results: The results of this study showed that 70% of medical students do not recommend herbs for the treatment of anxiety and depression. And 60% of them prefer to use antianxiety and antidepressant herbs to treat their anxiety and depression. Also, 70% of medical students believe that herbs for anxiety and depression should be prescribed under medical care and 80% of them believe that herbal medicines are effective for anxiety and depression. 65% of medical students have aware that herbs for anxiety and depression are harmless, and 85% of them are aware that medical herbs are effective in treating anxiety and depression. Hypericum perforatum L., Crocus sativus L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck, Valeriana officinalis L., Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Thymbera spicata L., Echium amoenum Fisch. & C.A.Mey., Elissa officinalis L., Viola odorata L., Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad and Aloysia aloysioides Loes. & Moldenke are used in both cases of depression and agitation too. Rosemary, Sanibal al-Tayyib, and savory plants are used in anxiety, and lemon, fennel, thyme, and violet performance are used in depression.

Conclusion: In general performance, belief, and attitude of medical students besides the use of anti-anxiety and antidepressant herbs were relatively good, but it’s suggested that the relevant authorities pay more attention to this article including the group media and universities.  

Methods: The total antioxidant capacity of essential oils was measured via ELISA Reader at 570 nm.

Results: The total antioxidant capacities of oak, thyme, and watermelon were 4.1, 2.35, and 0.46 (mmol Fe2⁺/L), respectively.

Conclusion: The investigated traditional Iranian edible herbs are rich sources of natural antioxidant compounds.  As a result, T. spicata and Q. brantii could be used in pharmaceutical and food industries as natural antioxidants and food products.