Effects of different traditional and commercial feed on growth, survival and proximate composition of Rohu (Labeo rohita) reared in the semi-intensive composite culture system.

This study was investigated to assess the effects of different traditional and commercial aqua feed on proximate composition, growth performance and survival rate of Labeo rohita reared in the composite semi-intensive culture system. The aqua feeds of various companies (AMG, Supreme, Aqua, Star Floating, Hi-Pro and Punjab feed) used as commercial feed. Farm made feeds were maize gluten and rice polish. For confidentiality, these feeds were randomly given code labels T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7 and T8 which were only known to investigating staffs. There were two replicates for each treatment. In this experiment, higher growth rate was observed in T3 as compared to other treatments. Lesser weight gain was observed in the T1 ( 270.30 ± 0.5 ). The maximum body length ( 19.25 ± 2.19) was found in T3. Similarly, the minimum body length (5.97 ± 2.94) was seen in T2. FCR ratio (2.36 ± 0.01 ) was recorded in T3. Simultaneously, FCR (1.86 ± 0.002 ) was also recorded in T4 that is the perfect ratio for farmers. Higher SGR was noted in T3 (1.62 ± 0.05 ). Overall, T4 showed lesser SGR (1.05 ± 0.001 ). T4 showed the higher crude protein ( 28.66 ± 0.24 % ). In the body composition higher level of fat content was recorded in T3 ( 5.46 ± 0.33 %). These outcomes also proved that the rise in the dietary protein level and lipid content can improve the fish's body crude fats and protein level. Thus, based on growth performance, survival and proximate composition. It is concluded that T3 and T4 may be recommended for commercial culture of L. rohita.

Fungal conversion of chicken-feather waste into biofortified compost.

Poultry industry is amongst highly developed industries of Pakistan, fulfilling the protein demand of rapidly increasing population. On the other hand, the untreated poultry waste is causing several health and environmental problems. The current study was designed to check the potential of keratinolytic fungal species for the conversion of chicken-feather waste into biofortified compost. For the purpose, three fungal species were isolated from soil samples. These strains were pure cultured and then characterized phenotypically and genotypically. BLAST searches of 18S rDNA nucleotide sequence of the fungal isolates revealed that the two fungal isolates belonged to genus Aspergillus and one belonged to genus Chrysosporium. Optimum temperature for Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Chrysosporium queenslandicum was 29, 26 and 25 oC, respectively. A. flavus showed maximum (53%) feather degradation, A. niger degraded feather waste up to 37%, while C. queenslandicum showed 21% keratinolytic activity on chicken feathers at their respective temperature optima. The degradation potential of these fungal species showed their ability to form compost that has agro-industrial importance.

Evaluation of serum lipid profile in patients with hypertension living in a coastal region of Bangladesh.

Serum lipid levels are greatly controlled by genetic and environmental factors. When investigating the relationship between lipid disturbances and hypertension it is necessary to use local data on blood lipid profile in each region. Unfortunately, there is no literature reporting the lipid profile in hypertensive patients in coastal region of Bangladesh. The present study was conducted as a case-control study with 100 hypertensive patients as cases and equal number of normotensive individuals as controls. Socio-demographic, anthropometric and clinical data of both patients and controls were collected. Serum lipid parameters were analyzed biochemically. Independent sample t-test, Chi-Square test and Pearson's correlation test were done for the statistical analysis using the statistical software package SPSS. Our study found that serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), LDL, VLDL, TC/HDL, LDL/HDL were significantly higher (p<0.05) whereas the level of HDL cholesterol was significantly lower in hypertensive patients as compared to control subjects (p<0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis reveals that HDL cholesterol was inversely correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure in both patient and control groups. But serum TC, TG, LDL and HDL cholesterol were directly correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure in both groups. This study explored that hypertensive patients have higher level of TC, TG, LDL and VLDL cholesterol but lower level of HDL cholesterol than the normotensive subjects. Routine investigation of lipid profile in hypertensive patients may help to prevent further aggravation and risks of coronary artery diseases.

Determination of serum antioxidant vitamins, glutathione and MDA levels in panic disorder patients.

There are sufficient experimental evidences to establish the relationship between the elevated level of malondealdehyde (MDA)-the lipid peroxidation product and depleted level of antioxidants (Vitamin A, E, C and glutathione) in several psychiatric disorders. But previously no study was carried out to determine these components in panic disorder (PD) patients of Bangladesh. This study was conducted to assess the serum concentration of antioxidant vitamins, MDA and glutathione in 54 panic disorder patients and 52 healthy volunteers. Patients were recruited from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Bangladesh by random sampling. Serum level of MDA, glutathione and vitamin C were determined by UV spectrophotometric method whereas Vitamins A and E were detected by RP-HPLC method. Data were analyzed by independent t test and Pearson's correlation analysis. It had been found that the PD patients had low level of antioxidants like vitamin A (p=0.041) and vitamin E (p=0.018) than the healthy controls whereas the change of vitamin C is not significant. It had been found that the MDA content was significantly higher (p<0.05) in PD patients than that of controls. There was no significant difference for the glutathione content between the 2 groups. Pearson's correlation coefficient suggested that there were significant negative correlation between the glutathione level and vitamin C (p=0.013) and a positive correlation between the vitamin E and vitamin A (p=0.020) in patient group. Our study reveals that panic disorder patients have considerably higher level of MDA, lower level of antioxidant vitamins and glutathione than the healthy control subjects.

Resistant hypertension: underlying causes and treatment.

Resistant hypertension (RH) is defined as failure to achieve goal blood pressure while receiving a 3 drug regimen at optimal doses that includes a diuretic. The exact prevalence of resistant hypertension is unknown which may vary from 5% to 50%. Patient or clinician-related factors contributing to resistant hypertension include patient's non-adherence to antihypertensive therapy, White-coat effect and pseudo-hypertension and life style factors (Obesity, alcohol, smoking, dietary sodium etc). Several drugs may induce pre-existing hypertension where non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are usually the most common due to their frequent use; whereas oral contraceptives, sympathomimetics (decongestants, anorectics), adrenal steroids and antineoplastic drugs targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway has a good deal of contribution to resistant hypertension. Most common secondary causes of resistant hypertension are obstructive sleep apnea, renal artery stenosis, renal parenchymal disease, and primary aldosteronism while some uncommon causes such as pheochromocytoma, Cushing's disease, thyroid and parathyroid dysfunction; and aortic coarctation also contribute to resistant hypertension. Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are available for the management of resistant hypertension. This article reviews the prevalence, symptoms, causes and treatment of resistant hypertension.

Evaluation of the need for endoscopy to identify low-risk patients presenting with an acute upper gastrointestinal bleed suitable for early discharge.

AIMS: To audit the safety of differing protocol-driven early-discharge policies, from two sites, for low-risk acute upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and determine if default early (<24 h) in-patient endoscopy is necessary. METHODS: All patients with low-risk acute upper GI bleeding presenting to two separate hospital sites in Leeds from August 2002 to March 2005 were identified. Both hospitals operate nurse-led process-driven protocols for discharge within 24 h, but only one includes default endoscopy. Relevant information was obtained from patients' notes, patient administration systems, discharge letters and endoscopy records. RESULTS: 120 patients were admitted to site A and 74 to site B. Median length of stay on the clinical decisions unit was 12.6 h at site A and 9.4 h at site B (p = 0.045). Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed on 89/120 (74%) patients at site A compared with only 7/74 (9%) at site B (p<0.001). Six of 120 (5%) patients from site A were admitted to hospital for further observation compared with 6/74 (8%) from site B (p = 0.38). Of the remaining patients, all were discharged within 24 h, and 8/114 (7%) at site A vs 17/68 (25%) at site B were given hospital clinic follow-up (p<0.001). None of the 194 patients had further bleeding or complications within 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: Patients admitted with a low-risk acute upper GI bleeding can be managed safely by a nurse-led process-driven protocol, based on readily available clinical and laboratory variables, with early discharge <24 h. Avoiding in-patient endoscopy appears to be safe but at the price of greater clinic follow-up.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis complicated with extrarenal abscesses.

We report a 53 years old Saudi man a known diabetic for more than 15 years. He presented with lower abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. He had symptoms and signs of sepsis. He had pancytopenia, renal failure, and his blood culture grew E.Coli. He remained febrile despite antibiotics administration for one week and developed crepitation over both thighs. Radiologically, plain-x ray, ultrasound and CT scan of the abdomen confirmed the presence of air in the left kidney involving the renal parenchyma and the collecting system and extensive gas in subcutaneous tissue of the thighs with abscesses. Repeated surgical drainage of the renal and the extra renal abscesses helped the antibiotic that was continued for several weeks to control the infection. Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a rare but life threatening condition that can be difficult to treat especially if the gas forming organism extends outside the kidney.