Change of Hemoglobin Level among Exclusively Breastfed Term and Preterm Babies up to Six Months of Age.

There is progressive increase of Hb levels is observed during course of intrauterine development of fetus but high concentrations found at birth. In preterm neonate normal Hb is characteristically deviated from term neonate. Breast milk is the only natural ideal food for both term and preterm babies from birth up to 6 months. Preterm milk was found to contain significantly higher concentrations nutrients particularly iron than term milk. Preterm human milk is more suitable for the premature infant than term human milk. As Hb concentration varies in term and preterm babies in different counties in different feeding practices. The purpose of this longitudinal descriptive study is to find out the pattern of changes in the Hb level among exclusively breastfed preterm and term infants during the first six months of life. This study was carried in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), Mymensingh from September 2016 to February 2018. One hundred fifty (150) neonates both term and preterm were included in this study and followed up to 6 months of age. After admission informed written consent was taken from parents, thorough history taking and clinical examination were done. Data were collected in a pre-designed case record form. All the babies of Group A provided 2mg/kg iron supplementation from 6 weeks for 2 months for universal recommendation. Hb level was measured of all exclusively breast feed babies at admission after birth then next follow-up at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months. All information regarding history, anthropometrics measurement, Hb level was recorded in structural questionnaire. Data analysis was done by SPSS version 20.0. Male were predominant in both groups. Most of the preterm (72.0%) and term babies (65.3%) were delivered by vaginal route. Mean Hb level was found significantly higher among preterm babies than term babies after birth were 16.55g/dl and 15.98g/dl respectively. Sharp fall of Hb concentration was observed after birth up to 6 weeks in both preterm and term babies but Hb level was found significantly lower in preterm in comparison to term babies (9.27gm/dl vs. 9.58gm/dl). In term babies, even after 6 weeks fall of Hb level continued to 3 months of age followed by gradual increase up to 6 months without iron supplementation. Hb level of in preterm babies gradually increased from 6 weeks up to 6 months with universal iron supplementation. Hb level fall sharply up to 6 weeks in both exclusively breastfed term and preterm babies but even after 6 weeks term babies experienced gradual fall of Hb levels up to 3 months. Hb level increases in exclusively breast-fed term babies without iron supplementation from 3 months of age. Hb level in exclusively breastfed preterm babies increase from 6 weeks onward might be effect of universal iron supplementation.

Clinical efficacy of the co-administration of Turmeric and Black seeds (Kalongi) in metabolic syndrome - a double blind randomized controlled trial - TAK-MetS trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of Black seeds and Turmeric alone and its co-administration in lower doses among patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). DESIGN: Double-blind-randomized-controlled trial. SETTING: Hijrat colony, Karachi, Pakistan. INTERVENTION: Apparently healthy males (n=250), who screened positive for MetS, were randomized to either Black seeds (1.5g/day), Turmeric (2.4g/day), its combination (900mg Black seeds and 1.5g Turmeric/day) or placebo for 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: body-mass-index (BMI), body-fat-percent (BF%), waist-circumference (WC), hip-circumference (HC), blood pressure (BP), lipid-profile (cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and c-reactive protein (CRP). RESULTS: At 4 weeks, compared to baseline, Black seed and Turmeric alone showed improvement in BMI, WC and BF%. Combination improved all parameters except HDL-cholesterol with lower FBG and LDL-cholesterol as compared to placebo. At 8 weeks, compared to placebo, Black seeds reduced lipids and FBG, while Turmeric reduced LDL-cholesterol and CRP. Interestingly, combination group with 60% dose of the individual herbs showed an improvement in all parameters from baseline. When compared to placebo, it reduced BF%, FBG, cholesterol, TG, LDL-cholesterol, CRP and raised HDL-cholesterol. CONCLUSION: Turmeric and Black seeds showed improvement in all parameters of metabolic syndrome, when co-administered at 60% of doses of individual herbs with enhanced efficacy and negligible adverse-effects. The combination of Black seeds and Turmeric can therefore, be recommended with lifestyle modification as a starting point for patients with MetS to halt its future complications and progression.

Effects of a high intake of unsaturated and saturated oils on intestinal transference of calcium and calcium mobilization from bone in an ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis.

Intestinal transference of calcium and rate of bone turnover were evaluated in ovariectomized rats fed for 15 days with a high amount (30%) of lipid enriched with monounsaturated (groundnut oil), polyunsaturated (sunflower oil) and saturated (coconut oil) fatty acids. The results were compared with those for sham-operated control and ovariectomized groups fed a normal diet (7% groundnut oil). Irrespective of the saturation and unsaturation characteristics, all lipids (edible oils) used in our study considerably decreased the rate of in situ intestinal transference of calcium. Likewise, the activities of intestinal mucosal enzymes, alkaline phosphatase (AP) and calcium ATPase (Ca2+-ATPase) were decreased significantly in all the segments of the small intestine in a descending gradient. Significant changes in bone turnover and bone calcium (Ca) mobilization were confirmed in these animals by marked alterations in plasma AP activity, urinary calcium and phosphate excretion and calcium to creatinine (Ca:creatinine) ratio. Lipid supplementation (30%) in such ovariectomized rats using groundnut oil (monounsaturated), sunflower oil (polyunsaturated) or coconut oil (saturated) for 15 days further enhanced all of the above observed parameters. These results suggest that the intake of high amounts of lipids with different unsaturation and saturation characteristics may be an important factor in determining bone loss in ovariectomized rats.

Production of fruits and vegetables at the homestead is an important source of vitamin A among women in rural Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin A deficiency is considered to be an important public health problem in Bangladesh. A universal biannual distribution of high-dose vitamin A capsules has been in place for over the past two decades. This supplementation has been beneficial for preschool children. Bangladesh has been exploring more sustainable approaches for all segments of the population. To support this initiative, Helen Keller International has implemented a homegardening promotion project since 1993. This project is executed on a large scale and currently reaches an estimated 244,000 families. METHODS: This paper presents data from 7341 women of reproductive age which were collected as part of the baseline census of a community monitoring system whose objective is to track progress and measure the impact of home-gardening activities. RESULTS: Vitamin A intake in this population derived almost entirely from the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Logistic regression analyses showed that maternal vitamin A intake was determined by qualitative indicators of homestead gardens (type of home garden, the total quantity of provitamin A-rich food produced and the number of fruits and vegetables varieties grown in the garden) after adjusting for socio-economic status. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that traditional production of provitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables in the homestead may provide a valuable contribution to vitamin A intake in communities where alternative dietary sources of vitamin A are scarce.

Inhibition of platelet function by an aspirin-insensitive endothelial cell ADPase. Thromboregulation by endothelial cells.

We previously reported that platelets become unresponsive to agonists when stimulated in combined suspension with aspirin-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Inhibition occurred concomitant with metabolism of platelet-derived endoperoxides to prostacyclin by endothelial cells. We now demonstrate that if aspirin-treated platelets which fully respond to appropriate doses of agonists are exposed to aspirin-treated endothelial cells, they remain unresponsive despite absence of prostacyclin. Platelet inhibition is due in large part to ecto-ADPase activity on the endothelial cells. This was established by incubating aspirin-treated endothelial cells with 14C-ADP. Radio-thin layer chromatography and aggregometry demonstrated that 14C-ADP and induction of platelet activation decreased rapidly and concurrently. AMP accumulated transiently, was further metabolized to adenosine, and deaminated to inosine. The apparent Km of the endothelial cell ADPase was 33-42 microM and the Vmax 17-43 nmol/min per 10(6) cells, values in the range of antithrombotic potential. Thus, at least three complementary systems in human endothelial cells control platelet responsiveness: a cell-associated, aspirin-insensitive ADPase which functions in parallel with fluid phase autacoids such as the aspirin-inhibitable eicosanoids, and the aspirin-insensitive endothelium-derived relaxing factor.

Allergenicity and cross-reactivity of rye grass pollen extracts revealed by monoclonal antibodies.

Using monoclonal antibodies the immunogenic and allergenic characteristics of rye Group I were redefined by SDS-PAGE analysis and immunoblotting. The purified rye Group I from NIH possesses a major component of approximately 34000 Da against which most of the sera from grass-sensitive patients and none from non-atopic volunteers contain specific IgE antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies to rye Group I were raised and used to purify the antigen and to verify the cross-reactivity between grass extracts. The 3 monoclonal antibodies studied recognized different components of timothy grass and 2 of them recognized kentucky june grass but none recognized components of ragweed extracts.

On a national drug policy for Bangladesh.

PIP: On April 27, 1982 the Ministry of Health of the government of Bangladesh, set up an 8-man expert committee to evaluate all the registered pharmaceutical products presently available, and to formulate a draft National Drug Policy. Objectives are: 1) to provide support for ensuring quality and availability of drugs; 2) to reduce drug prices; 3) to eliminate useless, nonessential, and harmful drugs from the market; 4) to promote local production of finished drugs; 5) to ensure coordination among government branches; 6) to develop a drug monitoring and information system; 7) to promote the scientific development and application of unani, ayurvedic, and homeopathic medicines; 8) to improve the standard of hospital and retail pharmacies; and 9) to insure good manufacturing practices. 16 criteria were agreed on as guidelines for evaluating the drugs on the country's market. Drugs in Bangladesh have been classified into 3 categories. The 1st is drugs that are positively harmful. They should be banned immediately and withdrawn from the market. There are 265 locally manufactured drugs and 40 imported drugs in this category. The 2nd, drugs to be slightly reformulated by eliminating some of their requirements. There are 134 drugs in this category. The 3rd is drugs that do not conform to 1 or more of the 16 criteria/guidelines. There are over 500 drugs in this category. The new drug policy will produce a saving of 800 million taka (US $32.4 million). Drug supply in Bangladesh is a problem. The public sector distributes 20% of the total. In the private sector, drugs are supplied through import and local production. Investment for research by the pharmaceutical companies is essential. The principles laid down by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations for the supply of good medicine needs to be put into practice.^ieng