Drinking water quality of various sources in Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat and Swat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan

Abstract The present study involves the chemical and bacteriological analysis of water from different sources i.e., bore, wells, bottle, and tap, from Peshawar, Mardan, Swat and Kohat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Pakistan. From each district, 50 water samples (10 samples from each source), regardless of urban and rural status, were collected from these sources and analysed for sulphates, nitrates, nitrites, chlorides, total soluble solids and coliforms (E. coli). Results indicated that majority of the water sources had unacceptable E. coli count i.e.> 34 CFU/100mL. E. coli positive samples were high in Mardan District, followed by Kohat, Swat and Peshawar district. Besides this, the some water sources were also chemically contaminated by different inorganic fertilizers (nitrates/nitrites of sodium, potassium) but under safe levels whereas agricultural and industrial wastes (chloride and sulphate compounds) were in unsafe range. Among all districts, the water quality was found comparatively more deteriorated in Kohat and Mardan districts than Peshawar and Swat districts. Such chemically and bacteriologically unfit water sources for drinking and can cause human health problems.

Resumo O presente estudo envolve a análise química e bacteriológica de água de diferentes fontes, ou seja, furo, poços, garrafa e torneira, dos distritos de Peshawar, Mardan, Swat e Kohat da província de Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Paquistão. De cada distrito, 50 amostras de água (10 amostras de cada fonte), independentemente do status urbano e rural, foram coletadas dessas fontes e analisadas para sulfatos, nitratos, nitritos, cloretos, sólidos solúveis totais e coliformes (E. coli). Os resultados indicaram que a maioria das fontes de água tinha uma contagem inaceitável de E. coli, ou seja, > 34 UFC / 100 mL. As amostras positivas para E. coli foram elevadas no distrito de Mardan, seguido por Kohat, Swat e distrito de Peshawar. Além disso, algumas fontes de água também foram contaminadas quimicamente por diferentes fertilizantes inorgânicos (nitratos/nitritos de sódio, potássio), mas em níveis seguros, enquanto os resíduos agrícolas e industriais (compostos de cloreto e sulfato) estavam em níveis inseguros. Entre todos os distritos, a qualidade da água foi considerada comparativamente mais deteriorada nos distritos de Kohat e Mardan do que nos distritos de Peshawar e Swat. Essas fontes de água química e bacteriologicamente impróprias para beber podem causar problemas à saúde humana.

Drinking water quality of various sources in Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat and Swat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan / Qualidade de água potável de váris fontes dos distritos de Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat e Swat da província de Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Paquistão

Abstract The present study involves the chemical and bacteriological analysis of water from different sources i.e., bore, wells, bottle, and tap, from Peshawar, Mardan, Swat and Kohat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Pakistan. From each district, 50 water samples (10 samples from each source), regardless of urban and rural status, were collected from these sources and analysed for sulphates, nitrates, nitrites, chlorides, total soluble solids and coliforms (E. coli). Results indicated that majority of the water sources had unacceptable E. coli count i.e.> 34 CFU/100mL. E. coli positive samples were high in Mardan District, followed by Kohat, Swat and Peshawar district. Besides this, the some water sources were also chemically contaminated by different inorganic fertilizers (nitrates/nitrites of sodium, potassium) but under safe levels whereas agricultural and industrial wastes (chloride and sulphate compounds) were in unsafe range. Among all districts, the water quality was found comparatively more deteriorated in Kohat and Mardan districts than Peshawar and Swat districts. Such chemically and bacteriologically unfit water sources for drinking and can cause human health problems.

Resumo O presente estudo envolve a análise química e bacteriológica de água de diferentes fontes, ou seja, furo, poços, garrafa e torneira, dos distritos de Peshawar, Mardan, Swat e Kohat da província de Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Paquistão. De cada distrito, 50 amostras de água (10 amostras de cada fonte), independentemente do status urbano e rural, foram coletadas dessas fontes e analisadas para sulfatos, nitratos, nitritos, cloretos, sólidos solúveis totais e coliformes (E. coli). Os resultados indicaram que a maioria das fontes de água tinha uma contagem inaceitável de E. coli, ou seja, > 34 UFC / 100 mL. As amostras positivas para E. coli foram elevadas no distrito de Mardan, seguido por Kohat, Swat e distrito de Peshawar. Além disso, algumas fontes de água também foram contaminadas quimicamente por diferentes fertilizantes inorgânicos (nitratos/nitritos de sódio, potássio), mas em níveis seguros, enquanto os resíduos agrícolas e industriais (compostos de cloreto e sulfato) estavam em níveis inseguros. Entre todos os distritos, a qualidade da água foi considerada comparativamente mais deteriorada nos distritos de Kohat e Mardan do que nos distritos de Peshawar e Swat. Essas fontes de água química e bacteriologicamente impróprias para beber podem causar problemas à saúde humana.

Drinking water quality of various sources in Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat and Swat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.

The present study involves the chemical and bacteriological analysis of water from different sources i.e., bore, wells, bottle, and tap, from Peshawar, Mardan, Swat and Kohat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Pakistan. From each district, 50 water samples (10 samples from each source), regardless of urban and rural status, were collected from these sources and analysed for sulphates, nitrates, nitrites, chlorides, total soluble solids and coliforms (E. coli). Results indicated that majority of the water sources had unacceptable E. coli count i.e.> 34 CFU/100mL. E. coli positive samples were high in Mardan District, followed by Kohat, Swat and Peshawar district. Besides this, the some water sources were also chemically contaminated by different inorganic fertilizers (nitrates/nitrites of sodium, potassium) but under safe levels whereas agricultural and industrial wastes (chloride and sulphate compounds) were in unsafe range. Among all districts, the water quality was found comparatively more deteriorated in Kohat and Mardan districts than Peshawar and Swat districts. Such chemically and bacteriologically unfit water sources for drinking and can cause human health problems.

Baboon corpus luteum: size and sex steroid secretion throughout the luteal phase.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the size of the baboon corpus luteum (CL) and levels of plasma P, 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), and E2 in the ovarian vein draining it, the contralateral ovarian vein, and peripheral blood throughout the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Academic department of obstetrics and gynecology in a US medical school. ANIMAL(S): Corpora lutea from a cohort of 27 adult cycling baboons (Papio anubis). INTERVENTION(S): Timed luteectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The authors weighed 166 CL and measured plasma P, 17-OHP, and E(2) in the blood samples obtained at luteectomy. RESULT(S): Early luteal phase corpora lutea weighed 189.1 +/- 12.3 mg (mean +/- SEM); their weight significantly increased to 239.4 +/- 8.4 mg at mid luteal phase and significantly declined to 188.3 +/- 14.0 mg in late luteal phase. Plasma P draining the CL (134.4 +/- 20.5 ng/mL in early, 167.4 +/- 18.7 ng/mL in mid, and 126.4 +/- 23.4 ng/mL in late luteal phase) was significantly higher than that in contralateral ovarian (11.0 +/- 1.4 ng/mL) and peripheral plasma (7.1 +/- 0.9 ng/mL). Similarly, levels of both plasma 17-OHP (10.9 +/- 1.5 to 15.9 +/- 2.4 ng/mL) and E2 (1.6 +/- 0.2 to 2.6 +/- 0.6 ng/mL) draining the CL were significantly higher than those from the contralateral ovary and peripheral blood (17-OHP, 1.1 +/- 0.2 ng/mL; E2, 0.2 +/- 0.05 ng/mL). CONCLUSION(S): Largest in mid luteal phase, the baboon CL secretes P, 17-OHP, and E2 throughout the luteal phase, with the highest levels seen in the ovarian vein draining the CL in the mid compared with the early and late luteal phases.

Effect of the oxytocin antagonist antocin and agonist decomoton on baboon luteal cell production and release of progesterone.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of oxytocin, its antagonist antocin, and agonist decomoton on baboon luteal cell P secretion. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Academic department of obstetrics and gynecology in a US medical school. ANIMAL(S): Luteal-phased timed corpora lutea (CL) from a cohort of adult cycling baboons (Papio anubis). INTERVENTION(S): Dispersed luteal cells from luteal phase baboon CL were cultured and treated with nothing (control), oxytocin (4-400 mU), antocin (4-400 microg), oxytocin with antocin, decomoton (4-400 microg), or oxytocin with decomoton. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Basal and hCG (10 U)-stimulated P were measured in the incubate. RESULT(S): Basal P secretion did not change significantly with all peptides studied. The hCG-stimulated P secretion was significantly inhibited by oxytocin (4-400 mU), antocin (4-400 microg), and antocin combined with oxytocin, and with oxytocin, decomoton, and decomoton combined with oxytocin. Antocin (-12%) was less inhibitory than oxytocin (-25% to -22%). Antocin combined with oxytocin enhanced the inhibition to -35% to -39%. Decomoton had stronger (not significant) inhibition than oxytocin. Mean inhibition was 28%-35% with all doses of oxytocin, decomoton, or combined together. CONCLUSION(S): Although decomoton, an oxytocin agonist inhibited hCG-stimulated luteal cell P secretion in vitro, antocin also acted like an agonist, rather than an antagonist, in inhibiting P secretion.

Requirements of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and mammalian target of rapamycin for estrogen-induced proliferation in uterine leiomyoma- and myometrium-derived cell lines.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of 17beta-estradiol (E2) on G1 cell cycle progression and proliferation in uterine fibroid and myometrial cells and the roles of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and mammalian target of rapamycin in mediating these estrogen effects. STUDY DESIGN: The human uterine smooth muscle-derived cells (UtSM) and uterine leiomyoma-derived cells (UtLM) were treated with varying doses of E2 with or without pretreatment with LY294002, a phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase inhibitor, or rapamycin, a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor. The effects of E2 on cell cycle progression and proliferation and the roles of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and mammalian target of rapamycin in E2-induced effects were studied. RESULTS: Compared with controls, E2 significantly induced G1 cell cycle progression and proliferation in uterine smooth muscle-derived cells and uterine leiomyoma-derived cells. These effects, however, were significantly blocked when LY294002 or rapamycin was used. CONCLUSION: E2 significantly induces G1 cell cycle progression and cell proliferation in uterine smooth muscle-derived cells and uterine leiomyoma-derived cells, in which phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and mammalian target of rapamycin are essentially required.

Clinical efficacy and differential inhibition of menstrual fluid prostaglandin F2alpha in a randomized, double-blind, crossover treatment with placebo, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen in primary dysmenorrhea.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare acetaminophen with ibuprofen for pain relief and menstrual fluid prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) suppression in primary dysmenorrhea. STUDY DESIGN: Twelve subjects were randomized to placebo, acetaminophen (1000 mg orally, 4 x daily for 3 days) or ibuprofen (400 mg orally, 4 x daily for 3 days), once during each cycle in a prospective, double-blinded, crossover study. Using preweighed super absorbent tampons, menstrual fluid was collected, extracted, and PGF2alpha radioimmunoassayed. RESULTS: Ten patients completed the study. Ibuprofen (P = .002) and acetaminophen (P = .022) were rated significantly better than placebo. Total menstrual fluid PGF2alpha with placebo was 36.2 + 6.1 microg but were 14.8 + 3.0 microg with ibuprofen (P = .001) and 21.4 + 3.4 microg with acetaminophen (P = .008). PGF2alpha concentrations with placebo were 0.34 + 0.054 microg/mL, with ibuprofen 0.16 + 0.026 microg/mL (P = .001), and with acetaminophen 0.23 + 0.029 microg/mL (P = .016). CONCLUSION: Both ibuprofen and acetaminophen were superior to placebo for pain relief and menstrual fluid PGF2alpha suppression, with ibuprofen being more potent.

Differential suppression of menstrual fluid prostaglandin F2a, prostaglandin E2, 6-keto prostaglandin F1a and thromboxane B2 by suprofen in women with primary dysmenorrhea.

Eleven women with primary dysmenorrhea completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-way cross-over study comparing 200 and 400mg suprofen. Menstrual fluid volume did not change. Mean+/-S.E.M. menstrual fluid PGF2a was significantly suppressed from 18.9+/-1.9 microg (placebo) to 10.9+/-1.7 and 9.3+/-2.1 microg with 200 and 400 mg suprofen, respectively (p=<0.005). PGE2 dropped from 7.8+/-0.9 to 4.6+/-0.8 and 4.6+/-1.1 microg (p=<0.05) and TxB2 from 17.5+/-4.3 to 7.5+/-2.9 and 3.6+/-1.3 microg (p=<0.01), respectively. 6-Keto PGF1a was significantly suppressed (2.7+/-0.4 to 1.9+/-0.5 microg, p=<0.025) with only 400 mg suprofen. Six subjects rated placebo poor and five fair to very good. In contrast, nine rated suprofen excellent to fair while two rated poor. Thus, suprofen was clinically effective but the differential suppression of prostanoids favors 200mg which spares 6-keto PGF1a.