Effect of long term exposure to sublethal concentration of imidacloprid on some biochemical and haematological parameters of Grass carp and Goldfish.

During the present research, C. idella and C. auratus fish were exposed to 2 ppm concentration of imidacloprid for 28 and 24 days, respectively, and the effect on biochemical and haematological parameters was investigated. During the study of biochemical parameters, there occurred significant increase (P<0.05) in the serum levels of ALT and creatinine of imidacloprid exposed groups of both species of fish. The level of serum albumin of imidacloprid exposed groups of both fish species was significantly lower as compared to control group (P<0.05). Serum globulin level in imidacloprid exposed group of C. idella was insignificantly lower as compared to control group, however the serum globulin level of C. auratus was significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.05). The level of total proteins in serum of imidacloprid exposed groups of both fish species was insignificantly lower as compared to control groups (P>0.05). During the study of haematological parameters, TLC of C. idella was insignificantly (P>0.05) higher than control group but the TLC of C. auratus was significantly (P<0.05) higher than control. There was also observed increasing trend in the percentage of neutrophils and lymphocytes of imidacloprid exposed group of each fish species. The platelets count of imidacloprid exposed group of each fish species was significantly (P<0.05) lower than control group. The haemoglobin concentration of imidacloprid exposed group of C. idella was significantly lower than control group (P<0.05). In case of C. auratus, the haemoglobin level of imidacloprid exposed group was insignificantly lower than control group (P>0.05). From the finding of the present research it was concluded that 28 days exposure of C. idella and 24 days exposure of C. auratus to 2 ppm concentration of imidacloprid does not cause mortality however the exposure causes alteration in the normal level of biochemical and haematological parameters.

Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress among survivors of the 2005 Pakistani earthquake.

OBJECTIVES: To assess and compare the prevalence of psychological morbidity among survivors of the 2005 northern Pakistan earthquake from Azad Kashmir and the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP). METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among randomly sampled survivors (N = 361) of the earthquake living in camps at the time of the interview, approximately 6 months after the earthquake. RESULTS: The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in the total sample was 51.5% and the prevalence of individuals who received positive scores on the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL) was 75%. The prevalence rates for anxiety and depression symptoms were 77.3% and 70.9%, respectively. The prevalence in Azad Kashmir was 57.9% for PTSD and 79.8% for positive HSCL, and NWFP had 41.3% PTSD and 67.4% positive HSCL. Study subjects from Azad Kashmir were approximately 2 times as likely to have PTSD or a positive HSCL when compared to subjects from NWFP (odds ratio 1.95, confidence interval 1.27-3.0; P = .0024) and (odds ratio 1.91, confidence interval 1.18-3.1; P = .0085), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly half of the northern Pakistan earthquake survivors had symptoms of PTSD. Six months after the incident, more than three-fourths exhibited symptoms of an anxiety disorder.

Longitudinal change in left ventricular hypertrophy in the elderly on antihypertensive therapy.

Left ventricular hypertrophy is an independent risk factor for adverse cardiovascular events. Factors related to left ventricular hypertrophy progression or regression in the extremely elderly population including role of antihypertensive therapy, are not well recognized. We conducted a structured retrospective chart review analysis of a cohort of 100 homebound elderly, predominately female African American subjects. All persons had at least two 2-D echocardiograms interpreted by the same cardiologist prior to the initiation of this study. Information was collected on demographics, functional status, comorbid conditions, use of medication, and progression or regression of left ventricle hypertrophy between baseline and follow-up echocardiogram. At baseline and follow-up echocardiogram, 47% (n = 47) and 56% had evidence of hypertrophy, respectively. There was no association between treatment with beta-blocker, calcium channel-blocker, or diuretic therapy, and left ventricular hypertrophy at follow-up echocardiogram. Only angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor therapy was associated with the progression of left ventricular hypertrophy in all subjects. Logistic regression analysis based on all subjects revealed that risk of left ventricular hypertrophy on follow-up echocardiogram was lower with increasing age (OR 0.95, CI 0.904-0.997) and higher with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor therapy (OR 3.27, CI 1.41-7.63). Among subjects with no evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy at baseline, only the presence of hypertension was associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (OR 4.4, CI 1.19-16.3). Treatment of hypertension in the elderly with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor seemed to worsen left ventricle hypertrophy in this patient population.