Recent Articles

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of developmental disorders defined by a range of behavioral problems including social withdrawal, communication deficits, and stereotypic/repetitive behavior. Patient observation and clinical history rather than biomarkers as known in laboratory analysis are the defining factors. Pathophysiological etiologies remain controversial, but genetic and environmental factors have been discussed in recent years. International research has focused on neurotoxic metals such as mercury and lead, suggesting that these and other metals contribute to the development of the disorder. Since the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria is widely known for its petroleum industry and pollution, we aimed to evaluate if Nigerian children diagnosed with ASD carry a greater burden of toxic metals compared to healthy Nigerian children living in the same region. While the ASD group shows a higher metal concentration in blood and hair, combined with low blood zinc levels, we also determined an unusual metal burden in the healthy group but no zinc deficiency.

This paper draws from the concept of corporate identity as a socially constructed activity of strategising, approached with an understanding that promoting institutional image and identity is among the critical functions of an organisational strategy. Corporate image is most often seen as a compilation of optical fundamentals, which are used in promoting the picture of an institution, because every organisation has an identity and in this, it articulates the shared culture, values and aims, and present a sense of uniqueness that, can help to distinguish the organisation in its spirited educational environment. This conceptual paper draws from secondary and grey literature sources to explore how higher education institutions can promote their corporate identity and reputation in response to the changing competitive educational environment across the globe. We highlight several areas that can be supported in fostering higher education institutions corporate integrity and status.

Alzheimer is one of the most common neurodegenerative disease generally found in the form of dementia in old age population. Advanced age is still considered as most influencing risk factors for this disease. WHO reported that dementia is the seventh leading cause of death in 2018 and affecting about fifty million people worldwide. Aging led to impair protein metabolism in the Alzheimer’s disease. A number of molecular events has been implicated behind this disease. As AD is a chronic neurodegenerative disease and etiology is still unclear, familial AD accounts only 5% of the disease. Then it is important to know about some other hidden risk factors that may play crucial role in the onset of the disease. Thus, this paper focused on the role of genetics, different environmental, oxidative stress factors and its association with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.

Child malnutrition is one of the biggest problems affecting about 195 million under five children in low income countries, such as Malawi. The most common forms of malnutrition are protein-energy malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency, zinc deficiency and Iron deficiency anemia. Complementary foods are generally cereal based and do not meet the nutrient requirement as recommended by the World Health Organization. The aim of this study was to improve iron and zinc contents of the usual traditional maize-based complementary porridge by blending it with high energy and micronutrient rich locally available foods. . Raw materials used in the formulation of the complementary flour underwent simple household level food processing technologies such soaking, roasting and germination. The control complementary flour was prepared from 100% raw maize flour. Individual complementary flours were analyzed for proximate composition using standard methods while iron and zinc were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Pumpkins had significantly high amount of iron (68 mg/100g) and energy (460.03 Kcal) compared to all the ingredients. Zinc was significantly high in pigeon peas roasted at 160 0 C for 40 minutes. The protein content in pigeon peas fluctuated with raw pigeon peas having 14.69 g/100g which was significantly (P=0.05) lower than the protein content of pigeon peas roasted at 40 and 15 minutes (21.25 g and 20.2 g/100g respectively). Significant (P=0.05) increase in the mean iron and zinc contents of germinated finger millet from 11.57 to 13.57 mg/100g were observed at the 48 and 72-hour germination time respectively as compared to 7.6 mg/100g observed in raw finger millet. After proximate composition four complementary porridge flours were developed by blending each of the analyzed flour in varied proportions. Linear programming was used to optimize nutrients of the formulated products to meet micronutrient and macronutrients requirements of the target group. The formulated flour combinations…

Continuous use of chemical fertilizers declines crop yield and deteriorates soil fertility. For sustenance of crop productivity and soil fertility integration of chemical fertilizers with manures is a timely approach. An experiment was, therefore, conducted to evaluate the field performances of different types of manure including cowdung (CD), cowdung slurry (CD slurry), trichocompost (TC), vermicompost (VC), poultry manure (PM) and poultry manure slurry (PM slurry) with integrated use of chemical fertilizers during 2011-12 and 2012-13 at Bangladesh Agricultural University farm. The field trials comprised eight treatments which included T1: Control (no manure or fertilizer), T2: High yield goal (HYG) based 100% chemical fertilizers (CF), T3: CD + CF (IPNS basis), T4: CD slurry + CF (IPNS basis), T5: PM + CF (IPNS basis), T6: PM slurry + CF (IPNS basis), T7: TC + CF (IPNS basis) and T8: VC + CF (IPNS basis). Cowdung, CD slurry, TC and VC were added to soil at 5 t ha-1 while PM and PM slurry were applied at 3 t ha-1. The results revealed that TC and VC containing treatments produced higher crop yield and next to them PM slurry and CD slurry performed better in respect of potato yield. Integrated use of manure and fertilizers gave on an average 6.7-33.7% yield increase in potato over sole chemical fertilizers treatment. The lowest yield was observed in control. These results show that Trichocompost and vermicompost in combination with chemical fertilizers are suitable for quality potato production.

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders of fat, carbohydrate, and protein metabolism that results from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Ulceration of foot in diabetes is common, clinical presentations are variable and management requires early expert assessment. 73 years old patient, an old case of type 2 diabetes mellitus, smoker and on irregular medical treatment was admitted with history of diabetic feet bilateral. Patient also had foul smelling discharge from left foot and had auto amputation of 2nd to 4th toe left foot due to gangrene. On examination patient was restless. General condition was poor. Local examination of left foot revealed gangrene of heel, sole and auto amputation of 3rd and 4th toe. Right foot had superficial ulcers over dorsum of 2nd and 3rd toe. Patient was investigated and broad spectrum antibiotics started after wound debridement and dressing. Blood sugar levels varied between fasting 150mg% to 1701mg% and post prandial up to 234 mg%. Patient was advised aerobic exercises of upper limbs, diabetic diet and oral hypoglycemic agents and has improved.

Introduction:Pharmacy is the art, science and practice of preparing, preserving, compounding and dispensing of drugs and it also includes modern services related to health care including clinical services, reviewing medications for safety and efficacy, and providing drug information. The pharmacy services provided in India seem to be mainly product-sale focused and traditionally practiced with very minimum or negligible focus on the trending or modern clinical services such as patient education on prescribed medication and also over the counter medications which may be taken by the patient. Therefore, strategies are to be implemented and health system reforms need to be introduced to follow the trending clinical services in order to improve the quality of pharmacy services with the main aim of optimizing the patient care. Objective: Assess self-medication and role of pharmacist in patient education in the Department of Pharmacy, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru. Methodology: This was a Hospital based observational study, in which data collection was carried out over a period of 6 months from the outpatient pharmacy. Data was collected after obtaining consent from the patients. A self-designed questionnaire for assessing knowledge on self-medication and patient satisfaction were used for data collection. Then follow-up was made to assess improvement in medication adherence. The data collected was then analyzed using suitable statistical methods. Result: A total of 250 patients were enrolled from the patients visiting out-patient pharmacy. Out of which, 60.8% were females and 39.2% were males. Among both genders females (60.80%) showed more interest in participating in our study. The mean age of the study subjects was found to be 37.86±17.99 years. In our study which involved 250 patients, 42% (n=105) were found to be on self-medication. Out of 42%, 17.20% (n=43) were males and 24.80% (n=62) were females. The age group ranging between 40-59years,…

You cannot live without having your blood cleaned properly. So, when the kidneys have failed completely, a treatment called dialysis can take over the job of filtering and cleaning the blood. A 67 year’s old male diabetic with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) admitted to the hospital with the symptoms of decreased balance, loss of sensation, fear of falling, and decreased endurance during daily activities. In April 2011 due to extreme illness and diagnosed with kidney failure. Patient reports progression of his disease to ESRD in 2016. Patient has been receiving dialysis treatment since ESRD diagnosis 3 days per week.