Introduction: Children living in orphanages tend to be neglected and may be malnourished. This study assessed the socio-economic background and nutritional status of children living in an orphanage in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the children in Sir Salimullah Muslim Orphanage, Dhaka from January to November 2014. Systematic sampling was adopted to collect data from 232 children using a semi-structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements of the children were taken and the WHO reference growth chart was used to determine the children’s nutritional status. Weight-for-age was categorised by mild, moderate and severe malnutrition. The Pearson Chi-square test was performed to determine the association between the extent of malnutrition and socio-demographic characteristics of the children. Results: The majority of the children (60.3%) in the orphanage were malnourished, with mild, moderate and severe malnourished being 43.1%, 16.8% and 0.4%, respectively. Malnutrition was higher among the boys than girls in the age group of 15-18 years. The orphans suffered significantly (P<0.05) from malnutrition compared to those, who had at least one parent alive. Conclusion: Malnutrition is highly prevalent among children and adolescents under residential care and needs to be addressed. In particular, early identification and intervention can improve the quality of nutritional status of the urban orphanage population. An investigation with a large sample is highly desirable to explore the severity of the problem in the national context.

Albendazole ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antiparasitic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cellulitis ; parasitology ; Eyelid Diseases ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Ivermectin ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myiasis ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Wounds and Injuries ; complications

Aims: Temporary Immersion Bioreactor (TIB) system is an advanced technology for commercial mass production of potato microtubers. Despite of several advantages, this system possess a great risk of culture loss at any stage of micropropagation due to microbial contamination. The aims of this study were to identify microbial contaminants isolated during potato shoot growth in the TIB system, evaluate the efficacy of antimicrobial agents to prevent them, to investigate the effect of those agents in vitro on growth and morphology of potato plantlets. Methodology and results: Six bacteria namely Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Klebsiella, Corynebacterium, Proteus, Bacillus and five fungi Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mucor, Fusarium and Rhizopus were isolated from the TIB system. We examined the effect of three antibacterial (Gentamycin, Vancomycin and Tetracycline) and four antifungal agents (Mencozeb, Propiconazole, Bavistin and Copper oxychloride) on the contaminants and on potato shoot growth. Results show that Gentamycin (50 mg/L) and Propiconazole (0.15%) were most effective against the isolated bacteria (35 mm inhibition zone) and fungi (100%) respectively, whereas Gentamycin in combination with Bavistin showed better performance on potato shoot and root development. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Present study will provide useful guidelines to reduce or eliminate the risk of contamination during micropropagation.

Objective: To isolate compounds from K. pinnata and elucidate their structures and to explore preliminary antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and thombolytic activities of extractives of the plant. Methods: The methanol extract of whole plant of K. pinnata has been subjected to different chromatographic separation and purification processes to isolate the secondary metabolites. The structures of the isolated compounds have been elucidated by extensive NMR studies. The free radical scavenging activity of the crude extract and its different Kupchan fractions were determined on stable radical DPPH. In vitro antimicrobial activity was determined by the disk diffusion method. Cytotoxicity screening has been performed against Artemia salina. Total phenolics content, membrane stabilizing activity and thombolytic activities were assessed by following established protocol. Results: The isolated compounds were identified as glut-5(6)-en-3-one, taraxerone, 3β-friedelanol, β-amyrin-3-acetate, 3,5,7,3',5'-pentahydroxyflavone and β-sitosterol. The chloroform soluble fraction showed potent antioxidant activity of (IC50=80.0 μg/mL) and significant cytotoxicity, while the crude extract demonstrated noticeable total polyphenol content (149.24 mg of GAE/gm of extractive), moderate membrane stabilizing activity and inhibition of clot lysis of blood. Conclusions: The obtained results rationalize the folkloric use of the plant and can be further investigated to isolate the active compounds responsible for the biological activities.

Five fungicides such as rovral, bavistin, cupravit, dithane M-45 and thiovit were tested against conidial germination of Fusarium oxysporum. Dithane M-45 was the most effective against the fungus. Rests of the fungicides were more or less effective in the inhibition of conidial germination after 5~30 minutes immersion in 500~2500 ppm concentration. Five plant extracts(leaf extracts of Ocimum sanctum, Lantana camera, Calotropis procera, Azadirachta indica and Vinca rosea) found to be more or less effective against the fungus. 'Dhup' somke have good inhibitory effect on conidial germination of F. oxysporum.
Azadirachta ; Calotropis ; Fungi ; Fusarium* ; Germination* ; Immersion ; Lantana ; Ocimum ; Piper betle* ; Piper* ; Plant Extracts* ; Plants* ; Smoke* ; Vinca

Effect of ethanolic extracts of Lawsonia inermis, Azadirachta indica, Vinca rosea, Tagetes patula, Ocimum sanctum, Colocasia antiquorum, Adhatoda vasica, Moringa oleifera, Datura metel and Curcuma longa leaf on conidial germination, mycelial growth and sporulation of Aspergillus flavus, A. niger and A. fumigatus were examined. The conidial germination of A. flavus and A. fumigatus were most inhibited by the extract of L. inermis, while that of A. niger was inhibited by A. indica. Other tested plant extracts have a good effect on conidial germination on the selected fungi. The highest mycelial growth of A. flavus (37 mm) was found in V. rosea, but in case of A. niger and A. fumigatus it (38 and 39 mm) was found in D. metel. The lowest (4, 9 and 6 mm) respectively mycelial growth of these fungi found in L. inermis. The highest sporulation (75 x 10(4)/ml) of A. flavus was counted in V. rosea, but in case of A. niger and A. fumigatus those (45 x 10(4) and 55 x 10(4)/ml) were in D. metel and the lowest (5 x 10(4), 12 x 10(4) and 9 x 10(4)/ml) respectively sporulation of these fungi counted in L. inermis plant extract medium.
Justicia ; Aspergillus flavus ; Azadirachta ; Catharanthus ; Colocasia ; Curcuma ; Datura metel ; Ethanol ; Fungi* ; Germination* ; Lawsonia Plant ; Moringa oleifera ; Niger ; Ocimum ; Plant Extracts* ; Plants* ; Poultry* ; Tagetes

Background/Aims: Bangladesh is a densely populated country with an increased incidence of lung cancer, mostly due to smoking. Therefore, elucidating the association of mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 309 (rs2279744) with lung cancer risk from smoking in Bangladeshi population has become necessary. Methods: DNA was extracted from blood samples of 126 lung cancer patient and 133 healthy controls. The MDM2 SNP309 was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), using the restriction enzymes MspA1I. Logistic regression was then carried out to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to estimate the risk of lung cancer. A meta-analysis of SNP309 was also carried out on 12,758 control subjects and 11,638 patient subjects. Results: In multivariate logistic regression, significantly increased risk of lung cancer was observed for MDM2 SNP309 in the dominant model (TG + GG vs. TT: OR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.29 to 3.53). Stratification analysis revealed that age, sex, obesity, and smoking also increases the risk of lung cancer when carrying the MDM2 SNP309. Our meta-analysis revealed that MDM2 SNP309 was considerably associated with lung cancer in Asian populations (TG + GG vs. TT: OR, 1.32; 95% CI , 1.12 to 1.56; p = 0.019 for heterogeneity). Conclusions The MDM2 SNP309 was associated with high risk of lung cancer in Bangladeshi and Asian population, particularly with increased age, smoking, and body mass index.

Narceine methyl ester and narceine are potent alkaloids which were isolated from Corydalis longipes were found effective in vitro at very low concentration, i.e., 100~500 ppm against spore germination of some test plant pathogenic fungi (Alternaria solani, A. tagetica, Cercospora abelmoschi, Curvularia maculans, Erysiphe cichoracearum, E. pisi, Fusarium udum, Helminthosporium oryzae, H. penniseti, Ustilago cynodontis). Among the test, phytopathogens the spores of F. udum, C. maculans and H. penniseti were highly sensitive at 200 ppm. However, spores of E. pisi, A. solani and A. tagetica were less sensitive at low concentration followed by other test fungi. Most of the fungi showed zero or nearly zero percent spore germination at 400 and 500 ppm.
Alkaloids ; Corydalis* ; Fungi* ; Fusarium ; Germination ; Helminthosporium ; Oryza ; Plants ; Spores ; Ustilago

OBJECTIVETo analyze in vivo neuro-pharmacological effects of Alpinia nigra as anxiety is a particular form of behavioral inhibition that occurs in response to novel environmental events.

METHODSIn present study, the extract of Alpinia nigra was evaluated for its central nervous system depressant effect using mice behavioral models, such as hole cross, open field and thiopental sodium induced sleeping time tests for its sedative properties and an elevated plus-maze test for its anxiolytic potential, respectively.

RESULTSIn anxiolytic study, the extract displayed increased percentage of entry into open arm at the dose of 400 and 200 mg/kg. The extract produced a significant (P<0.01) increase in sleeping duration and reduction of onset of sleep compared to sodium thiopental at both doses (200 and 400 mg/kg). The extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) also showed a dose-dependent suppression of motor activity and exploratory activity of the mice in both open field and hole cross test.

CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrates that the treated extract has significant central nervous system depressant effect. Further studies on active constituent of the extract can provide approaches for therapeutic intervention.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effects of methanol extract of Citrus macroptera Montr.fruit in α-amylase inhibitory activity (in vitro) and hypoglycemic activity in normal and glucose induced hyperglycemic rats (in vivo).

METHODSFruits of Citrus macroptera without rind was extracted with pure methanol following cold extraction and tested for presence of phytochemical constituents, α-amylase inhibitory activity, and hypoglycemic effect in normal rats and glucose induced hyperglycemic rats.

RESULTSPresence of saponin, steroid and terpenoid were identified in the extract. The results showed that fruit extract had moderate α-amylase inhibitory activity [IC50 value=(3.638±0.190) mg/mL] as compared to acarbose. Moreover at 500 mg/kg and 1 000 mg/kg doses fruit extract significantly (P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively) reduced fasting blood glucose level in normal rats as compared to glibenclamide (5 mg/kg). In oral glucose tolerance test, 500 mg/kg dose significantly reduced blood glucose level (P<0.05) at 2 h but 1 000 mg/kg dose significantly reduced blood glucose level at 2 h and 3 h (P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively) whereas glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) significantly reduced glucose level at every hour after administration. Overall time effect is also considered extremely significant with F value=23.83 and P value=0.0001 in oral glucose tolerance test.

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that the plant may be a potential source for the development of new oral hypoglycemic agent.