Poultry farming not only provides high nutritious food but also creates employment opportunity for rural masses. Documented evidences elaborates that helminth parasitism is most deciduous problem of chickens especially in developing world. Ascaridia (A.) galli, a nematode of small intestine, has been considered as the most common and important parasite of chicken. The present study was carried out to investigate prevalence and severity of A. galli in White Leghorn layers (housing type: battery cage and deep litter, 50 each) and Fayoumi-Rhode Island Red crossbred (male and female: 50 each) flock rearing at Government Poultry Farm, Dina, Punjab, Pakistan. Two hundred faecal samples were examined by using standard parasitological and McMaster egg counting technique. The overall prevalence was 24.5% at farm, 13% in White leghorn layer (battery cage=2%, deep litter=24%) and 36% in Fayoumi-Rhode Island Red (male=34%, female=38%). It was also observed that White leghorn layer rearing in deep litter had more severe infection (EPG=1920) of A. galli compare with battery cages birds (EPG=500). Parasite prevalence was significantly related with sex (P<0.05) in Fayoumi-Rhode Island Red and male birds had less number of average parasites (0.34±0.47) as compared to females (0.38±0.490). Additionally, female birds were under serious threat of infection (EPG=2270) compared with its counterpart (EPG=1250). Given the high infection rates, particular attention should be paid to management and provision of feed supplement to White leghorn layer housing in deep litter and female bird of Fayoumi-Rhode Island Red crossbred.

Introduction: To assess outcomes of FHL transfer and V-Y plasty for chronic Achilles rupture due to insertional Achilles tendinopathy. Materials and methods: A case series of 12 patients was conducted between 1st January 2017 and 31st December 2018. The patients had short flexor hallucis longus tendon transfer with gastrocnemius lengthening by V-Y plasty for Achilles tendon rupture. Patients were allowed full weight bearing at six weeks post-operatively, and were followed up at three months and six months post-operatively, when the range of motion of the ankle was examined, and the outcome was assessed using the EFAS score. Results: Of the 12 patients in the study, the majority were males; the mean age was 50.6±8.96 years. A significant improvement in dorsiflexion and plantarflexion was noted at the six-month follow-up compared to the three-month follow-up (P=<0.001 for both). When compared to the normal side, dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the affected ankle were significantly less at three months but were comparable at six months post-operatively. A significant improvement was noted in the mean EFAS score at the sixmonth follow-up (25.5±5.71) compared to three months (18.6±0.90) post-surgery (P=0.001). Males were also noted to have significantly higher EFAS scores at their six-month follow-up than females (P=0.022). In contrast, a negative correlation was noted between the European Foot and Ankle Society (EFAS) score at the final follow-up and age (P=0.011). Conclusion: FHL tendon transfer with V-Y plasty in chronic Achilles rupture due to insertional Achilles tendinopathy is an effective procedure resulting in the restoration of the ankle range of motion and improvement in functional scores.

A multi-centred study was designed to collect dengue epidemiologic data from government and registered private hospitals/clinics and maintained archive of frozen specimens in bio-bank to be used for future dengue epidemic control program, and assess the epidemiology of dengue fever (DF) by evaluating biochemical and oxidative status of patients. ELISA IgM antibodies test was done to confirm DF. From August 2010 to December 2011, 101 confirmed blood samples of DF patients referred to pathology lab of Jinnah Hospital Lahore were subjected to the epidemiologic assessment by evaluating the biochemical and physiological indices and alterations of circulating antioxidants. Clinical features of DF patients and effect of fever on blood components and serum proteins of liver were recorded. The hospital stay in DF, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS) showed significant difference. Significant increases in serum alanine amino transferase (ALT) (P=0.000), aspartate amino transferase (AST) (P=0.000), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P=0.000), malondialdehyde (MDA) along with significant decreases in total protein (TP) (P=0.000), reduced glutathione (GSH) (P=0.000), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) (P=0.000), and sialic acid contents (P=0.016) were observed. A positive correlation existed between bound sialic acid levels, liver enzymes and circulating antioxidants (r=0.656, P=0.016). In the present study, alterations of circulating antioxidants in DF suggest that DF might be a metabolic response to an acute, self-limiting tropical viral infection, and a consequence of the viral inflammatory process.
Adult ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Biomarkers ; blood ; China ; Dengue ; classification ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Objective: Pain is a crucial part of biological mechanism that points out the disruption or impairment in body. It evades further harm by avoiding overuse of the suffering area, and finally promotes physiological homeostasis. Fibromyalgia, a form of chronic pain, does not give signals of damage to the body rather it becomes a potential hazard to the physical and psychological well-being of the person. There is an increased need for management tactics to chronic pain, other than chronic medical illnesses. The present study was aimed to find out the efficacy of CBT in managing chronic pain in patients of fibromyalgia. Method: A total number of 45 participants were approached form different government and private hospitals of Lahore. Initially the participants were assessed on pain intensity and functioning on daily routine activities. After screening total ten participants were further recruited for second phase of this study. The second phase of this study was comprised of two groups; one is control group which received the treatment as usual and the second group was treatment group which received the cognitive behavior therapy to reduce their pain intensity. All the 10 participants were women with the age range of 20-40 years (M=34.60, SD=3.84). Total 9 sessions of CBT with the average of 45 minutes were conducted following the treatment protocol given by Craig and Austin. Results The results showed that two group (treatment and control) were significantly differ on their pre-post pain ratings and their pre-post daily routine functioning. Hence it can be concluded that CBT based treatment protocol works efficiently in reducing pain in patients.

OBJECTIVE: Scandix pecten-veneris L. is a less studied wild edible herb and is considered an extinct plant species in many parts of the world. This study was designed to evaluate its phytochemical composition and biological potential of S. pecten-veneris L. METHODS: Phytochemicals including alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins were determined in extracts of S. pecten-veneris. Antioxidant activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), while reducing power was tested by ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Antimicrobial activity against seven bacterial and four fungal strains was evaluated using agar well diffusion assay. Enzymes inhibition study was performed for urease, phosphodiesterase-I, and catalase-II. RESULTS: S. pecten-veneris showed moderate antiradical activity and reducing potential of hydroxyl radicals to about 20% of the initial value. The antioxidant activity of various extracts of S. pecten-veneris showed a linear correlation with total phenolic contents in the order of water>n-butanol>chloroform>ethyl acetate>methanol extracts. S. pecten-veneris leaves showed the highest inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus while the highest antifungal activity was observed against Candida albicans. The plant extract was most potent against urease enzymes but showed moderate activity against phosphodiestrase-I and carbonic anhydrase-II. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that in addition to its culinary uses, S. pecten-veneris has good medicinal potential and hence could be used for treating some specific health ailments.
Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology* ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Apiaceae/chemistry* ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology* ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors/pharmacology* ; Phytochemicals/analysis* ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Plants, Edible/chemistry* ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects* ; Urease/antagonists & inhibitors*