Ethno-botanical studies from Northern Pakistan

BACKGROUND

In this research paper efforts have been made to document the ethno-botanical knowledge of important plant species found in Northern Pakistan. It includes Thandiani, Galiat, Kaghan, Swat, Buner, Dir, Chitral and Northern Areas of Pakistan. The area has many climatic and vegetation zones or biomes. Locals residing in mountainous areas belonging to various ethnic groups are traditionally utilizing plants over many generations; these ethnic groups have their distinct life style, belief, traditions and cultural heritage.

METHODS

Plant collection and data regarding traditional uses in various areas of Northern Pakistan has been done periodically in different flowering /fruiting seasons. Locals of old age belonging to various ethnic groups were personally interviewed for establishing uses of plants. Photography is done for easy identification and habitat recognition. Collected plant specimens and seeds were preserved. Plant species were dried, mounted, identified and authenticated.

RESULT

135 genera belonging from 66 families of angiosperms and gymnosperms were studied and described.76 species were known to have traditional and ethno botanical uses. Plants have been utilized for many generations. Ethnic groups have distinct life style and have different economic uses for these plants. Due to unsustainable exploitation of natural habitats scarcity of drug plants has occurred. As consequence some species are depleting and may become extinct in near future, e.g. Morchella esculenta, Colchicum lueteum and Viola serpens are just a few of these.

CONCLUSION

Although some sporadic information is available about the flora of this region but very little documented record of the ethno-botanically important plants has been established. It is expected that this research paper will be beneficial for students, researchers, farmers, foresters and general public. On the basis of data obtained it is concluded that ethno-botanical Flora of Northern Pakistan is quite rich and is diverse, due to the difference in altitude, climate and other topographic conditions.

Antioxidant status in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

The present study was carried out to see the levels of vitamin C, vitamin E and total antioxidant (AO) in Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) patients with and without Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). In various previous studies it has been reported that, diabetes, hypertension and smoking are risk factors for CHD and all risk factors were common in these patients.

METHODS

Serum was tested from 80 CHD patients and 21 healthy controls, matched for age, height, and weight.

RESULTS

No significant difference was seen between the age, height and weight of the subjects and controls. CHD patients were mostly male, smokers, over 40 year of age and belonging upper class families. The mean plasma glucose was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in CHD patients having T2DM as compare to CHD patient with out T2DM. Risk factors for CHD, like diabetes, hypertension and smoking were common in these patients. No significant difference was seen in vitamin C level of patients of CHD. Vitamin E level was significantly (p < 0.05) low among the CHD patients as compared to controls and a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in mean vitamin E level was observed among smoker CHD patients as compared to non-smoker CHD patients. But no significant difference in vitamin C and vitamin E levels of CHD patients with diabetes and hypertension were observed when compared with CHD patients having no such complaints. The CHD patients' total antioxidant level was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased as compared to controls.

CONCLUSION

The total AO (Vit. C and E) were not significantly higher in CHD patients with hypertension and diabetes as compared to those patients of CHD having no hypertension and diabetes.

Study of lipoprotein patterns as an atherogenic factor in T2DM patients and their FDRs

BACKGROUND

The present study was carried out to determine the lipoprotein patterns as an atherogenic factor in T2DM (Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus) patients and their FDRS (First Degree Relatives). In various previous studies it has been reported that hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia frequently coexist in T2DM patients which indicate that the diabetic state it self is associated with atherogenic lipid disorders.

METHOD

The present study included 26 Type 2DM (T2DM) patients and 21 apparently healthy First Degree Relative (FDRs) of T2DM patients. Twenty three age matched control not related to diabetics were also included in the study.

RESULTS

The BMI in male patients and FDRs were significantly higher as compared to controls but no significant difference was seen among the BMI of female FDRs. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels of T2DM patients were significantly higher but no significant difference was observed among the FDRs and controls. FPG did not show any significant correlation with the BMI in diabetic patients, FDRs and controls. The lipid profile of patients showed no significant difference, except the mean LDL-Chol of female patients was significantly higher as compared to female controls. HDL-Chol of males FDRs was significantly lower as compared to male controls. LDL-Chol of female FDRs was significantly lower than the female controls. No significant difference was observed in the total cholesterol and the triglycerides level of the patients of T2DM and FDRs but those cases in which pre-beta band appear upon lipoprotein electrophoresis had significantly higher triglyceride levels as compared to those patients in which pre-beta band did not appear.

CONCLUSION

Lipoproteins of the T2DM patients and FDRs group were found to be highly disturbed as compared to the control group and they show a trend of developing atherogenic states in future.

Hepatitis B seropositivity among chronic liver disease patients in Hazara division Pakistan

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus infection is one of the major health problems in the developing countries including Pakistan. The present study was conducted to document the frequency of Hepatitis B seropositivity in patients with chronic liver disease in the Hazara Division.

METHODS

Serum samples were collected form 893 patients suffering from chronic liver disease (CLD) from all parts of the Hazara Division during period July 2000 to July 2002. Hepatitis HBsAg was detected by the immunochromatographic method.

RESULTS

A total of 271 (30.35%) tested positive for HBsAg including 199 males (73.43%) and 72 females (26.56%).

CONCLUSION

There is a high frequency of HBV seropositive individuals of both sexes among patients referred for chronic liver disease. These frequencies obtained for Hazara Division compare well with figures from other parts of Pakistan as well as developing countries.

Hepatitis C seropositivity among chronic liver disease patients in Hazara, Pakistan

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C is rapidly emerging as a major health problem in developing countries including Pakistan. The present study was conducted to document the frequency of Hepatitis C seropositive individuals reporting for hepatitis testing at a referral laboratory.

METHODS

Serum samples were collected from 614 people (436 males and 178 females) referred for chronic liver disease from all parts of Hazara division during the period July 2000 to July 2002. Hepatitis tests were performed by DOT immuno-chromatographic method for anti HCV antibodies.

RESULTS

A total of 251 (40.8%) sera tested positive for anti HCV antibodies, including 184 males (73.3%) and 67 females (26.7%). Of 436 males, 184 (42.2%) tested positive, while among females, 67/178 (37.6%) tested positive; this difference is not statistically significant. However the male/female ratio referred for testing was 2.4:1.

CONCLUSION

There is a high frequency of HCV seropositive individuals of both sexes among patients referred for chronic liver disease. The frequencies obtained for Hazara division compare well with figures from other parts of Pakistan as well as developing countries. The male/female ratio could simply be a reflection of more males coming for treatment and testing in our setting.

Streptozocin and o,p'DDD in the treatment of adrenocortical cancer patients: long-term survival in its adjuvant use

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the efficacy of streptozocin and o.p'DDD (SO) in adrenocortical cancer (ACC) patients since other chemotherapeutic regimens have limited effects.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a phase II study with SO therapy in 40 ACC patients (median age 44 years). Oral o,p'DDD administration (1-4 g/d, every day) was given together with intravenous streptozocin (1 g/d for five days, thereafter 2 g once every three weeks). 5HT3-receptor blocker was used as standard premedication for streptozocin.

RESULTS

The SO therapy was found to have significant effects on disease-free interval (P = 0.02) as well as on survival (P = 0.01) in adjuvantly treated cases (n = 17) in comparison to the patients who did not get any therapy after complete resection (n = 11). Complete or partial response was obtained in 36.4% of patients with measurable disease (n = 22). The overall two-year and five-year survival rates were 70% and 32.5%, respectively. The presence of metastases at diagnosis was identified as a poor prognostic factor (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study necessitates further randomized clinical study of SO therapy in the treatment of ACC, mainly as adjuvant treatment immediately after curative intended surgery, and could be developed into a regular treatment regimen.

Error, bias, and long-branch attraction in data for two chloroplast photosystem genes in seed plants

Sequences of two chloroplast photosystem genes, psaA and psbB, together comprising about 3,500 bp, were obtained for all five major groups of extant seed plants and several outgroups among other vascular plants. Strongly supported, but significantly conflicting, phylogenetic signals were obtained in parsimony analyses from partitions of the data into first and second codon positions versus third positions. In the former, both genes agreed on a monophyletic gymnosperms, with Gnetales closely related to certain conifers. In the latter, Gnetales are inferred to be the sister group of all other seed plants, with gymnosperms paraphyletic. None of the data supported the modern "anthophyte hypothesis," which places Gnetales as the sister group of flowering plants. A series of simulation studies were undertaken to examine the error rate for parsimony inference. Three kinds of errors were examined: random error, systematic bias (both properties of finite data sets), and statistical inconsistency owing to long-branch attraction (an asymptotic property). Parsimony reconstructions were extremely biased for third-position data for psbB. Regardless of the true underlying tree, a tree in which Gnetales are sister to all other seed plants was likely to be reconstructed for these data. None of the combinations of genes or partitions permits the anthophyte tree to be reconstructed with high probability. Simulations of progressively larger data sets indicate the existence of long-branch attraction (statistical inconsistency) for third-position psbB data if either the anthophyte tree or the gymnosperm tree is correct. This is also true for the anthophyte tree using either psaA third positions or psbB first and second positions. A factor contributing to bias and inconsistency is extremely short branches at the base of the seed plant radiation, coupled with extremely high rates in Gnetales and nonseed plant outgroups.