Detection of nutritional and toxic elements in Pakistani pepper powders using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

In the current study, we applied laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to determine the elemental distribution of nutritional and trace heavy metals in pepper powders available in Pakistan using the standard calibration curve of laser induced breakdown spectroscopic (CC-LIBS) technique. The samples were found to contain elements such as K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn, Al, Pb, Cu, and Cr. In addition, we also identified the atmospheric H-alpha line of hydrogen in the spectra, which was used to estimate the electron number density. To achieve a highly sensitive LIBS system to determine the trace amounts of nutritional and toxic metals in the pepper powders and to achieve the best limit of detection, the LIBS system was optimized by studying the dependency of the LIBS signal intensity on laser irradiance, variation in spacing between the focusing lens and target, as well as on the gate width. To justify the results of the LIBS study, we also determined the concentration of similar (duplicate) peppers by digesting the samples in appropriate solvents using a standard method such as inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The minimum detection limit was obtained for trace heavy metals from the calibration curves. The results of LIBS displayed noteworthy conformity with those acquired from the ICP-OES analysis. The results of both the techniques clearly revealed that K was the most abundant element in all the peppers, followed by Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Al, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cr. The relative accuracy of our LIBS system for different species as compared with the ICP technique was in the range of 0.08-0.3 at 2.5% error confidence. Conclusively, the present work demonstrated the suitability of the LIBS technique due to its rapid, non-destructive, and eco-friendly approach for food security.

Formulation and evaluation of mouth disintegrating tablets of atenolol and atorvastatin

In this study, mouth-disintegrating tablets of atenolol and atorvastatin combination were formulated using superdisintegrants to impart fast disintegration. Fifteen formulations were prepared based on different concentrations of two superdisintegrants, croscarmellose sodium and Kyron-T₁₃₄. Three different techniques such as direct compression, effervescent and sublimation were used to study the effect of manufacturing processes, nature and concentration of superdisintegrants on various features of these tablets. Five formulations were made using each method. Precompression studies like bulk density, tapped density, angle of repose, Carr's compressibility index, Hausner's ratio and compatibility studies such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry were performed. Various features such as hardness, thickness, diameter, weight variation, friability, disintegration time, dissolution studies, wetting time, wetting volume, water absorption ratio, modified disintegration, uniformity of contents and stability were evaluated. Finally results were statistically analyzed by the application of one way ANOVA test. Formulation F₁₃ containing Kyron-T₁₃₄ (6%) and croscarmellose sodium (2%) was found to be the best among all fifteen formulations prepared in all aspects evaluated. Sublimation method is found to be the best among three methods of preparation used.

Retirement and relevant contemplation

Retirement literally means withdrawing from the service. The retirement age varies from country to country, generally between 55 and 70 years. There are many effects of retirement upon retirees. The physical and mental health may be disrupted or decline or may remain unaffected. Early retirement have an increased mortality than those who retired lately. Mandatory retirement is applicable to certain occupation like military personnel and airline pilot. Life after retirement from service may have many options like retired community, charities, tourism, and care for grand children or devote to a hobby or sports. The responsibilities of the Government, family and society are the key for the betterment of retired persons. Staying healthy, maintaining social support, spiritual life, good finance and making daily routine prevent stress after retirement.

Anthropometric assessment in retired geriatric population

Bangladesh is one of the twenty countries in the world with the largest elderly populations, and by 2025, along with four other Asian countries, will account for 44% of world's total elderly population. This rapidly increasing population is a new and important group in terms of social and health policy in the country. As retired geriatric population is increasing day by day and there is a striking increase in their life expectancy and as malnutrition, overweight, obesity is commonly accompanying the elderly and all these leads to many functional impairment and diseases. So, evaluations of anthropometric measurements of retired Geriatric population are essential. This study was done for the evaluation the anthropometric measurement of retired geriatric people. This was a cross-sectional study. A total number of 70 retired subjects 57 years to 90 years were included in this study. All the subjects were evidently healthy both physically and mentally and without known hypertension, diabetes, renal diseases. Another 70 normal adult aged 18 to 55 years were taken as control group. All were obtained from different areas of greater Mymensingh districts of Bangladesh. Height, weight were measured and then Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. In the present study the result were interpreted as a mean of measured values with standard deviation (SD). The data were statistically analyzed by a computer with the statistical package for social science (SPSS) program (version 12.0). Both the descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated using the above programme. The mean+/-SD of BMI of study group was 24.49+/-1.11 and of control group was 23.43+/-1.46, which is a bit higher than the control group and is statistically highly significant. The mean BMI of study group was a bit higher than the control group, yet all the values were within physiological limits. So the retired geriatric population having normal anthropometric measurements in our setting.

What is known to us about renal function of our retired peoples?

BACKGROUND

Bangladesh is one of the twenty countries in the world with the largest elderly populations, and by 2025, along with four other Asian countries, will account for 44% of world's total elderly population. This rapidly increasing population is a new and important group in terms of social and health policy in the country. As retired geriatric population is increasing day by day and there is a striking increase in their life expectancy and a decrease kidney function recognized as risk factor for morbidity and mortality in the elderly so evaluation of the renal function of retired persons are essential.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the renal function of retired geriatric population by estimation of creatinine clearance by Cockcroft-Gault formula.

DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANT

Retired persons aged 57 years and above without known hypertension, diabetes, renal diseases as study group and healthy adult aged 18-55 years as control group were included in this study. All were obtained from different areas of greater Mymensingh districts.

INTERVENTION

Under strict aseptic precaution, venous blood was collected and serum creatinine of all were measured by deproteinization method and then calculation of creatinine clearance was done by using Cock-croft Gault formula.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Serum Creatinine, Creatinine clearance.

RESULT

Significant decrease of creatinine clearance was found in the study group (57 years and above) in comparison to control group (p<0.001). There is progressive decrease of creatinine clearance values by age.

LIMITATION

Calculation of Creatinine clearance by Cock-croft formula is not unambiguous and still not accepted unanimously globally. The other tests of renal function were not done.

CONCLUSION

Though the mean creatinine clearance values were significantly decreased in 57 years and above which was progressively decreased by age, yet values were within normal physiological limits. So the retired geriatric population has good renal function in our setting.

A plant growth promoting rhizobacterium, Paenibacillus polymyxa strain GBR-1, suppresses root-knot nematode

Exposure of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita to various concentrations (5-100%) of culture filtrate of Paenibacillus polymyxa GBR-1 under in vitro conditions significantly reduced egg hatch and caused substantial mortality of its juveniles. The increase in the exposure durations of juveniles to culture filtrate and its concentrations increased the mortality rate. Similarly, higher concentrations increased its inhibitory effect on egg hatch. In higher concentrations (25-100%) egg hatch was inhibited by 84-91% after 2 days of exposures as compared to control in sterile distilled water. Application of various concentrations of culture filtrate extract or bacterial suspension of P. polymyxa GBR-1 into potting soil infested with 2000 J2 of M. incognita, reduced the root galling and nematode populations and increased tomato plant growth and root-mass production compared with untreated control (P< or = 0.05). The beneficial effect of P. polymyxa GBR-1 into potted soil increased exponentially with the increase in dose concentrations. Root gall index was reduced from 4.8 to 1.4 and 1.8 when potting soil was treated with 10% concentrations of culture filtrate extract and bacterial suspension, respectively, compared with untreated control. Application of bacterial suspension of P. polymyxa GBR-1 into potted soil at 3 day pre-inoculation of nematode was the most effective followed by simultaneously and at 2 days post-inoculation; as root galling was reduced by 62.5%, 58.3% and 50.0%, respectively, compared with untreated control.