ABSTRACT
Viperidae venoms contain toxins that are direct or indirect anticoagulants that inhibit the clotting pathway, therefore increasing the risk of bleeding. Several venoms from the families Viperidae contain proteolytic enzymes that exercise some effect on the blood coagulation process. Snake venom toxins which delay blood coagulation are proteins or glycoprotein with molecular weights ranging from 6 kDa to 350 kDa. These factors inhibit blood coagulation by different mechanisms.Some snake venoms contain toxins that are direct or indirect anticoagulants, which inhibit the clotting process, thus increasing the risk of bleeding. Snake venom toxins that prolong blood coagulation are proteins or glycoproteins with molecular masses ranging from 6 to 350 kDa. The crude venom of E. carinatuswas obtained from the Venomous Animals from department of microbiology Hazara University, Mansehra [Pakistan]. Sephadex G-75 and DEAE-Sepharose columns were purchased from Pharmacia [Sweden]. CaCl2 and PT kit was purchased from Fisher Diagnostics [USA]. Protein markers were obtained from BioRad [Hercules, USA]. Other reagents and chemicals were of analytical grade from Fluka and Merck. The anticoagulant fractions [F2C and F2D] isolated in the present work were characterized as proteases, since a photolytic effect was observed on casein, BAPNA or human plasma. Our results showed that the PT value significantly increased in the F2C and F2D fractions as compared with PT value of the crude venom. Inthe present study, the venom of Echiscarinatuswas fractionated by chromatography and each fraction evaluated by PT test. These fractions showed enzymatic activity. Their main components were proteins of molecular weights of about 42, 50 and 79 kDa.. Further studies are needed to verify this hypothesis
ABSTRACT
What are the health-related problems of the aged and why do they feel lonely? To study the health-related problems and loneliness among the elderly in different micro-environment groups. Participants: Aged persons of age 65 years and above. Cross-sectional. Urban and rural area of Abbottabad. 1st Jan, 2012 to 31st Dec, 2012. T-test and Z-test. During the study, it was found that out of the total 361 aged persons of Abbott bad, 311 [86.1%] persons reported one or more health-related complaints, with an average of two illnesses. The illness was higher among the females [59.5%] as compared to males [40.5%]. The main health-related problems were disorders of the circulatory system [51.2%], musculoskeletal system and connective tissue [45.7%]. It was also found that loneliness was prevalent more in females [72.8%] as compared to males [65.6%]. Loneliness was more prevalent among persons who lived alone [92.2%] as compared to those who lived with their spouse [58.9%] or when husband and wife lived with the family [61.4%]. It was higher among the widows [85.2%] and widowers [75.8%] who lived with the family as compared to the aged who lived with the spouse [58.9%] and the aged husband and wife who lived with the family [61.4%]. Special geriatric services should be started in the hospitals as the majority of the aged have one or more health-related problems. The aged persons should be involved in social activities to avoid loneliness among them