ABSTRACT
Aims@#Aerobic rice is a potential crop introduced to encourage water conservation in rice planting. However, a decline of aerobic rice yield has been reported and thus this study was initiated with the aim to observe the response of microbial community in this environment which are exposed to various plant growth stage and soil types. @*Methodology and results@#To determine the effect of soil types such as peat and sandy clay loam on microbial community. A total of four growth stages were tested namely vegetative, reproductive, ripening and maturing. To determine the influence of growth stages and soil types towards microbial community in aerobic rice, Biolog Ecoplate™ technique was used to quantify the response of microbial community through microbial functional diversity and carbon source utilization. The abundance of culturable aerobic bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, nitrogen-fixing microorganism and phosphate-solubilizing microorganism were determined using five different selective media. Soil physical and chemical properties as well as total nitrogen in plant tissues were also determined. It was found that microbial functional diversity during plant growth (except for microbial evenness) varied between the soil types. Correlation analysis revealed different relationships between carbon source utilization and microbial functional diversity in both soil types. @*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#Microbial community in rhizosphere responded according to plant development which is primarily determined by soil type. Therefore, it is concluded that soil type particularly the soil physical and chemical properties are important factors in shaping the microbial community by directly influencing the rhizosphere environment.
ABSTRACT
Hypertension is commonly found in patients with Diabetic Kidney Disease [DKD]. Microalbuminuria is the first clinical sign of involvement of kidneys in patients with type 2 diabetes. Uncontrolled hypertension induces a higher risk of cardiovascular events, including death, increasing proteinuria and progression to kidney disease. To determine the correlation between microalbuminuria and hypertension and their association with other risk factors in type 2 diabetic patients. One hundred and thirteen type 2 diabetic patients attending the diabetic clinic of Shaikh Zayed Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore, Pakistan were screened for microalbuminuria and raised blood pressure. The study was conducted from November 2012 to June 2013. Patients were divided into two groups. Group 1, those with normoalbuminuria [n=63] and Group 2, those having microalbuminuria [n=50]. Group 2 patients showed higher blood pressure values as compared to Group 1. The results were statistically significant and showed poor glycemic control as a contributing risk factor. The study concluded that there is high frequency of hypertension among type 2 diabetics but still much higher among those having microalbuminuria. So, early recognition of renal dysfunction through detection of microalbuminuria and to start treatment without any delay will confer future protection from end stage renal disease as well as hypertension and its complications in type 2 diabetic patients
ABSTRACT
We report a case of 20 Years old girl who presented with catatonia resulting from cerebral lupus. There are few cases of catatonia being described in Systemic Lupus Erythmatoses [SLE]. The patient presented to us with fever and altered sensorium. She was initially treated on lines of Acute Bacterial Meningitis/encephalitis but lumbar puncture examination and CT scan showed no evidence of these conditions. Patient's behavior was also not improved after this treatment and she further deteriorated in the sense that she exhibited mutism, negativism and psychosocial withdrawal. Psychiatric analysis was done and she was found to be having catatonia and on further investigation came out to be a case of SLE. Keeping in mind her previous history of joint pains, oral ulcers and alopecia her autoimmune profile such as ANA and dsDNA was done that came out to be positive. Patient responded to treatment with steroids, Hyroxychloroquine and azathioprine in addition to clonazepam and fluoxetine for her catatonic behavior. Thus this case history illustrates the importance of considering organic disease in patients presenting with catatonia
ABSTRACT
Microvascular complications are the major outcome of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus progression, which reduce the quality of life, incur heavy economic burdens to the health care system and increase diabetic mortality. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of microvascular complications among newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients and to analyze the association between these complications and poor glycemic control. This cross sectional hospital based study was carried out in Diabetic Clinic of Shaikh Zayed Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore Pakistan. The study was conducted from November 2011 to November 2012 among newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients. Relevant information of all patients was recorded with the help of a proforma. They were investigated for retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy. We have divided the patients into two groups: Group I with good glycemic control [HbA1c < 6.5] and group II with poor glycemic control [HbA1c > 6.5]. In group II microvascular complications were 89.8%. Neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy were present in 68.5%, 56.2% and 31.4% respectively. These similar percentages in Group I were 50%, 0% and 31% respectively and are significantly lower. The study showed that even in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients who had poor glycemic control, frequency of microvascular complications is much higher as compared to those who had average glycemic control. Thus tight glycemic control does count even in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics to prevent and minimize the occurrence of complications