ABSTRACT
Objective: to determine the disparities and the priorities of basic health scientists and clinicians while assessing a manuscript
Study Design: cross-sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: the study was conducted at Karachi, from January to April 2014
Methodology: the study was a proforma-based research, employed convenient sampling for data collection, in which 100 reviewers belonging to clinical and basic health science background were selected. The questionnaire used was a selfadministered one with close-ended questions. The results were analysed using SPSS software
Results: out of 100 respondents, 50 were from Basic Health Sciences Reviewers [BRs] and 50 Clinicians Reviewers [CRs]. The results depicted grammatical and improper referencing amongst formatting mistakes as the most common observation by the reviewers. The reviewers also raised concerns regarding validity of statistical analysis, use of outdated references and lack of acknowledgment of the sources of funding utilised by the authors. There were elements of manuscripts that BRs and CRs reviewers agreed upon and prioritised, but there were elements of the manuscript that they approached mostly in methods, results and conclusion components
Conclusion: the priorities of reviewers from Basic Health Sciences and Clinical background differed markedly in certain respects. This impacts how they review the manuscripts
ABSTRACT
Background: Honey is used extensively in south East Asia, Middle and Far Eastern countries as a sweetener as well as medication for its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties with no risk of resistance or side effects. Recent studies suggest that honey can modulate tumor growth by reducing cell proliferation and increasing apoptosis susceptibility
Objectives: To find out the apoptotic effect of honey on hepatoma cancer cell lines
Methods: The growth of hepatoma cell lines [Huh-7] was checked by adding Honey to the cells before culturing in a 24 well plate. Wells were selected and labeled for each of the variables [controls, honey]. After 2 days, cells were studied under an inverted phase contrast microscope and fields were recorded. Approximately four fields per slide of higher intensity were selected randomly to determine the dead cell density, and the procedure was repeated 10 or more times. Frequency and percentages were calculated for dead or alive cells in controls, honey and their mixture. Odds Ratio was used to compare the qualitative variables
Results: Honey was found to induce cell death in hepatoma cell lines [Huh-7]. At a magnification of 40x, the dead cells were 1% in controls whereas, 70.8% in honey. At magnification of 20x and 10x the dead cells density was 52.3% and 82.4 % respectively in honey treated cells compared to 4% in controls
Conclusion: Honey induced cell death in Huh-7 cells. Huh-7 exposed to honey have high probability of apoptosis/necrosis. Honey should be considered as co-adjuvant treatment against cancer