ABSTRACT
The effects of diets containing different concentration of Saccharina japonica algae (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%) on growth and Interleukin (IL)-10 gene expression of juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus were studied. At first, 08 weeks feeding trail was conducted to evaluate the growth performance of sea cucumbers fed with one of the six experimental diets. Result showed that sea cucumbers fed 15% Saccharina japonica algae diet had higher specific growth rate (SGR) and food conversion efficiency (FCE) than the other experimental diets (P<0.05). Secondly, Interleukin (IL)-10 gene expression was determined where mice splenocytes were treated with different experimental diets fed sea cucumber extracts for two hours. The highest Interleukin (IL)-10 gene expressions was found in 15% Saccharina japonica algae diets fed sea cucumbers extract compared to other diets except 10% Saccharina japonica algae diet. Results of this experiment suggest that 15% Saccharina japonica containing diet perform better growth and could elevate IL-10 gene expression. This information might be useful in the further development of more appropriate diets for the culture of sea cucumbers.
ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis is a chronic communicable disease. Infections are initially asymptomatic and latent but eventually progresses to active disease, which, if left untreated, may have ≥50% mortality. In 2011, an anti-tuberculosis drug resistance survey in Narsingdi, Bangladesh enrolled both new and retreatment patients. In the study, a number of villages were randomly selected and 152 extra pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) patients were identified. All the patients received treatment with standardized first-line drug (FLD) regimens and were investigated to document treatment efficiency. Among the patients, 34 were reported in lower income, 112 in medium income and only 06 in higher income group. Farmers (16.4%) in low income group, and female housewives (41.4%) in medium income group were mostly infected. Silicosis and malnutrition were assumed responsible for high EPTB cases in farmers and housewives respectively. The working youth groups (25-34) were found most vulnerable. Extra pulmonary TB sites of infection was found pleural TB 29.6% patients, glands TB 24.3% patients, abdominal TB 21.0% patients, spinal TV 19.7% patients, tubercular meningitis 436% patients & tubercular pericarditis 0.65% patient. Multi-drug resistant (MDR) EPTB was detected in both new and retreatment patients. Patients with MDR-EPTB who had been declared cured with first-line anti-TB treatment had a high rate of TB recurrence and death. The rate of TB recurrence and death was high four years after MDR-TB patients were judged to have been cured. PTB patients in Bangladesh had high recurrence and death rates even after treatment with standardized FLD regimens, reinforcing the need for early survey, diagnosis and treatment, including assessment of treatment outcomes.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the bacterial load and antibiotic resistance pattern of bacterial isolates obtained from (ready to cook) frozen food samples of animal origin in Dhaka, Bangladesh.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 20 samples of frozen ready to cook food of animal origin were purchased from different separate grocery stores in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bacteria were isolated and identified based on the basis of biochemical properties.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 57 isolates has been isolated from 20 samples, of them 35.08% were Gram positive and 64.92% were Gram negative organisms. Highest percentages of isolated organisms were Staphylococcocus spp. (24.56%), Alcaligene spp. (17.54%), Klebshiella spp. (12.28%) and the lowest percentages of organisms were Enterococcus spp., Actinobacillus spp. and Proteus spp. Antibiogram results clearly showed that levofloxacin and imipenem were the most effective drug against the isolates. The less effective antibiotics were chloramphenicol and nalidixic acid and resistance was highest against ciprofloxacin. The most contaminated food was chicken nuggets.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This type of frozen food contaminated with multi-antibiotic resistant microorganisms can be potential vehicles for transmitting food-borne diseases.</p>
ABSTRACT
Methanolic extracts of Lagerstroemia speciosa leaves (MLL) & barks (MBL) have been evaluated for their antimicrobial, antioxidant & cytotoxic activity. Antimicrobial activity of the extracts was evaluated against 11 Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and 3 fungi using disk diffusion technique. Kanamycin (30μg/disc) was used as standard. Antioxidant potentiality of the extracts was investigated on DPPH scavenging activity, Total antioxidant capacity, Reducing ability as well as total phenolic contents. Cytotoxic study was done by brine shrimp lethality bioassay and vincristin sulphate was used as standard. In antimicrobial study, the average zone of inhibition exhibited by MLL & MBL (each 500μg/disc) was 10-20 mm & 12-21mm respectively. In DPPH scavenging activity, IC50 value was found 27.89 ± 0.83μg/ml,21±0.61 μg/ml and 16.76 ± 1.11μg/ml for MLL, MBL and standard ascorbic acid, respectively. Total antioxidant capacity was found 0.22 ± 398.37 mg/g and 4.02 ± 346.37 mg/g equivalent of ascorbic acid for MLL & MBL, respectively. Reducing ability was found concentration dependent for both the extracts. The total phenolic content was found 71.06 ± 2.01 and 60.65 ± 2.16 mg/g equivalent of gallic acid for MLL & MBL, respectively. The cytotoxicity exhibited by MLL was promising with LC50 value 9.602μg/ml, comparing with the LC50 (6.25 μg/ml) values of standard vincristin sulphate as a positive control. The results suggest into the plant extracts could be used as a potential therapeutics in many pathological conditions.