Frequency of awareness in mothers about risk factors of asthma in 1 to 12 years old children

Objective: To determine the frequency of awareness in mothers about the risk factors of asthma in children aged 1-12 years, attending pediatric department, Combined Military Hospital, Quetta

Study Design: Descriptive, cross sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at department of Pediatrics, Combined Military Hospital Quetta. Duration of the study was six months from Oct 2011 to Apr 2012

Material and Methods: All the mothers of children with asthma were selected for this study. Informed consent was taken from all the patient's parents participated in the study. Every patient was assigned a serial number. Detailed history about risk factors was taken by the researcher and all the information entered in the proforma and collected data was analyzed by SPSS version 22

Results: Total 150 mothers were included in study. There were 9 [6.0 percent] mothers who had awareness of any relation between breast feed and the risk of asthma in children, 15 [10 percent] mother had awareness of relation between pet animals/birds and the risk of asthma in children, 3 [2 percent] mothers had awareness of relation between carpets at home and the risk of asthma, 24 [16 percent] mothers had awareness of relation between cigarette smoke and the risk of asthma in children. There were 15 [10 percent] mothers who had awareness about relation between food and the risk of asthma, 3 [2 percent] mother had awareness of relation between repeated use of medicines in children under six months of age and the risk of asthma, 5 [3.3 percent] mothers had awareness of relation between the use of pillows and the risk of asthma, 3 [2 percent] mothers had awareness of relation between the presence of cockroaches in child's bedroom and the risk of asthma in children

Conclusion: In Quetta region, mothers had lower frequency of awareness among mothers regarding pediatric [1-12 years] asthma development and its associated risk factors

Dual inhibitory activities of adhatoda vasica against cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase

Adhatoda vasica [L.] Nees is a well-known plant drug in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine. It has been used for the treatment of various diseases, particularly for the treatment of inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases. However, the scientific rationale and mechanisms by which it functions in these diseases is not known. This study was designed to explore the inhibitory activity of Adhatoda vasica aqueous and butanolic fractions on arachidonic acid [AA] metabolism. For this purpose aqueous and butanolic fractions of Adhatoda vasica were screened for the presence of activities against arachidonic acid [AA] metabolites and their effectiveness was further evaluated by studying platelet aggregation induced by a AA, adenosine diphosphate [ADP], platelet activating factor [PAF], and collagen. AA metabolism was studied by thin layer chromatography system while platelet aggregation was measured by dual channel Lumi aggregometer. Aqueous fraction of Adhatoda vasica but not of butanolic fraction inhibited the AA metabolites through COX pathway [TXB[2]] and LOX pathway [LP1 and 12-HETE]. However, in platelet aggregation studies butanolic extract of Adhatoda vasica showed strong inhibition against AA, PAF and collagen induce aggregation but not against ADP. Aqueous fraction of Adhatoda vasica was active against none of the four aggregating agents. Adhatoda vasica possesses components which can inhibit AA metabolism and platelet aggregation. This may be one of the underlying mechanisms of their anti -inflammatory effects.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet activities of avena sativa are mediated through the inhibition of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase enzymes

Avena sativa [AS] is a well-known food crop and an important medicinal plant. It has been used for the treatment of various diseases, particularly for the treatment of inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases. However, the scientific rationale and mechanisms by which it functions in these diseases is still un- known. This study was designed to explore the inhibitory activity of AS aqueous, n-hexane and butanolic fractions on arachidonic acid [AA] metabolism. For this purpose these fractions of AS were screened for the presence of activities against AA metabolites and their effectiveness was further evaluated by studying platelet aggregation induced by AA, adenosine diphosphate [ADP], platelet activating factor [PAF], and collageAA metabolism was studied by thin layer chromatography system while platelet aggregation was measured by dual channel Lumiaggregometer.Aqueous and n-hexane fractions of AS were totally ineffective against AA metabolism and platelet aggregation. However, butanolic fraction inhibited the AA metabolites- thromboxane B2 [TXB2] through cyclooxygenase [COX] pathway and lipoxygenase product-1 [LP-1] and 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids [12-HETE] through lipoxygenase [LOX] pathway. Similarly butanolic fraction of AS showed strong inhibition against AA, PAF-induced aggregation but was less potent against ADP.AS possesses components which can inhibit AA metabolism and platelet aggregation. This may be one of the underlying mechanisms of their actions in cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases.

Platelet aggregation inhibition activity of selected legumes of Pakistan

The current study was designed to explore the platelet aggregation activity of methanolic extracts of green gram, lentil, mash bean and soya bean. The extracts dose-dependently inhibited platelet aggregation initiated by arachidonic acid [AA] and platelet activating factor [PAF]. Extract of green gram was effective only against AA mediated activity while mash bean and soya bean extracts were effective against both AA and PAF mediated activity. But lentil extract has no activity. The order of activity based on IC[50] value is, Mash bean> Soya bean> Green gram. This preliminary result suggests that legume seed extract may be taken as a candidate lead natural compound to be considered in the search for natural products with beneficial effects on aberrant platelet activation mediated cardiovascular disorders

Risk factors associated with childhood asthma among children aged 1-12 years in Rawalpindi

To explore various risk factors associated with childhood asthma in Rawalpindi garrison and city among children 1-12 years old. Case Control study. Pediatric departments of Military Hospital [MH] and Combined Military Hospital [CMH] Rawalpindi from 1st Aug to 30th Nov 2009. A total of 128 children with diagnosis of asthma presenting in outpatient and indoor pediatric departments of MH and CMH Rawalpindi between ages of 1-12 years were included. Age, gender and socioeconomically matched 112 children without diagnosis of asthma were included as controls. A predesigned questionnaire containing various factors associated with childhood asthma was filled by the researcher by detailed interview with either of parents. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 15 and chi-square test was applied to determine significance. p value <0.005 was considered significant. Out of 15 risk factors studied 8 were found significantly associated with childhood asthma. Significant factors were education of any of the parents more than matric, history of fever at least three times in last year, use of antibiotics, history of hay fever, raised IgE levels, exposure to passive smoking, living in urban areas and family history of asthma [p value<0.005]. Non significant factors were mode of delivery, exclusive breast feeding for more than 3 months, partial breastfeeding for more than 6 months, history of eczema, atopy, history of viral respiratory infections in infancy and less than three number of rooms at home. Male preponderance was noted amongst cases. Education of parents, fever, antibiotics, hay fever, raised IgE levels, exposure to passive smoking, living in urban areas and family history of asthma proved to be significant factors which are similar to those reported in other studies. However, difference was found in other factors. Recognition of these factors can help to optimize management of asthma in children in this area

Predicted and recorded vital capacity in students of Shalamar medical and dental college, Lahore

The study aimed at observing the difference in predicted and recorded Vital Capacity in young Pakistani adults. Female students [n=46] and male students [n=30] belonging to age group 18-20 years, height 150-190 Cm, and with no history of smoking or respiratory ailment participated in the study. Predicted Vital Capacity was calculated by using the formula based on age and height. Vital Capacity was recorded on Students' Spirometer of 9 L capacity. A statistically significant difference between predicted and recorded Vital Capacity [p<0.05] for both female and male medical students was observed. In females, recorded Vital Capacity values were 22% less than predicted values, and in males they were 23% less than the predicted value. Vital Capacity is dependent on other factors besides age and height. Therefore recorded values 77-78% of predicted should be considered normal. The incorporation of weight in prediction equation would result in better estimation of Vital Capacity in Pakistan for different age groups