Investigation of repressive and enhancive effects of fruit extracts on the activity of glucose-6-phophatase

Glucose-6-phosphatase is a key enzyme of glucose metabolic pathways. Deficiency of this enzyme leads to glycogen storage disease. This enzyme also plays a negative role in diabetes mellitus disorder in which the catalytic activity of this enzyme increases. Thus there is need for activators to enhance the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase in glycogen storage disease of type 1b while in diabetes mellitus repressors are needed to reduce its activity. Crude extracts of apricot, fig, mulberry and apple fruits were investigated for their repressive/enhancive effects on glucose-6- phosphatase in vivo. Albino mice were used as experimental animal. All the selected extracts showed depressive effects on glucose-6-phosphatase, which shows that all these extracts can be used as antidiabetic supplement of food. The inhibitory pattern was competitive one, which was evident from the effect of increasing dose from 1g/Kg body weight to 3g/Kg body weight for all the selected fruit extracts. However fig and apple fruit extracts showed high repressive effects for high doses as compared to apricot and mulberry fruit extracts. None of these selected fruit extracts showed enhancive effect on glucose-6-phosphatase activity. All these fruits or their extracts can be used as antidiabetic dietary supplement for diabetes mellitus

Antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activities of honey collected from Timergara [Dir, Pakistan]

In this study honeys of Acacia modesta, Prunus persica, Zizyphus sativa and Isodon rogosus plants were tested against two Gram-positive bacterial strains [Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus], two Gram-negative bacterial strains [Klebsilla pneumonia and Escherichia coli] and two fungal strains [Alternaria alternata and Trichoderma harzianum] through Agar well diffusion method. The tested honeys showed high antimicrobial activities to the tested bacterial and fungal strains. All the tested honeys were more active against Gram-negative bacterial strains than the Gram-positive bacterial strains. They showed lower activity against the tested fungal strains as compared to all the tested bacterial strains. The given honeys showed free radical scavenging activity also.

Determination of HBsAg and anti HBs in mothers and their children between 6 months and 3 years of age in Islamabad

To determine the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen and antibodies in mothers and their children aged between 6 months-3 years and assess if vaccination at 6 weeks is preventing maternal to child transmission. Sero-epidemiological cross-sectional community-based study conducted in district Islamabad from Dec. 2008- Dec. 2009 in six clusters [Bani gala, Kuri shehr, Bara kahu, Karachi company, I-sector and Koral town]. About 50 paired samples [Maternal and child] were collected from each cluster making a total of 300 mothers and their children. In each cluster, a door to door survey was done to locate houses that had a child between 6 months to 3 years of age and whose mother was willing to participate in the study. Informed written consent was taken from parents [mother/ father] of the enrolled child. Two ml of blood was taken from mother and child and information regarding the HBV vaccination of child and mother was entered in a questionnaire apart from other risk factors for disease transmission. The sera were stored and later analysed for presence of Hepatitis B surface antibodies [anti HBs], Hepatitis B negative for anti HBs were run for HBsAg and those found positive were run for HBsAg. A total of 227 mothers and their 304 children were enrolled in the study which lasted for 6 months. Out of 277 mothers, 39[14%] were anti HBs positive, 29[11.4%] were positive for HBsAg and out of these three [10.3%] were also HBsAg positive. Out of 304 children who were tested for anti HBs, 239 [77%] showed protective levels. Eight children [2.6%] were positive for HBsAg and 02[25%] were also positive for HBeAg. Out of 261 vaccinated children 89% showed, antibodies while 11% did not have antibodies. Five [2%] children were HBsAg positive despite taking the vaccination. Of the 29 mothers who were HBsAg positive, their 03 children were also positive for the virus. Of the 3 mothers that were HBsAg positive but their mothers were negative for this virus indicating other routes of viral transmission or a paternal transmission. Vertical transmission of HBsAg was seen from HBsAg positive mothers to their newborns. HBV infection is seen in 2% vaccinated children indicating that vaccination at 6 weeks are not protecting these children to this deadly virus. Vaccination of Hepatitis B should be done at birth