Contraception in traditional system of medicine the possible role of sex steroids on female reproduction

Contraceptive pills used in allopathic system of medicine contain both estrogen and progesterone or progesterone only. These hormones are responsible for contraception. Fertilization is prevented mainly by inhibiting ovulation or by making the mucus in the female genital tract thick and viscid. In this study different parts of five different plants, and one animal species used as contraceptive in Traditional System of Medicine, were selected to see their efficacy as contraceptive. These substances were subjected to determine the presence of steroid and peptide hormones. Electrochemiluminescence technique was used to detect these hormones in the extract. Results reveal that all the substances contain reasonable amount of steroid hormones i.e., estradiol, progesterone and testosterone ranging from 62.76 pg/ml to 313.6 pg/ml, 0.333 ng/ml to 2.90 ng/ml and 1.22 ng/ml to 22.24 ng/ml. respectively. All these substances were found to contain steroid hormones except the shell of Cyprea moneta which showed no detectable amount of LH and FSH. The concentrations of LI1 and FSH in the extract of Cyprea moneta shell were 0.564 mlU/ml ml and 0.644 mlU/ml, respectively. On the basis of these findings it is postulated that different parts of these plants and animals may create imbalance in the delicate ratio of estrogen and progesterone required for the ovulation and implantation, thus preventing fertilization

Access to water quality and functioning sewerage system of internally displaced person's camps in NWFP

Environmental health survey was done on water and sanitation issues, at 43 Internally Displaced Person's Camps [IDP] of the NWFP province after 8[th] October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan. To describe the challenges/situation faced by healthcare providers in providing safe drinking water and sanitation with the objective to restore these in the shortest time. Cross sectional observational survey was done of the IDP camps in NWFP from November, 2005 to April, 2006. A total of 43 camps were visited twice a week. All information was recorded in structured questionnaire, edited and analyzed through SPSS version 10. A total of 43 IDP camps were visited. Using WHO standards for assessment of quality of drinking water, it was found that water quality of 35 camps was satisfactory and of 07 was unsatisfactory while one of them had turbid appearance. Spring water was the main source of water supply in these camps. Twenty-one out of 43 camps had 485 flush latrines and 20 camps had 707 pit latrines. Out of 43 camps, 36 camps had specific latrines for women while others did not have specific latrines for women. Bath facilities were limited

comparison between the normal levels of thyroid hormones among elderly and young men

A preliminary study was carried out to observe the levels of thyroid hormones among the normal elderly men and to observe the variation from the levels exhibited by men of younger age. The hormonal levels were measured using Abbott IMX system. Total T3, Total T4 and TSH were evaluated among 47 elderly men [mean age 53.23 +/- 1.00]. Data were analyzed using t-test. It was found that the normal levels of Total T3 and Total T4 did not vary significantly [p>0.05] from that of a younger group of men [28.6 +/- 0.02 years], however, TSH levels among the older men were significantly higher [p<0.001], although well within the permissible levels. It seems to indicate that a slight significant increase [p<0.001] in normal levels of TSH, and a non-significant decrease [p>0.05] in levels of T3 and T4, with age, takes place

Detection and the quantitative analysis of seeds of crotalaria juncea and lac of ficus religiosa for steroidal hormones

As reported in the traditional medicine literature, antifertility properties have been attributed to seeds of Crotalaria juncea and lac of Ficus religiosa. A study was carried out to detect and measure the extent of presence of steroidal hormones of the human reproductive axis, namely, estradiol, progesterone and testosterone, in the seeds of Crotalaria juncea and Ficus religiosa lac. The extracts of the seeds and lac were prepared, and both yielded extracts with two distinct fractions, the upper and lower extracts. The analysis revealed the presence of all these hormones in extracts of both the seeds and lac. In the extract from seeds of Crotalaria juncea, the levels in the upper and lower extracts were 26.070 and 85.210-pg/ml [estradiol], 0.597 and 0.807 ng/ ml [progesterone], while testosterone levels were 1.488 and 10.746 ng/ml, respectively. In Ficus religiosa lac extract, the content in the upper and lower portions were 55.010 and 64.610pg/ml [estradiol], 0.417 and 0.312 ng/ml [progesterone], while testosterone levels were 2.276 and 1.006 ng/ml. The presence of these hormones, and their concentration in seeds and lac could be a reason for the fertility regulating property of these seeds and lac

Is the commercial kit's normal range for various analytes technology specific?

Laboratory based tests form an important component in the final diagnosis. These tests are carried out on different commercially available systems, which have specific reagent kits that are available for determination of various analytes of the human body. A majority of laboratories resort to adoption of normal ranges that have been proposed by the kit manufacturers, and hence exhibit a great variation. The frequent change from one kit to another often results in the formulation of new reference ranges. This paper describes the variation in normal ranges for two different systems of the same manufacturer, based upon different technologies. It seems that the normal range does not vary with the kits, but with the studied population

possible role of steroid hormones present in vitex negundo and its efficacy as a contraceptive

Vitex negundo is used as a contraceptive in traditional medicine. Most of the oral contraceptive pills used in allopathic medicine are the combination of estrogen and progesterone. Some contraceptive pills [mini pills] contain progesterone alone. The present study shows that the extract of Vitex negundo contains estrogen, testosterone and progesterone, their concentrations were found to be 947.7 pg/ml, 22.276 ng/ml and 6.022 ng/ml respectively. From these findings it is assumed that this high concentration of steroid hormones may contribute to its contraceptive action but it may have some side effects on the female reproductive physiology as it contains male hormone i.e. testosterone in addition to the progesterone and estrogen. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that the trial of this drug on animals followed by clinical study should be carried out to see its anti-fertility activity and side effects

Does a commercial kit affect"Normal Range" for any given parameter?

The diagnostic products market is full of different commercial kits which are available for determination of various analytes of the human body. In the absence of established national normal ranges, a majority of laboratories resort to adoption of normal ranges that have been proposed by the kit manufacturers, and hence exhibit a great variation. This paper describes the variation in normal ranges for two different systems of the same manufacturer, based upon the same technology. It can be concluded that the normal range does not vary with the kits, but with the studied population

Evaluation of the gonadotropic ratios among men with varying sperm quality

This study was designed to determine the levels of serum LH and FSH, along with their ratios, among men with varying sperm quality. One hundred fifty married men, presenting with a complaint of infertility, which had been evaluated for their seminal profile, and had been classified as azoospermic [50], oligozoospermic [50], asthenozoospermic [20] and normozoospermic [30] were studied for the analysis of serum LH, FSH, levels using Enzyme Immuno Assay [EIA]. Data were compared using student "t-test. The FSH and LH level indicated inverse/negative correlation to sperm concentration. The mean FSH and LH levels for the groups were 22.92 +/- 4.15 and 13.85 +/- 2.33 [Azoospermia], 16.82 +/- 3.79 and 10.92 +/- 3.79 [Oligozoospermia], 3.22 +/- 0.61 and 3.92 +/- 1.17 [Asthenozoospermia] while the levels in normozoospermic men were 5.53 +/- 0.52 and 7.40 +/- 0.60. Similarly, the LH/FSH and FSH/LH ratios in the four groups were 0.77 +/- 0.08 and 1.84 +/- 0.22 [Azoospermia], 1.78 +/- 0.41 and 1.47 +/- 0.18 [Oligozoospermia], 1.51 +/- 0.46 and 1.28 +/- 0.28 [Asthenozoospermia] and the respective ratios in normozoospermic men were 1.55 +/- 0.16 and 0.85 +/- 0.10. The present data indicate that disturbance in gonadotropin ratios also causes infertility, since these hormones act synergistically.

PAP smear screening for precancerous conditions of the cervical cancer

To find the presence of cervical cancer in PAP smears taken from Pakistani women of different age groups. Department of Cytology, Public Health Laboratory Division. National Institute of Health, Islamabad. Data of all cervical smears sent to the cytology department of NIH between 1st January 2001 to 31st December 2004 was retrospectively analysed to see the presence of malignancy. A total of 546 smears were assessed during the study period. Of these, 302[55.31%] showed inflammatory changes, 124[22.71%] were normal, 40[7.33%] were atrophic, 17[3.12%] showed dysplastic changes, in which 10 cases were of low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [LSIL], and 07 cases were of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [HSIL]. Carcinoma in situ, was seen in 11 [2.02%]. Inadequate sample was reported in 52 [9.52%] cases with an advise to repeat the test. Awareness campaigns and screening program for cervical cancer in women of reproductive age is recommended especially in those having prolonged symptoms

Semen Parameters and hormonal profile of infertile patients

Semen analysis is the most valuable diagnostic tool in the assessment of male fertility potential. Possible changes were determined in semen quality of Pakistani infertile men, over a period of 3 years [1999 to 2002]. Retrospective analysis of semen volume, liquefaction time, pH and sperm concentration were carried out for 150 men' from infertile couples in which 50 cases [33.33%] showed azoospermia [A], 50 cases [33.33%] had oligozoospermia [B], 20 cases [13.33%] were asthenozoospermic [C] and 30 cases [20%] were found to be normozoospermic [D]. The linear regression analysis shows a decrease in semen volume in groups A and B, mean semen volume [ml] for the four respective studied groups being 1.5 +/- 0.4, 1.7 +/- 2, 2.5 +/- 0.1 and 2.4 +/- 0. The mean liquefaction time [min] was 37.5 +/- 0.7, 28.7 +/- 3.7, 18.5 +/- 0.7 and 18.6 +/- 3.6 in groups A, B, C and D, respectively, showing linear increase in groups A and B. pH did not vary much amongst groups and ranged from 7.0-8.5. Mean sperm concentration was 0.0, 6.7 +/- 1.7, 45.3 +/- 8.8 and 86.8 +/- 7.5 million/ml in groups A, B, C and D. The hormonal profile showed normal or low levels of testosterone while FSH and LH levels indicated inverse/negative correlation to sperm concentration, whereas no significant relationship between serum prolactin and semen density was detectable between different groups