Artificial sweeteners: safe or unsafe?

Artificial sweeteners or intense sweeteners are sugar substitutes that are used as an alternative to table sugar. They are many times sweeter than natural sugar and as they contain no calories, they may be used to control weight and obesity. Extensive scientific research has demonstrated the safety of the six low-calorie sweeteners currently approved for use in foods in the U.S. and Europe [stevia, acesulfame-K, aspartame, neotame, saccharin and sucralose], if taken in acceptable quantities daily. There is some ongoing debate over whether artificial sweetener usage poses a health threat. This review article aims to cover the health benefits, and risks, of consuming artificial sweeteners, and discusses natural sweeteners which can be used as alternatives

Frequency of p53 gene mutation and protein expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma

To determine the frequency of p53 gene mutation and protein expression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma [OSCC] and to establish correlation between the two. Analytical study. Histopathology Department and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology [AFIP], Rawalpindi, from May 2010 to May 2011. Thirty diagnosed cases of OSCC were selected by consecutive sampling. Seventeen were retrieved from the record files of the AFIP, and 13 fresh/frozen sections were selected from patients reporting to the Oral Surgery Department, Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry [AFID]. Gene p53 mutation was analyzed in all the cases using PCRSSCP analysis. DNA was extracted from the formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue sections and fresh/frozen sections. DNA thus extracted was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. The amplified products were denatured and finally analyzed by gel electrophoresis. Gene mutation was detected as electrophoretic mobility shift. The immunohistochemical marker p53 was applied to the same 30 cases and overexpression of protein p53 was recorded. Immunohistochemical expression of marker p53 was positive in 67% [95% Confidence Interval [CI] 48.7 - 80.9] of the cases. Mutations of the p53 gene were detected in 23% [95% CI 11.5 - 41.2] of the OSCC. No statistically significant correlation was found between p53 gene mutation and protein p53 expression [rs = - 0.057, p = 0.765]. A substantial number of patients have p53 gene mutation [23%] and protein p53 expression [67%] in oral squamous cell carcinoma [OSCC]

Effect of relaxation excercises in generalized anxiety disorder [GAD]

To see the efficacy of relaxation exercises in patients with GAD, receiving combination of medicine and relaxation exercises in comparison with those who are taking only medicine therapy. Comparative, intervention based study. Study was conducted at both inpatients and out patients units of Psychiatry, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan. Duration was over a period of three months. Study was conducted over a period of three months. Sample consisted of 100 participants. Fifty patients with GAD symptoms were selected for experimental group [including 25 males and 25 females], and same number of patients were taken as control group. Age was ranged from 20 - 50. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, HAM- A was used as research instrument. Progressive muscular relaxation technique was applied on clients in experimental group. Compared with only anxiolytic receiving group, patients receiving relaxation exercise showed significantly reduced anxiety symptoms by a mean effect of percentage. Relaxation exercise program lasting no more than four weeks, using session duration of at least 30 minutes, and an anxiety report time frame greater than the past week resulted in the largest improvement. The present results provide clinicians with evidence to recommend exercise training to patients as a means for reducing anxiety symptoms with minimal risk of adverse events. Exercise training may be especially useful for patients who prefer non-pharmacologic treatments because such preferences may influence the magnitude of the treatment outcomes

Variation in reference values of hematological parameters between regional and international literature amongst the neonates

Objectives: to assess the variation in reference values of Hematological parameters i.e Hemoglobin [Hb], Total Leucocyte Count [TLC], Red Blood Cells [RBC] and Platelet Counts [PLT] in neonates of Rawalpindi and to compare with the Western literature

Subjects and methods: it was a descriptive study carried out at Hematology department of Armed Forces Institute of Pathology [AFIP], Rawalpindi. The duration of study was 6 months and non-probability sampling was adopted for consecutively selected 400 neonates. The sampling was done from MH, CMH, HFH and SBBH, Rawalpindi the blood samples were analyzed using Sysmex Kx-21 automated hematology analyzer for complete blood counts i.e Hb, TLC, RBC and PLT

Results: the mean reference values of RBC is 4.931012/l [SD= 0.54], TLC is 16 109 / l [SD=5.35] and Platelet Counts is 258.499109/l [SD=70.5]. These values were found to have higher values when compared to the Western literature. However, the reference value of Hb is 14g/dl [SD=2.5] was found to have lower values on comparison with the Western literature i.e 16.89 g/dl [SD=1.92]. The mean reference value of RBC according to Western study is 4.21012/l [SD=1.2], TLC is 12 109 / l [SD=7] and Platelet Counts is 200109/l [SD=50]

Conclusions: the reference values of hematological parameters in neonates are different from those implemented in our country [derived from the Western studies]. It is concluded that various maternal environmental, nutritional, ethnic, socioeconomic and cultural factors do affect the values of hematological parameter in neonate

Reference ranges of prothombin time and activated partial thomboplastin time in healthy infant [< 1 year]

Objective: to determine the reference values of PT and APTT amongst the healthy infants of < 1 year of age

Subjects and methods: it was a descriptive cross sectional study carried out at Hematology department of Armed Forces Institute of Pathology [AFIP], Rawalpindi. The Study duration was1 year and Non-probability convenience sampling was adopted for 2000 blood samples. The Sampling areas were MH, CMH, HFH and SBBH, Rawalpindi. The Data analysis was done by SPSS version 15. Mean, SD and percentages were the quantitative and qualitative variables used for statistical analysis. The PT value for clot formation was detected by the addition of thromboplastin reagent to plasma sample. While APTT value for clot formation was extracted by the addition of equal volume of phospholipid reagent and Kaolin suspension

Results: the mean PT value amongst males and female until 9 month of age has shown no significant difference. While at age 1year females have higher PT values i.e 15.13 sec. [SD=2.25] when compared to males i.e 14.22 sec. [SD=0.63]. However qualitative analysis has shown that 12- 15sec.was the frequently observed range in 95.15% [n=1903] infants. The mean APTT value was found to have same mean values for males and females. However, qualitative analysis has shown that 32-35 sec was the frequently observed range in 85% [n=1700] infants

Conclusion: the mean values of PT and APTT are almost same when compared to the adult values. They are not affected by the growing ages of an infant