Effects of L-carnitine; on skeletal muscle of rabbit

L-carnitine [L-car] is a trimethylated amino acid required for the transformation of long chain free fatty acids into acylcarnitine and their subsequent transport into the mitochondrial matrix. It enhances the fatty acid oxidation for energy thus delaying the skeletal muscle fatigue. Objectives of this study were to determine effect of L-carnitine supplementation on skeletal muscle lactate after fatigue, to observe effect of L-carnitine supplementation on force of contraction in skeletal muscle and to estimate the time to onset of fatigue after L-carnitine supplementation. In control group, the rabbit sedated and soleus muscle was excised, Homogenized and centrifuged. Supernatant collected, was mixed with reagents of lactate test kit. Absorbance of light was read with the help of spectrophotometer and readings were noted. In experimental group, L-carnitine was given in a dose of 80mg / kg. The period of administration was two weeks. Soleus muscle was excised after giving the last dose of L-carnitine. Lactate level was measured by using lactate test kit [Randox®]. Readings for lactate measurement were noted after fatigue in both groups. Statistically significant results [p <0.05] were found in all three variables. Data was analyzed by applying [t] test in IBM SPSS Statistics - 20 software. L -carnitine delays the onset of fatigue of skeletal muscle. This was the stated alternative hypothesis

Diabetic control situation; a study of diabetic patients in ministry of health primary health centers of Makkah Al Mukkarahma Saudi Arabia

To determine the prevalence of controlled diabetes in registered diabetic patients with Hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]

Typhoid and non-typhoid ileal perforation: surgical experience of 50 cases

The objective of the study was, to find out the frequency of typhoid and non typhoid ileal perforation, to observe the association of various epidemiological factors in causation of disease and to note surgical, clinical, and laboratory findings along with mortality. A comparative descriptive study. The study was conducted in the department of surgery Civil Hospital Karachi from June 1997 to August 1998. fifty consecutive patients of non-traumatic ileal perforation managed surgically were observed by making two groups of typhoid and non typhoid ileal perforation. Out of 50 [n=50] 32 [Group - A] patients [26 male and 6 female] had typhoid while 18 [Group - B] patients [15 male and 3 female] had non-typhoid ileal perforation. There were 41 [82%] male and 09 [18%] female. In-group A age range was 16-50 years and a mean of +/- SD of 25 +/- 10 while in group B age range was 12- 60 years and a mean of +/- SD of 26 +/- 11.65. In group A 90.6% while in group B 100% patients had a single perforation. Wound infection was the most common complication. Mortality was 6.25% and 5.5% in group A and B respectively. There was no significant association [P<0.05] of gender, seasonal and living conditions. Surgical cum Epidemiological findings point out to the need of distinguish between different types of non traumatic ileal perforation, and having check on the related causative factors leading to their occurrences

Epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of food poisoning traced to yogurt among personnel of a military training center

A food borne outbreak is usually suspected when there is a history of ingestion of a common food, attack of several people simultaneously and similarity of signs and symptoms in the majority of cases. One such incidence happened in a military training centre where a lunch attended by 110 personnel was arranged. After about three hours, 57 of them reported sick to a local military hospital. A prospective study was performed to probe into the facts under which this outbreak erupted. A sample of 90 personnel who attended the lunch was interrogated for eating of food that was served. Mean age of the participants was 22 years while the range of incubation period was 3-5 hours. By examining the attack rates for consumers of various foods it was found that eating yogurt was significantly associated with the causing of outbreak. Exposure rates among those who ate yogurt was 94.7% P <0.001 while odds ratio showed [13.2] almost causative association. The epidemiological findings points out to the need of having check on the purchasing of food items from outside sources

Assessment of the dietary services for patients at Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi

A cross sectional study of the dietary services for patients in Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi was conducted to assess the existing system in vogue to see if it is proper or not and what ways and means can be adopted for its improvements. Study parameters were established which included personnel involved in dietary services, diet schedules, entitlement of hospital dietary/hospital stoppages, procurement and transportation of food articles, central storage, delivery of food items to kitchens, state of kitchen, food handling personnel, preparation of food, distribution of food in the ward and existing system of evaluation of dietary services. Food standards were formulated in the light of available literature of WHO, US Health department and Pakistan Army regulations/instructions. The standards were compared with the findings obtained through questionnaire/interviews. It was found that no separate organizational structure of dietary services exists. The in charge of the dietary services was not a qualified dietician. All personnel involved in different stages of dietary services were also found untrained and unqualified. Job descriptions formulated in standing operating procedures of the hospital for the personnel of dietary services were not complete and comprehensive. Cooks for patients were deficient and there was no system of collection of meat, chicken and fish in proper boxes. There was no satisfactory arrangement of washing hands/toilet facility for cooks. The food distribution in the ward was not satisfactory and there was no system of reviewing/evaluation of dietary services

Trends and pattern of tobacco consumption in rural women of Pakistan

A cross sectional study of the trends and pattern of tobacco consumption in rural women of selected villages of Pakistan was conducted to know the existing situation. Total 13 villages were selected according to the proportion of population of each province and accordingly six, four, two and one district from Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, and Baluchistan were selected respectively through simple random sampling. From each village 100 women of age 15 years and above were interviewed at random. Out of 1300 women, 468 [36%] were found tobacco users. Majority of tobacco users [30.34%] were smokers of Hubble bubble. Tobacco smoking/Chewing was started at a mean age of 23.19 +/- 10.77 years. The mean age for current tobacco consumption was 39.50 +/- 14.68.A high tobacco consumption rate was observed in illiterate, divorced/widow and women farmers. Hubble bubble smoking in Punjab, Naswar taking in NWFP and Balochistan and Biri smoking in Sindh is common most form of tobacco consumption