Environmental risk assessment of diclofenac residues in surface waters and wastewater: a hidden global threat to aquatic ecosystem.

Pharmaceuticals are chemical compounds employed as medicinal drugs. They have severe physic-chemical properties which make them destructive for non-target species. Consequently, their continuous addition in the environment may pose hazardous effects. Among these, diclofenac (DCF), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is extensively used in Pakistan which may lead to its accumulation in both terrestrial and aquatic environment. Present study aims to assess the presence and concentration of pharmaceutically active drug (DCF) in surface water and wastewater of twin cities of Pakistan (Rawalpindi and Islamabad). For this purpose, a validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was adopted involving solid-phase extraction procedure. Wastewater samples were collected from various sites of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Results of HPLC analysis revealed that DCF was extant with considerably high concentration, not only in wastewater but also in surface water samples. Concentrations as high as 216 µg L-1 was detected in Rawat industrial area and low as 8 µg L-1 was detected in dairy farm wastewater samples collected from Taramri. However, maximum DCF levels in residential wastewater and hospital wastewater were detected to be 105 µg L-1 and 34 µg L-1, respectively. Moreover, the highest detected level (116 µg L-1) was found in surface water of Sawan River. Further, results of ecological risk assessment revealed its possible toxic effects of DCF on various aquatic organisms.

Home-based rehabilitation of severely malnourished children using indigenous high-density diet.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy, cost-effectiveness and acceptability of a 'high-density diet made from indigenous ingredients. METHODS: The retrospective study was carried out from September 2009 to May 2010 in District Sanghar, Sindh, Pakistan. A field office was established and staff was recruited and trained. A baseline survey was done to screen for malnourished children aged 6-23 months using mid-upper arm circumference, for which a cut-off value of 115mm was adopted. The screened children with a weight-for-height z score <-3 were registered and were supplied the high-density diet and micronutrients. Their mothers were counselled on infant and young child feeding practices. RESULTS: The mean age of 123 children in the study was 15.5±8.5 months, and mean weight was 5.91±1.18kg. Overall, 85(69%) children attained the target weight in a mean duration of 5.08±3.2 months. Besides, 29(23.5%) children were gaining weight, but had not achieved the target by the end of the study. The mean rate of weight-gain of children who recovered was 3.30±3.59 g/kg/day. No significant adverse effects were noted. There was no documented refusal of the therapeutic supplement. The net cost of rehabilitating a child was $34.31. CONCLUSIONS: The high-density diet was reasonably efficacious in improving the nutritional status of severely malnourished children.

Trends in infant and young child feeding practices in Bangladesh, 1993-2011.

BACKGROUND: Optimal infant and young child feeding practices are crucial to improving the health and nutritional status of children. Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation, UNICEF and several other organizations are working in the country for the promotion of healthy feeding practices. This article presents trends in breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in Bangladesh from 1993-2011, based on data in Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys. The following Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys were studied: BDHS 93-94, BDHS 96-97, BDHS 99-00, BDHS 04, BDHS 07 and BDHS 11. Values of indicators for infant and young child feeding proposed by WHO, along with their 95% confidence intervals, were calculated, and trends were assessed. FINDINGS: Among the core indicators, early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding under six months, introduction of solid, semi-solid and soft foods, and consumption of iron-rich foods have improved, while continued breastfeeding at one year does not display a statistically significant development. Of the optional indicators, the prevalence of age-appropriate breastfeeding and children ever breastfed improved, while the prevalence of predominant breastfeeding under six months witnessed a decline. Median duration of breastfeeding declined, and there was no change in the other optional indicators (continued breastfeeding at two years and bottle feeding). Developments in the other optional indicators were not statistically significant. The ratings of early initiation of breastfeeding and complementary feeding have gone up from poor to fair, those of exclusive breastfeeding under six months from fair to good, while those of bottle-feeding are fair. CONCLUSION: The developments in breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in the country have been considerable, but there is still substantial scope for improvement.

Phylogenetic history of paralogous gene quartets on human chromosomes 1, 2, 8 and 20 provides no evidence in favor of the vertebrate octoploidy hypothesis.

Fourfold paralogy regions in the human genome have been considered historical remnants of whole-genome duplication events predicted to have occurred early in vertebrate evolution. Taking advantage of the well-annotated and high-quality human genomic sequence map as well as the ever-increasing accessibility of large-scale genomic sequence data from a diverse range of animal species, we investigated the prediction that the ancestral vertebrate genome was shaped by two rapid rounds of whole-genome duplication within a period of 10 million years. Both the map self-comparison approach and a phylogenetic analysis revealed that gene families identified as tetralogous on human chromosomes 1/2/8/20 arose by small-scale duplication events that occurred at widely different time points in animal evolution. Furthermore, the data discount the likelihood that tree topologies of the form ((A,B)(C,D)) are best explained by the octoploidy hypothesis. We instead propose that such symmetrical tree patterns are also consistent with local duplications and rearrangement events.

Trends in breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in Pakistan, 1990-2007.

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices have profound implications for the maternal and child health status of a society. Feeding practices in Pakistan are suboptimal, leading to adverse outcomes on child health. In Pakistan, the Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) Program, in collaboration with several international organizations, including WHO and UNICEF, is working to improve these feeding practices in the country. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs. METHODS: Estimates on the various indicators for infant and young child feeding proposed by WHO were analyzed in light of the Pakistan Demographic and Health Surveys (1990-91 and 2006-07) and several other national studies conducted since 1995. RESULTS: Nearly half the core and optional indicators have improved over the years, though modestly; the others have demonstrated no statistically significant improvement over the years. Of the five indicators required in the WHO tool for the assessment of infant and young child feeding, introduction of complementary foods, bottle-feeding, and early initiation of breastfeeding, stand in the poor category, while exclusive breastfeeding and duration of breastfeeding fall in the fair category, suggesting an overall poor status. CONCLUSIONS: There is considerable scope to improve breastfeeding and complementary feeding in Pakistan. Further programs should focus on improving the following indicators that have shown no significant development: early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding under six months, continued breastfeeding at two years, age appropriate feeding, and bottle feeding. Effective implementation of interventions that are known to improve breastfeeding practices is imperative, as is further research to yield data that can lead future endeavors.

Association between maternal age and pregnancy outcome: implications for the Pakistani society.

Maternal age at conception has long been demonstrated to have a significant correlation with pregnancy outcome and maternal health. Classically, very young (<20 years old) and old (= or >35 years) women have been classified as high-risk categories for child bearing. Recently, career, education, financial, and other goals have coerced women to delay childbearing all over the world. This trend is also becoming apparent in Pakistan, especially in the upper middle class, wealthy and educated women, as they become increasingly empowered. This review presents the association between maternal age and pregnancy outcome, particularly in the context of statistics of Pakistan, and its possible repercussions. On one hand, physicians need to develop effective counseling strategies for their patients in this regard, and on the other, more studies are required to ascertain the attitudes of Pakistani women, particularly those belonging to the upper and middle classes, regarding delayed childbearing, that can aid physicians in formulating effective counseling strategies.