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Objective:To determine the ratio between width of hamular notches and maxillary central incisors' width at cervical, incisal and contact points. Study Design: Cross–sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Prosthodontics, Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi from Feb 2010 to Aug 2010. Materials and Methods:Impressions of the maxillary jaw of 125 subjects were made and casts were obtained. A precise caliper was used to make the measurement ofthe widths of the maxillary central incisors at three different levels; the incisal edge (IW), at the level of interdental contact points (ConW) and in the cervical region(CerW).The hamular width (HW) was measured between the most mesial demarcation point of the left and the right hamular notches.The ratios between the hard palate width (HW) and maxillary central incisor widths at all the three levels (IW, ConW, CerW) were calculated.Data was analyzed using SPSS 16. Results: Of the125 subjects, 52 (41.6%) were males and 73 (58.4%) were females while mean age of the subjects was 26.56 years. Ratios HW/CerW, HW/IW and HW/ConWwere calculated as 6.08+0.18mm, 5.9+0.17mm and 5.81+ 0.17mm. Conclusion: The HW can be used as a preliminary method for determining the width of the maxillary central incisor.

In recent decades, the use of pesticides has become fundamental to agricultural growth. However, the persistent and toxic nature of pesticides has led to significant concerns regarding their ecological and human health consequences. Therefore, for a better understanding of pesticide contamination and its potential risks, here we assessed the levels of five emerging pesticides—acetochlor, imidacloprid, MCPA, atrazine, and allethrin—in soil samples from ponds used for irrigation and in drinking water samples from nearby areas in Lahore, Pakistan. Our findings revealed that 100% of the samples were contaminated, posing substantial ecological and human health risks. Based on the toxic units (TUsum), all the soil samples showed higher toxic pressure, exceeding acute and chronic toxicity thresholds for earthworms, while 100% of water samples posed chronic toxicity risks to crustaceans and 10% to algae. Pollution index (PI) analysis further classified 100% of the soil samples and 10% of the water samples as highly polluted. These findings show high-pesticide residues in both soil and water and highlight immediate risk assessment and mitigation measures to protect non-target organisms. This preliminary information can be used to adopt risk assessment monitoring programmes and help higher authorities in making policies and guidelines to mitigate the escalating risk for ecology and humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malnutrition is most prevalent in the children particularly in developing countries like Pakistan. Statistics have revealed a horrible picture about children suffering from Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) and micronutrient deficiencies. Nonetheless, there is burgeoning demand for nutrient dense foods. In this perspective, nutritional value of the biscuits was enhanced by supplementing wheat flour with lentil and oat flour (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25%). Chemical composition of different flours indicated that oat flour had higher ash and fiber content, whereas highest fat and protein were reckoned in lentil flour. The composite flour (WF: LF: OF; 50: 25: 25) showed highest concentrations of nutrients like ash (3.76%), fat (4.09%), fiber (2.96%) and protein (12.50%). Addition of supplement flour shad significantly affected the dough rheological properties. Nutrient composition of lentil-oat supplemented biscuits evaluated in terms of moisture (3.22-4.30%), ash (0.45-1.71%), fat (19.71-27.40%), fiber (0.20-2.56%) and protein (5.44-8.90%), carbohydrate (56.64-69.80%), iron (3.3-5.90 mg/100g), zinc (0.56-3.59 mg/100g) and energy value (528.26-588.76 Kcal). Spread factor of such biscuits varied between 45.90 and 56.00. The highest acceptability for biscuits was observed when wheat flour was supplemented with lentil and oat flour at 15% level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to find the comparative ameliorative role of Moringa oleifera leaf and flower extracts against sodium arsenate induced genotoxic, morphometric and morphological changes in mice embryo. Seven to eight week old pregnant females (N=44) with body weight of 20-25g at gestation day zero were divided randomly in groups (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J and K). Group A was of control while all others were experimental groups and administered with selected doses of sodium arsenate as toxicant (6mg/kg B.W and 12mg/kg/B.W) and Moringa oleifera leaf and flower extracts as antidote (150mg/kg and 300mg/kg B. W). Significant (p<0.05) amelioration at dose 300mg/kg of Moringa oleifera leaf extract was observed against sodium arsenate induced morphological abnormalities like micromelia, excencephally, cryptothalmia, anopthalmia, laproschisis and morphometric changes like fetus weight, head circumference, crown rump and snout length were observed. Significant protection of DNA was showed in Moringa oleifera leaf extract treated groups (27.50±2.51) as compared to sodium arsenate (66.25±2.75). So concluded that sodium arsenate induced teratogenicity can be decreased using Moringa extract especially of Moringa oleifera leaf extract as it contains bioactive compounds like phenolics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 gene (STAT6) is an important player of inflammatory pathways. The role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of STAT6 to the risk of asthma or IgE has been studied in several populations. We examined STAT6 SNP in relation to asthma risk among Pakistani individuals, suffering from asthma. We genotyped STAT6 SNP rs1059513 using SNaPshot minisequencing assay. SNP association analysis was statistically confirmed by linkage disequilibrium calculator and online SHEsis software. Significance of differences between asthmatics and control group was tested for genotypes and allele frequencies. Our results indicated that STAT6 polymorphism rs1059513 has no association with asthma in Pakistani population as any difference in allele frequency and genotype was not observed between asthmatics and controls. The present study to date is very first of genetic variation in STAT6 and asthma risk, designed for evidence of the STAT6 involvement in asthma risk in Pakistani population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The southern part of the Punjab province is blessed with a warm climate favorable for cotton production. Most of the rural families are dependent on cotton for socio-economic survival. Therefore, they utilize huge financial resources on pesticides to get maximum cotton production for sustainable rural livelihoods. However, lack of information about safe usage of pesticides may result not only in wastage of resources but also causes harmful effects. Therefore, the present study has been designed to assess the knowledge level of farmers about safe use of pesticides. From southern part of the Punjab, district Khanewal was selected for in-depth analysis about knowledge and behavior of pesticide users. A sample of 160 respondents was selected randomly and data from them was collected through interviews. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data analyzing. Results depict that instructions regarding safe use of pesticides application was ranked 1st due to highest weighted score with value of 581. Based on ranking of health and environmental effects of pesticides, headache (health hazard) and ground water pollution (environmental hazard) were ranked 1st as perceived by farmer respondents. There is a need for training of farming community concerning safe usage of pesticides to avoid its health and the environmental effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current study was designed to investigate and compare the effects of a locally isolated strain of Lactobacillus brevis MF179529 (LB) with commercial probiotic (CP), and yeast (Y) on growth performance and meat quality of chicken. One-day old Cobb broiler chicken (n=270) were randomly allocated into six groups (A-F) having 45 birds in each group. Groups, A-E were continuously given 1g of different probiotics (LB, CP, Y, LB+CP, LB+CP+Y, respectively) in 10 L of drinking water for 42 days except group F (Negative Control) which was given plain drinking water. Feed consumption and weight gain were recorded on weekly basis. Subsequently, at day 42, birds were slaughtered and breast meat samples were processed for meat quality parameters. FCR of groups A, D and E was significantly lower than group F. Similarly, group A displayed high body weight compared to B, C and F groups (p<0.05). Among color attributes, L* (groups A-E) and b* (Group A, C-E) were significantly higher than group F, while a* of group A was higher (p<0.05) than groups C and F. The results indicate that supplementation of LB alone and in combination with, commercial probiotics lead to significant improvement (p<0.05) in growth rate, total proteins, mineral and fat contents as well as color attributes and tenderness of meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]