Clinico-Biochemical indexing of calcium urolithiasis on the basis of urinary citrate to calcium ratio and inhibition of mineralisation of urinary stone forming minerals by human urine

Urinary citric acid and calcium levels have been estimated in the urine of 20 normal healthy persons as well as 12 urinary stone patients. Inhibition efficiency of these urine samples towards the mineralisation of urinary stone forming minerals, viz., calcium phosphate, oxalate or carbonate, has been studied in an experimental model. Statistical correlation of the above data has been made by computing the coefficient of determination and unexplained variance. Clinico-biochemical indexing of calcium urolithiasis risk factor has been attempted in the light of the data.     

Effect of intrauterine contraceptive device on concentration of inorganic phosphorus and cholesterol in human uterine fluid

Uterine fluid, basically the endometrial secretion, is in dynamic exchange by influx and efflux with the oviducal and cervical fluids. During investigation the uterine fluid of both parous and IUCD women was collected and evaluated for inorganic phosphorus and cholesterol. The results of parous women were compared with the results of IUCD women. The trend of fluctuation in inorganic phosphorus concentration during different phases of menstrual cycle were same in both parous and IUCD women. But there was an increase in concentration in case of IUCD women in all stages of the menstrual cycle. After comparison with parous women a decrease in uterine fluid cholesterol concentration during proliferative period and increase during luteal period of IUCD women was observed. This increase in inorganic phosphorus and decrease and an increase in cholesterol concentration in IUCD women might be responsible in making uterine fluid environment unfavourable for sperm survival and blastocyst implantation.     

Non‐profit education providers vis‐à‐vis the private sector: comparative analysis of non‐governmental organizations and traditional voluntary organizations in Pakistan

Under the New Policy Agenda, international development institutions have promoted non‐profit organizations (NPOs) in developing countries, on a dual logic: firstly, they deliver social services more efficiently than the state; secondly, they mitigate equity concerns around privatization of basic social services by reaching out to the poor. Based on a survey of twenty prominent non‐profit education providers in Pakistan, this paper illustrates that the NPO sector is not monolithic: non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the education sector under the patronage of international donors follow markedly different models of education provision to those of Traditional Voluntary Organizations (TVOs) reliant on domestic donations. While the social service ethos of the TVOs makes them distinct from the private sector, it is not the case with the NGOs: their model of education provision, rather than meeting the education needs of the poor, ends up cultivating markets for the private sector among poor communities.     

Comparative effect of olive oil and fish oil supplementation in combating gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity in rats

The present study is related to the comparative effects of fish oil and olive oil supplementation on gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Three treatment groups (Pretrement, Co-treatment and post treatment) were chosen for the study. Nephrotoxicity in rats was induced by intraperitonial administration of gentamicin (80 mg/kg/d) for 3,5,7,10,& 12 consecutive days. The animals were sacrificed 12 hrs after last treatment in each group. The maximum nephrotoxicity was developed on 10 days treatment of gentamicin. For each group a control group was taken without any oil or gentamicin treatment. Beneficial effects of oils were evidenced by reduced serum urea and creatinine concentrations in the group receiving oils compared to the non oil treatment animals receiving gentamicin only. Further, the changed values of alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase activity retumed to normal in kidney and liver tissue homogenates after fish and olive oil treatment. In this study, it was found that co-treatment of fish and olive oil is more effective antagonist of gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity. However fish oil was found to be more effective. Hypercholesteromia associated with gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity is also lowered by oil supplementations. The beneficial effects of these oils are due to counteracting effect of the biochemical alterations induced by the drug.     

Universities and the knowledge-based economy: perceptions from a developing country

This paper considers the role of universities in the creation of a knowledge-based economy (KBE) in a developing country, Pakistan. Some developing countries have moved quickly to develop a KBE, but progress in Pakistan is much slower. Higher education plays a crucial role as part of the triple helix model for innovation. Based on the perceptions of university leaders and academic staff, the paper examines how the transformation towards a KBE in Pakistan is viewed within higher education and identifies some of the blockages and contradictions that hinder development. In particular, the paper suggests that a more integrated education system bringing together primary, secondary and tertiary education to work for a common purpose will be essential.     

Normal delivery induced stress alters glutathione peroxidase and TNF-α in elderly primigravidas mononuclear cells

To probe the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity coupled to ROS and TNF-α levels in younger versus elderly primigravidas. Monocytes were isolated from blood of young and elderly primigravidas after 12 hrs, 24 hrs and 14 days postpartum. Age-matched healthy female donors served as controls. Thereafter, the above monocytes were subjected to evaluation of GPx activity, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and reactivity/specificity towards anti-TNF-α antibody. Suppression in GPx activity with simultaneous enhancement of TNF-α levels in monocytes was observed after 12 hrs and 24 hrs of spontaneous labor pain-induced maternal delivery through normal vaginal route. Conversely, an enhancement of GPx activity and decrease in TNF-α levels were observed on day 14 of postpartum, thereby indicating reversal of the impaired neutralizing mechanisms. The antioxidant network combating ROS was stronger in younger primigravidas. Capability of TNF-α and ROS suppression was somewhat lesser in elderly primigravidas even 14 days of postpartum via normal vaginal route. The capability of GPx activity enhancement with simultaneous suppression in ROS and TNF-α, decreases in elderly primigravidas. This may act as one of the important parameters leading to a variety of complications encountered by elderly primigravidas.     

A study on interaction of Aluminium with rat intestinal brush border membrane

The present studies with aluminium chloride given in drinking water showed marked inhibition in the activities of intestinal brush border membrane marker enzymes, namely alkaline phosphatase, acetyl cholinesterase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and sucrase. Moreover, a significant depression in the levels of membrane constituents, viz phospholipids, cholesterol, hexoses and sialic acid following aluminium chloride treatment was also observed. On the basis of these studies it may be concluded that if aluminium is taken in high quantities it may alter the structure and functioning of the intestinal brush border membrane, which in turn may lead to the improper digestion and reduced nutrient uptake from the small intestine.