M. A. Islam

Mothers' knowledge about vaccine preventable diseases and immunization coverage of a population with high rate of illiteracy

In a case-control analysis of cross-sectional data, 328 children aged 12-35 months and their mothers were studied to identify the factors associated with delayed or non-immunization of their children. Delayed or non-immunization was associated with low socio-economic status, maternal illiteracy, and lack of mothers knowledge on vaccine preventable diseases as recommended by the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). The association of this lack of mothers knowledge with no or delayed immunisation persisted after adjusting the effects of others in logistic regression analysis (Odds Ratio 16.7; 95 per cent confidence interval: 15.65-17.8; P < 0.0001). The results indicate that even in the presence of maternal illiteracy, educating mothers about the vaccines and vaccine preventable diseases may be highly effective in increasing the immunization coverage.

Effects of Honey Supplementation on Hepatic and Cardiovascular Disease(CVD) Marker in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Introduction: Honey is not just a sweetener it is also a nature’s gift to mankind. Natural honey has various ingredients in it that contribute to its incredible properties. Honey contain health-beneficial effects such as gastro protective, hepatoprotective, reproductive, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. For that reason, honey could be considered as a potential remedy for diabetes as well as Cardiovascular Disease(CVD). The objective of this study was to determine the phytochemical activity of honey and its role on hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic condition in Streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats. Material and method: The Experimental rats were divided into six groups (n=6). Diabetes Mellitus (DM) was induced by single intraperitoneal injection (65 mg/kg BW) of freshly prepared Streptozotocin hydrate solution in 0.9% saline solution. Hyperlipidemic was induced by mixture of cholesterol (1.5 %) and cholic acid (0.5%) with diet of rats. At the end of the treatment, the blood glucose level and lipid profile was measured by using commercial kits. Result: Honey bee-treatment significantly decreases blood glucose level in diabetic rats. TC, TG, LDL, VLDL are significantly (p<0.05) decrease whereas HDL significantly increase (p<0.001). The SGPT, SGOT and CRP were significantly decrease (p<0.05). The total phenolic and flavonoid were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu and colorimetric assay method where some flavonoid decreases diabetic condition as well as CVD. Honey has also effect of hepatoprotective activity. Conclusion: On the basis of above findings, it can be concluded that, supplementation of honey could significantly contribute to control blood glucose level as well as lipid profile in diabetic subjects.

Nutritional and Lipid Composition Analysis of Pumpkin Seed (Cucurbita maxima Linn.)

Pumpkin (Curcurbita maxima) is a popular vegetable in our country. This plant is locally known as “Mistikumra”. The seeds of pumpkin are rich in oil and nutrients. The nutritional compositions of pumpkin seeds were determined by standard method. The proximate compositions of the powdered seed were moisture 4.06%, ash 3.80%, crude fibre 2.91%, total lipid 36.70%, total protein 34.56%, total soluble protein 18.10%, sugar 1.08%, and starch 2.15%. The minerals composition of the seed were nitrogen 5.53%, phosphorus 0.71%, sodium 4.80 Cmol/kg, potassium 20.00 Cmol/kg, Calcium 4.40 Cmol/kg, Magnesium 348.7 ppm, iron 290.0 ppm, coper 70 ppm, zinc 39.9 ppm, and manganese 17.9 ppm. It is used as a potentially attractive source of lipid, protein and crude fibre. The oil was extracted from seed of Cucurbita maxima by solvent extraction process using petroleum ether (40°-60°C). The oil content was found to be 12%. The specific gravity of the oil was estimated to be 0.9412 at 31°C. GLC analysis of oil indicated that it contained highest amount of oleic acid 40.58%, while stearic acid, palmatic acid and linoleic acid contents were found to be 27.06%, 17.39% and 14.97% respectively. In addition, the iodine value, saponification value, saponification equivalent, acid value and percentage of free fatty acid of seed oil were determined by standard method and found to be 114.33, 193.73, 289.58, 0.516 and 0.2646% respectively. High degree of unsaturation makes it suitable for using as valuable drying agent, and lower free fatty acid content indicates suitability of the oil for probably edible purpose. Cururbita maxima seed oil is a rich source of linoleic acid, which is useful in human body.

Determination of Protein, Lipid and Carbohydrate Contents of Conventional and Non-Conventional Feed Items Used in Carp Polyculture Pond

A study was conducted during April’2010-September’2010 with a view to compare the protein, lipid and carbohydrate contents in conventional and non-conventional feed items and to recommend suitable strategy in selecting feed item for the development of weed based fish farming in carp polyculture pond. The experiment was carried out at the Protein and Enzyme Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi. Six different conventional and non-conventional fish feed items like rice bran, wheat bran, mustard oilcake, Azolla, grass and banana leaves were tested to determine the nutrient contents under 6 treatments as T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, respectively. In this study, nutrient contents (protein, lipid and carbohydrate) were monitored monthly. Significant variations (P<0.05) were found in the mean values of nutrient contents with different treatments of feed items but in case of same feed item no significant difference was found in the nutrient content at different months. Among the non-conventional feed items treatment T4 (Azolla) varied more significantly (P<0.05) for the mean values of protein content. Findings indicated that Azolla was more nutritive and low cost effective diets for fish farming in Bangladesh.