[en] A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) technique with ultraviolet detection incorporating solid phase extraction (SPE) was developed to meet analytical and metrological requirements for routine serum level monitoring of methotrexate (MTX), with several parameters optimised such as temperature, flow rate, composition of the mobile phase and pH of the buffer solution. Two standard curves were constructed to cover the high and low levels of the calibrator range (0.02-600 micro mol/litre). Reproducibility (precision) of the method for intra assay was 2.7; 2.10; 1.38% at the lowest level and 2.11; 3.4; 2.01% at the highest level and for inter assay was 2.8; 2.2; 2.94% at the lowest level and 2.4; 2.74; 2.68% at the highest level; recovery was between 90.47 and 98.53 percent. Response was found linear over the whole range of the calibrator set with a correlation coefficient of 0.999. The limit of quantification and the limit of detection were 0.02 micro mol/litre and 0.0063 micro mol/litre, respectively. The method is suitable for quantification of methotrexate with good accuracy and precision. (author)

[en] Insulin resistance syndrome or metabolic syndrome is one of the major metabolic threats our recently urbanized society is going to face in near future. The management of this syndrome requires a very effective biochemical marker for screening. The objective of this cross sectional study were to compare various lipid and lipoprotein indices in human subjects with insulin resistance syndrome This study was carried out between April 2004 to January 2006 at the department of chemical pathology and endocrinology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi. A total of forty-seven subjects with metabolic syndrome were selected as per the criteria of National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP, ATP III) from a target population diagnosed to have impaired glucose regulation at AFIP. Forty-seven age and sex-matched healthy controls were also included in the study. Insulin resistance was calculated by the method of HOMA-IR, using the formula of Mathew's et al. The various lipid and lipoproteins, their ratios and log-transformed versions were evaluated for differences between subjects with metabolic syndrome and controls. Finally the diagnostic performances of these candidate lipid markers were evaluated. Results between subjects with metabolic syndrome and controls were found to be significant for serum triglyceride (p<0.05), HDL-C (p<0.05), triglyceride/HDLC (p<0.01), Log triglyceride/HDL-C (p<0.01), total cholesterol/HDL-C (p<0.01), LDL-C/HDL-C (p<0.01). However there was weak correlation between these lipid based markers and HOMA-IR ((serum triglyceride: r= 0.225), (HDL-C: r= -0.235), (triglyceride/HDL-C: r= 0.333), (total cholesterol/HDL-C: r= 0.239)). The AUCs for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome remained highest for HOMA-IR (0.727 (95%CI: 0.642-0.812)), followed by triglyceride/HDL-C (0.669 (95%CI: 0.572-0.766)) and LDLC/ HDL-C (0.639 (95%CI: 0.537-0.742)). The differences for lipids and lipoproteins between subjects with metabolic syndrome and controls remained significant. However, these markers have shown poor correlations with HOMA-IR along-with weaker diagnostic accuracy for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. Recommended cut-off must be used, once these markers are employed in the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. (author)

[en] Any abnormality of menstrual cycle makes women worried and requires proper evaluation. Oligomenorhea is one of the indicators of Polycystic Disease of the Ovary (PCO) which is associated not only with reproductive failure but it also has metabolic and cardiovascular complications. The recent study was conducted to find out the role of Pituitary Gonadotropins in the diagnosis. After diagnosing and finding out the cause for menstrual irregularities and chronic anovulation one can explain the prognosis and management of these disorders. Fifty patients were studied in the year 2005-06 in the outpatient department of Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar. A history Performa was duly completed in all subjects. Blood sample was collected for hormonal essay during first ten days of the cycle. Hormonal essay was performed by Microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) on AXSYM system of Abbott. Age ranged from 13-45 years, 82% of the women were infertile, 60% had infrequent periods and 22% of the women had amenorrhea, 30% patients were overweight while 48% were obese. Physical examination revealed hersuitism in 24%, acne in 8% and galactorrhea in 6% of the patients. Ultrasound examination showed classical picture of PCO in 28% patients while 32% women had multiple small follicles and 16 % women were devoid of follicles. Elevated LH levels were found in 36% women. FSH level were found normal in 64% patients while in 16% women the levels were in menopausal range. LH/FSH ratio of more than two was observed in 52% women. Prolactin level was raised in 22% women. TSH level was below normal in 16% and higher in 22% women. Hormonal essays are mandatory in the evaluation of women presenting with Oligomenorhea/amenorrhea and chronic anovulatory infertility for finding out the cause and explaining the prognosis of the disease to the patient. (author)

[en] The study aims to ascertain the prevalence of traumatic dental injures of the maxillary permanent incisors at Dental Department, Pakistan Institute of Medical Science Islamabad during the years 2003-2005. Information concerning age, sex, cause, type of tooth number of injured teeth and patterns of tooth injury were recorded retrospectively from 33 patients aged between 8-40 years, comprising 498 traumatized teeth. The dental record of all the patients presenting with dental trauma were examined for collection of data relating to age, sex, cause, number of injured teeth, type of tooth and type of tooth trauma. Type of tooth trauma was recorded according to the Andreason classification. The data was subsequently processed and analyzed using the SPSS statistical software programme. The statistical significance level was set at 5%. Of the 336 patients, 227 were males (67.6%) and 109 were female (32.4%). The gender difference was statistically significant (p<0.0001). The patients had a total of 498 traumatized teeth. A large number of dental trauma occurred in patients aged between 9-11 years. Most injuries involved one tooth in 227 patients (67.6%). However two teeth in 90 patients (26.7%), three teeth in 11 patients (3.2%) and only in 8 patients (2.3%) four teeth were involved. Fractures in enamel only occurred in 74 teeth (14.6%). Uncomplicated crown fractures in 208 teeth (41.9%) were the most commonly encountered dental trauma. 137 teeth (27.6%) suffered complicated crown fractures, 44 teeth (8.9%) uncomplicated crown-root fractures, 19 teeth (3.8%) complicated crown-root fractures and avulsion in 16 teeth (3.2%) only. The main causes were falls in 225 patients (66.9%), collision with objects in 40 patients (11.9%), road traffic accident in 31 patients (9.2%) violence in 31 patients (6.2%), and sports in 19 patients (5.6%). The maxillary central incisor was traumatized in 384 teeth showing a high percentage of 77%. Raising public dental awareness regarding the serious outcome of traumatic dental injuries is mandatory to improve the prognosis of dental trauma and to avoid complications. (author)

[en] To establish baseline data for the detection of Nickel contamination in Pakistan, foil samples were collected from various ecological areas of the country and analysed by using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Measured elemental content of Ni have median value of 69. 38+-1.25mg Kg/sup -1/ and geometric mean value 69.48 + 1.53, geometric standard deviation of 69.48+-1.53 mg Kg/sup -1/. The levels ranged from 25.63+-1.25 -146.88+-6.25mg Kg/sup -1/ being lowest in Okara and highest in Faisalabad area. These levels are comparable with reported values of other countries. (author)

[en] Determination of kinetic coefficients for a particular wastewater is imperative for the rational design of biological treatment-facilities. The present study was undertaken with the objective of finding out kinetic coefficients for tannery wastewater. A bench-scale model of aerated lagoon, consisting of an aeration tank and final clarifier, was use to conduct the studies. The model was operated continuously for 96 days, by varying the detention times from 3 to 9 days. Influent for the aerated lagoon was settled tannery wastewater. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of the influent and effluent and the mixed-liquor suspended solids (MLSS) of aeration tank were determined at various detention-times so as to generate data for kinetic coefficients. The kinetic coefficients k, Ks, Y and Ed were found to be 3.125 day/sup -1/, 488 mg/L, 0.64 and 0.035 day/sup -1/ respectively. Overall rate-constant of BOD, removal 'K' was also determined and was found to be 1.43 day/sup -1/. Kinetic coefficients were determined, at mean reactor-temperature of 30.2 degree C. These coefficients may be utilized for the design of biological-treatment facilities for tannery wastewater. (author)

[en] The O-Methylation of phenol with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) over KBrlSiO/sub 2/ catalyst was carried out and the reaction mechanism was investigated by in-situ FTIR. It was found that phenol was deprotonated to generate phenolate at 100 degree C but DMC was found no activation eyen at elevated temperature except a little decompose at 200 degree C. As a result anisole was formed at 150 degree C. Methylation mechanism was proposed based on those, in which phenolate was generated firstly and then acted as an active phase to attack methyl carbon of DMC to yield anisole. The activation of DMC seemed to be not essential. (author)

[en] Many vibrations which occur in the far-infrared region of spectrum are similar to the types of vibrations found in other regions of the spectrum. They fall in the far-infrared because the atomic masses are large and/or the forces resisting the deformation are small. Most of the vibrations of metal carbonyls fall into this category and hence they give a good example of what can be expected A number of metal carbonyls ego BrMn(CO)/sub 5/, CIMn(CO)/sub 5/, HMn(CO)/sub 5/, DMn(CO)/sub 5/, CH/sub 3/Mn(CO)/sub 5/, CD/sub 3/Mn(CO)/sub 5/ and CF/sub 3/Mn(CO)/sub 5/ have been studied in the vapour phase for first time and it is now possible to discuss the general nature of the vibration in this region. The metal- CO stretching frequencies are found between 350 and 475 cm/sup -1/ The metal-C-O bending frequencies are more scattered and fall between 275 and 650 cm/sup -1/ depending in part upon the phase of motion. The OC-M-CO bending modes occur between 50 and 150 cm/sup -1/. Other vibrations are founds in this region when one or more CO group are replaced by groups in which heavy atoms are attached to the metal. Factor which shifts the positions of the frequencies, such as mass or charge on the metal carbonyl moiety, will be discussed. (author)

[en] The present investigation focuses on environmental issues along Rehri Creek area, which is an imperative creek of economic importance. During the study, a total of 30 samples of wastewater (industrial waste, Cattle colony waste and domestic waste) and seawater (infront of Rehri Goth and Lat Basti) from five sites along Rehri Creek area were collected for physical (pH and TSS), chemical (BODs, COD, salinity, phosphate, TKN, oil and grease and organic matter) and heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, As and Zn) analysis Results of the physicochemical analysis revealed that effluent from Cattle Colony (Site 4) is the major source of marine water pollution along Rehri Creek area as it has high levels of all parameter except pH Other two important sources are industrial effluent (Site 1) and domestic sewer drains (Site 2). Except pH and oil and grease concentration at Site 2, the levels of all the parameters in industrial and domestic drains are not within permissible limit. Heavy metal analysis reveals that the concentration of heavy metals along the Creek is higher than previously estimated. The study showed that marine water quality of Rehri Creek is grossly contaminated with the industrial and cattle colony effluents, which are dumped into the sea without any treatment and would create an alarming situation in future. The continued accumulation of pollutant is also responsible for ecological imbalances and biodiversity losses in the area. (author)

[en] There are a variety of techniques developed in order to improve the efficiency of electrical systems and reduce cost of providing electricity to the consumer. This paper presents a new technique for power-factor capacity calculation in medium-sized industrial/ commercial setups. Various loads of similar nominal power-factor are categorized and demand-factor of loads is so selected that it has engineering justifications. The developed system works on the principle of low-voltage power-factor correction, which substantially reduces electricity bill and increases loading-capacity of the electrical system. It allows commercial and industrial consumers to save on their power cost appreciably. This work utilizes software, which takes few inputs and produces numerous useful results. Adoption of this system can help the user in computing compensation-capacity, system KVA (size of transformer) and cost of compensation. A feature of this system is prediction of low PF penalty. Moreover, it also suggests the tentative payback period. (author)