This study assessed whether relationships existed between maternal indices of selenium (Se) nutrition and milk content of Se and activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Samples of milk (n = 72) collected at 4, 8, 12, and 16 wk postpartum and blood from lactating (n = 10) and control (n = 8) women were analyzed. Plasma and erythrocyte Se concentrations and plasma GSH-Px activity were significantly lower in lactating than in control women. Maternal plasma Se concentration was positively correlated with plasma GSH-Px activity (r = 0.53, p less than 0.01) and with milk Se content (r = 0.61, p less than 0.01) and GSH-Px activity (r = 0.51, p less than 0.01). Stage of lactation did not influence either milk or blood values. Milk Se concentration was positively correlated with milk GSH-Px activity (r = 0.81, p less than 0.001). Results indicate that human milk Se content and GSH-Px activity are directly influenced by maternal Se nutrition.

The purpose of this study was to explore Lactobacillus species from yogurt and cheese that can be used as potential probiotics. In this study, a total of twenty five samples, fifteen from cheese and ten from yogurt were collected from local markets, Dhaka city during May-July, 2016. Single colonies were isolated by enriching in MRS broth and subsequent streaking on MRS agar plate. Total twenty five isolated bacteria were identified as Lactobacillus species by morphological, gram staining and short biochemical tests. All isolated strains were characterized for probiotic properties including acid and salt tolerance, phenol tolerance, sugar fermentation, lactose fermentation and proteolytic activity. Acid tolerance test was performed at pH 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 in MRS broth. Results showed all isolates survived in highly acidic pH, however most of the strains also survived in alkaline media (pH 8). Salt tolerance test was performed at 2%, 4% and 8% NaCl in MRS broth. All isolates survived in 2% and 4% NaCl concentrations. Phenol tolerance test was performed in MRS broth with 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% and 0.4% phenol concentration. All strains survived in 0.1% and 0.2% phenol concentrations. Sugars such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, xylose and lactose were used for fermentation tests. Results of fermentation test showed that most isolates fermented all sugars. All strains digested casein by producing protease enzyme in skim milk agar plate. This study indicated that Lactobacillus species from yogurt and cheese samples have potential probiotic properties. Further study is needed to find specific probiotics with specific benefit from yogurt and cheese.

Drug abuser patients (n=104), age ranging from 19 to 42 years, were randomly recruited to investigate the serum levels of trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mg), malondialdehyde (MDA), and immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, and IgM) before and after clinical intervention. Control group also included 104 healthy individuals. Blood samples were analyzed for determining trace elements, MDA, and immunoglobulin using atomic absorption spectroscopy, Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy, and turbidimetry method, respectively. For serum level of Zn and Fe, the differences between the groups (before intervention, after intervention, and control) were not significant (p>0.05). However, significant differences were found in serum copper levels between control group, drug abuser patients, and before and after intervention (p<0.05). The concentration of Mg was found to be significantly higher (p=0.007) in drug abuser patients than the controls, and after intervention, the level was restored to control value. A displacement of elemental homeostasis was observed in drug abuser patients compared to control, and it was improved after intervention. An increase in serum concentration of MDA was found in drug abuser patients compared to control subjects (p>0.05) but was not statistically significant. After intervention, the concentration was restored to control value (p>0.05). The serum concentrations of IgA and IgM were found to be significantly higher (p<0.05) in drug abuser patients before intervention than the controls, and the level tended to be restored to control level after clinical intervention. Serum IgG level was found to be lower in drug abuser patients compared to controls and further declined significantly (p<0.05) after intervention. These findings may suggest a possible imbalance in the levels of micronutrients, antioxidants, and immunoglobulin in drug abuser patients, which tend to be restored to control values after detoxification.

Abstract:We studied soil samples from Dhaka municipality area to isolate and characterize bacteria having potential biochemical and pharmacological importance. Total twenty five soil samples were collected from fish, vegetables and fruits dump area from Dhaka City. Bacterial population was sub-cultured in trypticase soya agar (TSA) plate.Nineteen colonies were isolated, cultured and characterized by gram staining and biochemical tests. Six isolates were found to be gram negative while thirteen were gram positive. All isolates were positive in oxidase, catalase, citrate, and protease tests. Eight isolates showed coagulase negative and nine were coagulase positive. It was found that all bacterial isolates were sensitive to tetracycline, chloramphenicol, gentamycin, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin and ceftriaxone. About 95% of the bacterial isolates were resistant to penicillin-G and ampicillin. About 89%, 26%, 21% and 11% of the bacterial isolates were resistant to amoxicillin, co-trimoxazole, nalidixic acid and erythromycin, respectively. It was found that bacterial isolates produce chemical(s) inhibitory to other bacterial strains including both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Further studies are needed to characterize the potential antibacterial factor(s) and other bioactive compound (s) present in these bacterial isolates from soil samples.

A total of ten selected strains of Salmonella species, five from the environment of poultry farm and five from patients were included in this study. All strains were isolated and identified by using selective media, standard biochemical and serological tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed by disc diffusion method using twelve commercial antibiotic discs of aztreonam, ceftriaxone, kanamycin, ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, chloramphenicol, ampicillin, erythromycin, cephalexin, tetracycline, cotrimoxazole and nalidixic acid. Plasmid profile and integron gene detection were conducted by Kado-Liu method and PCR, respectively. Only aztreonam, ceftriaxone, kanamycin and gentamycin were shown to be inhibitory to all strains. However, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, amoxicilin, erythromycin, cephalexin, tetracycline, cotrimoxazole and nalidixic acid revealed different degrees of resistance pattern against environmental and clinical strains. Analysis of plasmid demonstrated that three environmental strains contained both plasmids of 140 Mda and 62 Mda. On the other hand, another three strains, one environmental and two clinical isolate only contained 140 Mda plasmid. All the plasmid containing strains (140 Mda and 62 Mda) exhibited same type of drug resistance pattern, whereas strains containing the 140 Mda plasmid only did not show similar type of resistance pattern. Therefore, no correlation was found between plasmid containing strains and drug resistance. Four environmental strains were also found to be positive for the class I integron and one clinical isolated was positive for class I integron gene conferring resistance to common antibiotics. However, none of the strains were found to contain class II integron. Therefore, the present study demonstrated that both environmental and clinical strains contain both large to middle size plasmids and integron I but not integron II. The plasmid and integron I containing strains experienced resistance to different antibiotics, used in the experiments.