Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences  -   Volume 8 Number 2

Dosimetric Evaluation and Verification of External Beam 3-D Treatment Plans in Humanoid Phantom Using Thermoluminescent Dosimeters (TLDs)

Rizwana Siddique, Zaheer Uddin and Muzaffar Hussain

http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.65

Abstract: Dosimetric Evaluation & Verification Of External Beam 3-D Treatment Plans In Humanoid Phantom have been carried out. In this study male anthromorphic phantom, model no.702 D, manufactured by Atom Ltd has been used. The plan was delivered to phantom and TLD- 100 was placed in cavities to evaluate and verify the dose delivered by implementing 3D treatment plans. TLD 100 was calibrated using SIEMENS PRIMUS PLUS Linear Accelerator with calibrated 6 MV X ray beam. We chose phantom skull, abdomen and pelvis region for making treatment plans and then doses by treatment plans have been verified by TLDs. 4%, 3.5% and 3% variation in the results was found for skull, pelvis and abdomen region respectively which is within the safe limit of accuracy i-e from 3% to 5 %. Before working with TLDs, it has also been found that thermoluminescent dosimeters were showing the linear response and results are reproducible for the dose range from 50 cGy to 200 cGy. This study has been performed at Karachi Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (KIRAN) during the year 2010-2011.

Keywords: Thermoluminescent (Tlds) Dosimeters, anthromorphic phantom, vitro Dosimetry, vivo Dosimetry, Linear accelerator.

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Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences  -   Volume 8 Number 2

 Effect of Different Infestation Levels of Chilo Infuscatellus (Snellen) on Quantity and Quality Parameters of Sugarcane

 Raza Muhammad, Maqsood Anwar Rustamani, Nazir Ahmad and Qadeer Ahmad

 http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.67

Abstract: Population dynamics of sugarcane stem borer on commercial varieties of sugarcane were evaluated. The adults of Chilo infuscatellus (Snellen) emerged from over wintering larvae during fourth week of February. The population of adults of C. infuscatellus remained low in early vegetative growth stage of sugarcane crop. The number of moth/ trap increased gradually as the growth of the crop advanced and the maximum population of 37.4± 2.20 was recorded during August. When mean number of 18.98 moth/ trap were collected. The population of C. infuscatellus was declined after August and 28.6±2.42, 14.6 ± 1.74 moths were captured/ trap in month of September and October, respectively. The infestation of sugarcane stem borers was inversely proportional to the quantity and quality of sugarcane. Maximum cane weight of 13.5 ± 0.21 and 12.1± 0.05 kg were recorded in CPF-237 and Thatta-10 varieties at 0% infestation level, while minimum at 20% infestation (9.3±0.12 and 8.5 ±0.12 kg), respectively. Highest sugar recovery (11.0 ±0.08 and 10.2±0.11%) was observed at 0% infestation while lowest (9.3±0.12 and 8.5 ±0.12%) at 20% infestation in both the varieties.

Keywords: Infestation, Chilo infuscatellus, quantity, quality, sugarcane.

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Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences  -   Volume 8 Number 2

Effect of Heavy Metal Pollution on Leaf Litter Decomposition of Two Species of Mangroves, Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata

 Waqar Ahmed and S. Shahid Shaukat

 http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.66

 Abstract: Decomposition of litter is influenced by physicochemical characteristics of the habitat which is affected by pollution. In this study the effect of heavy metals on leaf litter decomposition of two mangrove species, Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata is investigated. An experiment was conducted in which litter bags were half-buried in mangrove soil in earthen pots in a greenhouse in which close to natural conditions were maintained and they were treated with 0, 5 and 10 ppm Ni and Pb as a solution of sea water for 16 weeks. Periodic observations were taken on the dry weight remaining and the four factor ANOVA was performed. All four factors (species, heavy metals, concentrations, time) were found to be significant (P at the most 0.05) while some of the interactions were also significant. Half-life and rate of decomposition, k were calculated on the basis of 12 periodic weight loss observations. The litter decomposition followed an exponential decay curve in all cases. The highest rate of decomposition (0.0155 gDWd^-1) and the shortest half life (7.44 days) were found for the control of Avicennia marina. In general, decomposition rate of A. marina was more rapid compared to that of R. mucronata. Whereas, the decomposition in treatments with heavy metals were found to be slower than in the controls, the minimum of which (0.0105 gDWd^-1) and the longest half life (18.17 days) were found in Rhizophora mucronata leaves treated with 10 ppm Pb. Lead appears to be more inhibitory to the process of litter decomposition compared to nickel. The two mangrove species responded differentially to the heavy metal concentrations. The influence of heavy metals in the decomposition process is discussed.

Keywords: Litter Decomposition, Heavy metals, Avicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronata.

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Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences  -   Volume 8 Number 2

Frequency of Vitamin B12 and Red Cell Folate Deficiency in Macrocytic Anaemia

Tanweer Ahmed, A. Sabeen Rahman, Shaista Ahmed, Afshan Siddiqui, Aisha Javed, Jawed Kamal and Laeeq Ahmed

http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.68

Abstract: Background: Macrocytosis refers to a condition in which red blood cells are larger than normal, with or without anemia. Macrocytic anemia occur due to variety of illnesses and requires further clinical and laboratory assessment. Both folate and vitamin B12 have been known to cause macrocytic anemia since the deficiencies of these two vitamins are very common in Pakistan, it would be imperative to investigate their role in causing megaloblastic anemia.

Objective: To determine the frequency of vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies in cases of macrocytic anemia.

Material and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the department of medicine of Abbasi Shaheed hospital from January 2012 to June 2012. A total of 95 patients (65 males and 30 females) with an age of above 13 years, who admitted with macrocytic anemia (MCV>96) with hemoglobin < 12 mg/dl in females and < 13 mg/dl in males were enrolled and data pertaining to complete blood count, serum level of vitamin B12 and RBC folate were analyzed.

 Result: A total of 95 patients (65 males and 30 females) with hemoglobin < 12 mg/dl in females and < 13 mg/dl in males were taken. Mostly were non vegetarian and majority of the patients belongs to age group of 34-54 years. It was found that 69 patients (48 males and 21 females) from total of 95 had vitamin B12 deficiency which is 72.6% and 43 patients (20 males and 23 females) from total of 95 had folate deficiency which is 45.26%.

Conclusion: Our study concludes that vitamin B12 is a major contributing factor of macrocytic anemia in our population. Dietary insufficiency, poor absorption and increase demand might be contributing to high prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in our population. Therefore our medical community should seriously consider the merit of early screening for vitamin B12 deficiency and take precautions against the clinical consequences of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Keywords: Macrocytic anemia, vitamin B12, folate, megaloblastic anemia.

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