No abstract

No abstract

ABSTRACT:Vitiligo is a common pigmentary disorder characterized by depigmented patches or macules caused by the destruction of melanocytes. The pathogenetic mechanisms involved in vitiligo have not been completely clarified. Oxidative stress and reduced circulating antioxidants could be important phenomena in the pathophysiology of vitiligo. We measured serum malondialdehyde (MDA) as an indicator of oxidative stress and serum zinc and vitamin C to check antioxidant status in thirty Vitiligo patients. Thirty healthy control subjects were also recruited by matching the socio-demographic status to that of the patients. Blood samples were analyzed for determining the serum levels of Zn (by atomic absorption spectroscopy), Vitamin C and MDA (by UV-VIS spectroscopy). Serum level of MDA increased in vitiligo patients significantly (p < 0.05) in the present study, where as serum level of Zn increased and serum Vit-C decreased in patients compared to control but the changes were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Our study reveals the presence of an imbalance in the oxidant/antioxidant system in vitiligo patients which supports a free radical-mediated damage in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.

The experiment was carried out at the Field Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period of March, 2012 to July, 2012 to evaluate the effect of fertilizer and manure on the growth and yield of Tulsi and Pudina. There were six treatments consisting of control (No fertilizer and manures), cowdung, poultry manure, cowdung+ NPK fertilizer, poultry manure+ NPK fertilizer and Mixed fertilizer. All the treatment significantly influenced most of the growth and yield components of Tulsi and Pudina. The plant height, No. of branch/plant, No. of leaf/plant, Leaf length, 1000-fresh leaf weight and fresh yield were highest where cowdung was applied. All the above parameters were lowest where no manures were applied (control). From these results it was clear that cowdung was the best for soil quality and growth and yield of Tulsi and Pudina medicinal plant.

The study presents an analysis of spatial and structural diversity of Sal (Shorea robusta), the dominant species of sal forests in Bangladesh by using a neighbourhood analysis approach. The simple field method permits relatively unskilled persons to collect data. Most of the indices can be calculated in the field and the data analysis is comparatively easy. Therefore, the applicability of the method was tested by using different setting of reference trees compared with the full sampling for each plot in the Madhupur sal forests. The results indicate that a group of one reference tree and its four neighbours can be used efficiently to describe the spatial and structural diversity in homogeneous young forests at low costs and in short time. The indices can be easily interpreted allowing quantitative comparisons between different types of forest stands. Sal can be considered as the dominant and comparatively faster growing species than other associate species.