A prospective study was conducted in the Northern region of Bangladesh, to investigate the serum lipid profile viz the level of total cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol of hypertensive patients and compares them with levels of control subjects. The results revealed that serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol were significantly markedly raised (p>0.001) whereas the level of HDL-cholesterol was significantly lower (p>0.001) in hypertensive patients as compared to control subjects. No significant changes of serum lipid profile were found between male and female hypertensive patients, but in control subjects, markedly higher levels of serum lipid profile was observed in male compared to that of female. It was concluded that hypercholesterolaemia, hypertrigyceridaemia and low density lipoprotein are the main lipid abnormalities on the incidence of hypertension in the study area. Key words: Hypertension, Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), HDL- cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. J. bio-sci. 14: 93-98, 2006

Significant differences were found in sugar content and carbohydrate splitting enzyme activities in tubers of ten indigenous potato varieties at harvesting and after keeping at cold storage. The activities of invertase, amylase, β-galactosidase and cellulase in all varieties were found to be increased by 2-12, 1.2-4, 1.9-4.5, and 1.1-3.7 folds, respectively from harvesting to cold stored potatoes. The amount of starch and sucrose were found to be decreased by 1.15-2.8 and 1.02-1.4 folds, respectively from harvesting to cold stored in all varieties. Total soluble sugar and reducing sugar contents in potatoes were increased by 1.02-1.4 and 4-11 folds, respectively from harvesting to cold stored in all varieties of potatoes. The amount of reducing sugar increased in cold stored potatoes due to the increased activities of carbohydrate splitting enzymes.

Enzyme activities and degradation of seed storage substances were investigated in BARI-1, BARI-2 and BARI-3 varieties of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seed at different germinating periods. Among the varieties, the highest amylase activity was found in BARI-2 and lowest in BARI-3 during germination at 45 hours in water. The maximum activity of invertase was found in BARI-2 and minimum in BARI-1 at 72 hours of germination. Lipase activity was highest in BARI-2 and lowest in BARI-1. The highest protease activity was found in BARI-2 and lowest in BARI-3. The amount of total protein and water-soluble protein were found to be highest in BARI-1 and BARI-3, respectively. During light germination, carbohydrate depletion starts after initial imbibitions, and was completed in 120-144 hours. The variety BARI-1 was found to contain the highest amount of free sugar while BARI-3 had the lowest amount. BARI-2 was found to contain highest amount of reducing sugar and BARI-1 contained the lowest amount. The highest amount of starch was found in BARI-3 and lowest in BARI-1. The starch content in chickpea seed decreased gradually during germination. Among the varieties, BARI-1 was found to contain the highest amount of lipid while BARI-3 contained the lowest amount. The seed storage substances were found to decrease gradually with the increase of germination time. The results indicate that degradation of reserve seed nutrients accelerate the development of seedling growth during germination.

Context: Determination of the activities of hydrolytic enzymes from germinating wheat seeds and investigation of degraded nutrients from brassica and wheat seeds at different periods of germination are important factors for identification of richest sources of hydrolytic enzymes and nutrients.Objectives: To study the activities of hydrolytic enzymes and degradation of seed storage substances of brassica (Brassica napus L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seeds during germination.Materials and Methods:  Three varieties of brassica (Brassica napus L., B. juncea L. and B. campestris L.) and three varieties of wheat (Akbar, Kanchan and Agrani) seeds were analyzed. Amylase, invertase, protease and lipase activities were assayed. Degradation of seed storage nutrients during germination were determined by conventional biochemical methods.Results: The activities of amylase, invertase, protease and lipase varied from 8.02 – 48.69, 2.45 – 15.32, 20.96 – 45.45 and 2.72 – 12.76 units/ ml respectively. Degradation of nutrients in the three species of brassica and wheat seeds was also studied at different periods of germination. The amount of free sugar in brassica and wheat seeds ranged from 0.93 – 4.27% and 3.82 – 4.88%; reducing sugar content from 0.012 - 0.093% and 0.032 - 0.078%; starch from 1.42 – 4.70% and 10.26 – 69.65%; total protein from 3.1 – 25.37% and 2.3 – 18.37%;  water-soluble protein from 1.5 – 14.24% and 1.0 – 6.50%;  and oil content from 2.49 – 43.6% and 1.04 – 1.92% respectively. Conclusion: The results suggest that the extracts from brassica and wheat seeds can be good sources of nutrients and hydrolytic enzymes which are applicable in food industry to improve food quality.Key words: Brassica; Wheat; Carbohydrate; Protein; Lipid; Hydrolytic Enzyme.DOI: 10.3329/jbs.v17i0.7114J. bio-sci. 17: 101-106, 2009

Background: The impacts of socio-demographic characteristics on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are not well understood and have not yet been studied much more in our country. Acute myocardial infarction is the most common form of coronary heart disease and the single most important cause of premature death worldwide.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of the socio-demographic characteristics on AMI patients and to investigate the association between socioeconomic status and its various indicators and the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study will help in awareness building in reducing AMI by early detection of socio-demographic variables.Patients and methods: This was a prospective observational study consisted of 325 persons of AMI patients who were aged >20 years. Patients with first time AMI arriving in Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of Rajshahi medical college during the period of 2012-2014, were included. Data were collected through interview.Results: Among the AMI patients, male were more sufferer than female (68.3% vs. 31.7%) and male and female ratio was 2.15:1.0. Highest percentage of education was up to primary level (53.85%). Most of studied subjects (92.0%) monthly income were ≤15000. More than half (59.38%) of the studied population were from rural area, mostly they were Muslim (94.46%) and smokers (50.15%). The mean±SD age of the acute Myocardial infarction patients was 53.75±11.64 years. Mean age of the female patients were a little bit higher than the male patients (female 54.28±11.78 vs. male 53.51±11.63). Highest percentage was in the age group 51-60 years (32%) followed by 41-50 (26.8%) and then age group >60 (23.7%). Among the male patients highest percentage was in the age group 51-60 years (31.1%) followed by 41-50 years (27%) and then age group >60 (24.3%). However, among the female patients, highest percentage were in the age group 51-60 years (34%) followed by 41-50 years (26.2%), and then age group >60 (22.3%). Acute Myocardial infarction patients was more in age group >40 years of age. Interestingly after 60 years of age occurrence of AMI was low in both sexes.Conclusion: Both sex and age influenced AMI. An association was also found among educational level, monthly income, residence area, religion, smoking habit and AMI.TAJ 2016; 29(1): 16-20