Introduction:  Long term physical training has been considered to adversely affect the performance of athletes especially the females. It may be due to the iron depletion caused by hemolysis or hemodilution results from plasma volume expansion. This study aims to assess the effect of heavy exercise on hemoglobin concentration and some other hematological parameters in female athletes. Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out in the Department of physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, from July 2010-June 2011. A total number of 105 females (70 athletes and 35 non athletes) between 15-25 years of age were recruited. The 35 apparently healthy female non athletes were taken as control (Group-A) and 70 female athletes comprise the study group (Group-B). According to sporting category, Group-B was further subdivided as B1:Runners and B2:Cyclists. Hemoglobin percentages (Hb %), red blood cell (RBC) concentration, packed cell volume (PCV), serum iron, serum ferritin and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were measured in fasting state after two months training. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS/ win.15.0 for comparison between the groups, using student’s unpaired “t” test. Results: Mean Hb%, RBC, PCV, iron and ferritin level were significantly (P<0.001) lower in athletes than those of control group. Within the study groups, runner’s serum iron and ferritin level were lower than cyclists.  TIBC significantly (P<0.001) rose in Group-B2 in comparison to Group-A. Conclusions: The current study showed that intense physical exercise leads to early stages of Hb%, RBC, PCV, iron and ferritin depletion which might compromise the health and performance of athletes. Keywords: exercise; hemoglobin; packed cell volume; serum iron.

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Abstract:Objective: Medicinal plants remain in vogue to treat some diseases in lower socio-economic communities, despite the availability of antimicrobials, often. Majority of rural Bangladeshi and tribal people being grossly illiterate and ignorant, use various herbs to treat a wide range of diseases. Of several medicinal-plants, neem is reported to have enormous impact in treating inflammation and infections. We, therefore, compared the antimicrobial effect of ethanolic neem leave extract (ENLE) on Escherichia coli (E. coli), with that of Ciprofloxacin. Materials & Methods: This experimental study compared the in vitro antimicrobial activity between ENLE and Ciprofloxacin on E. coli carried out in Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics of SS-Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Antimicrobial efficacy of ENLE and ciprofloxacin (5µg; Oxoid, UK) was determined against E. coli following minimum inhibitory concentration. By filtration and evaporation of Neem leaves ENLE was prepared. Antibiotic Sensitivity Test was performed on Muller-Hinton agar using a twofold serial dilution. Results: ENLE showed an inhibitory effect on the growth of E. coli at the concentration of 3.125 mg/ml. Antibacterial susceptibility of E. coli was performed on MHA and diameters of zone of inhibition by both ENLE and Ciprofloxacin were measured after overnight aerobic incubation at 37°C. Diameter of zone of inhibition against E. coli was 28 ± 0.16 mm with ENLE, 36 ± 0.07 mm with Ciprofloxacin (5µg/disk) (p<0.000). Conclusion: Findings of this preliminary in-vitro experiment though suggests that, ENLE against E. coli showed limited efficacy, better efficacy of Ciprofloxacin cannot be ruled out unless further in depth studies elucidates stronger evidences to support it.