Microbiological safety of areca nut-containing, ready-to-eat chewing substances common among Pakistani paediatric population: A pilot study.

Objective: To evaluate microbiological contamination of areca nut-containing, ready-to-eat chewing substances easily accessible to vulnerable paediatric population.

Methods: A pilot study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Medical College from June to October 2016 on twelve samples of areca nut-containing chewing substances (four supari, paan masala and gutka each) collected from various localities of Karachi. These were evaluated individually for total colony counts, hygiene indicator organisms, pathogenic organisms, and levels of aflatoxin.

Acidosis-induced relaxation of human internal mammary artery is due to activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels.

Metabolic acidosis is associated with various clinical situations including diabetes mellitus and renal diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acidosis on the resting as well as precontracted human left internal mammary artery. The vessels were obtained from the patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery at The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.