[en] Objectives: To assess the prevalence, pattern, and associated factors of dyslipidemia in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) in the Northwest region of Pakistan. Method: A cross-sectional secondary data analysis was performed on CAD patients visiting cardiology clinics in selected hospitals from July to December 2019. A total of 362 patients were included via consecutive sampling. Dyslipidemia was operationalized according to the “National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP ATP III) guidelines”. Results: Mixed dyslipidemia was recorded in 92.26% of the patients, while isolated dyslipidemia was observed in 5.24%. A high prevalence of combined dyslipidemia with increased LDL-C, TG, and low HDL-C was noted. Contrarily, elevated LDL-C was the commonest single lipid disorder (84.25%). Hypercholesterolemia was the least common disorder. Increasing BMI was found to be independently associated with hypercholesterolemia (OR: 1.19). Similarly, age (OR: 0.97) and being a rural resident (OR: 2.61) were independent factors associated with hypertriglyceridemia. Furthermore, being an urban resident (OR: 2.25) and increasing BMI (OR: 1.77) were also significantly associated with high LDL-C. Conclusion: Mixed dyslipidemias were observed in the majority of the patients. Age, BMI, and residence were noted to be independently associated with abnormal lipids. Early screening and proper management should be encouraged to minimize this significant cardiovascular risk. (author)

[en] Sealed radioactive sources are widely used for beneficial purposes throughout the world in industry as well as in medicine. BRIT handles several Million Curies of Cobalt-60 activity per annum in a safe manner at RAPP Cobalt Facility (RAPPCOF) to supply Co-60 sources to healthcare and industrial user in India and abroad. Recently the requirement of Co-60 sealed sources increased many folds and this paper discuss about the achievement of reduction in normalised collective dose consumption per kCi activity processed at RAPPCOF sealed source fabrication facility

[en] The oxygen contents of SmBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ and ErBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ were determine by heating weighed samples of the superconductors in a flow of dry hydrogen at 850 degree centigrade. The mass of each sample was found to decrease. The solid products were examined by XRD and consisted of a mixture of copper metal, the respective rare earth metal oxide and barium oxide which was found to have been converted into mixture of barium hydroxide and barium carbonate on exposure to air during sample preparation for the XRD analysis. The oxygen contents of SmBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7x/ and ErBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ were found to be 6.18 +- 0.15 and 6.81 +- 0.23 respectively. (author)

[en] The application of ionizing radiation and radiation technology in healthcare industry, agriculture and research is one of the most significant peaceful uses of nuclear energy along with the nuclear power generation. Among these the radiation processing using gamma rays is the most popular and beneficial next to the teletherapy treatments of cancer. Ionizing radiations used for radiation processing are mainly, γ-rays from radioactive isotopes and electron beams/X-rays from accelerators. Among these the γ-rays from Cobalt-60 radioisotope is the most widely used considering the energy of emitted photons, half-life and means of production for developing countries. The Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT) a unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is the only radiation source supplier in India. BRIT carries out fabrication, supply and post supply jobs in a systematic and safe manner. BRIT supplying sealed sources as per the demand in the country and abroad with the ⁶⁰Co produced in various Indian PHWR power reactors as a by product of neutron regulation. (author)

[en] Background: Our study was based on the alteration in the Michaelis Mentin parameters Apparent Michaelis Constant (aKm) and Apparent Maximum Velocity (aVm), which reflects activity of actyl cholinesterase (AChE). This activity decreases in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL). This decrease in aKm and aVm values shows bad prognosis. Similarly the anticancer drugs like Daunorubicin and Doxorubicin further decreases the aKm and aVm values which worsen the prognosis. The objective of this study was to determine and compare the extent of inhibition of Acetylcholine Esterase by Daunorubicin and Doxorubicin in ALL. Methods: Study of 100 patients including both male and female children who's age ranged from 4 to 8 years and were advised doxorubicin and daunorubicin separately were tested by Ellman's method using acetylcholine iodide as substrate and 5,5-dithiobis 2-nitrobenzine as a colour reagent regardless of dose regimen i.e. (once in 3 week, small dose per week or a continuous infusion for 72 to 96 hours. Results: In this study the Michaelis Mentin parameters Apparent Michaelis Constant (aKm) and Apparent Maximum Velocity (aVm) of the enzyme were estimated both in normal individuals and in the patients and also during treatment with daunorubicin and doxorubicin. The value of Michaelis Mentin parameters, aKm, aVm and percentage activity of the enzyme in normal individual are 23, 70, and 100 respectively. The values of aKm, aVm and percentage activity of the enzyme were also estimated in the patients before and after treatment. The values of aKm and aVm in patients of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and percentage activity of enzyme is decreased. After the treatment with daunorubicin and doxorubicin the values and activity is further decreased. Conclusion: We conclude that the drugs under study both decrease the enzyme activity but daunorubicin inhibits the enzyme more than doxorubicin. (author)

[en] The fabrication of high intensity ⁶⁰Co sealed sources is carried out in four specialized hot cells available in RAPPCOF. RAPPCOF handles hundreds of kilo Curies of ⁶⁰Co at a time in Hot cells. Specialized skills are required for handling high intensity ⁶⁰Co sources in hot cells. The high activity ⁶⁰Co not only affects the hot cell windows, but also affects all the electronics and electrical equipment including the lighting in the hot cell. The transmission efficiency of the window and the functionality of Master Slave Manipulators (MSMs) have crucial role during handling of 1 mm sized Cobalt-60 pellets. Regular maintenance of this equipment is essential to ensure safe and efficient operations. The high intensity radiation and high contamination residues in the cutting and recovery hot cells make the operation and maintenance of hot cells and associated equipment very challenging and this paper discusses some of the important challenges in RAPPCOF hot cell operations. (author)

[en] High Specific Activity (HSA) Cobalt-60 has widespread use in Radiotherapy for cancer treatment. Achieving a Specific Activity exceeding 200 Ci/g from Indian Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) proved challenging, leading the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT) to import HSA Co-60 for teletherapy sources to meet the significant demand until 2010. Currently, over 20% of the indigenously produced Co-60 activity comprises HSA Co-60. However, the demand for Cobalt-60 Teletherapy Sources (CTS) has decreased due to the availability of medical linear accelerators (Linacs) and the earlier scarcity of indigenous CTS. This paper explores BRIT's opportunity to effectively utilize HSA Co-60 for cost- effective teletherapy treatment in developing countries and advanced medical gamma machines

[en] The processing of ⁶⁰Co is a challenging job in view of radiological protection concern. Any occurrence or mishap during processing can result in exposure to personnel and a setback to the production of ⁶⁰Co sources. Here a simple attempt has been made to describe the radiation protection aspects of the entire process and the efforts in ensuring radiological safety. RAPPCOF is improving in radiation protection aspects as well as in Cobalt handling since its inception. Facility started fabricating various sealed sources in 2006 when it was augmented. During last 35 years, RAPPCOF progresses in leaps and bound and today it is the only facility in the country with a complete production cycle

[en] Groundnut being an important oilseed crop in the Pothwar region of Pakistan has the productivity level of 609 kg ha/sup -1/ , much lower from the potential yield of 3000 kg ha/sup -1/. Present study was designed to explore factors affecting productivity of groundnut along with its profitability analysis. The sample farms were classified into small, medium and large farms. Farm-level crop data were gathered during two cropping seasons i.e., rabi 2008-09 and kharif 2009. One hundred and forty groundnut producers were selected for collecting data using the well-structured questionnaire from two important districts recognised for area and production of groundnut. Results showed that large farmers allocated significantly higher area (34 percent) to groundnut cultivation compared to other categories of farmers. The gross margins were also significantly higher at large farms. Ploughing frequency, seed rate and labor man-days have positive relationship with groundnut productivity. Therefore, the provision of improved groundnut production technologies package and improved seed to groundnut growers may enhance the productivity and area under this crop. (author)

[en] High intensity ⁶⁰Co sources are used in various healthcares, agricultural and industrial applications. The ⁶⁰Co activity in the form of slugs and capsules is recovered at Regional Centre, Kota of Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT) from the various Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors in the country and sent for further processing to sealed sources fabrication facility. These sources are fabricated from ⁶⁰Co pellets and slugs in shielded enclosure called as hot-cell