The process of aging presents various alterations in physiological, behavioral and neurochemical events. Memory has been given the special consideration in age-related neurological disorders. Decrements in memory function occur in aging possibly due to oxidative stress-induced damage to brain. The brain is particularly vulnerable to the deleterious effects of oxidative damage. Age-related increases in ROS are believed to trigger biochemical cascades that lead to neurodegeneration. The most commonly used biomarker to investigate the oxidative damage is the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and Catalase (CAT) are the main endogenous enzymatic defense systems of all aerobic cells. Any factors that reduce the activities of antioxidant enzymes may lead to accumulation of ROS and subsequently oxidative damage to biological macromolecules. Age-related memory impairment is also correlated with a decrease in brain and plasma antioxidants. Decline of numerous neurotransmitters in the brain can be associated with aging. In the light of above discussion this study is divided in two parts. In part (I) we investigated the age-related neurological changes that could be involved in neurodegeneration in aging. In part (II) we investigated different parameters that could be helpful in delaying the onset of aging process. In the 1st chapter of part (I) we investigated the relationship between the oxidative stress and memory decline during aging, we have determined the level of lipid peroxidation, activities of antioxidant enzymes and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) in brain and plasma as well as biogenic amine levels in brain of young (4-5 months of age) and old rats (18-22 months of age). The results showed that the level of lipid peroxidation in the brain and plasma was significantly higher in older than in the young rats. The activities of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT and GPx displayed an age-dependent decline in both brain and plasma. AChE activity in brain and plasma was significantly decreased in aged rats. Compared to the young control group short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM) was impaired significantly in older rats tested by Morris Water Maze (MWM) and Elevated Plus Maze (EPM). Moreover, a marked decrease in biogenic amine noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytriptamine (5-HT) levels was also found in the brain of aged rats. Findings of the study suggest that in addition to increased oxidative stress, decline of antioxidant enzyme activities, altered AChE activity, and decreased biogenic amine levels in the brain of aged rats may potentially be involved in diminished memory function in aging. Effect of age on behavioral and neurochemical deficits were further studied in male and female rats to study the sex related differences. Data analysis revealed that aged female rats exhibited a greater decrease in memory and anxiety compared to aged male rats. Ambulatory activity was comparable in both groups. Data analysis also revealed a significant decrease in plasma tryptophan (TRP), brain 5-HT, 5-HIAA, 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and NA levels in aged male rats compared with aged female rats. The levels of brain TRP, DA and plasma antioxidant assay levels were found comparable in both groups. This study further aimed to explore the areas of the brain which are more affected during aging and participate in memory function such as changes in hippocampus and striatum. Results of hippocampal region showed that aged rats exhibited learning and memory impairment. Moreover, an augmented increase in level of anxiety was also observed in old rats. A marked decrease in 5-HT was observed in hippocampal region of aged rats than rest of the brain as shown in chapter 3. DA levels were also significantly decreased but comparable to the rest of the brain. Similarly, levels of 5-HIAA and DOPAC were also found to be decreased in aged rats. Results of behavioral tests for striatal region showed that aged rats exhibited a significant impairment of memory. Neurochemical results showed that there was a significant decline in striatal dopamine levels while its metabolite DOPAC was significantly increased in aged rats. Hence aging has a significant negative influence on cognitive functions. The present findings of behavioral deficits and altered neurotransmission in hippocampus and striatum of aged rats suggest a relationship between aging, brain neurotransmitters and behavioral deficits assessed in these specific regions. In part (II) the study was further aimed to explore the long term effect of antioxidant treatment on aging. Different antioxidants such as combined Vitamin E and C (VEC), Curcumin (CUR) and Walnut (WAL) were used in the present study to explore the effects of these antioxidants against the aging induced behavioral, biochemical and neurochemical deficits. The study was further aimed to investigate the effect of VEC, CUR and WAL on brain antioxidant enzymes activities and level of oxidative stress during aging. Effect on brain neurotransmitters levels following the antioxidants VEC, CUR and WAL administration were also investigated. The results of the present study revealed a greater improvement of memory in aging following antioxidants treatment for four weeks compared to young control rats. Antioxidant supplementation significantly produced anxiolytic effect on both young and aged rats. The decreased brain levels of MDA in both young and aged rats were also observed. Data also demonstrate a significant increase in brain SOD, CAT and GPx activity in aged rats treated with VEC, WAL and CUR. The results of neurochemical estimations showed that 5-HT, 5HIAA, DA and NA levels in brain of aged rats were significantly increased by VEC and WAL supplementation. Our findings suggest that the improvement of age-related decline might be accomplished by improving dietary intake or supplements of the antioxidants which may prevent the detrimental effects of aging. The importance of the environment in the regulation of brain, behavior and physiology has long been documented in biological, social and health sciences. Therefore the present study investigated the effect of environmental enrichment (EE) on the behavior of young and aged rats. Results showed that long-term exposure of rats to EE significantly enhanced memory function in both young and aged rats. Results also revealed that the older rats exposed to EE exhibited a greater improvement of cognitive performance compared to young EE rats. A significant decrease in anxiety was observed in both groups. Aged rats exhibited more anxiolytic effects following EE. Biochemical analysis revealed that MDA content was significantly decreased in brain of enriched rats. EE treatment also significantly enhanced the activities of brain antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT in aged EE rats and also exhibited a significant increase in the levels of brain neurotransmitters 5-HT, DA and NA in aged rats. Our results indicate that EE induces more beneficial effects on different behaviors of rats during aging and suggests that EE not only induces memory enhancing effects in aging but also improves general health of rats. The study suggests that antioxidants and EE both improve the memory by increasing the neurotransmitters in brain and may be effective in prevention of neurological changes associated with aging. The finding of the present study may help to develop drugs with an enhanced therapeutic and smaller side effect profile.
مولانا امتیاز علی خاں عرشی سخت افسوس ہے گذشتہ ماہ فروری کی۲۵/تاریخ کومولانا امتیاز علی خاں عرشی بھی ۷۷برس کی عمر میں اپنے وطن رامپور میں داعیٔ اجل کولبیک کہہ کراس عالم فانی سے رخصت ہوگئے۔اناﷲ وانا الیہ راجعون۔ مرحوم کی شہرت کاآغاز اوّل اوّل غالبیات کے ماہرکی حیثیت سے ہوا،انھوں نے غالب کے دیوان اور خطوط پرجوتحقیقی مقالات لکھے،انھوں نے اردو زبان وادب کے حلقہ میں دھوم مچادی۔ وہ بیک وقت عربی، فارسی اوراردو تینوں زبانوں اوران کے ادب کے نامور مبصرومحقق تھے۔ وہ رامپور میں۱۹۰۴ء میں پیداہوئے۔رامپور پٹھانوں کی مشہور بستی ہے جو افغانستان کے مختلف قبیلوں سے منسوب ہیں۔ مرحوم کاخاندانی تعلق حاجی خیل قبیلہ سے تھا جویوسف زئی قبیلہ کی ایک شاخ ہے، ابتدائی تعلیم مطلع العلوم نامی ایک مقامی مدرسہ میں پائی۔اسی زمانہ میں پنجاب یونیورسٹی سے عالم کاامتحان پاس کیا۔پھر اورینٹل کالج لاہور میں داخلہ لے کر اولاً مولوی فاضل کااوراس کے بعد منشی فاضل کاامتحان پرئیویٹ طورپر دیا اوردونوں امتحانوں میں درجہ اوّل میں کامیاب ہوئے۔ رامپور واپس آکر مدرسۂ عالیہ کی اونچی کلاس میں داخل ہوئے اور اس سے سند فراغ لی۔تعلیم سے فارغ ہونے کے بعد چند دنوں ندوۃ العلماء کے سفیر رہے، اس سے بیزار ہوکر مستعفی ہوئے توتجارت کرنے لگے، ناتجربہ کاری کے باعث اس میں گھاٹاہوا تو دامن جھاڑ کراس سے بھی الگ ہوگئے۔ آخر۱۹۳۲ء میں رامپور کے مشہور زمانہ کتب خانہ جوتقسیم کے بعد سے رضا اسٹیٹ لائبریری کہلاتا ہے اس سے بحیثیت ناظم کے وابستہ ہوئے۔ کتب خانہ کے ساتھ ان کی یہ وابستگی زندگی کے آخری سانس یعنی کم و بیش نصف صدی تک باقی رہی۔اس مدت میں انھوں نے کتب خانہ کی کیسی عظیم الشان خدمات انجام دی ہیں۔اس کااندازہ اس سے ہوسکتا ہے کہ ملازمت سے سبکدوشی کے عام قانون سے مستثنیٰ کرکے گورنمنٹ نے آرڈر دے دیا ہے کہ...
Dr. Najib Al- Kailani (1931-1995) is one of the prominent poet and writer of Arabic literature. The multidimensionality of his personality is rare example of the history of Islamic literature. He was a renowned poet, writer, a medical professional, a thinker and overall a great human being. He laid the foundation of the Islamic literature and introduced a sound methodology. His precious literary works in Arabic and Islamic school of thought made his personality more prominent. He not only discusses the issues and challenges faced by Egyptian Muslims but also covers the whole Islamic world and as well as those Muslims who are in minority in their countries. His literary works are a good source of knowledge for not only the general readers but for the intellectuals and writers as well. Research works are being carried out on different dimensions of his personality in different ways by the different universities in the world. Research articles and discussions are being carried out and conferences are also organized in different Arab countries in the memory of Dr Najib Al-Kailani. Kailani was paid rich tributes by Arab writers and thinkers for his unique wealth of literary works. In this article we present the views of Arabian writers about his literary status.
Crop-weed competition and interactions are the focus of many researchers to make weed management decision accurate and economical. Therefore pot and field studies were conducted in two consecutive years (2012-13 and 2013-14) at two different locations viz Peshawar (34.0167° N, 71.5833° E) and Chitral (35° 50'' 46 N, 71° 47'' 9 E) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, Pakistan. The aims of the experiments were to determine the competitive ability of wild oat (Avena fatua L.) with wheat (Triticum aestivum L) at two ecologically different locations and the possible effects on quantity and quality of wheat grains. In field studies, the experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (additive design) with three replications in which the seed rate of wheat (var. Ata-Habib) was 125 kg ha-1 while wild oat was sown at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 plants m-2. All other weeds were removed manually. Field data showed that number of spikes m-2, number of grains spike-1, and biological yield of wheat during year 1 and plant height and spike length of wheat during year 2 were significantly higher at Peshawar when compared with Chitral. However, the grain yield of wheat was statistically similar at both the locations. The effects of different wild oat densities during both the years were prominent by significantly decreasing the grain and biological yield related variables of wheat. During both the years, the number of tillers and spikes in wild oat-free plots were significantly higher than wild oat infested plots; depending on density. Wild oat density above 5 m-2 resulted in decreasing the wheat yield components. These results showed that wild oat start competition at initial stage of the wheat. All other yield related variables of wheat were decreased with the increasing density of wild oat, indicated that wild oat compete with wheat throughout the crop season. The grain yield losses in wheat ranged from 2-35% during year 1 and 1-21% during year 2 at wild oat density of 5-40 plants m-2. The interaction of location and treatments on biological and grain yield was significant; showing that certain environmental factors favoured the wheat. Like wheat, wild oat biomass and plant height was also higher at Peshawar as compared to Chitral. The quality variables of wheat grains showed that protein content in wheat grains was decreased at higher densities of wild oat. During year 2, the gluten content in Chitral was decreased with increase in density of wild oat. The replacement series experiment showed that the relative yield total (RYT) was vi close to 1; indicating that both species are equally competitive although wheat was relatively dominant species (under field conditions) in mixtures. The same experiments (additive and replacement series) were conducted in pots. The density of wheat was kept constant (10 plants pot-1) while the densities of A. fatua were 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 plants pot-1. Biomass of wheat and wild oat (pot-1) were recorded. While in replacement series experiment, the same protocol was used except, that there were eleven treatments and the total density of crop and weed (wheat and wild oat) in each pot was constant, but species grown together were varied from 0 to 100%. Plants established in a mixture with proportions of 10:00, 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, 6:4, 5:5, 4:6, 3:7, 2:8, 1:9 and 0:10 (wheat : wild oat) plants pot-1. Pot experiments showed that wheat biomass was similar during both years while wild oat biomass was significantly higher. Wheat and wild oat biomass was decreased (R2 value of 96 %) for wheat and wild oat (R2 value of 94 %) in quadratic fashion. Relative yield total (RYT) showed that both the species are competitive where wheat was dominant in term of biomass production under the mentioned cultural practices. The regression equation demonstrated a good fit to the data with R2 values of 89% in year 1 as compared 96% during year 2. However, wild oat gave higher RYT in pots as compared to field conditions. In light of the present studies, it is concluded that presence of wild oat decreased all yield and biological yield related variables of wheat. Because early stage and later stage related variables of wheat were decreased, suggested that wild oat competes with wheat throughout the crop season. Apart from these, the quality variables of wheat; especially protein content is decreased due to presence of wild oat at higher density. Hence management of wild oat at any location needs to be implemented to get higher yield of wheat grains with good protein content. Due to morphological similarity of wild oat with wheat, this weed proved strong competitor. Therefore, it is suggested that wild oat needs to be controlled in wheat even at density of less than 5 plants m-2.