Antidepressant and Antiamnesic Potential of Foeniculum vulgare

Aim:To evaluate the antiamnesic and antidepressant effect of Foeniculumvulgarewhole crushed seeds.Study Design:Laboratory based randomized control study. Place and Duration of Study:Department of Pharmacology, University of Karachi between January 2018 to August 2018. Methodology:Thirty swiss albino mice and wistar rats were divided equally in three groups. Control group was fed on standard rodent diet, group 2 was fed on 2% Foeniculumvulgarediet and group 3 was given 4% Foeniculumvulgarediet. Antidepressant activity was assessed using forced swimming test. Memory enhancement effect was evaluated by stationary rod test, passive avoidance test and water maze test.Results:Increased durationof struggling time was noted in both group 2 and group 3 as compared to control in forced swimming test. Decrease in time to reach platform in both water maze and stationary rod test was recorded in both the study group (group 2 & 3). Increase in stepthroughlatency was also seen in group 2 and group 3 as compared to control group.Conclusion:The results showed the memory enhancing and antidepressant actions of Foeniculum

Adverse reactions in allogeneic blood donors: a tertiary care experience from a developing country

Objectives: Fragmented blood transfusion services along with an unmotivated blood donation culture often leads to blood shortage. Donor retention is crucial to meet the increasing blood demand, and adverse donor reactions have a negative impact on donor return. The aim of this study was to estimate adverse donor reactions and identify any demographic association

Methods: We conducted a prospective study between January 2011 and December 2013. A total of 41,759 healthy donors were enrolled. Professionally trained donor attendants drew blood and all donors were observed during and following donation for possible adverse events for 20 minutes. Blood donors were asked to report if they suffered from any delayed adverse consequences

Results: Out of 41,759 blood donors, 537 [1.3%] experienced adverse reactions. The incidence was one in every 78 donations. The mean age of donors who experienced adverse events was 26.0 +/- 6.8 years, and all were male. Out of 537 donors, 429 [80%] developed vasovagal reaction [VVR], 133 [25%] had nausea, 63 [12%] fainted, 35 [6%] developed hyperventilation, 9 [2%] had delayed syncope, and 9 [2%] developed hematoma. Arterial prick, nerve injury, cardiac arrest, and seizures were not observed. Donors aged less than < 30 years and weighing <70 kg were significantly associated with VVR, hyperventilation, and nausea [p < 0.005]. Undergraduates and Urdu speaking donors also had a significant association with fainting and nausea, respectively [p < 0.05]

Conclusion: The prevalence of adverse events was low at our tertiary center. A VVR was the predominant adverse reaction and was associated with age and weight. Our study highlights the importance of these parameters in the donation process. A well-trained and experienced phlebotomist and pre-evaluation counseling of blood donors could further minimize the adverse reactions

In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide with aqueous vehicles in dental treatment

The purpose of this study was to assess the in vitro antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide associated with aqueous vehicles against aerobes and facultative anaerobic microorganisms commonly isolated from infected root canals. Experimental study. This study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, University of Karachi from Sept. 2007 to March 2009. The microbial strains were evaluated against calcium hydroxide pastes prepared with calcium hydroxide powder mixed with aqueous vehicles. Antimicrobial activity of the vehicles was also evaluated. For such purpose agar diffusion and broth dilution method was used. The results showed that calcium hydroxide mixed with aqueous vehicles was inhibitory against all the microbial strain tested. Calcium hydroxide pastes also eliminated the Enterococcus faecalis [the most resistant organisms in infected root canals] effectively. The results are statistically significant when calcium hydroxide was mixed with aqueous vehicles [p<0.05]. We concluded from our study that aqueous vehicles play a very important role in eliminating the endodontic bacteria particularly enterococcus faecalis which is very challenging for the endodontists while treating the patient

In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide with oily vehicles in dental treatment

The purpose of this study was to assess the in vitro antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide with oily vehicles against aerobes and facultative anaerobic microorganisms commonly isolated from infected root canals. Experimental Study. This study was conducted in the Department of pharmacology, University of Karachi from April 2009 to March 2011. The microbial strains were evaluated against calcium hydroxide pastes prepared with calcium hydroxide powder mixed with oily vehicles. Antimicrobial activity of the vehicles was also evaluated. For such purpose agar diffusion and broth dilution method were used. The results showed that calcium hydroxide mixed with oily vehicles was inhibitory against all the microbial strain tested. Calcium hydroxide pastes eliminated the Enterococcus faecalis [the most resistant organism in infected root canals] as well as other microorganisms effectively and the oily vehicles have also inherent antibacterial properties. We concluded from our study that although calcium hydroxide when mixed with oily vehicles can eliminate the endodontic bacteria but such oily vehicles may be irritant to the periapical tissue. Therefore further studies should be done on their role as an intracanal medicine in different combinations with calcium hydroxide