Ginsenoside Rg1 ameliorates blood-brain barrier disruption and traumatic brain injury

During the traumatic brain injury (TBI), improved expression of circulatory miR-21 serves as a diagnostic feature. Low levels of exosome-miR-21 in the brain can effectively improve neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, reduce nerve apoptosis, restore neural function and ameliorate TBI. We evaluated the role of macrophage derived exosomes-miR-21 (M-Exos-miR-21) in disrupting BBB, deteriorating TBI, and Rg1 interventions. IL-1

Ciprofloxacin; the frequent use in poultry and its consequences on human health

Fluoroquinolones are bactericidal agents that exhibit AUC/MIC dependent killing. In general, they are effective against Gram-negative organisms and some mycobacteria. Ciprofloxacin is the members of this group and its bactericidal action involves the impeding of enzyme topoisomerase II and IV. In human beings, this drug is recommended for a variety of infections including typhoid fever, chronic bacterial prostatitis, lower respiratory tract infections, skin infections, urinary tract infections, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, complicated intra-abdominal infections, infectious diarrhea, and uncomplicated cervical as well as urethral gonorrhea. The drug is as effective in animals as in humans, and is therefore used in animals as well. According to European health law and National Office of Animal Health [NOAH], UK, the statutory withdrawal period for veterinary medicinal products must not be less than 28 days for meat from poultry. The chicken used for meat purpose usually is of the age between 6 to 8 weeks, therefore the use of the drug must be discontinued by the age of 2 weeks. Whereas the age of chick at which it usually develops indicated diseases, is 3 weeks. In this situation, it is not possible to attain a withdrawal period of 28 days. Based on these observations, ciprofloxacin use may not be recommended in poultry for treatment of diseases as it may cause unnecessary exposure to humans while utilizing poultry meat and may lead to the development of drug resistance

Alternative medicine; the tendency of using complimentary alternative medicine in patients of different hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan

From ancient times, humankind has used self-created traditional methods for handling the illnesses and continues to use them along with modern medicine. Even today, more than 70% of the world's population still depends on the complementary and alternative systems of medicine [CAM]. The objective of this study is to create awareness of health hazards with the use of CAM therapies and to find out its utility among Pakistani population. Comprehensive questionnaire was developed for the study on the use of CAM and was distributed to 470 patients/attendants in different hospitals of Lahore as well as major hospitals and clinical setups in the peripheral regions of Lahore, Pakistan. Over all, the response rate of the study was 81.7% while 78.1 % population found as CAM user. The most common type of alternative medicine used by patients is from Hakeem [Natural Therapist] which is about 17% and the most frequent disease for which patients often go for CAM therapy is liver diseases [19%]. Respondents found inclined towards CAM only due to its marketed false benefits and not because of their dissatisfaction with conventional therapy. A noteworthy population of Pakistan is using CAM therapies from different practitioners, irrespective of any education and awareness about their disease and long-term drawbacks because of improper treatment of the disease. Though adverse events due to the use of CAM therapy are not unusual still a delay in the proper treatment usually ends up in serious consequences and even loss of lives

Antibiotic therapy in pyogenic meningitis in paediatric patients

To isolate and identify the causative pathogen, antibiotic sensitivity testing and success rate of empirical antibiotic therapy in pyogenic meningitis. Analytical study. The Children's Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore, Pakistan, from March to July 2012. The study was performed on 72 culture positive meningitis cases in children less than 15 years of age. This therapy was evaluated by monitoring the patient's clinical picture for 14 - 21 days. The collected data was analyzed by Chi-square test. Seventeen different bacteria were isolated. The most commonly occurring bacteria were coagulase negative Staphylococci [25%], E.coli [12.5%], Klebsiella pneumoniae [8.3%], Streptococcus pneumoniae [8.3%] and Pseudomonas aeruginosa [8.3%]. All the bacteria were sensitive to vancomycin [96.7%], meropenem [76.7%], amikacin [75%], ciprofloxacin [65.3%], chloramphenicol [46.5%], ceftazidime [44.2%], cefepime [41.9%], co-amoxiclav [38.0%], oxacillin [34.8%], cefotaxime [21.4%], penicillin [20.7%], ceftriaxone [18.6%], cefuroxime [14%] and ampicillin [6.9%]. The combination of sulbactam and cefoperazone showed antimicrobial sensitivity of 81.4%. The success rate of empirical antibiotic therapy was 91.7%. It was found that Gram negative bacteria were the major cause of pyogenic meningitis. Mostly there were resistant strains against all commonly used antibiotics except vancomycin. All empirical antibiotic therapies were found to be most successful

Comparison between single and multiple days treatment with parenteral cefuroxime in inguinal hernia mesh repair surgery

Objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of cefuroxime prophylaxis in controlling the postoperative wound infection in clean inguinal hernia mesh repair surgery and to compare single day and multiple [two] days antibiotic prophylaxis by means of hospital stay and cost effectiveness. Two hundred forty patients of inguinal hernia were studied. Patients were divided into two groups A and B comprising of 113 and 127 patients respectively. Group A was treated with three IV doses of cefuroxime 750 mg t.i.d starting from 30 min before surgery and then oral therapy of 250 mg cefuroxime b.i.d for 5 days was given. Group B received total six IV doses of cefuroxime 750 t.i.d and then shifted to oral therapy for four days. Resultant observations were analyzed by Chie square test. In group A, 6 [5.3%] and in group B 10 [7.87%] patients developed surgical site infections. Mean hospital stay of group A and group B was 2.14 and 2.21 days respectively. Overall cost effectiveness of group A is almost two times less than Group B. from our study, it is concluded that the risk of post-operative wound infection in inguinal hernia mesh repair surgery can be effectively managed by one day t.i.d treatment of cefuroxime which has the benefit of patient compliance and less hospital stay of patient as well as is cost effective thus decreasing the work load on medical and paramedical staff as well the hospital