ABSTRACT
Calcipotriol is a vitamin D analogue that has been used now a day as monotherapy in mild to moderate psoriasis. We have conducted a placebo-controlled clinical comparative study to assess the efficacy and safety of calcipotriol in the treatment of psoriasis. To assess the efficacy and safety of calcipotriol in comparison with placebo in patients with mild to moderate psoriasis. Experimental Study. This study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre [JPMC], Karachi from January 2008 to March 2008. Sixty patients with mild to moderate psoriasis were enrolled after obtaining their informed written consent and were divided into two groups, A and B. Group-A was administered calcipotriol and Group-B was considered as placebo group for three months. The study parameter [Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, PASI] score was noted after every fifteen days [02 weeks] and were evaluated statistically at the end of the study period. The significant changes in mean +/- SEM values were noted for the efficacy of calcipotriol during the period from day 0 to day 90 in group-A [calcipotriol] v/s group-B [placebo]. According to the statistical evaluation, a reduction in the symptoms of the disease was found up to 67.8% in group A, and 0.5% in group-B. The difference between the results of both groups was noted to be highly significant [P<0.001]. Calcipotriol as monotherapy is observed to be significantly superior to placebo in terms of efficacy and safety in the treatment of psoriasis
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Psoriasis/drug therapy , Placebos , SafetyABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical presentation and drug resistance patterns of Salmonellae typhi and paratyphi. Observational Descriptive Study. This study was conducted at the Muhammad Medical Hospital Mirpurkhas, from Jan 2010 to April 2011. One hundred twenty six patients were studied, who satisfied the clinical and laboratory criteria of typhoid/ paratyphoid fever. The blood samples, 5-10 ml from adults were inoculated directly into blood culture bottles. Subcultures were also performed. Antibiotic sensitivity was tested by the Kirby-Bauer technique according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Statistical analysis was performed on SPSS version 10.9 [Chicago, Illinosis, USA], using the chi-square test and student's t-test for the qualitative and quantitative variables respectively. The identified organisms were S.typhi observed in 91 [72.22%], both S typhi/paratyphi in 18 [14.28%] and S.paratyphi A and B in the rest 17 [13.49%]. In 97 [76.98%] of patients, antibody O titers were >/= 1:160 and in 39 [30.95%] titers were <1:160. The overall multi-drug resistant isolates were found in >80% for the first line agent's i.e.; ampicillin, amoxicillin, cotrimoxazole and chloramphenicol. The highest sensitivity rate was found for the cefixime [98.41%] and the lowest one for the ampicillin [22.2%]. We found drug resistant and multi-drug resistant salmonellae in our study; this may be because of antibiotic use as self medication, medication by pharmacist and quacks