Antidiabetic activities of alkaloids isolated from medicinal plants

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder affecting a great part of population around the world. It is the fifth leading death causing disease in the world and its cases are increasing day by day. Traditional medicine is thought to have promising future in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In contrast to synthetic drugs phytochemicals are considered to be free from side effects. As one of the main class of natural products, alkaloids and their derivatives have been widely used as sources of pharmacological agents against a variety of medical problems. Many studies confirmed the role of alkaloids in the management of diabetes and numerous alkaloids isolated from different medicinal plants were found active against diabetes. Like other natural products, alkaloids regulate glucose metabolism either by inhibiting or inducing multiple candidate proteins including AMP-activated protein kinase, glucose transporters, glycogen synthase kinase-3, sterol regulatory element-binding proteins 1, glucokinase, glucose-6-phosphatase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase among the others. A comprehensive review of alkaloids reported in the literature with anti-diabetic activities and their target enzymes is conducted, with the aim to help in exploring the use of alkaloids as anti-diabetic agents. Future work should focus on rigorous clinical studies of the alkaloids, their development and relevant drug targets.

Study of erythrocytes as a novel drug carrier for the delivery of artemether

Resealed erythrocytes have been explored in various dimensions of drug delivery, owing to their high biocompatibility and inability to initiate immune response. The present research was designed to evaluate the drug delivery potential of erythrocytes by loading a hydrophobic anti-malarial drug, Artemether. Three different loading techniques were applied to achieve maximum optimized drug loading. A HPLC method was validated for drug quantification in erythrocytes. The relatively high loading was achieved using hypotonic treatment was 31.39% as compared to other two methods. These, drug loaded erythrocytes were characterized for membrane integrity via ESR showing higher ESR values for drug loaded cells as compared to normal cells. Moreover, microscopic evaluation was done to observe morphological changes in erythrocytes after successful loading which showed swollen cells with slight rough surface as compared to smooth surface of normal cells. Drug release was studied for 8 h which showed more than 80% release within 3-7 h from erythrocytes treated with different hypotonic methods. Overall, the study revealed a potential application of erythrocytes in delivery of hydrophobic drugs using hypotonic treatment as compared to other methods.

Role of weight-bearing exercises in the treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis

Objective: To determine the change in T-score of post-menopausal osteoporosis patients with weight-bearing exercises

Study Design: A quasi-experimental study

Place and Duration of Study: Physiotherapy Department and Orthopedic Unit I, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, from May to October 2014

Methodology: Two hundred and seventy-four patients were randomly divided into two groups according to inclusion and exclusion criteria using non-probability purposive sampling technique. The group 1 was treated by medication and weightbearing exercises and group 2 was given medication alone. The dual energy X-ray absorptiometry [DEXA] scan was used to find the T-score before and after treatment and improvement was compared. A p-value less than 0.05 was taken as significant

Results: The results showed that improvement was occurred in both groups after treatment. The DEXA scan median values after treatment were changed to 3.00 [0] for group 1 [exercises and medication] and 2.00 [1] for group 2 [medication]

Conclusion: The physical activity along with medication play vital role in the treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis than medication alone

Incidence and associated risk factors of low birth weight babies born in Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayad Al-Nayan Hospital Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Background and Objective: Birth weight is the most important factor that affects infant and child mortality. The most common cause of low birth is malnutrition before and during the pregnancy period. The present study was conducted to explore the associated risk factors of low birth weight which will be helpful to undertake effective measures to reduce the incidence of the low birth weight babies

Methods: The study was conducted at Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayad Al-Nayan Hospital Muzaffarabad. A sample size of 1603 live births over a period of five months were analyzed. The pregnant women were recruited in the last trimester of their pregnancy and followed up till their delivery. Information regarding maternal age, parity, income of family, gestational age, maternal occupation, degree of illiteracy, birth interval was collected. The birth weight was recorded within 24 hours of delivery. Data analysis was done using Graph Pad Prism version 6.0

Results: Data of 1863 birth out of which 1603 were live births and among these live births, 1442 were normal birth weight babies and 161 number of low birth weight [LBW] were analyzed. The incidence of LBW in this study was [10.04%]. LBW was more common in female [n=84] than in male [n=77] babies. However, this difference was statistically insignificant. Among different risk factors maternal age [p<0.05], parity [P = 0.0167], income of family [P = 0.0190], has a statically significant association with incidence of LBW. The gestational age of mother, maternal occupation, degree of illiteracy was found to affect the incidence of LBW babies, however the difference was found to be statistically insignificant for LBW. Birth interval less than three years and low hemoglobin level [P<0.0260] was found to have a significant association with LBW babies

Conclusion: LBW a common problem in Pakistan is an important factor for perinatal mortality and morbidity. Among different risk factors maternal age, parity, income of family, gestational age of mother, maternal occupation, degree of illiteracy, birth interval less than three years were found to be the important risk factors contributing to LBW babies born in Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayad Al- Nayan Hospital Muzaffarabad

Prevalence and antibiotic trials against Salmonella enterica isolated from diarrheic lambs and kids

Salmonella enterica [S. enteric] is the major zoonotic threat for small ruminants and humans responsible for huge economic losses and high mortality in Pakistan. Lambs and kids of Lahore district were examined to determine the prevalence, hematology and chemotherapy of S. enterica. A total of 200 diarrheic samples [n=100 lambs; n=100 kids] were collected and examined; 59 [29.50%] were found positive for S. enterica. Lambs had lightly greater prevalence [31%] than kids [29%]. The frequency analysis [OR=1.16 [reciprocal =0.87]] showed non-significant difference in both the lambs and kids. The significant decrease [P5R0.001] in hemoglobin, pack cell volume and total erythrocyte count was observed in infected lambs and kids. Results of in-vitro antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that S. enteric isolated from both lambs and kids were susceptible to levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, gentamicin, azithromycin, tobramycin, amoxicillin, ampicillin and nalidixic acid. Where as the results of in vivo antibiotic trials showed that isolates from both lambs and the kids with diarrhea were susceptible to levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin

Mother's perceptions of child mental health problems and services: a cross sectional study from Lahore

Objective: To assess the perceptions of mothers regarding child mental health problems, its causes, preferred treatment options, and to determine whom they would consult, if their child had a psychiatric illness

Methods: Following informed consent, a questionnaire covering perceptions regarding various aspects of child mental illness was used for data collection from mothers. They were asked to identify the symptoms and behaviours they considered psychopathological in children, which treatments they would prefer, where they would turn for help with a mentally ill child, and their understanding of the causes of child psychiatric disorders in addition to ways to increase awareness of child psychiatric issues in the society

Results: Ninety one mothers participated in the study. They equally perceived emotional, behavioural and cognitive symptoms as suggestive of mental ill health in childhood. Mothers perceived multiple causes of child mental health problems, including family problems, economic difficulties, social adversity and possession by evil spirits. A substantial proportion preferred medication, recitation of Holy Quran and psychotherapy as the preferred treatment options. Overall, mothers preferred consulting health professionals than religious scholars and faith healers. They were keen for steps to increase mental health awareness within their society

Conclusion: Despite different cultural perspective, mothers exhibit good understanding of symptoms of child mental health issues and appear open to various services and treatment options. Understanding parental perceptions and expectations from child psychiatric services are crucial in increasing families' engagement in treatment

Evaluation of furazolidone, sulfadimidine and amprolium to treat coccidiosis in beetal goats under field conditions

Coccidiosis is a protozoal and occasionally fatal diarrheic disease of goats imposing heavy economic losses to farming community. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacies of Furazolidone, Sulfadimidine and Amprolium against coccidiosis in Beetal goats. Twenty-four [24] Beetal goats naturally infected with coccidiosis were randomly divided into four groups of 6 [A-D]. Goats in groups A, B and C were treated orally with Furazolidone [10mg/Kg], Sulfadimidine [100mg/Kg] and Amprolium [55mg/Kg], respectively for 7 days. Goats in-group D served as positive control. Oocysts per gram [OPG] of feces counts of individual goats in each group were performed on Days; 0 [pre-treatment] 7, 14 and 21 [post-treatment]. OPG counts amongst goats in all groups at day 0 were not significant [P>0.05]. On days 7, 14 and 21, OPG values decreased significantly [P<0.05] in groups A, B and C compared to group D. The efficacy of Furazolidone, Sulfadimidine and Amprolium was 98.6, 98.0 and 99.6 percent, respectively on Day 21 [end of trial]. Statistically, the efficacies of three drugs were not significantly different [P>0.05]. In conclusion, Furazolidone, Sulfadimidine and Amprolium are well-tolerated and any one of these may be recommended to effectively treat coccidiosis in Beetal goats

TIMI risk scores; frequency of double vessel coronary artery disease in different TIMI scores in patients presenting with non ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome at Gulab Devi Chest Hospital

Background: thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] risk score predicts adverse clinical outcomes in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes [NSTEACS]. Whether this score correlates with the coronary anatomy is unknown

Objective: to determine the frequency of low, moderate and high TIMI risk score in patients of NSTEACS and to compare the frequency of two vessel coronary artery disease on angiography with low, moderate and high TIMI risk scores in patients of NSTE-ACS

Study design: this was a cross sectional study

Setting: department of Cardiology, Gulab Devi Chest Hospital, Lahore

Duration: six months

Patients and Methods: total 170 patients were included in the study. Patients' selection was done with the help of a pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. TIMI risk score was calculated for each patient and patients were categorized into low, moderate and high risk groups [as per operational definition]. Patients were further evaluated with coronary angiograms to assess the double vessel CAD. All angiographies were performed by a single physician. Data analysis was done on SPSS version 17

Results: mean age of our patients was 54.81 +/- 10.55 years. Gender distribution shows that there were 106[62%] male and 64[38%] female patients. TIMI score risk classification showed that among 50[29.4%] patients TIMI risk score was low, among 107[62.9%] patients it was moderate and in 13[7.6%] patients it was high. There were 105[62%] patients who had two vessel coronary artery disease. Among 105 patients who had two vessel coronary artery disease, 25[23.8%] had low TIMI score, 69[65.7%] had moderate and 11[10.5%] of the patients had high TIMI score

Conclusion: in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome undergoing cardiac catheterization, the TIMI risk score is significantly associated with two vessel coronary artery disease. So it should be recommended that a routine invasive strategy be carried in patients with moderate or higher TIMI risk score

importance of socio-economic status and sex on the prevalence of human pediculosis in government schools children in Lahore, Pakistan

The present project was designed to study the effect of age, sex and socio-economic status on the prevalence of Pediculosis [Pediculus capitis]. A survey was conducted among 1-5 class children of five public sector schools located in Lahore, where most of the students belonged to middle and low income classes. After obtaining ethical clearance from the parents, school principals and students, 500 children of age >/= 7 years were examined both macroscopically and microscopically on first come first basis up to 100 children from each school. Of 500 children [n=122 boys; n=378 girls], overall 387 [77.40%] while in girls 323 [85.45%] and in boys 64 [52.46%] were positive for Pediculosis. A higher prevalence was recorded in children of

Urinary bladder gossipyboma [retained post operative foreign body in urinary bladder]

A 57 years old gentleman was brought with history of recurrent UTI [Urinary tract infection] of 01 year duration. Following transvesical prostatectomy. UTI could not be controlled after using appropriate antibiotics. All relevant investigations were performed. His cystoscopic examination revealed retained gauze piece [12 inches] in urinary bladder, which was retrieved