Hepatitis E virus seroprevalence in pregnant women in Pakistan: maternal and fetal outcomes

Hepatitis E virus [HEV] is endemic in Pakistan. Although otherwise asymptomatic, HEV infection becomes fatal in pregnancy, with considerable maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. We conducted a descriptive study from April to October 2015 in 10 tertiary care hospitals throughout Pakistan to determine maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in HEV-positive pregnant women with acute jaundice or raised liver function tests. Twenty-one of 135 women were HEV positive and in 3rd trimester except for 1 in 1st trimester. Overall prevalence of HEV in pregnancy was 0.19%. Ten women were artificially induced, 3 had premature labour, 4 delivered spontaneously [full term], 3 died and there was 1 intrauterine death. One woman had a home abortion before coming to hospital. There were 7 perinatal infant deaths: 4 intrauterine, 3 stillbirths and 1 abortion. Maternal mortality was significantly associated with delivery, as 17 mothers who lived went into labour spontaneously or were artificially induced, whereas 3 women who continued their pregnancy and did not deliver, died. Case fatality rate of HEV infection in pregnancy was 14.2%

Phytochemical screening, antiglycation and antioxidant activities of whole plant of Boerhavia repens L. from Cholistan, Pakistan

Present study was aimed to explore a traditionally used indigenous medicinal plant Boerhavia repens [Nyctaginaceae family] of the Cholistan desert, Pakistan. Crude aqueous and methanolic extracts of the whole plant were investigated in vitro for preliminary phytochemical screening, antioxidant and antiglycation activities. Antioxidant activities were determined by total phenolic contents, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] free radical scavenging and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. For antiglycation activities browning production was noted and thiobarbituric acid [TEA] technique was used to determine glycation level. Boerhavia repens expressed considerable amounts of phytochemicals. Extract yield was found to be 4.59%-7.85% g/100g of dry matter with total phenolics ranging from 47.9- 190.77mg/GAE per g for aqueous and methanol extract respectively. Strong inhibitory effect was exhibited by methanolic extract in linoleic acid per oxidation system [86.11%, EC[50]=0.99mg/mL] and DPPH assay [88.65%, EC[50] =212.33 Lig/ml]. In term of browning maximum inhibition [81.50%] was exhibited by methanolic extract at 37°C at third week of incubation. Both extracts expressed significant [P>0.05] and comparable inhibition of glycation level. In conclusion, Boerhavia repens showed promising antioxidant and antiglycation activities validating its therapeutic potential

Glycation pattern of captopril in diabetics

Captopril is a chemical which acts as vasodilator and angiotensin- I converting enzyme inhibitor. The present attempt is to study the glycation inhibition pattern of captopril in diabetics and normals. Experimental Study. This study was conducted at the Research Lab., Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad from May 2006 to February 2007. The study was designed on blood plasma from apparently healthy non-diabetic and diabetic persons. Plasma samples with different concentrations of glucose and that of captopril were prepared, followed by incubation for 5 weeks at 37 °C temperature. Glucose was estimated by glucose oxidase method before and after dialysis. Glycation level was measured by TBA and Periodate assays. Increased glycation was observed from 1[st] to 3[rd] week of incubation while it decreased after 5[th] week due to the formation of advanced glycatiori end products. 10 mM concentration of captopril showed fairly good response to decrease glycation as compared to its other two concentrations. Highest concentration of captopril produced overall good enough of inhibition. Periodate borohydride appeared to be more reliable and sensitive glycation assay as compared to TBA