Curative effect of parenteral nutrition and glutamine on post-surgical patients

To evaluate the influence of parenteral nutrition and glutamine on nutritional status and prognosis of surgical critically ill patients. 32 cases were treated by parenteral nutrition plus alanyl-glutamine injection. The differences in liver function, weight and nutritional status were compared between, before and after medication. Patients were either cured or relieved, and no complication including infection appeared. Total protein. Albumin, ferrohemoglobin and weight increased after medication, respectively. The use of parenteral nutrition plus glutamine is beneficial for ameliorating malnutrition and negative nitrogen balance caused by hypermetabolism, inhibiting bacterial translocation, preventing the complication, and increasing healing rate of disease

Methanolic extract. Hepatoprotective effect of methanolic extract

The aim of this study is to look at the plant based such compounds that are known to have hepatoprotective potential. With above perspective, the study has been planned to see the hepatoprotective potential. To see hepatoprotective effect on the enzyme levels and histopathology. With the help of this study, some new hepatoprotective compound may be discovered which will help in developing an effective medicine. The extract of Melia azedarch's flower was screened for hepato protective effect. Albino rats were administered with carbon tetra chloride [CCI4] for inducing liver damage. The effect of the extract was evaluated by measuring the liver enzyme levels. This observation leads to the conclusion that Melia flower extract possesses hepato protective activity. The hepato protective activity of the methanolic extract was compared with standard Poly herbal formulation named Jigrine CL. In our study, we found the extract of Melia Azedarach [Flowers] has strong hepatoprotective activity

introduction to general methodology for screening of medicinal plants

Screening of plants is essential to explore the presence of novel compounds and to investigate their biological activities. Once the presence of such compounds is suspected, they are generally isolated in order to have material available for further biological and toxicological test[1, 2]. It is a cumbersome, tedious and lengthy process that starts from the selection of suitable plant/s to find out their pure constituents.It involves a continued effort that might last from weeks to years and includes the following steps: 1.Correct identification of the plant with the aid of specialists [botanists]. 2. Collection and drying of the vegetable material; precautions need to be taken to avoid the formation of artifacts. 3. Preparation of extracts using different solvents; analysis of these extracts by different chromatographic methods. 4.Fractionation of the extracts by different preparative chromatographic techniques [column chromatography, centrifugal partition chromatography etc.]. 5. Purity control of the isolated products. 6. Structure elucidation of the constituents by combination of diverse spectroscopic techniques [UV/VIS, IR spectrophotometry, carbon and proton nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction] and chemical techniques [hydrolysis, formation of derivatives, degradation reactions etc.]. 7. Synthesis or semi-synthesis of the natural product. 8. Modification of structure with a view to establish structure-activity relationships. 9. Pharmacological and toxicological testing

BNP in discrimination of cardiac [heart failure] and non-cardiac [pulmonary] dyspnea

To evaluate the utility of BNP [B-type natriuretic peptide] in discrimination of cardiac and non-cardiac [Pulmonary] dyspnea. Traditionally the diagnosis of heart failure has been made on the basis of presence of certain signs and symptoms .In case of chronic outpatients, where the physical signs are usually prominent, the diagnosis is easy, whereas in elderly who present to the emergency department with acute dyspnea it is sometimes challenging and often difficult particularly when associated chronic pulmonary diseases are also present. Elevated plasma B-type natriuretic peptide [BNP] has been demonstrated to be a powerful marker for diagnosis and discrimination of dyspnea in the setting of heart failure from a non-cardiac dyspnea. We studied 105 subjects [mean age 51.57 +/- 5.11 yr], 35 presenting to the emergency department with dyspnea due to HF [New York Heart Association [NYHA] class IIIJ, 35 presenting to the emergency department with dyspnea due to pulmonary causes and 35 normal controls, in Dr. HMI Institute of Pharmacology and Herbal Sciences in collaboration with Arif Medical complex Karachi From June 2004 to Dec 2004. Results: Baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. Their serum levels of BNP were estimated and compared. Levels of serum BNP in patients with HF were found to be significantly high as compared to the non-cardiac dyspneic patients and control subjects [680 +/- 45.20,375.2I +/- 25.63 and 78.45 +/- 16.44 respectively]. BNP level can be a useful tool in differentiation of a heart failure patient from a non-cardiac patient presenting to the emergency department with dyspnea

Effect of pollution on human health by contaminated vegetables

The present research was designed to determine the geo-chemical sources and mobilization of nine trace elements in vegetable samples from different parts of Karachi. Samples collected from farms located in the basin of and around Malir River were considered polluted because here industrial and municipal effluents used for irrigation and different wastes [poultry, industrial and municipal] used as fertilizers. Samples collected from farms situated 45 km from Karachi along highway and from Sakeran Deh in Hub were considered unpolluted because water used for irrigation here was obtained from well and fertilizer used was not waste material. The results of analysis of these samples show that Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni and Pb pollution is most common in plants. All other elements are well within the permissible limits. This brings into focus the extent of pollution in farms of Malir areas

Homocysteine level in patients with established transmural myocardial infarction

To evaluate the levels of serum total homocysteine in patients suffering from established transmural myocardial infarction and normal healthy subjects of local population. A case control study. The present study was carried out at Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Ilyas [HMI] Institute of Pharmacology and Herbal Sciences in collaboration with National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi, from June 2001 to December 2001. Eighty-four persons were included in a case control study. Sixty-three patients were cases suffering from transmural myocardial infarction of anterior wall and 21 normal healthy subjects were controls having no history of IHD ever before. Fasting venous serum was analyzed for total homocysteine using fluorescence polarization immunoassay [FPIA] while lipid parameters and plasma glucose were estimated by enzymatic colorimetric method. Mean serum total homocysteine and low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] levels [19.43 +/- 2.46 umol/L, 124.97 +/- 45.31mg/dl respectively] were found to be significantly higher in cases as compared to controls. The mean serum High density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] [27.57 +/- 15.31mg/dl] was found to be significantly lower as compared to control. Mean serum glucose, total cholesterol and serum triacylglycerol [84.32 +/- 2.46 mg/dl, 174.35 +/- 27.08mg/dl and 148.49 +/- 43.12mg/dl respectively] were higher in patients as compared to control but difference was insignificant statistically. Significantly high levels of total homocysteine along with high levels of LDL-C and low levels of HDL-C appear to be the factors responsible for the increase risk of coronary artery disease in our local population

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of general practitioners in Karachi district central about tetanus immunization in adults

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of general practitioners regarding tetanus immunization in adults. SETTING: The study was conducted in District Central, Karachi. STUDY DESIGN: This was a Knowledge, Attitude and practices [KAP] survey. METHODS: From a list of 1050 general practitioners [GPs], 100 were selected through simple random sampling and interviewed through a written questionnaire. Only 25% general practitioners had adequate knowledge about pre-exposure and 13% both pre- and post-exposure tetanus immunization. All were ready to participate in any program to update their knowledge. Ninety seven% were practicing only post-exposure immunization. In unimmunized patients with history of road side/street injury, 55% started tetanus immunization with tetanus toxoid [TT] only, 43% with Anti Tetanus Serum/Tetanus Immunoglobin [ATS/TIG] and only 2% with both TT and ATS/TIG. Only 13% GPs advised their patients to complete three doses of tetanus toxoid after initial contact. As majority of GPs had poor knowledge and incorrect practices so interventions like seminars and display of immunization protocols in the clinics are recommended

comparative study of prolactin and depressive symptoms in heroin addicts

Changes in prolactin and depth of depression were studied in human heroin addicts. A proportional relation was observed in both. Disturbance in dopaminergic activity is suggested as a probable biochemical mechanism of depression in brain, which reflects itself as changes in prolactin levels of the body. The disturbance may be due to the direct or indirect effects of addiction at hypothalmic or pituitary level

Bacterial wound infections

The organisms commonly colonising burns and causing wound infections and their sensitivity to antibiotics in vitro is described

Effects of short and long-term neuroleptic administration on brain bioamines

Effects of short and long term administration of Chlorpromazine and Fluphenazine on the levels of certain bioamines have been investigated in rabbit. Brain levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid and tryptophan remain unchanged after short term [90 mins.] administration of Chlorpromazine [10 mg/kg] and fluphenazine [2.5 mg/kg]. Although long term administration [21 days] of Chlorpromazine and Fluphenazine resulted in an increase in 5-HT and 5-HIAA level of mid-brain hypothalamus and other regions examined, these findings suggest that neuroleptics enhance the synthesis and utilization of brain serotonin