ABSTRACT
Background: Chronic liver disease has remained a major threat to human health. Hepatitis C patients administered combined interferon with ribavirin therapy, and lacking vitamin-D, are susceptible to extra-hepatic manifestations, particularly autoimmune thyroid disorders [AITDs]. The present study was designed to assess the effects of interferon and vitamin D in attaining sustained virological response in autoimmune thyroid disorders
Methods: Seventy-five patients of HCV of age 25-70 years were enrolled and screened at Ganga Ram Hospital Lahore, and 50 age and sex matched healthy individuals served as control. Their sera were separated and estimated for thyroid profile, lipid peroxidation and Vitamin D. Real time HCV PCR was performed with the serum of patients before and after the therapy
Results: Variables of oxidative and inflammatory like malondialdehyde [MDA], interleukin-6 [IL-6] and tumour necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha] differed significantly. The levels of MDA [3.68+/-1.14 etamoles/ml], IL-6 [6.80+/-0.79 pg/mI] and TNF-alpha [31.95+/-4.35 pg/ml] were recorded in HCV patients. The thyroid profile of HCV patients showed highly significant differences among the studied groups [FT4 [10.11+/-1.93], FT3 [19.18+/-2.06], and TSH [19.68+/-2.09] pmol/ml]. Higher levels of thyroid antibodies were recorded in HCV patients subjected to interferon therapy. The levels of vitamin D [9.36+/-1.22 etag/ml] in HCV patients differed significantly compared to controls [13.22+/-0.81 etag/ml]
Conclusion: Hepatitis C patients receiving interferon therapy and deficient in vitamin D dysregulate autoimmune response rendering them to develop thyroid disorders
ABSTRACT
To Assess the circulating Biochemical, Heamatological and Oxidative Stress Markers in Females using Contraceptives from Punjab, Pakistan. Study Design: Case Control Study Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the Gynae Units of Jinnah Hospital Lahore from January, 201 1 to December 201 1. Materials and Methods: Two injectable contraceptives [Depo-Medroxyprogesterone and NorethisteroneEnantate] and Oral contraceptive pills [COCs] were administered in females of reproductive age, the oxidative and nitrosative stress biomarkers [Malondialdehyde, Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase, Nitic oxide and Glutathione] were analyzed in these subjects. Results: DMPA, NET-EN and COCs treatment could induce oxidative stress with a significant change in lipid profile and other biochemical markers thus affecting the normal biological system. These effects after prolonged use can generate pathological events leading to disease pattern. Conclusion: These biomarkers can become diagnostic tools to evaluate the health of a woman using these methods as preventive measure in there
ABSTRACT
Aims: To evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of ethanolic bark extract of Plumeria rubra on experimental animal models. Study Design: Assessment of antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacy, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, between January 2011 and June 2011. Methodology: The analgesic activity was evaluated by hot plate, acetic acid induced writhing and formalin induced writhing method in Swiss Albino mice divided into 4 different groups (control, standard diclofenac sodium and extract at two different doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg BW). The extract was also investigated for the anti-inflammatory effect on Long Evans rats using carrageenan induced rat paw edema method. For antiinflammatory study, 24 rats were divided into 4 different groups each receiving either distilled water, standard drug or the extract at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg BW. Results: Phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenoids. The extract elicited a highly significant (p<0.001) analgesic activity in a dose dependent manner on hot plate method, acetic acid induced writhing test and also on both the early and late phases of formalin test at the doses employed. In the hot plate method, the extract increased the reaction time of heat sensation to 60.81% and 66.52% at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg BW respectively while that of the standard drug was 57.40% at the 3rd hour of study. In acetic acid induced writhing test, the percent inhibition of writhing response by the extract was 62.87% and 70.66% at 250 and 500 mg/kg doses respectively (p<0.001) which were even better than the standard drug diclofenac sodium (50.30%). The extract also significantly inhibited the licking response at the dose of 500 mg/kg in both the early phase (55.11%, p<0.01) and the late phase (66.43%, p<0.01) of formalin test while the standard drug inhibited by 52.27% and 72.03%, respectively. The oral administration of the extract significantly (p<0.001) inhibited inflammatory response induced by carrageenan in a dose dependent fashion. The most prominent inhibition of 61.68% (250 mg/kg) and 73.65% (500 mg/kg) were observed at the 4th hour of study. Conclusion: The central and peripheral analgesic as well as anti-inflammatory effect of the ethanolic bark extract of P. rubra may be due to the presence of various chemical constituents specially flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids or terpenoids. These experimental findings would further establish the scientific basis of the traditional uses of the plant in the management and/or control of pain as well as inflammatory conditions.
ABSTRACT
Background: Oxidative stress and antioxidative status caused by hepatitis C therapy plays a significant role in aggravating the disease. A number of reactive oxygen species are responsible for the damaging of cell machinery and ultimately disturbing the homeostasis of the cell
Objectives: To assess enzymatic, non-enzymatic antioxidants and circulating biomarkers in HCV patients receiving interferon therapy
Methods: Study subjects were divided into two groups; patients and controls. The levels of the Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS, as a marker of lipid peroxidation], superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione [GSH], catalase [CAT] and lipid peroxidation product [MDA] in the serum were estimated
Results: There was statistically difference between patients and healthy controls in levels of CAT[p< 0.000**], SOD[ p< 0.000**], GSH [p< 0.000**] and MDA[p< 0.000**]. Similarly, the levels of ALT [p< 0.048*], AST [p< 0.005*] and ALP [p< 0.000**] were also statistically different between two groups
Conclusion: Imbalanced levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, MDA and serum enzymes [e.g. ALT, AST, ALP] revealed that interferon itself play a crucial rule in disturbing oxidative vs. antioxidative status which ultimately results in tissue damaging. Increased levels of MDA have a significant correlation with disease development during the course of therapy