To determine the efficacy of intravenous l-ornithine l-aspartate in combination with current treatment in patients with hepatic encephalopathy

Hepatic encephalopathy [HE] is the syndrome of disordered consciousness and altered neuromuscular activity that is seen in patients with acute or chronic hepatocellular failure or porto systemic shunting

Objective: To determine the efficacy of intravenous L-ornithine L-aspartate [LOLA] in combination with current treatment in patients with hepatic encephalopathy

Study Design: Quasi experimental

Setting: Study was conducted in medical unit I, Services Hospital, Lahore

Duration of Study: The study was carried out over a period of one and a half years

Subjects: Patients of chronic liver disease presenting with hepatic encephalopathy fulfilling inclusion criteria were enrolled in study

Methods: Sixty patients of hepatic encephalopathy were taken. They were divided into two groups of thirty each. Thirty patients labeled as group A were given the conventional treatment of hepatic encephalopathy; second group of thirty patients was labeled as group B and was given intravenous LOLA in addition to conventional treatment

Results: Group B patients showed statistically significant improvement in encephalopathy and reduction in serum ammonia levels after seventy two hours of treatment. However, there was statistically insignificant reduction in duration of hospital stay

Conclusion: Addition of LOLA in conventional treatment improves recovery from hepatic encephalopathy; but it needs further studies to document role of L-ornithine L-aspartate as regular part of treatment of hepatic encephalopathy

Antitumor and antibacterial activity of ethylacetate extract of ludwigia hyssopifolia linn and its active principle piperine

An alkaloid constituent 1-[5-[1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl]-1-oxo-2,4-pentadienyl]piperidine, trivial name piperine was isolated from Ludwigia hyssopifolia Linn. [Family-Onagraceae]. The ethylacetate extract of the plant and the isolated compound piperine were studied for antitumor and in vitro antibacterial activity. Ethylacetate extract showed 73.05 and 84.14% inhibition of Agrobacterium tumefaciens-induced crown gall tumor formation in potato disc. Piperine exhibited antitumor activity with IC50 value of 13.50

Survey of emmenagogue drugs in unani medicine a literature review

Unani system of medicine is a deep rooted medical system which in its various preventive, therapeutic and management techniques employ drugs of animal, plant and mineral origin. Since time immemorial Unani Medicine has played a significant role in treating several diseases including gynaecological problems. In fact, herbal remedies have been major component of health care system specially for treating gynaecological disorders. Herbal drugs, in comparison to modern medicine, are getting more attention due to their low oost factor, minimum side effects and high potentiality and therefore their use has captured the attention of modern researchers. Among several gynaecological problems, secondary amenorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea are very common for which emmenagogue drugs are prescribed by Unani practitioners. A review of classical Unani literature combined with modern researches indicate that there are a large number of emmenagogue drugs which have been found to be effective in these ailments. This articles deals with the description of conditions where emmenagogue Unani drugs are used and a list of emmenagogue Unani drugs used in different sort of ailments

New horizon in drug development

Unraveling the complexity of human structure and the function has been the focus of effects of pharmacologists and Scientists since long. They are exploring areas in drug development. This article reviews the possible future drugs in the field of memory enhancement and Gene therapy. Memory enhancement can be appreciated but pain of recalling of past set backs are unavoidable

Efficacy of punica granatum in loose motions

Pomegranate has been used as food and medicine for centuries. In Unani and Ayurvedic systems of medicine, it is used for diarrhoea, dysentery and dyspepsia etc. A clinical trial was conducted on rind of the Pomegranate fruit to evaluate its efficacy in loose motions in comparison to a standard drug Metronidazole. After completion of the trial, it was observed that the test drug is highly effective and safe for the treatment of loose motions

Antianaemic herbal drugs with special reference to rumman juice [punica granatuni] and maveez munaqqa [vitis vinifera] in classical unani literature

Anaemia constitutes a public health problem of considerable importance in under developed and tropical areas of the world. In India, high rate of maternal mortality is observed due to the prevalence of anaemia. Anaemia is caused when one of the three things occur: 1. Red blood cell production decreases. 2. Red cell destruction increases. 3. There is significant blood loss or bleeding. There are many ways in which this can happen. Blood loss may occur as a result of trauma [an accident], during surgery or menstruation, inherited blood cell defects [e.g. Sickle cell anaemia], dietary problem [such as folic acid deficiency]: kidney disease and treatments for cancer or HIV/AIDS, and these can all lead to anaemia. There are a large number of herbal drugs possessing anti-anaemic properties and they are used by Unani physicians in different conditions of anaemia. Here in this paper we have chosen two drugs - Punica granatum and Vitis vinifera for evaluating their haematinic activities which are mentioned by Unani scholars in classical literature i.e. Makhzanul Mufradat, Al-Qanoon, Khazainul Advia, Khazinatul Advia, Bustanul Mufradat etc. Both drugs are used as food and medicine especially as haematinic [Muallide Dam]

Refractive error and squint in primary school children

1306 school children were screened for refractive errors and squint between September 1991 and September 1994. 2.60% of the children had abnormal cover test. 7.04% of the children were found to have refractive error. Only 36.95% of the children were aware of their refractive error and using glasses. Myopia was the commonest refractive error amounting to 6.12%. Many of the children examined were not aware of their ocular disease