ABSTRACT
Rationale: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been recognized as highly pathogenic. The current pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 has been spread globally and infected more than 200 countries. Patient concerns: We report the first confirmed fatal case of COVID-19 in Pakistan. A 50-year-old man returned from Saudi Arabia on March 09, 2020 and presented with cough, fever, malaise, poor appetite and difficulty in breathing to the Pulmonologist at District Headquarter Hospital Mardan. Diagnosis: The patient was initially diagnosed as COVID-19 suspected case. A oropharyngeal swab sample was positive by realtime RT-PCR tests. Lessons: This report highlights the importance of close coordination between clinicians and public health authorities as well as the importance of early laboratory-based confirmation of COVID-19 cases.
ABSTRACT
Rationale: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been recognized as highly pathogenic. The current pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 has been spread globally and infected more than 200 countries. Patient concerns: We report the first confirmed fatal case of COVID-19 in Pakistan. A 50-year-old man returned from Saudi Arabia on March 09, 2020 and presented with cough, fever, malaise, poor appetite and difficulty in breathing to the Pulmonologist at District Headquarter Hospital Mardan. Diagnosis: The patient was initially diagnosed as COVID-19 suspected case. A oropharyngeal swab sample was positive by realtime RT-PCR tests. Lessons: This report highlights the importance of close coordination between clinicians and public health authorities as well as the importance of early laboratory-based confirmation of COVID-19 cases.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the antihyperglycemic potential of Tamarix aphylla (T. aphylla) leaves in STZ–NIC induced diabetes in Wister Albino rats. Methods Acute toxicity study was done to check the toxicity of T. aphylla (L. Karst) methanol extract. T. aphylla leaves extract was administered intraperitoneally (100 mg, 250 mg and 400 mg/kg body weight per day) to diabetic Wister rats for 21 days. The various parameters were studied including fasting blood glucose levels, haemoglobin and glycosylated haemoglobin. Results The treatment groups with the extract at three dose levels expressively abridged the intensities of blood glucose and Glycosylated Haemoglobin. The earlier detected reduced level of plasma haemoglobin of the diabetic rats was raised to near normalcy with treatment of extract. Conclusions The results of the current study confirm that the leaves extract of T. aphylla are nontoxic and have antidiabetic nature.
ABSTRACT
The aim of the current study was to evaluate the antinociceptive activity of the selected Pakistani medicinal plants [Chenopodium botrys, Micromeria biflora and Teucrium stocksianum] in-vivo followed by their antioxidant potential against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhidrazyl [DPPH] in-vitro. The results demonstrated profound antinociceptive effect of both the crude methanolic extract of Chenopodium botrys [CBM] and subsequent aqueous fraction [CBW] of C. botrys with 80.76% and 84% pain relief in acetic acid induced writhing test at 100 mg/kg i.p respectively. Similarly the crude methanolic extract of Micromeria biflora [MBM] and its subsequent aqueous fraction [MBW] with 66.46% 78.08% pain reversal in acetic acid induced writhing test respectively at 100mg/kg i.p. However, the crude methanolic extract and isolated water fraction of Teucrium stocksianum [TS] did not show any significant effect at test doses. Both the crude extracts and aqueous fractions of selected medicinal plants exhibited marked scavenging effects on DPPH and therefore strongly support the antinociceptive activity. Phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of various classes of natural products [alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids etc.] and thus the current finding can be attributed to the presence of these compounds. In short, our findings provide a strong scientific background to the folk uses C. botrys and M. biflora in the management of various painful conditions
ABSTRACT
The main objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity and resistance of various bacterial strains both gram negative and gram positive against commonly used antibiotics. Experimental / Retrospective study. This study was conducted in Hayatabad Medical Complex at Microbiology Laboratory for a period of six month studies from 6.8.2013 to 10.02.2014. The study was conducted in which both in-door and out-door patients were randomly selected for this specified period of time. Bacterial strains used were Staphylococcus Aureus, Escherichia Coli, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Proteus Mirabilis against commonly prescribed antibiotics i.e; Ceftraixone, Amoxicillin, Amikacin and Cefepime and to find out the sensitivity and resistance pattern. Among the selected antibiotics Ceftraixone was found to be sensitive in 84.6% of out-door patients and 75% of in-patient against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, 71.4% of out-door patients and 68.4% of in-patients against Escherichia Coli, 52% of out-door patients and 60% in-patient against Staphylococcus Aureus and least sensitive against Proteus Mirabilis 25% out-patients and 16.7% in-patients. Amoxicillin was 40%, 6.6% and 0% sensitive in in-patients and 16%, 17.1%, 0.7% and 0% in out-patients against Staphylococcus Aureus, Escherichia Coli, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Proteus Mirabilis respectively. Amikacin was 44%, 35%, 33.3% and 0% sensitive in in-patients and 36%, 37.2%, 32% and 0% in out-patients against Staphylococcus Aureus, Escherichia Coli, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Proteus Mirabilis respectively. Cefepime was most sensitive against Proteus Mirabilis 25% in out-door patients and 16.7% in in-door patients while least sensitive against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa both in out-door and in-door patients. It is concluded from the results obtained that Ceftraixone, Amoxicillin and Amikacin were more than 60% sensitive against the selected strains of bacteria except Proteus Mirabilis while Cefepime is least sensitive i.e; less than 25% against all these antibacterial strains. These results should be considered in future prescribing of antibiotics against these bacterial strains to avoid resistance and to prescribe appropriate treatment for the patients