Nephroprotective property of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and its antibacterial activity in combination with gantamicin

Cinnamomum zeylanicum has strong antioxidant properties and has been presented to have nephroprotective effects. Present work was aimed to study the nephroprotective property of the plant extract through urinary enzymes excretion, to confirm its protective effects and to observe the antibacterial activities of gentamicin in combination with the plant extract. 200mg/kg/day of the plant extracts were administered alone and as co-therapy with gentamicin. Urinary lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] and Urinary alkaline phospatase [ALP] excretions were observed through reagents kits with the help of Power-Lab 300. Antibacterial activities were assessed for gentamicin alone and in combination with the extract. Present study showed that the plant extract have excess quantity of flavonoids, which may responsible for attenuating the excessive excretion of urinary LDH. However, Urinary ALP excretion was found remained same throughout the study period in all experimental groups; might be detected in acute damage. Further, the plant also proved to have no decreasing impact on the antibacterial activities of gentamicin

Nephroprotective potentials of Citrus aurantium: a prospective pharmacological study on experimental models

Citrus aurantium is traditionally used in various kidney problems like burning of urine, urinary hesitancy and renal colic. The main objective of the present work was to evaluate the protective role of Citrus aurantium against gentamicin induced renal damage, due to its free radical scavenging properties to present experimental facts for their traditional use. 200 mg/kg/day of ethanolic extract of the plant employed in combination with the toxic doses of gentamicin for twenty-one days. The group GC-au [animals treated with co-administration of Citrus aurantium and gentamicin] protected renal damage expected with gentamicin, assessed by known functional and morphological parameters, significantly different from group G [animals treated with gentamicin]. All the renal functioning parameters including; Blood urea nitrogen, Serum creatinine, Serum uric acid, Creatinine clearance, Serum electrolytes, Body weight, Urinary volume, Enzyme excretions, Urinary protein excretions and histological examination was performed for each and every group animals. The plant extract proved to have nephroprotective potentials may because of its known flavonoid contents and antioxidant properties.

In vivo screening of essential oils of Skimmia laureola leaves for antinociceptive and antipyretic activity

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the screening of essential oils of Skimmia laureola leaves (SLO) for acute toxicity, antinociceptive, antipyretic and anticonvulsant activities in various animal models.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SLO were extracted using modified Clevenger type apparatus. Acute toxicity test was used in mice to observe its safety level. Antinociceptive activity of SLO was evaluated in acetic acid induced writhing and hot plate tests. Yeast induced hyperthermic mice and pentylenetetrazole induced convulsive mice were used for the assessment of its antipyretic and anticonvulsant profile respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Substantial safety was observed for SLO in acute toxicity test. SLO showed a high significant activity in acetic acid induced writhing test in a dose dependent manner with maximum pain attenuation of 68.48% at 200 mg/kg i.p. However, it did not produce any relief in thermal induced pain at test doses. When challenged against pyrexia evoked by yeast, SLO manifested marked amelioration in hyperthermic mice, dose dependently. Maximum anti-hyperthermic activity (75%) was observed at 200 mg/kg i.p. after 4 h of drug administration. Nevertheless, SLO had no effect on seizures control and mortality caused by pentylenetetrazole.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In vivo studies of SLO showed prominent antinociceptive and antipyretic activities with ample safety profile and thus provided pharmacological base for the traditional uses of the plant in various painful conditions and pyrexia. Additional detail studies are required to ascertain its clinical application.</p>

out break of more than 1300 cases of acute viral hepatitis in a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi in summer of 2009

To find out the short-term clinical course including common clinical features, laboratory parameters, treatment provided and outcome of cases of acute viral hepatitis hospitalized in a tertiary care hospital. Descriptive observational study. Military Hospital in Rawalpindi from May to July 2009. Patients hospitalized with acute viral hepatitis, both male and female, older than 12 years of age were included in the study. A detailed proforma including patients' particulars, clinical features; laboratory parameters, treatment provided, disposal/ outcome was designed and filled for each patient. During the study period a total 1334 patients were hospitalized, 1279 [95.87%] were male while only 55 [4.13%] were female. Majority of patients were young adults. Mean age was 26 years with a range of 12 to 85 years. Maximum serum bilirubin levels of 559 micromoles /I and serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT] levels of 7750 IU/L were observed. Maximum prothrombin time [PT] ranged from 105 seconds to failed to clot, against a control of 13 seconds. Thrombocytopenia was observed in some patients especially those with coagulopathy and encephalopathy but recovered with improvement in LFTs. Anti HEV serology was sent in a third of all admitted patients and was positive for IgM in patients tested. Five patients were pregnant ladies. Two patients also had laboratory proven malaria along with acute viral hepatitis. Majority of patients had uneventful recovery. A total of 13 patients went in to hepatic encephalopathy while three unfortunate patients died. HEV has been an important cause of acute viral hepatitis in Pakistan, particularly in adults from lower socioeconomic groups. The problem is more serious for those living in military camps, residential institutions and in segregated areas who consume untreated water from a common source. Outbreaks like the one described have significant morbidity and not ignorable mortality for the affected persons

Deployment of inferior vena cava filters; efficacy and safety

Objective: to study the patient's profile, indications and procedural success of placement of Inferior Vena Cava [IVC] filters at AFIC/NIHD Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Design: a retrospective observational study

Place and Duration of Study: the patients were studied in the department of Interventional Cardiology of AFIC/NIHD from May 2004 to Jun 2005

Material and Methods: 16 patients of either sex who revealed clinical and investigative evidence of recurrent pulmonary embolism [PE] due to deep vein thrombosis [DVT] of lower limbs were selected. All efforts including history, physical examination and laboratory investigations were carried out in order to ascertain the etiology. A note was made of the associated conditions, past and family history of DVT and PE. IVC filter was deployed through femoral vein in all patients as a lifesaving treatment modality. The procedure was uncomplicated and all patients had smooth post procedural recovery

Results: through femoral vein, IVC filters [Trap Ease Cordis J and J] were successfully deployed below the renal veins. In one patient, another filter was deployed immediately below the tricuspid valve

Conclusion: IVC filter placement is a simple, safe and effective procedure in stabilizing patients who have recurrent pulmonary embolism

Right ventricular myxoma with heart failure

Cardiac myxomas are histologically benign tumors but they may be lethal because of their strategic position. These are mostly located in the left atrium and uncommonly in the right atrium. We report a case of a large right ventricular myxoma presenting with heart failure

Information technology and health-care: Part ll appraisal of quality and relevance of medical information on internet

In the past few years, there has been a tremendous growth in the number of medical resources on the internet, creating new opportunities to improve decisions making among health professionals and enhancing communication in the delivery of health services. The enormity of resources has however generated some problems. Novice users may find it difficult to get quality and relevant information and may even get misled by erroneous information. This paper presents few guidelines for the users to evaluate information that they retrieve through internet. Aspects such as context, content, accessibility and methods of evaluation are presented including upstream and downstream filtering