Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and diuretic activities of Macrotyloma uniflorum [Lam.] Verdc.

Macrotyloma uniflorum [Lam.] Verdc. [Papilionaceae] is commonly known as Horse gram and Kulthi. The seeds are reported as anthelmintic, diaphoretic, diuretic and emmenagogue. It is also useful in asthma, bronchitis and urolithiasis. In the present study, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects of the methanol extract of Macrotyloma uniflorum seeds were evaluated in doses of 200 and 400mg/kg. Significant results were obtained in all activities

In-Vitro Transcription analysis of NSSAfrom HCV-3a circulating in Pakistani patients with chronic hepatitis C and their differential response to antiviral therapy

Objective: Mutations in HCV nonstructural protein 5A [NS5A] play a vital role in virus resistance The aim of this study was to develop a correlation between NS5A mutations [genotype 3a] and virolosical response towards interferon alpha [IFN-alpha] plus ribavirin therapy

Methods: In this study, which was conducted from 09-02-2013 to 25-11-2015 in the rural area of Province Smdh - Pakistan, total patients' responses to peg-IFN therapy were investigated. Patients were given peg-IFN therapy for 24 to 48 weeks and categorized as sustained virologic responders [SVR] or non-responders [NR] to HCV infection. HCV NS5A region [2215-2335] of genotype 3a was identified in both responders and non-responders

Results: Twenty-four NR with 24 SVR isolates showed significant mutations within the nonstructural protein 5A region in HCV genotype 3a. The New Zealand [NZL1] [GenBank D17763] differences were observed by using gene. The ISDR mutations for nonstructural protein 5A in non-responders have been reported as a possible explanation of HCV interferon resistance

Conclusion: Based on these results, it is suggested that decreased SVR is caused by the increased mutations in nonstructural protein 5A sequences. When the sequence outside the Protein kinases R binding domain [PKRBD] [2281-2335] was examined, significant differentiations were observed among the SVR and NR classes at few amino acid strains

Relationship of cardiac disease with oral health

Objective: To observe relationship of chronic dental and oral morbidity with cardiovascular disease in Pakistani population

Materials and Methods: All indoor cardiac patients aged 40 and above, clinically and angiographically diagnosed with CHD at Islam Central Hospital, Sialkot, were included in the study. Demographic and clinical data [Age, Gender, Smoking, and Diabetes] were noted from patients' hospital record files. Missing teeth were examined and number of teeth missing was estimated from the number of teeth remaining in the mouth upon clinical examination. Attendants without a history of cardiac disease, of the cardiac patients who agreed to be included in the study, were examined for comparison of tooth loss

Results: Nine hundred and thirty six cardiac patients and 595 healthy attendants with mean age of 51.9 +/- 8.4 years were examined. Chronic periodontal disease and mean [+/-SD] tooth loss was significantly [P < 0.001] higher in cardiac patients. Odds ratio [OR] = 1.543 was found in cardiac patients when compared with healthy controls [95%CI = 1.985-2.851]. Tooth loss was significantly [P < 0.001] associated with both males and female cardiac patients especially along with diabetes and smoking

Conclusion: Chronic periodontal disease and tooth loss were found to be significantly higher in cardiac disease patients in comparison to healthy controls. Other risk factors found were age, gender, smoking and diabetes