Carotid intima media thickness percentiles for Pakistani population

Carotid artery intima media thickness estimation is a well-established way of cardio vascular disease evaluation. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to develop normal carotid intima media thickness percentile values for a Pakistani cohort. Data was collected at the Departments of Radiology and Family Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from April 2014 to August 2015. High frequency ultrasound of carotid was done in 257 patients [97 male [38%], 160 female [62%]] without any known carotid artery disease. Reference ranges [90% range between 5th and 95th centiles] were constructed for each common carotid and internal carotid artery measurement and displayed in graph form. The mean difference was found in left common carotid artery [0.55 +/- 0.13] and left internal carotid artery thickness [0.50 +/- 0.10] significant at p=0.031 and p=0.014, respectively. The IMT percentile graphs developed in this study for internal and common carotid arteries are exclusive for this population and can be used to assess vascular health from ultrasound measurements

Curcumin-loaded chitosan tripolyphosphate nanoparticles as a safe, natural and effective antibiotic inhibits the infection of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vivo

Curcumin as a yellow natural compound extracted from turmeric root is known it as an antibacterial agent. One of the nanoparticles ability is to decrease the defects of usual drug delivery systems. Chitosan is a low toxic, biodegradable, biocompatible and safe polymer which is used in production of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles like chitosan-tripolyphosphate [TPP] are able to increase antibacterial properties of curcumin. Curcumin-loaded chitosan-TPP nanoparticles containing chitosan, curcumin and TPP salt were synthesized by ionotropic gelation methods. First, the skin of anesthetized mice was inoculated with staphylococcus aureus and pseudomonas aeruginosa suspension. Then the infected mice were treated with curcumin-loaded chitosan-TPP nanoparticles for 3 days. Following that, antibacterial characteristics of the mice treated with curcumin-loaded chitosan- TPP nanoparticles were evaluated by bacterial culture of these mice. Our results showed the size of 160 +/- 10 nm and the charge of +7 +/- 2 mV in curcumin-loaded chitosan-TPP nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were also spiral shape. The encapsulation efficiency of curcumin in chitosan-TPP nanoparticles was 75 +/- 2%. Bacterial culture showed that curcumin-loaded chitosan-TPP nanoparticles inhibited staphylococcus aureus and pseudomonas aeruginosa growth. Our study demonstrated that curcumin-loaded chitosan-TPP nanoparticles can be utilized as a potent agent in treatment of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections

Effect of Intramuscular 600000 IU of Vitamin D3, On Blood Level of Vitamin D3

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of intramuscular 600,000IU of Vitamin D3 on blood level of Vitamin D3

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional, prospective, observational and analytical study

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Fatima hospital, Baqai medical university, from Jan 2010 to July 2010

METHODOLOGY: We included 40 patients with proven vitamin D3 deficiency in this study. All of these patients were having unexplained aches and pains. Patients having diagnosed reasons for aches and pains were excluded from this study. Patients were divided in four groups. Control, group A, B and C. Control received no external Vitamin D3, A weekly, B fortnightly and C monthly injection of 600000 IU. All four groups were followed for three months and monthly blood level of Vitamin D3 was carried out. Patients whose blood level reached normal levels were not given any further dose of vitamin

RESULTS: Out of 40 patients, 30 [75%] were females and 10 [25%] were males. Group A 9[90%] reached normal levels in one month and 1[10%] showed toxic level but no clinical sigh of toxicity. In group B 2[20%] reached normal levels in one month and 2[20%] at two months, further 3[30%] at three months and 3[30%] remained deficient at the end of three month. In group C 1[10%] reached normal in one month, 2[20%] at two months, 2[20%] at three months and 5 [50%] showed improvement but not reached normal levels

All those patients in group A and B who reached normal level and were stopped getting injection showed gross fall in blood level at the end of three months

CONCLUSION: The intramuscular injectable Vitamin D3 has remarkable effect on improving blood levels of Vitamin but need a maintenance dose and monitoring

This study has limitations because of sampling size is quite small so it cannot be recommended to adopt its results. There is a strong need for multicenter study including substantial number of patients to recommend a dose regimen