Effect of combination of nigella sativa and trigonella foenum-graecum seeds with glibenclamide on blood sugar levels in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients

To evaluate the effect of combination of Nigella sativa and Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds with Glibenclamide on blood sugar levels in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients. Arandomized clinical trial. Diabetic outpatient clinics of Isra University Hyderabad and Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro, Pakistan from March to August 2008. For this study, Type-2 diabetic mellitus patients on Glibenclamide, who gave written consent to volunteer in the study, were randomly divided into two groups. Fifty patients in Group [A] [Control Group] remained on routine dose of Glibenclamide, while fifty patients in Group [B] [Intervention Group] were kept on a capsule containing combined powder of N-sativa and T. foenum-graecum seeds powder, in addition to their routine dose of Glibenclamide. Patients in both the groups were evaluated for a period of 3 months for fasting and random sugar levels. It was found that the blood sugar level fasting [p-value=0.003] and the random [p-value<0.001] significantly decreased in intervention group compared to control group. This study indicates that combination therapy of N. sativa and T. foenum-graecum seeds with Glibenclamide has significant effect in controlling hyperglycemia

Tuberculosis control in pakistan: Current issues and challenges

Tuberculosis [TB] is a contagious disease, which spreads as a droplet infection. It is the leading killer of young adults worldwide. Each year, 8 million people develop active TB and 3 million die. The largest number of cases occurs in the South-East Asia Region, which accounts for 33% of incident cases globally. However, the estimated incidence per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa is nearly twice that of the South-East Asia, at 350 cases per 100,000 population. Overall, one-third of the world's population is currently infected with the TB bacillus and someone is newly infected with TB bacilli every second. HIV and TB form an even more lethal combination; TB is also a leading cause of death among HIV-positive people and accounts for about 13% of AIDS deaths worldwide. However, in Africa, HIV is the single most important factor determining the increased incidence of TB in the past 10 years. This is an Editorial

Effects of Azelastine and Sodium cromoglycate in the inhibition of Broncho - Constriction of ovalbumin sensitized Lung Parenchymal Tissues of Guinea Pigs in Vitro

To see the ability of Azelastine and Sodium cromoglycate in influencing antigen induced contractile responses in isolated parenchymal tissues of Guinea pig in vitro. An experimental study. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics of Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center [JPMC], Karachi during 1998. The Guinea pigs [n=10] were sensitized with ovalbumin and their parenchymal strips were exposed to different concentrations of ovalbumin to observe the EC50. Each sensitized parenchymal strip was treated with either Azelastine or Sodium cromoglycte in an organ bath for 10 minutes and treated with EC50 ovalbumin and contraction was recorded by Grass Polygraph model 7B. EC50 [n=6] of parenchymal strips [0.3x10-6 + 0.16x10-6g/ml] produced a mean response of contraction 9+0.44mm. Azelastine in concentration of 10-9 g/ml did not show any inhibitory effect but as the concentration increased to 10-8 g/ml, marked inhibition was recorded and with further increase in concentration by 10-7 g/ml, it completely antagonized the EC50 induced contraction. Sodium cromoglycate did not show any inhibition at concentration 10-8 g/ml while at higher concentration of 10-6 g/ml, it showed complete antagonism. Ovalbumin induced contraction of sensitized lung parenchymal tissues of Guinea pig in vitro is dose dependent and controlled better with Azelastine than Sodium cromoglycate

Effects of verapamil on ovalbumin induced contraction of sensitized guinea pigs lung parenchymal tissues, in vitro

Calcium ions play an important patho-physiological role in allergic reactions. The release of mediators from mast cells, synthesis of some newly formed chemical mediators; airway smooth muscle contraction and nerve impulse conduction are all dependent on the availability and influx of Ca++ ions. It is therefore likely, that Ca++ antagonist, verapamil may modify the allergic broncho-pulmunary responses. Investigate the effects of verapamil on ovalbumin induced contractile responses on lung parenchymal tissue strip in vitro. Guinea pigs treated with two high doses of ovalbumin i.e. 5 mg on day 0 and 10mg on day 2, intra-peritoneal. Twenty-one days after sensitization the effect of verapamil on guinea pigs, parenchymal tissue was evaluated by incubation of strip with verapamil for 10 minutes and treated with EC50 ovalbumin. Verapamil exhibits dose dependent inhibition of ovalbumin-induced contraction with significant effect at concentration 10-9 g/ml. On the basis of these observations two possible mechanisms for this protective effects were suggested, firstly verapamil may have suppressed mediator release and second verapamil may have inhibited the contractile effect of mediators on parenchymal smooth muscle. It is therefore suggested that verapamil may prove useful in the management of airway hyper-reactivity