Résumé
Objective: To study the role of combination therapies in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
Methodology: This open-label, randomized 180-day clinical trial was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, BMSI and Medical unit ward 6, after approval of JPMC ethical committee, in which enrolled patients were 89. Patients were divided into two groups, A and B. 44 patients of group A received methotrexate [MTX] 7.5-20 mg/ week orally and Leflunomide [LEF] 10-20 mg/ day orally as maximally tolerated. 45 patients of group B were given MTX 7.5-20 mg/ week orally and Sulfasalazine [SSZ] 500 mg to 1 gm daily orally as maximally tolerated
Result: Comparing the combination of group A with group B, group B showed highly significant improvement in mean swollen joint count [1.9+/-0.9] and morning stiffness [46.0=19.06] as compared to group A [2.9=1.71, 54.4=10.14]. The drugs of group A showed significant improvement in mean pain [2.9= 1.71], physician's global assessment [2.80+/-0.97] and patient's global assessment [1.4=0.66] as compared to group B [1.9= 1.45, 3.8+/-1.22, 2.0=0.99]. Therefore, our study revealed that patients receiving combination of MTX and LEF responded slightly better than MTX and SSZ. Both the combination treatments were well tolerated
Conclusion: Both combinations of MTX and SSZ and MTX and LEF were well tolerated but the efficacy of MTX and LEF was marginally superior to combination of MTX and SSZ
Résumé
Objective: To evaluate the anti-diarrheal effect of Methanol extract of Curcuma Longa, and to compare it with Loperamide in albino rats
Methodology: This experimental animal study was performed in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Basic Medical Sciences Institute [BMSI], Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center [JPMC], Karachi, in collaboration with BMSI Animal house, from May 2013 to December 2014. Dried rhizomes of Curcuma longa were purchased from local market of Karachi and soaked in 100% methanol, which was later evaporated to yield a semisolid extract. Seventy-two albino rats were used, which were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 24 rats. Each group was further divided into 4 subgroups. In each group, one subgroup was control, one was standard [loperamide group] and two subgroups were given 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg of methanol extract of Curcuma Longa orally. Anti-diarrheal effect was assessed by counting total number of feces after castor oil-induced diarrhea, castor oil-induced enteropooling and gastrointestinal motility test
Results: The methanol extract of Curcuma Longa showed significant anti-diarrheal activity evidenced by the reduction in defecation, decreased intestinal transit of charcoal meal and decreased enteropooling after castor oil-induced diarrhea
Conclusion: Curcuma Longa had potent anti-diarrheal affect and can replace synthetic drugs like loperamide. These effects were related to phytochemicals present in it