Phytochemical analysis and hepatoprotective effect of polyherbal formulation on CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in mice

The potent phytotherapeutic modalities against the hepatotoxicity have motivated us to explore numerous plants and polyherbal preparations because conventional drug discovery is more expensive and tedious. So, this study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of a polyherbal formulation [PHF], comprising of Solanum nigrum, Silybum marianum, Atrmesia absinthium, Achillea millifolium and Cichorium intybus against carbon tetrachloride [CCl4] induced hepatotoxicity in experimental rats. CCl4 intoxication induced vacuole formation and fast degeneration so selective liver enzymes including alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alkaline phosphatase [ALP] and total bilirubin in rat's plasma, as well as liver histological architecture, were used to evaluate the effect of herbal treatments with different doses [ranging 100-500 mg/kg] for two weeks. Statistical analysis showed that PHF significantly [P<0.05] improved the level of liver enzymes as well as improved the liver architecture comparative to control groups. It could be concluded from current findings that PHF prepared from Solanum nigrum, Silybum marianum, Atrmesia absinthium, Achillea millifiloium and Cichorium intybus have some hepatoprotective activities

Oral supplementation of Thuja oreintalis leaf extract moderately affects the behavior in albino mice in a gender specific manner

Present study was designed to demonstrate the effect ethanolic leaf extract of Thuja orientalis on the learning and memory formation in albino mice. Four week old albino mice were either orally supplemented with 50mg/ml solvent/Kg body weight of Thuja orientalis or with equal volume of saline solution [0.9% NaCl] for seven days. A battery of neurological tests [Elevated plus maze, Rota Rod, light and dark box, open field and novel object recognition test] were applied at the end of dose supplementation. Thuja orientalis leaf extract treated female mice spent significantly les time on rotating rod [P = 0.02] than male treated with saline solution [indicating poor neuromuscular coordination]. While all other neurological test performances varied non significantly [P > 0.05] when compared between Thuja orientalis treated albino mice [of both genders] with their respective control groups indicating a moderate effect of 50mg/ml solvent/Kg body weight of Thuja orientalis on the behavior of young albino mice

Total laryngectomy: an experience of 26 cases in a tertiary care hospital

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical features, diagnosis and complications of total laryngectomy at a tertiary care hospital

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive prospective study was conducted at the department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, PGMI/ LRH Peshawar from Janurary 2001 to December 2010. All patients were thoroughly evaluated and disease was staged according to TNM. After informed consent total laryngectomy was performed in all patients followed by chemoradiotherapy

RESULTS: A total of 26 patients underwent total laryngectomies for histologically confirmed laryngeal cancers. The age of the patients ranged from 38-72 years with mean age of 57.34 +S.D 9.6 years. Hoarseness was the commonest [100%] presenting feature. According to TNM staging system 15 patients [57.69%] had stage III and 11 patients [42.30%] had stage IV carcinoma larynx. There was wound infection in 6 patients [23.07%] and 4 patients [15.38%] developed pharyngocutanous fistula

CONCLUSION: The commonest presentation of laryngeal carcinoma was hoarseness, so any smoker patient having age greater than 40 years with persistent hoarseness must be investigated for laryngeal carcinoma

Diagnostic yield of fine needle aspiration cytology in diagnosis of thyroid nodule and its comparison with national and international studies

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of solid solitary thyroid nodule

STUDY DESIGN: This was cross-sectional comparative study

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: This study was conducted at the Department of Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck surgery, Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lady reading Hospital, Peshawar. The duration of the study was one year from June 17, 2010 to June 16, 2011

METHODOLOGY: The sample size was 82 patients with solid solitary thyroid nodule, fulfilling the inclusion criteria. After taking detailed history and thorough examination, relevant investigations were performed. Informed consent was taken from all the patients and Fine needle aspirations were carried out in all cases and compared with open biopsies taking as gold standard

RESULTS: Our study included 82 cases consisting of 57 female and 25 male, with female: male ratio of 2.28

1.The age of the patients was ranged from 16-65 years with mean age of 42.56 + S.D 11.60 years. The FNAC diagnostic accuracy was 82.92% along with a sensitivity of 88.09% and specificity 77.50%. The positive predictive value was 80.43% that supports our hypothesis

CONCLUSION: FNAC is a primary diagnostic tool for solitary thyroid nodule because it is simple, safe, quick, reliable, minimally invasive, and cost effective

Etiological profile and sensitivity spectrum of isolates from chronic suppurative otitis media at a tertiary care hospital

Background: Chronic suppurative otitis media [CSOM] is choronic inflammation of middle ear, which represents with recurrent ear discharge and is prevalent worldwide

Objective: To determine the etiological profile and sensitivity spectrum of microorganisms of chronic suppurative otitis media in a tertiary care hospital

Material and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted at outpatient department, Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck Surgery, Postgraduate Medical Institute Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from June 20 10 to June 2011. This study included 285 patients who had discharging ears more than 3 months. The swabs were plated on Mac Conkey agar, Blood agar and Chocolate agar and incubated for 24 to 48 hours at 37[degree]C. Identification of bacterial strains was done by colonial morphology on selective and differential medium. Minimal inhibitory concentrations [MIC] of these antibiotics were monitored according to the guideline of National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards [NCCLS]. The data was analyzed using the SPSS version 17

Results: This study included 285 cases constituting 184 male and 101 female, with male: female ratio of 1.8:1. The age of the patients ranged from 08-46 years with mean age of 39.91 +/- S.D 15.27 years. In majority of patients [73.68%] single organism was isolated. Among the isolates Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the commonest [46.31%]. The antibiotic susceptibility profile of the bacterial isolates revealed that ciprofloxacin had highest sensitivity against pathogens isolated from CSOM

Conclusion: It is concluded that Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the commonest etiological agent in chronic suppurative otitis media in our set up and ciprofloxacin is the antimicrobial agent with highest sensitivity