Experiences of stigma among hepatitis B and C patients in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan

Hepatitis B and C are chronic diseases with mental and social impacts which can result in poor quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the experiences of stigma in a sample of hepatitis B- and C-positive patients in Pakistan. In a cross-sectional study, 140 inpatients and outpatients from 3 tertiary-care hospitals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi answered a semi-structured questionnaire about stigma experienced from relatives, friends, spouse and health-care providers, and about work/financial problems. The majority of patients [75%] said they had had to change their lifestyle, and significantly more were males than females. Stigma was marked in terms of disease transmission, with 66% of patients fearing that they could transmit the infection to others; 19% said that family members avoided sharing towels, soap and eating and drinking utensils. Marital relationships were affected for 51% of married patients who had told their spouse. Patients' comments showed a sense of family and societal discrimination resulting in feelings of disappointment and isolation

Angelica archengelica extract induced perturbation of rat skin and tight junctional protein [ZO-1] of HaCaT cells

Herbal enhancers compared to the synthetic ones have shown less toxis effects. Coumarins have been shown at concentrations inhibiting phospoliphase C-Y [Phc-Y] are able to enhance tight junction [TJ] permeability due to hyperpoalation of Zonolous Occludense-1 [ZO-1] proteins. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of ethanolic extract of Angelica archengelica [AA-E] which contain coumarin on permeation of repaglinide across rat epidermis and on the tight junction plaque protein ZO-1 in HaCaT cells. Transepidermal water loss [TEWL] from the rat skin treated with different concentrations of AA-E was assessed by Tewameter. Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy [TEM] on were performed on AA-E treated rat skin portions. The possibility of AA-E influence on the architecture of tight junctions by adverse effect on the cytoplasmic ZO-1 in HaCaT cells was investigated. Finally, the systemic delivery of repaglinide from the optimized transdermal formulation was investigated in rats. The permeation of repaglinide across excised rat epidermis was 7-fold higher in the presence of AA-E [5% w/v] as compared to propylene glycol:ethanol [7:3] mixture. The extract was found to perturb the lipid microconstituents in both excised and viable rat skin, although, the effect was less intense in the later. The enhanced permeation of repaglinide across rat epidermis excised after treatment with AA-E [5% w/v] for different periods was in concordance with the high TEWL values of similarly treated viable rat skin. Further, the observed increase in intercellular space, disordering of lipid structure and corneocyte detachment indicated considerable effect on the ultrastructure of rat epidermis. Treatment of HaCaT cell line with AA-E [0.16% w/v] for 6 hrs influenced ZO-1 as evidenced by reduced immunofluorescence of anti-TJP1 [ZO-1] antibody in Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy studies [CLSM] studies. The plasma concentration of repaglinide from transdermal formulation was maintained higher and for longer time as compared to oral administration of repaglinide. Results suggest the overwhelming influence of Angelica archengelica in enhancing the percutaneous permeation of repaglinide to be mediated through perturbation of skin lipids and tight junction protein [ZO-1]

Smoking, clotting time, fibrin network structure and their relationship to thromboembolic disorders

Whole blood clotting time and fibrin network characteristics have been examined in plasma of smokers and are compared with those of non smokers. The clotting time of smokers is considerably lower than that of non smokers. The fibrin fibre thickness of plasma networks of smokers is lower than those of non smokers and these networks have a greater tensile property. The results are suggestive of a hypercoagulable state in smokers