Protective effects of caffeic acid phenylethyl ester, a main component of propolis against cyclosporine A-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

The present study was designed to investigate the possible protective effects of Caffeic acid phenylethyl ester [CAPE] against Cyclosporine A [C5A] induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Through antioxidant, free radical scavenger and anti-inflammatory effects of CAPE and CsA. Thirty two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups of eight rats in each one; first group served as control [treated with vehicle]. The other groups were treated intraperitoneally with CsA alone [20 mg/kg/24 hours], CAPE alone [10 micro mol/kg/24 hours] and CAPE plus CsA for 21 days. The treatment with CAPE started two days before the first dose of CsA. Estimation of urine volume, serum creatinine and urea concentrations, creatinine clearance, kidney tissue malondialdehyde [MDA] and glutathione [GSH] contents were carried out after the last dose of CsA. Also, the lysosomal enzymes [N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase [NAG] and beta-glucuronidase [beta-GLU]] and antioxidant enzymes [glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px], catalase [CAT] and superoxide dismutase [SOD]] activities were estimated in kidney homogenates. Kidneys were also examined for histological changes. CsA caused a marked nephrotoxicity as evidenced by significant increases in urine volume [295%], serum creatinine [194%] and urea [167%] and a significant decrease in creatinine clearance [Ccr] [24%]. Pre-treatment with CAPE produced amelioration in biochemical indices of nephrotoxicity in serum and urine. Furthermore, CAPE prevented the CsA-induced increase in the renal levels of oxidative stress markers [MDA, NAG and beta-GLU] and prevent the decrease in the antioxidant enzymes [SOD, CAT and GSH-Px] activities. In addition, co-administration of CAPE was found to reduce the degree of kidney tissue damage in histopathological findings. CAPE as a natural antioxidant might have protective effects against CsA-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats. However, clinical studies are warranted to investigate such an effect in human subjects

Early experience with fluoxetine

A new antidepressant Fluoxetine, a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, was tried on 26 resistant depressed patients. There were four drop out due to severe side effects. Improvement was noticeable soon after the first week and was maximum within 3 weeks of medication in 14 [63.6%] patients while in 8 [36.4%] patients it was as late as 6-12 weeks. The decline in improvement after three weeks in 7 [31.8%] patients, needs attention in future studies. Bradycardia in 2 patients above the age of sixty indicate that the drug should be used with caution in elderly. GIT disturbance, insomnia, anorexia, restlessness and lethargy were common side effects. A well planned double blind study is recommended before its place is assigned in our patient population

Alexithymia in Karachi

Alexithymia is a new term which usually means" no words for mood " and used to describe a disorder where patients have difficulty in expressing feelings in words. Such patients therefore express emotions in somatic terms. We have selected headache as a symptom to test the term Alexithymia. A group of thirty patients with the complaint of persistent headache of more than 6 months duration, without any organic pathology or neurological disease entity was taken. This study concludes that Alexithymic traits are not necessarily more prominent in those having psychophysiological symptoms specially tension headache. It also shows that we should not accept any new concept evolved in the west without testing it in our own conditions

Use of rifampin, trimethoprim combination for the treatment of recurrent urinary tract infections

90 patients [80 female and 10 male] all suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections were selected from special oupatieat urinary tract infection clinic for this investigation. Infections were most commonly caused by E.coli [59%], proteus mirabilis [13%] Strept faecalis [10%] and Staph. aureus [9%]. Trials for treatment of such infections was carried out with rifampin trimethoprim and compared with either rifampin alone or trimethoprim alone. A satisfactory significant difference was observed between the three groups, where a better rate of apparent cure was obtained with the group given rifampin trimethoprim, 85% vs 70% in the group given rifampin alone and 67% in the group given trimethoprim alone. The combintaiton of rifampin with trimethoprim prevents the emergence of resistant strains and consequently decreases the rate of recurrent urinary tract infections

Heroin at Panjgur

Average age of heroin addicts seen in a day at Panjgur was 21.6 years, duration of habit within eight months, smoked in group of four persons and each consumed 1/2 g daily in two sessions. The dependence was discovered by the medical officer in most of the patients who approached the rural health centre for the treatment of chest infection or malaria. The prevalence of heroin addiction was calculated on the basis of patients seen at the RHC during the last eight months. Very conservative estimate puts the figure at an alarming high level of 13.6% in the age group 10 - 39 years of the male population