Effect of aloe vera whole leaf extract on blood glucose, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance in streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetic rats

Objective: To determine the effect of Aloe vera whole leaf extract and/or Rosiglitazone on plasma glucose, insulin and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats

Study Design: Randomized control trail

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Physiology Army Medical College, Rawalpindi in collaboration with National Institute of Health [NIH] Islamabad from April 2009 to Oct 2010

Materials and Methods: Type 2 DM was induced in 45 healthy Sprague -Dawley rats by feeding high fat diet for 2 weeks and injecting a low dose [35mg/kg] of streptozotocin intra peritoneally. Type 2 diabetic rats were randomly divided into three groups, each group having 15 rats and were labeled as diabetic group, Aloe vera group and rosiglitazone group. The diabetic group was injected normal saline, Aloe vera group was treated with Aloe vera whole leaf extract in dose of 300mg/kg body weight and rosiglitazone group was given 5mg/kg body weight of rosiglitazone I/P for 21 days

Results: A significant reduction [p<0.001] in plasma glucose [62%], insulin [19%] and TG/HDL ratio [69%] was analyzed in Aloe Vera group as compared to diabetic control group

Conclusion: The maximum impact in lowering plasma glucose, insulin and TG/HDL ratio was recorded in rosiglitazone group, followed by Aloe vera group. The results of present study provide a scientific basis of using Aloe vera whole leaf extract as antidiabetic in T2DM

Clinical efficacy of the various drugs used in the treatment of gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea is a purulent inflammation of mucus membrane of the genital tract and is a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease [STD] caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoae. Both men and women can be infected through a variety of sexual contact behaviours including vaginal, anal or oral intercourses. This comparative study was carried out in New Gulail Polyclinic Jeddah, KSA from Jan 2003 to March 2004 to find the clinical efficacy of ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone and spectinomycin, the three commonly used drugs, in the treatment of gonorrhoea. A total number of 300 patients suffering from gonorrhoea were included in this study. They were randomly divided into 3 groups of 100 patients each. Group-A patients were given Tablet Ciprofloxacin 500 mg, Group-B patients Injection Ceftriaxone 500 mg, and Group-C patients were put on Injection Spectinomycin 2 gm, all in stat dosage. On the 5th day following the treatment, all patients were re-examined and their clinical and laboratory findings were recorded and analysed. On the 5th day following treatment the Group-A [n=100] showed 9 [9%] partial response and 11 [11%] cases showed no response to Ciprofloxacin. In the Group-B [n=100], 4 [4%] patients showed partial response and 6 [6%] patients showed no response to Ceftriaxone. In Group-C, out of 100 patients, 4 [4%] cases reported with partial response and 2 [2%] patients showed no response to Spectinomycin. The efficacy of these anti-microbial agents was the same in both the genders. Anti-microbial susceptibility of N. gonorrhoeae to various antibiotics is gradually decreasing. In order to ensure full cure, all gonorrhoea patients should be followed-up after a single dosage of any antibiotic. Further research should continue for newer, effective, and preferably oral medication for the treatment of gonorrhoea

Frequency of cerebral infarction and haemorrhage in the patients of stroke

Stroke is rapidly developing phenomena of symptoms and signs of focal, and at times global, loss of cerebral function with no apparent cause other than that of vascular origin. The Objective was to know the frequency of cerebral infarction and haemorrhage in one hundred patients of stroke in a period of one year. Data was collected by consecutive sampling technique. Total one hundred patients of stroke were collected for the study. They were assessed through a detailed history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, previous stroke, transient ischemic attack [TIA], previous myocardial infarction, angina, atrial fibrillation, alcohol intake, drugs used for hypertension/diabetes mellitus. Blood pressure was recorded at arrival and 24 hours after admission. There were 70% males and 30% females. Twenty percent of the patients were in the age range of 51-60 years, 26% of the patients were in the age range of 61-70 years and 18% were in the age range of 71-80 years. Cerebral infarction was present in 72% patients while cerebral haemorrhage was present in 28% patients. Hypertension was the most common risk factor among these stroke patients. Average blood pressure was 180/100 mmHg. Cerebral infarction is the commonest form of stroke. Hypertension is the leading risk factor in stroke patients