Isolation of flavonoides from Artemisia macrocephala anticholinesterase activity: isolation, characterization and its in vitro anticholinesterse activity supported by molecular docking

In this study the flavonoids isolated from Artemisia macrocephala were screened out for anticholinesterase activity. The isolated flvanoids were characterized by HNMR, NOESY, COSY, HMBC, HSQC and mass spectroscopy. The compounds [1-4] in appropriate quantities were isolated from chloroform fraction using gravity column chromatography by eluting ethyl acetate/n-hexane solvent system. The flavonoids were characterized and resulted in the form of mono substituted methoxy flavones to tri substituted flavones. Ellman's assay techniques were used to find out enzyme inhibition. Operating environment [MOE] software was used for molecular docking studies. Compounds [1], [2] and [3] showed 88.42+/-2.76, 84.50+/-1.60 and 90.16+/-2.98 percent inhibition of the acetyl cholinesterase [AChE] respectively at 1000µg/mL concentrations with IC50 value 165, 60, 65µg/mL respectively which were comparable to that of standard galanthamine. While for butyryl cholinesterase [BChE], [1], [2] and [3] showed 91.63+/-4.32, 81.03+/-3.53 and 87.69+/-2.84 percent inhibitions respectively at 1mg/mL as compared to the standard galanthamine which caused 96.50+/-2.41 percent inhibition at the same concentration. Whereas, compound [4] exhibited moderate activity for both the enzymes. Molecular docking studies confirmed the experimental AChE and BChE inhibitory activities of the test samples by their virtue of multiple interactions with target enzymes. The results confirm that the specie has biologically active constituents that are more useful for the management of several neurodegenerative ailments like ataxia, Parkinson's disease, Alzeimer's disease and some other types of dementia

Skull base osteitis: our experience and systematic review of literature

Objective: this article discusses etiopathogenesis, diagnostic problems and various management modalities available to manage skull base osteitis [SBO] which is a rare but life threatening disorder and in addition national and international references will be reviewed

Material and Methods: cross sectional, retrospective study carried out at ENT unit-SIMS/SHL which included 17 patients with SBO which were sorted out for etiological diagnosis based on detailed history, physical examination and labs

Results: mean age was 52 years. Diabetes is the most significant risk factor and was seen in 82% of patients, pseudomonas was isolated in 8 patients. The main complication facial paralysis was present in 64% of patients

Conclusion: SBO remains a severe debilitating and life-threatening condition. It may develop in patients with benign otitis media and externa, and must be considered in all patients with temporal bone inflammation; especially those with risk factors and those who fail to improve with more conservative measures. Small-vessel vasculopathy and immune dysfunction associated with diabetes are primarily responsible for this predisposition. Cranial nerves most commonly the facial, can be affected by inflammation along the skull base or by a neurotoxin produced by Pseudomonas species. We, in this article, intend to share our experience in managing seventeen patients with SBO over a period of three years and review the relevant and recent global literature suggesting updates

Arteriovenous fistula construction in chronic haemodialysis patients: comparison of end-to-side and side-to-side techniques

To compare the techniques of end-to-side and side-to-side anastomosis in arteriovenous fistulae construction in terms of success rate and immediate postoperative complications. Design: Comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Ayub Hospital Complex, Abbottabad, from October 1999 to December 2002 and Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, from January 2003 to December 2003. Patients and One hundred and ninety patients with end stage renal disease [ESRD] were included in the study. Arteriovenous fistula was constructed in these patients by two techniques i.e. end-to-side and side-to-side anastomosis. The two methods were compared in terms of duration of surgery, immediate success rate and short-term complications. Among 190 patients, 118 [62%] were males and 72 [38%] females. The age ranged between 24 to 66 years with average age of 54 years. Side-to-side anastomosis was done in 120 [63%] patients while end-to-side in 70 [37%] patients. The average duration of surgery in side-to-side group was 50 minutes and in end-to-side group it was 75 minutes. Bleeding occurred in 4[5.7%] cases in end-to-side group and 2[1.7%] patients in side-to-side group requiring reexploration. The immediate failure rate of the procedure was 2.5% in side-to-side group and 7.5% in end-to-side group. Wound infection occurred in 1[1.4%] case in end-to-side group and 2[1.7%] cases in side-to-side group. In patients with end stage renal disease [ESRD] arteriovenous fistula construction by side-to-side anastomosis is less time-consuming and has less complications as compared to end-to-side technique