Anticataleptic activity of Zamzam water in chlorpromazine induced animal model of Parkinson disease

Parkinsonism is characterized by rest tremor, inflexibility, balance debilitation, slow motion and dementia. It is known to be caused by the deficiency of dopaminergic neurons in nigrostriatal pathway. Different studies propose that oxidative burden may be included in the apoptotic process in parkisnons disease. Zamzam water being alkaline in composition may diminish the oxidative stress and hence relieve the symptoms. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the neuroprotective effect of zamzam water in chlorpromazine induced animal model of Parkinsonism. Results revealed that zamzam water did not show significant anticataleptic effect after 21 days as compared to chlorpromazine treated group. However, after 30 days of giving zamzam water showed highly significant decrease [p<0.001] in cataleptic score as compared to chlorpromazine treated group that is negative control. After 30 days of dosing, cataleptic scores by zamzam water were closer to standard drug but standard drug [levodopa/carbidopa] still showed better results than zamzam water. Results from histopathological study of rat's brain also revealed regenerative changes by zamzam treated water when compared with negative control. This regenerative change after zamzam water treatment might play a positive role in future if administered continuously. These results also suggest that zamzam water can be used in combination with standard drug to produce synergistic effect in the management of parkinsons disease

Correlation of signal averaged ECG parameters with left ventricular mass index in patients with systemic arterial hypertension

Background: Signal averaged ECG is a high-resolution electrocardiography which detects ventricular late potentials in patients susceptible to ventricular arrhythmias. Ventricular late potentials are identified on the basis of three parameters detected on signal averaged ECG. This study was planned to determine the correlation of signal averaged ECG parameters with left ventricular mass index in hypertensive patients

Methods: Sixty-four patients with systemic arterial hypertension were enrolled in the study. Patients with acute or old myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular accident, heart failure, structural heart disease, bundle branch block and cardiomyopathies were excluded. Holter monitors [DMS 300 4L] were used to obtain 3 channel signal averaged ECG recording. CardioScan premium luxury software was used for analysis of ventricular late potentials

Results: There were 49 [76.6%] males and 15 [23.4%] female patients [n=64] with mean age of 60+/-11.83 years. Eleven patients [17.2%] had ventricular late potentials whereas 53 [82.8%] were without them. The mean values for filtered QRS complex, low amplitude signals, root mean square voltage, noise and left ventricular mass index were 108.52+/-23.63 ms, 28.81+/-20.78 ms, 92.17+/-51.02 µv, 0.29+/-0.26 µv and 140.48+/-68.26 g/m2 respectively. Left ventricular mass index was significantly and positively correlated with filtered QRS complex [p<0.001] and low amplitude signals [p=0.03] whereas the correlation with root means square voltage was not significant [p=0.84]. Left ventricular mass index had significant and positive correlation with ventricular late potentials [p=0.009]

Conclusion: Patients with higher left ventricular mass index are at greater risk of developing ventricular late potentials which are reflective of ventricular arrhythmias. In hypertensive patients with increased left ventricular mass index the arrhythmogenesis seems to be more related to duration of the cardiac signal as compared to its voltage

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

Association of ventricular late potentials with left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with systemic arterial hyperten

Objective: To determine the association of ventricular late potentials with left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with systemic arterial hypertension

Study Design: Cohort retrospective study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi from 11[th] Nov, 2014 to 10[th] Nov, 2015

Material and Methods: Sixty four patients with systemic arterial hypertension were divided into two equal groups on the basis of left ventricular hypertrophy. Patients with acute or old myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular accident, heart failure, structural heart disease, bundle branch block and cardiomyopathies were excluded from the study. DMS 300 4L Holter monitors were used to obtain 3 channel signal averaged ECG recording. CardioScan premium luxury software was used for analysis of ventricular late potentials

Results: There were 49 [76.6%] males and 15 females [23.4%] with the mean age of 60 +/- 11.83 years. Ventricular late potentials were revealed in 10 [31.3%] out of 32 patients with left ventricular hypertrophy whereas in patients without hypertrophy only 1 [3.1%] patient showed it. Ventricular late potentials were strongly associated with left ventricular hypertrophy [p-value=0.03] and the relative risk of developing ventricular late potentials was 10 times higher in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy as compared to those without left ventricular hypertrophy

Conclusion: Ventricular late potentials were strongly associated with left ventricular hypertrophy

Evaluation of Iyengariastellata for its hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective activity

Cholesterol is believed to be the major regulator involved in the formation and progression of atheroma plaque. Seaweeds are known to possess enormous biological activities. They contain variety of active constituents, which have pharmacological significance. The objective of this study is to explore hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective activities of the brown seaweed Iyengariastellata. Ethanolic extract of seaweed was suspended in distilled water and administered orally at 10mg/200g body weight to rabbits for 30 days and total lipid level, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, VLDL, alkaline phosphatase, SGPT, SGOT, Gamma GT were assessed. The results showed overall decrease in lipid profile whereas Iyengariastellata increased liver enzymes except SGPT which was decreased highly significantly, since SGPT is more specific indicator of liver injury, decreased value of SGPT indicates that Iyengariastellata toxicity is less severe and reversible with marked hypolipidemic effect, but during the course of ingestion of the seaweed the liver enzymes must be carefully monitored to ensure liver safety

effects of intellan and cytacon on hematological and biochemical parameter in rabbits: a comparative study

Several plants have been selected based on their use in traditional systems of medicine, and research has identified a number of natural compounds that could act as Nootropicagents. In this study a herbal product Intellan QvXmft% CenteHa asiatica, Bacopa monniera, Coriandum sativum, Amomum subulatum, Emblica officinalis and another product Cytacon [Cyanocobalamine] were selected The study was designed on animal models to explore the effects on different parameters. For this the animals were given chronic dosing for 6-8 weeks during and after which the parameters were observed to determine their effects. The purpose of focusing on such formulations is to do hematological screening in long-term use

The hematological parameter included hemoglobin/HCT, total leucocyte count, platelets. The lymphocytes and the monocytes counts were increased significantly by intellan, while cyanocobalamine increases RBC counts, platelet counts, monocyte counts, hematocrit etc significantly

The SGPT, SGOT were found increased in both of these drugs

Chamomile tea: Herbal hypoglycemic alternative for conventional medicine

Chamomile is considered as one of the oldest and also documented as medicinal plant. It has shown to be an anti-inflammatory, astringent and antioxidant especially in floral part since ancient times. Recent studies reported that chamomile has potential to lower blood sugar levels in hyperglycemia

In the present study we have investigated the pharmacological effects of chamomile tea on fasting and post prandial glucose levels and HbAlC in blood of diabetic rats [alloxan induced] and the results were compared with glibenclamide as standard. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. It has been observed in our study that it has reduced progressively the fasting and post prandial blood sugar levels, significantly in alloxan induced diabetic rats particularly on day 30and 60

It also reduced the level of HbAlC significantly at the end of the study and the effects were similar to that of the standard group

Chamomile tea administration has also controlled the reduction in weight in diabetic rats as compared to diabetic control and the results were not very much different from standard. Results from the present study indicate that chamomile tea have a glucose lowering effect in diabetic rats so its daily consumption can be potentially useful in hyperglycemia and it can be used as a substitute of conventional drug treatment. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the exact molecular mechanism involved in anti-diabetic action of chamomile

Evaluation of Centella asiatica for its neuropharmacology

To determine the effect of Centella Asiatica on Neuro pharmacological activities as memory, behavior [anxiety, depression]. Experimental Study. This study was conducted in the department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Karachi from 15[th] March 2011 to 30[th] April, 2011. Albino mice and albino rats were used. Animals were divided into control and treated groups [10 animals each]. Neuro pharmacological parameters were assessed using standard techniques as Stationary rod activity, Swimming induced depression [FST], Open field, Light and dark box test and water maze model. Control group was maintained on distilled water and treated group was fed with 8.3 mg/kg Centella asiatica for 10 days. Observations were taken on 1[st], 5[th] and 10[th] days. The results showed decline in the elapsed time taken by animal to reach the platform in Stationary rod and water maze model, significantly enhanced struggling time in FST, decreased number of peripheral square crosses but relatively increased central square crosses on 10[th] day in open field test and increased time spent in light box in Light and dark box mode. It can be concluded that Centella asiatica enhances memory and show antidepressant activity on acute administration while chronic use results in anxiolytic behavior

Prevalence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] in surgical site infections in a tertiary care hospital

To determine the prevalence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] in post-operative wound infections in surgical wards and surgical ICU and also to define the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the strains isolated. A cross sectional prospective study. Departments of Pathology and Surgery, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences [PIMS], Islamabad, Pakistan. January 2004 to August 2005. Wound swabs from patients who had undergone surgery and were suspected of having postoperative infection of the wounds were collected and inoculated on blood agar and MacConkey agar plates. After incubation for 24-48 hours, plates were examined for the growth of S. aureus. Anti-microbial susceptibility test was performed using oxacillin 1ug disc to detect methicillin resistance. An inhibition zone = or <10mm was taken as indicative of MRSA. A total of 1310 surgical wound swabs yielded growth of bacterial pathogens out of which 273 [20%] were found to be S. aureus. 225 of the affected patients were admitted in surgical wards and 48 in SICU. Analysis of the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates revealed that 105 [39%] were strains of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] as indicated by their resistance to Oxacillin [1ug disc]. Significantly higher proportion of the MRSA isolates were from SICU, 31/48 - 65% than from the surgical wards, 74/225 - 35% [p < 0.05] indicating the inherent tendency of these strains to become endemic in the critical care units as well as their propensity for nosocomial spread. Susceptibility patterns further revealed that Vancomycin and Teicoplanin were the most effective antimicrobial agents for MRSA infections - 100% of the strains being fully susceptible - followed by Fusidic acid [80% susceptible]. The reverse was true as regards the efficacy of Gentamicin and Ciprofloxacin, to which 100% of the isolates were resistant. Other antibiotics yielded variable results. 273 [20%] out of 1310 post-operative wound infections were caused by S. aureus, 105 [39%] were strains of MRSA whose prevalence was found to be significantly higher in surgical ICU than in the surgical wards [65% as compared to 35% respectively -p < 0.05]. All the isolates were found to be susceptible to Vancomycin. It is concluded that MRSA is a serious nosocomial pathogen in surgical site infections and requires strict intervention for its prevention and control