Analysis of toll-like receptors-9 [TLR9] gene polymorphism [rs5743836] in Pakistani patients with HCV

Toll-like receptors [TLRs] are innate immune receptors that mediate the inflammatory response during HCV infections. The goal of this study was to evaluate the association of TLR9 gene polymorphism [rs5743836] in Pakistani patients infected with genotype 3a of HCV. Total 500 subjects were recruited, 400 HCV patients and 100 healthy individuals. Genotyping of TLR9 [-1237T/C, rs5743836] was carried out in 400 HCV patients [323 interferon responders and 77 interferon nonresponder] and control group by applying High resolution melting [HRM] curve assay. No remarkable differences in distribution of genotype between HCV [p<0.0001; OR= 3.21, 95% CI= [2.514.12] and control groups [p<0.0001; OR=0.092, 95%CI= [0.0580.14] were observed. In conclusion TLR9-1237T/C gene polymorphism may not be considered as a molecular risk for patients with HCV in Pakistan

Phytochemical analysis and hepatoprotective effect of polyherbal formulation on CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in mice

The potent phytotherapeutic modalities against the hepatotoxicity have motivated us to explore numerous plants and polyherbal preparations because conventional drug discovery is more expensive and tedious. So, this study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of a polyherbal formulation [PHF], comprising of Solanum nigrum, Silybum marianum, Atrmesia absinthium, Achillea millifolium and Cichorium intybus against carbon tetrachloride [CCl4] induced hepatotoxicity in experimental rats. CCl4 intoxication induced vacuole formation and fast degeneration so selective liver enzymes including alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alkaline phosphatase [ALP] and total bilirubin in rat's plasma, as well as liver histological architecture, were used to evaluate the effect of herbal treatments with different doses [ranging 100-500 mg/kg] for two weeks. Statistical analysis showed that PHF significantly [P<0.05] improved the level of liver enzymes as well as improved the liver architecture comparative to control groups. It could be concluded from current findings that PHF prepared from Solanum nigrum, Silybum marianum, Atrmesia absinthium, Achillea millifiloium and Cichorium intybus have some hepatoprotective activities

Effect of caffeine on anti-clotting activity of warfarin in healthy male albino rabbits

Drug-drug interactions are most commonly occurring phenomenon in clinical practice. Many physicians are afraid of being involved in an allegation of malpractices due to the occurrence of any severe interaction. These interactions not only occur between drugs but also between any kind of food, tobacco smoke, caffeine and alcohol etc. Therefore, the present study was directed to inspect the effect of caffeine on the anticoagulation activity of warfarin in healthy adult male albino rabbits. Blank blood samples were collected from each rabbit. Rabbits were given warfarin [0.5mg kg-1] orally via stomach tube and blood samples were collected in PT/INR vials at various intervals. After a washout period of 14 days, warfarin was orally administrated at same dose rate along with caffeine [5 mg kg-1 every twelve hours for three days] and same sampling schedule was repeated. Prothrombin time [PT] and the international normalized ratio [INR] of blood samples were determined to estimate changes in the anticoagulation activity of warfarin after its concurrent administration with caffeine. The PT data revealed that Rmax and AUC increased significantly [P

Risk factors of neonatal mortality in Faisalabad, Pakistan

The objective of study was to find out major correlates of neonatal mortality. The main focus was in determining the impact of different demographic and health related characteristics of neonates and their mothers. A planned questionnaire was prepared in order to collect the information from mothers of newborns. The data were collected from different public and private hospitals of Faisalabad district. Discharge condition of neonate [dead or alive] was taken as response. Binary logistic regression was applied in order to unveil the impact of different contributory factors on the chances of neonatal mortality. Marriage age of mother, age of mother at baby birth, number of pregnancies, time since last birth, antenatal care, delivery mode, gender of baby, baby weight, baby disease and its nature, domestic violence, baby nutrition and residence were found to be significant factors affecting neonatal mortality. Odds ratio was used as a measure of association. From the results, it can be summed up that marriages at optimal ages, lesser frequency of pregnancies, early initiation of mother feeding, increased care during pregnancy to avoid low birth weight and birth time diseases, and increased facilities of antenatal care in rural areas can effectively reduce the neonatal mortality rates

Diagnosis of hepatitis C in pregnant mothers and its transfer pattern in neonates

Hepatitis is the most common liver diseases in the Pakistan caused by blood-borne infection of HCV. Viral transmission is frequent through blood contact. Vertical transmission is transfer of disease from mother to infant. The women who are infected with hepatitis C virus RNA are at high risk of infecting their babies. Actual transmission occurs during labor and at time of delivery when blood of both mother and neonate is in contact with each other. Vertical transmission rate is lowered when mother is HCV RN Anegative. The project was designed to determine the percentage of transmission and prevalence of Hepatitis C virus from mother to neonates. Assessment of the quantitative analysis of RNA levels in mother blood and viraemic status from the early postpartum period onwards of children born to HCV-infected mothers. For the diagnosis of hepatitis C in mothers, blood samples of fifty HCV pregnant women between 23-41 years old were taken. The blood samples were centrifuged at 8,000 rpm and serum was separated and stored at 4°C. The values of the Alanine Aminotransferase was determined at 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy. After extraction HCV-RN Awere transcribed and amplified by PCR. The samples were further authenticated through the Agarose Gel Electrophoresis system and bands were obtained. Nested reverse transcription PCR [RT-PCR] was conducted for the quantitative analysis of HCV-RNA. The results showed that in 66% cases, the mothers had high level of ALT at 2[nd] trimester of pregnancy. Their ALT level was decreased in the 3[rd] trimester of pregnancy. PCR results showed that 40% pregnant women had quantity of HCV-RNA in the range of 1000-10,000 lU/mL and in 18% women were above 100000 The results of spectrophotometer showed that 80% infants had the antibodies against HCV-RNA while only 20% of the neonates did not have antibody right after birth. The 29% babies got HCV-RNA in their serum and became positive for HCV-RNA?

Therapeutic Effect of Atorvastatin on kidney functions and urinary excretion of Glimepiride in healthy adult human male subjects

Glimepiride and Atorvastatin in combination are commonly employed for treating the hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia, respectively, in patients of type 2 diabetes. The present study was designed to find out the influence of Atorvastatin on urinary excretion and renal clearance of Glimepiride in healthy adult male volunteers. In each experimental subject, Glimepiride 2mg was given orally after an overnight fasting. Samples of blood and urine were taken at different specific time intervals. After a washout period of ten days, Glimepiride 2mg was co-administered with Atorvastatin 20mg orally. Post-medication, blood and urine samples were collected following the same sampling schedule as for Glimepiride alone. The samples were analyzed for Glimepiride and creatinine concentration by HPLCUV and Spectrophotometer, respectively. Mean [ +/- SE] values for blood pH 7.445 +/- 0.05 and 7.382 +/- 0.05, urine pH 4.972 +/- 0.08 and 5.08 +/- 0.10, diuresis 0.0207 +/- 0.00 and 0.0237 +/- 0.00ml/min/kg, endogenous creatinine in plasma 9.048 +/- 0.33 and 8.613 +/- 0.024 micro g/ml, endogenous creatinine in urine 512.34 +/- 18.20 and 556.72 +/- 4.60 micro g/ml, Glimepiride plasma concentration 0.16069 +/- 0.00 and 0.3227 +/- 0.01 micro g/ml, Glimepiride urine concentration 1.5994 +/- 0.03 and 0.8665 +/- 0.04 micro g/ml, renal clearance of creatinine 1.224 +/- 0.09 and 1.550 +/- 0.09ml/min/kg, renal clearance of Glimepiride 0.2064 +/- 0.01 and 0.0641 +/- 0.00ml/min/kg and clearance ratio 0.1791 +/- 0.01 and 0.0414 +/- 0.00 were observed for Glimepiride alone and its concurrent administration with Atorvastatin, respectively. Atorvastatin decreased the urinary excretion and renal clearance of Glimepiride due to which chances of hypoglycemia provokes and renal handling of Glimepiride involves back diffusion besides glomerular filtration and no influence of Atorvastatin was seen on these mechanisms