Neuroprotective role of a monoterpene (thymol) on diazepam induced withdrawal symptoms in rats.

Benzodiazepine administration is known to be related to tolerance and a withdrawal syndrome on sudden cessation. Thymol possesses multiple biological properties especially in the pathogenesis of different brain disorders. However, to the best of our knowledge there is no study that relates the use of thymol to benzodiazepine induced withdrawal symptoms. Therefore the aim of the current study was to investigate the usefulness of thymol in the treatment of benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome in rats. Animals were divided into four groups, thymol (40mg/kg/ml), diazepam (4 mg/kg), thymol + diazepam and vehicle control group. The treatment was given for 14 days and then suddenly ceased. After 24 h animals were tested in different behavioral paradigms such as physical signs for withdrawal, marble burying test, inverted screen test, elevated plus maze, passive avoidance test and open field activity. The results of the present study revealed that co-administration of thymol significantly reduced the withdrawal symptoms induced by diazepam. Our results further suggest that administration of thymol not only ameliorates rebound anxiety associated with diazepam withdrawal but also improves motor and memory impairment in rats.

The Neuro-Vascular Consequence of Diabetes: Foot Amputation and Evaluation of its Risk Factors and Health-Related Economic Impact.

BACKGROUND: The rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with the huge burden of diabetic foot amputation is a challenge to the health economy of Pakistan and other countries. Identification of various risk factors for amputation, along with its financial burden, is needed to address this problem. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the financial burden and risk factors associated with T2DMrelated foot amputation. METHODS: Retrospective hospital-based study from January 2017 to December 2018. Patients with T2DM with and without amputation were enrolled. The direct medical costs of amputation along with various risk factors, were determined. Risk factors were evaluated by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1460 patients with T2DM were included; 484 (33%) patients had an amputation. The mean total cost of below knee, fingers and toe amputation was 886.63±23.91, 263.35 ±19.58 and 166.68 ± 8.47 US$, respectively. This difference among groups was significant (p<0.0001). Male gender (odds ratio, OR: 1.29, 1.01-1.63, p=0.037), peripheral artery disease (OR: 1.93, 1.52-2.46, p=0.000), peripheral neuropathy (OR: 1.31, 1.40-1.63, p=0.000), prior diabetic foot ulcer (OR: 2.02, 1.56- 2.56, p=0.000) and raised glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) (OR: 3.50, 2.75-4.4, p=0.000) were risk factors for amputation. CONCLUSION: The health-related financial impact of amputations is high. Peripheral artery disease, peripheral neuropathy, prior diabetic foot ulcer and raised HbA1c were risk factors for amputation.

Sn doping induced enhancement in the activity of ZnO nanostructures against antibiotic resistant S. aureus bacteria.

Highly ionic metal oxide nanostructures are attractive, not only for their physiochemical properties but also for antibacterial activity. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures are known to have inhibitory activity against many pathogens but very little is known about doping effects on it. The antibacterial activity of undoped ZnO and tin (Sn) doped ZnO nanostructures synthesized by a simple, versatile, and wet chemical technique have been investigated against Escherichia coli, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial strains. It has been interestingly observed that Sn doping enhanced the inhibitory activity of ZnO against S. aureus more efficiently than the other two bacterial strains. From cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production studies it is found that Sn doping concentration in ZnO does not alter the cytotoxicity and ROS production very much. It has also been observed that undoped and Sn doped ZnO nanostructures are biosafe and biocompatible materials towards SH-SY5Y Cells. The observed behavior of ZnO nanostructures with Sn doping is a new way to prevent bacterial infections of S. aureus, especially on skin, when using these nanostructures in creams or lotions in addition to their sunscreen property as an ultraviolet filter. Structural investigations have confirmed the formation of a single phase wurtzite structure of ZnO. The morphology of ZnO nanostructures is found to vary from spherical to rod shaped as a function of Sn doping. The excitation absorption peak of ZnO is observed to have a blue shift, with Sn doping leading toward a significant tuning in band gap.