Stevens Johnson syndrome in Pakistan: a ten-year survey

Objective: A pre-tested questionnaire-based, retrospective study to highlight the causative factors, mode of presentation, complications and outcome of patients with Stevens Johnson syndrome.SETTING: Aga Khan University Hospital over a 10 year period.Methods: All case records with a diagnosis of Steven Johnson Syndrome in the period 1990 to 2000 were retrospectively reviewed. Data was retrieved on a comprehensive questionnaire. The demographic variatbles and drugs taken within the previous 21 days were noted. Date analysis was done by Epi-Info Version 6.0.Results: Of the 101 studied patient files, the most common offender was found to be the Penicillins as a group and Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (Fansidar) when considering all drugs individually. Most common complications included electrolyte disturbances (13.9%) and congestive heart failure (6.9%). Mortality rate was high at 10.1%.CONCLUSION: SJS was found to be a rare condition but having a mortality rate of 10.1%. As it can be induced by a large number of drugs, caution should be practiced while prescribing

Preliminary Phytochemical Screening of Iris Persica L. (Flowers, Leaves, Bulbs and Rhizomes) Collected in Kurdistan Region-Iraq.

The curative properties of medicinal plants are perhaps due to the presence of various secondary metabolites. This paper reports the first investigation of phytochemical constituents present in the methanolic extracts of flowers, leaves, bulbs and rhizomes of Iris persica L. (Iridaceae), collected in Korek Mountain (Rawanduz) in the Kurdistan Region-Iraq, which is used by local people for the treatment of wound inflammation and tumor. The phytochemical analysis was performed to detect the presence of flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, protiens and reducing sugar in all extracts of Iris persica. While tannins and saponins were found in bulb and rhizome extracts only, alkaloids, steroids, aminoacids and anthraquinons were found to be absent in all extracts

DESIGN, SYNTHESIS AND COX1/2 INHIBITORY ACTIVITY OF NEW QUINAZOLINE-5-ONE DERIVATIVES

A new series of 1-(4-Acetylphenyl)-7,7-dimethyl-3-(substitutedphenyl)-1,2,3,4,7,8-octahydroquinazolin-5(6H)-ones (6-15) were synthesized and tested against COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. Those compounds exhibited strong interaction at the COX-2 binding site and poor interaction at the COX-1 active site. Subjected to in vitro cyclooxygenase COX-1/COX-2 inhibition assay; most of the compounds especially compounds 6, 7, 12, 13, and 16 exhibited potent anti-inflammatory effects, selective COX-2 inhibition, with half-maximal inhibitor concentration (IC50) values of 0.22–1.42 μM and selectivity index (SI) values of 6.16–14.18 compared with celecoxib (IC50 = 0.05 μM and COX-2 SI: 296), diclofenac (IC50 = 0.8 μM and COX-2 SI: 4.87), and indomethacin (IC50 = 0.49 μM and COX-2 SI: 0.08) as reference drugs. Docking study has been carried out to confirm the binding affinity and selectivity of the most active compound (compound 6) to COX-2 enzyme

Investigation of structural, electronic and thermoelectric properties of XCUOTE (X: BI, CE, LE) with GGA-WC exchange correlation functional

Linearized augmented plane wave plus local orbitals (LAPW + lo) method designed within density functional theory (DFT) has been used in this study to calculate the structural, electronic and thermoelectric properties of XCuOTe (X=Bi, Ce, La). Generalized gradient approximation, Wu-Cohen (GGA-WC) parameterized exchange correlation functional, was used. The structural and electronic calculations have a good agreement with previous study. For thermoelectric calculation, semi empirical Boltzmann approach implemented in BoltzTraP package was used to calculate Seebeck coefficient, electronic conductivity as well as thermal conductivity. By referring to previous studies, the results have good agreement with them. In addition, the Seebeck coefficient of these materials was calculated as a function of the chemical potential at temperatures 300K, 600K, and 900K. Our calculations highlight suitability of these materials for applications in thermoelectric devices

Large scale production of antitumor cucurbitacins from Ecballium Elaterium using bioreactor

Bioreactor plays a vital role in the commercial production of secondary metabolites and pharmaceuticals from plant cells. Many physical factors, like the mixing intensity, shear stress and operation conditions were optimized as a first step in scaling up process. Qualitative and quantitative determination of cucurbitacins E and I in the extract were carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After two weeks of equipping the reactor with marine impeller, both the growth rate and the concentration of cucurbitacins were increased. However, the increase in the aeration rate from 0.3 to 0.6 vvm induced the production of cucurbitacin E, it reduced the cucurbitacin I production. The highest recorded level of cucurbitacins was 0.3 and 0.1 g/L for cucurbitacin E and cucurbitacin I, respectively. Crude cucurbitacins extract showed potent antitumor activity in a range of 15.6 to 23.5 μg/ml against various carcinoma cell lines. In the current study, the optimizing condition for the production of cucubitacins E and I in Ecballium Elaterium and their biological activities as an antitumor and antimicrobial agent were evaluated.Keywords: Ecballium Elaterium, cucubitacins E, cucubitacins I, bioreactor, antitumo

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice toward Breast Cancer among Kurdish Women in Sulaimani Governorate/ Iraq

Breast cancer is a devastating affliction, the frequency of which is gradually increasing all over the world. Cancer may be cured if properly intervened at the right time. The correct treatment, aided by professionals and the right technology can provide critical life support to breast cancer patients. This study was conducted to assessment knowledge, attitude and practice of breast cancer among Kurdish females visited Maternity Teaching Hospital in Sulaimani. A face-to-face interview through a question¬naire to assessment of knowledge and practices toward breast cancer of 500 non-breast cancer women visited Maternity Teaching Hospital was done. Data were computerized and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS, version 22). P-value of < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Out of 500 participants in the current study on knowledge and practices toward breast cancer among non-breast cancer women, consequently were 227 (45.4%) and 201 (40.2%) practiced breast self-examination(BSE) and clinical breast examination respectively. In this study the participants having no symptoms and lack of knowledge about how to do BSE where regarded as the barriers of not practicing BSE (44.7%, 55.3%) respectively. The most common reason for not doing clinical breast examination (CBE) is fear of the outcome and no sign & symptom of breast cancer (28.8%, 61.9%) respectively. The high education level showed significantly more knowledge of breast self-examination and mammography than Illiterate women P≤ 0.001 and P≤ 0.03 respectively. On the other hand, the high education level women showed significantly more practice of breast self-examination P≤ 0.001. In conclusion, the present study found the facts to the inadequate knowledge of female about breast cancer and recognized the negative influence of low knowledge on the practice of BSE, CBE and mammography and the breast cancer incidence. Therefore, more determinations are needed to develop a positive attitude toward BSE, CBE and mammography screening and practice in Sulaimani

Prevalence of the Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Coagulase-Positive-and Negative-Staphylococcus in Chicken Meat Retailed to Consumers

The use of antibiotics in farm management (growing crops and raising animals) has become a major area of concern. Its implications is the consequent emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and accordingly their access into the human food chain with passage of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) to the normal human intestinal microbiota and hence to other pathogenic bacteria causative human disease. Therefore, we pursued in this study to unravel the frequency and the quinolone resistance determining region, mecA and cfr genes of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCNS) and methicillin-susceptible coagulase-negative staphylococci (MSCNS) isolated from the retail trade of ready-to-eat raw chicken meat samples collected during one year and sold across the Great Cairo area. The 50 Staphylococcus isolated from retail raw chicken meat were analyzed for their antibiotic resistance phenotypic profile on 12 antibiotics (penicillin, oxacillin, methicillin, ampicillin-sulbactam, erythromycin, tetracycline, clindamycin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and vancomycin) and their endorsement of the quinolone resistance determining region, mecA and cfr genes. The isolation results revealed 50 isolates, CPS (14) and CNS (36), representing ten species (S. aureus, S. hyicus, S. epidermedius, S. lugdunensis, S. haemolyticus, S. hominus, S. schleiferi, S. cohnii, S. intermedius and S. lentus). Twenty seven isolates were methicillin-resistant. Out of the characterized 50 staphylococcal isolates, three were MRSA but only 2/3 carried the mecA gene. The ARG that bestows resistance to quinolones, β-lactams, macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramin B (MLS(B)) in MRSA and MR-CNS were perceived. According to the available literature, the present investigation was a unique endeavor into the identification of the quinolone-resistance-determining-regions, the identification of MRSA and MR-CNS from retail chicken meat in Egypt. In addition, these isolates might indicate the promulgation of methicillin, oxacillin and vancomycin resistance in the community and imply food safety hazards

Different Continuous Training Intensities Improve Echocardiographic Parameters, Quality of Life, and Functional Capacity in Heart Failure Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction.

BackgroundMultiple comorbidities and physiological changes play a role in a range of heart failure conditions and influence the most effective approach to exercise-based rehabilitation. This research aimed to examine and compare the outcomes of continuous training at three different intensities, focusing on left ventricular (LV) remodeling, functional capacity, and quality of life among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).MethodsIn this randomized control trial, a total of 60 male patients (average age: 54.33 ±2.35 years) with HFrEF were randomly allocated into three groups: 1) High-intensity continuous training group (HICT), 2) Moderate-intensity continuous training group (MICT), and 3) Low-intensity continuous training group (LICT). All the training was performed on a bicycle ergometer 3 times/week for 12 weeks. Echocardiographic parameters (left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, left ventricular end-systolic dimension, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), quality of life (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire), and functional capacity (6-minute walking test) were assessed before and the end of the study.ResultsThe HICT group demonstrated the greatest improvements in all measured variables when compared to the other two groups (P ConclusionIt was determined that HICT appears to yield the most favorable outcomes in enhancing echocardiographic measures, NT-proBNP levels, quality of life, and functional capacity among HFrEF patients