Time taken to reach undetectable viral loads in therapy-naïve HIV patients commencing ART

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Peripheral Neuropathy in Newly Diagnosed Cases of Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: Diabetes mellitus linked to severe macrovascular and the microvescular complications. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is the challenging complication of the diabetes mellitus, which is linked to the morbidity, mortality, and big economic burden. We determined the frequency of peripheral neuropathy in newly diagnosed cases of type II diabetes mellitus.Materials & Methods: The current descriptive Cross Sectional study took place in Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, From June 2014 to January 2015. All the patients, those were newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, aged 30-60 years and both genders were included. Detailed history regarding diabetes was taken. Patients underwent for the evaluation of peripheral neuropathy by taking physical examination, previous history and vibration perception test. All the data was recorded in the Proforma.Results: Total 150 cases were studied, out of them, 42.67% were aged 30-45 years while 57.33% were in the age range of 46-60 years and their overall mean age was 46.35 ± 9.52 years. Males were 54.0% and females were 46.0%. Frequency of peripheral neuropathy for newly diagnosed type II diabetic subjects was noted 20.67%, with insignificant association of age and gender.Conclusion: It was concluded that the peripheral neuropathy was 20.67% among patients newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus

Anti-oncogenic perspectives of spices/herbs

Contemporary nutrition regime has focused the attention of the researchers on phytochemicals enriched spices to mitigate various oncological threats. Numerous chemopreventive strategies against malignancy have been developed considering the anticancer perspectives of allied nutraceutical constituents. Current evidences have proven an inverse association of spices with that of oncological incidences. The high antioxidant activity of spices derived bioactives triggers the free radicals scavenging ability at cellular level thereby alleviating various metabolic syndromes. Promising compounds including curcumin and curcuminoids (turmeric), limonene (cardamom), allicin, allyl isothiocyanate (garlic), cinnamic aldehyde, 2-hydroxycinnamaldehyde and eugenol (cinnamon), gingerol, zingiberone, zingiberene (ginger), dipropyle disulfides and quercetin (onion), piperidine piperine, limonene, α- and β-pinene (black pepper), crocetin, crocin and safranal (saffron) have been identified as chemopreventing agents against various malignancies. Chemopreventive properties of spices are mediated by functional bioactive ingredients that arrest the activity of cytochrome P450 and isozymes CYP 1A1, cyclooxygenase-2, reducing activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) and signal transducer. They are closely associated with tumorigenesis activated by interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptors and epidermal growth factor (EGF) relate to an array of tumors. The bioactive constituents altering the expression of protein involved in cell cycle, activating caspases killer and suppressing Kappa-B activation. Alongside, they also restrain causative agents of cell structure damage as in lipid and protein membrane system and DNA that shifting healthy body towards cancerous state. Spices phytochemicals have established as carcinogenesis blockers by modulating cell proliferation pathways transformation, inflammation, metastasis etc. Furthermore, spices as functional ingredients may act as immune boosters and diminish inflammatory disorders. The current review is inevitably an affirmative approach in the development of novel guidelines against cancer by using dietary species to maintain good health

Incidence and Attributing Factors of Impaired Blood Glucose in Non-Diabetic Patients on Steroid Therapy

Objective: To determine the incidence and attributing factors of impaired blood glucose in non-diabetic patients on steroid therapy. Methodology: This descriptive study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Sheikh Zayed Hospital Lahore during 6 months from April 2019 to September 2019. Patients of both genders with age of 18-70 years and receiving steroid therapy (at least 1 pulse) were included. After taking ethical approval, 371 patients were counseled and explained the details of the study. A bolus of 1 gram Methylprednisolone was given and blood was drawn after 2 hours and blood glucose levels were measured. All the labs were acquired from same lab (Hospital lab) and glucometer to eliminate bias and confounding variables were controlled by exclusion. Data was collected via study proforma. Results: The average age of the patients was 43.75 ± 14.33 years with a range of 18 to 70 years. There were 42% males and 57%.1 females with a male to female ratio of 1:1.3. Average BMI of patients 27.34±3.72kg/m2. Impaired blood glucose was observed in 55% of patients after steroid pulse therapy. Frequency of impaired blood glucose after steroid pulse therapy was statistically insignificant according to age and BMI (p->0.05). Positive family history was significantly higher in a patient with impaired blood glucose after pulse therapy (p-0.001). Conclusion: Impaired blood glucose level was observed to be highly prevalent among non-diabetic patients receiving steroid pulse therapy. Female gender and positive family history of diabetes observed as attributing factors

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objective: To determine the frequency of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in our population Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at medical out-patient Department, Services Hospital, Lahore; from September 2014 to March 2015. All the patients having chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) were included. COPD was defined as the patients having a ratio of “forced expiratory volume in one second” (FEVI) to “forced vital capacity” (FVC) below 70% and having no improvement in FEVI after bronchodilator. Severity GERD was categorized as per episodes of symptoms. Information regarding the frequency of GERD was collected via study proforma. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.  Results:  Overall 100 cases were studied; their mean age was 47.54+3.62 years. Out of all 90% were males and 10% were females. Frequency of GERD in patients with COPD reveals 33%, followed by 03% study subjects had mild GERD, 7% had moderate, 11% had severe and 12% had very severe symptoms of GERD, while 67% had no nay symptoms of GERD. Conclusion: In the conclusion the frequency of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was found to be 33.0% among COPD subjects.

Watermelon lycopene and allied health claims

Presently, functional foods and nutraceuticals are gaining immense importance in the prevention of various maladies through dietary regimen module. Consumption of fruits and vegetables based diet has pursuit a range of bioactive components, especially phytochemicals targeting life threatening ailments. In this context, lycopene is an extensively studied antioxidant potentially present in watermelon, tomato, pink guava etc. Watermelon is one of the unique sources having readily available cis-isomeric lycopene. The distinctive aroma of watermelon is imparted by medium- and short-chain fatty acids along with geranial, β-ionone and neral. Its consumption has been escalated owing to rich nutritional profile and allied health benefits. It is effective in reducing the extent of cancer insurgence, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes and macularm diseases. The structural characteristics, physiochemical properties and therapeutic effects of lycopene are the limelight of the manuscript. However, further research investigations are still needed to address the health enhancing potential of watermelon lycopene

Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) fruit: hidden phytochemicals and health claims

Currently, nutrition and health linkages focused on emerging strategy of diet based regimen to combat various physiological threats including cardiovascular disorders, oxidative stress, diabetes mellitus, etc. In this context, consumption of fruits and vegetables is gaining considerable importance as safeguard to maintain human health. Likewise, their phytochemicals and bioactive molecules are also becoming popular as promising demulcent against various ailments. The current review is an effort to sum up information regarding persimmon fruit with special reference to its phytochemistry and associated health claims. Accordingly, the role of its certain bioactive molecules like proanthocyanidin, carotenoids, tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanidin, catechin, etc. is highlighted. Owing to rich phytochemistry, persimmon and its products are considered effective in mitigating oxidative damage induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The antioxidant potential is too responsible for anti-malignant and anti-melanogenic perspectives of persimmon functional ingredients. Additionally, they are effectual in soothing lifestyle related disparities e.g. cardiovascular disorders and diabetes mellitus. There are proven facts that pharmacological application of persimmon or its functional ingredients like proanthocyanidin may helps against hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia. Nevertheless, astringent taste and diospyrobezoars formation are creating lacuna to prop up its vitality. In toto, persimmon and its components hold potential as one of effective modules in diet based therapy; however, integrated research and meta-analysis are still required to enhance meticulousness

Tyrosinase inhibition: conformational analysis based studies on molecular dynamics calculations of bipiperidine based inhibitors.

Two series of variably N-substituted biperidines were synthesized by condensing various acid chlorides, alkyl halides and anhydrides with 1,4-bipiperidine. The new compounds were tested as tyrosinase inhibitors and a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study was carried out. Potent inhibition was observed in the case of the 4'-methylbenzyl substitution on this atom (IC50 = 1.72 microM) with this compound being a lead for future drug design. Additionally, calculations of the important QSAR molecular descriptors were done on the biperidine analogues after their 2 ps molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using molecular mechanics force field (MMFF) approaches. Using MD simulations potential and total energies were calculated for the energy minimized models of bipiperidine and the most active analogs 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10