Comparison between Right and Left Hemisphere Lesion of Stroke Patients for Functional Gait Assessment

Objective: To compared the functional gait among left and right hemisphere lesion patients of stroke. Methods: This cross sectional comparative study included 126 patients with right and left sided hemispheric lesion. The study was conducted from December 2019 to March 2020. Patients were selected consecutively from different hospitals and rehabilitation centers of Lahore, Pakistan on the basis of inclusion & exclusion criteria. Functional gait assessment (FGA) scale was used to measure functional gait performance and disturbance related to balance in stroke patients. Independent sample t-test was used for comparison of functional gait between left and right hemispheric lesions. A p-value ≤ .05 was taken statistically significant. Results: A total of 126 patients of stroke with right and left sided hemisphere lesion were assessed for functional gait assessment. The mean age of patients in group A and B was 54.19±8.54 years and 51.46±8.57 years, respectively. The mean weight of patients in group A and B was 61.95±8.82 kg and 58.67±5.83 kg, respectively. Functional gait assessment mean score in group A was 12.56±2.60 and in group B was 15.59±4.17 points with p-value of 0.001. There was a significant difference of FGA scores present between the two groups. Conclusions: The study concluded that ambulatory functions differ with respect to site of hemisphere lesion. The site of hemisphere lesion impact on patient's functional gait has statistically significant

Shunt Migration into Scrotum: A Case Report

Ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS) is a common procedure involved in the management of hydrocephalus. VP shunt has many inherent complications including obstruction, infection, breakage, and migration of the shunt. The incidence of scrotal shunt migration is around 14% VPS migration into the scrotum manifests as reducible trans-illuminant scrotal swelling, which is more like hydrocele. Mostly migration occurs into the right hemi-scrotum within the first 6 months of performing a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Bilateral herniotomy with repositioning of the distal shunt catheter is the treatment of choice

Photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes and biological potentials of biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized using the polar extract of Cyperus scariosus R.Br. (Cyperaceae)

In this study, the polar root extract of Cyperus scariosus R.Br. was used for the biogenic synthesis of ZnO NPs. The results of this study show that ZnO NPs have a spherical structure with an average size of 85.4 nm. The synthesized catalysts were tested for their photocatalytic activity by degrading methyl orange and methylene blue under sunlight. Improved degradation efficiencies of 79.44% and 84.92% were achieved within 120 min. ZnO NPs exhibited strong antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive Listeria monocytogenes (18 mm) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (20 mm) and Gram-negative strains of Escherichia coli (16 mm) and Bordetella bronchiseptica (14 mm), as shown by the inhibition zones, which were comparable to the positive control (ceftriaxone) but larger than the plant root extract. ZnO NPs showed high antioxidant activity, as a ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay value of 66.29 µg (AAE µg·mL−1) and a DPPH value of 57.44 µg (AAE µg·mL−1) were obtained at a concentration of 500 µL, which was higher than those of the C. scariosus root extract. Quantification of the total phenolic and flavonoid content yielded values of 57.63 µg (GAE µg·mL−1) and 70.59 µg (QCE µg·mL−1), respectively. At a concentration of 500 μL (1 mg·mL−1), the tested nanoparticles (NPs) showed a greater anti-inflammatory effect (84.12%) compared to the root extract of C. scariosus (34.39%). Overall, our findings highlight the versatile properties of green synthesized ZnO NPs and demonstrate their potential for environmental remediation and antimicrobial formulations, as well as promising candidates for further investigation in biomedical fields such as drug delivery and therapy

Endoscopic Fenestration of an Intra-ventricular Arachnoid Cyst in a Young Male – A Rare Entity

Introduction:  Among intracranial space-occupying lesions, arachnoid cysts compromise 1% only. Abnormal collection of cerebrospinal fluid occurs in these types of cysts leading to pressure symptoms. Developmental abnormalities of cerebrospinal structures in early fetal life lead to the primary type of arachnoid cysts, while the second type of arachnoid cyst is formed after some neurological insult like head injury, tumor, meningitis, or brain surgery. In 60 – 90% of cases, the primary type predominates and presents with pressure symptoms before the age of 20 years. The adjudged incidence is 1.4% in adults, the least frequent being intraventricular location. Clinical Case:  A 23-year-old male presented with a long-standing left-sided cranial vault headache, right-sided focal seizures, and progressive right- hemiparesis. Neurological evaluation revealed upper motor neuron signs on the right side of the body. A computerized axial tomography raised the suspicion of an arachnoid cyst for which magnetic resonance imaging was done which revealed a large intraventricular cyst of lateral ventricles causing mass effect over the ipsilateral hemisphere and mild obstructive hydrocephalous. Surgical intervention was required as per symptomology (intractable headache, seizures, and hemiparesis) and large cyst size. Conclusion:  Cerebrospinal fluid accumulation in the brain's arachnoid layer causes non-cancerous arachnoid cysts. Larger cysts may push on brain tissue and cause neurological difficulties. MRI may diagnose arachnoid cysts, and treatment options include cystoperitoneal shunt, craniotomy, and neuro-endoscopic fenestration, the least invasive. Cyst size and location determine therapy. In this example, endoscopic treatment reduced symptoms and consequences

The Outcome of Laminectomy versus Laminoforaminotomy in Terms of Claudication Distance in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Objectives: The study aimed to compare the surgical outcome of two different procedures for lumbar spinal stenosis. It helped us in the decision-making to go for less invasive procedures, as compared to conventional laminectomy in lumbar spinal stenosis patient patients. Materials and Methods:  An interventional randomized controlled trial was conducted in the department of neurosurgery, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, PIMS Islamabad. A total of 158 adult patients aged between 35 to 55 years with an established diagnosis of lumbar stenosis and claudication distance of fewer than 100 meters were enrolled. Patients were randomly included into two equal groups via the computerized method. In Group A laminectomy was done and in Group Blaminoforaminotomy was adopted. The outcome was measured in terms of claudication distance at 4 weeks after the procedure, and compared in both groups. Results:  The mean age of the patients was 44.92 ± 6.28 years. Poor outcome was significantly lower in the Laminoforaminotomy group as compared to the Laminectomy group, at 4 weeks after the procedure. The frequency of claudication distance > 500m (good) at 4 weeks was found to be 62 (78.5%) in the Laminectomy group and it was found in 74 (93.7%) patients in the Laminoforaminotomy group (p = 0.022). Conclusions:  The study concluded that the laminoforaminotomy is superior to laminectomy, in terms of claudication distance at four weeks after the procedure

Photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes and biological potentials of biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized using the polar extract of Cyperus scariosus R.Br. (Cyperaceae)

In this study, the polar root extract of Cyperus scariosus R.Br. was used for the biogenic synthesis of ZnO NPs. The results of this study show that ZnO NPs have a spherical structure with an average size of 85.4 nm. The synthesized catalysts were tested for their photocatalytic activity by degrading methyl orange and methylene blue under sunlight. Improved degradation efficiencies of 79.44% and 84.92% were achieved within 120 min. ZnO NPs exhibited strong antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive Listeria monocytogenes (18 mm) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (20 mm) and Gram-negative strains of Escherichia coli (16 mm) and Bordetella bronchiseptica (14 mm), as shown by the inhibition zones, which were comparable to the positive control (ceftriaxone) but larger than the plant root extract. ZnO NPs showed high antioxidant activity, as a ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay value of 66.29 µg (AAE µg·mL−1) and a DPPH value of 57.44 µg (AAE µg·mL−1) were obtained at a concentration of 500 µL, which was higher than those of the C. scariosus root extract. Quantification of the total phenolic and flavonoid content yielded values of 57.63 µg (GAE µg·mL−1) and 70.59 µg (QCE µg·mL−1), respectively. At a concentration of 500 μL (1 mg·mL−1), the tested nanoparticles (NPs) showed a greater anti-inflammatory effect (84.12%) compared to the root extract of C. scariosus (34.39%). Overall, our findings highlight the versatile properties of green synthesized ZnO NPs and demonstrate their potential for environmental remediation and antimicrobial formulations, as well as promising candidates for further investigation in biomedical fields such as drug delivery and therapy

In vitro anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antileishmanial, enzymes inhibition and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities of organotin(IV) derivatives of 4-bromophenoxyacetic acid

Organotin(IV) derivatives {(n-C4H9)3SnL (1), (CH3)3SnL (2), (n-C4H9)2SnL2 (3) and (CH3)2SnL2 (4)} of 4-bromophenoxyacetic acid (HL) were synthesized and characterized by elemental, FT-IR, NMR and single crystal XRD diffraction analyses. The carboxylate ligand showed bridging/chelating bidentate coordination. The complexes 1 and 2 have adopted polymeric chain structures consisting tin atoms in distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. Complex 3 has shown highest DPPH radical scavenging (IC50 = 33.46 µg/mL) and antileishmanial activity (IC50 = 27.06 µg/mL). Complex 3 was also the most efficient agent in acetylcholinesterase (IC50 = 5.12 µg/mL), butyrylcholinesterase (IC50 = 13.79 µg/mL) and Monoamine oxidase (IC50 = 8.50 µg/mL) inhibition assays. Complex 4 (IC50 = 18.73 µg/mL) was the most potent ABTS radical scavenger. Complex 1 with IC50 values of 27.50 and 71.32 µg/mL was the most efficient α-glucosidase and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 enzyme inhibitor, respectively. While complex 2 was found the most potent Cyclooxygenase-2 (7.81 µg/mL) and 5-Lioxygenase (6.69 µg/mL) inhibitor. MTT assay revealed highest inhibitory potency of complexes 4 (IC50 = 8.035 ± 0.05 μg/ml), and 1 (IC50 = 10.16±0.17μg/ml) towards the brain cancer cell line. The in vivo study performed on mice have shown potent anti-inflammatory effects of 1 and 2 comparable to the standard, indomethacin

Aconitum lycoctonum L. (Ranunculaceae) mediated biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles as potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antidiabetic agents

Abstract In this study, a polar extract of Aconitum lycoctonum L. was used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), followed by their characterization using different techniques and evaluation of their potential as antioxidants, amylase inhibitors, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents. The formation of AgNPs was detected by a color change, from transparent to dark brown, within 15 min and a surface resonance peak at 460 nm in the UV–visible spectrum. The FTIR spectra confirmed the involvement of various biomolecules in the synthesis of AgNPs. The average diameter of these spherical AgNPs was 67 nm, as shown by the scanning electron micrograph. The inhibition zones showed that the synthesized nanoparticles inhibited the growth of Gram-positive and negative bacteria. FRAP and DPPH assays were used to demonstrate the antioxidant potential of AgNPs. The highest value of FRAP (50.47% AAE/mL) was detected at a concentration of 90 ppm and a DPPH scavenging activity of 69.63% GAE was detected at a concentration of 20 µg/mL of the synthesized AgNPs. 500 µg/mL of the synthesized AgNPs were quite efficient in causing 91.78% denaturation of ovalbumin. The AgNPs mediated by A. lycoctonum also showed an inhibitory effect on α-amylase. Therefore, AgNPs synthesized from A. lycoctonum may serve as potential candidates for antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic agents