Comparison of Oral Ivermectin and Permethrin 1% Shampoo in the Treatment of Pediculosis Capitis

Objective: To compare the efficacy of Oral Ivermectin with Permethrin 1% Shampoo in the treatment of Pediculosis Capitis Study Design: Randomized controlled trial Setting & Study duration: This study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, Bolan Medical College/ Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta from December 24, 2016 to June 23, 2017 (6 months) Materials and Methods: All children of either gender having age 5 and above weight more than 15 kg presented with head-lice infestation confirmed by combing the wet hair with a fine-toothed detection comb were enrolled. All patients were randomly allocated into two groups. Patients in group A received oral Ivermectin in dose of 200mcg/kg while patients in group B received application of 1% Permethrin Shampoo. They were called after one week and they received second dose of oral Ivermectin in same dose of 200mcg/kg and application of Permethrin 1% Shampoo and re-evaluated after one week. Treatment was considered effective by absence of live lice by day 15 of treatment. Data was analyzed in SPSS version 17.Mean age of the patient in the sample was calculated. Male to female ratio was determined in the sample. In both the groups, frequency of patients having no live louse in the head on 15th day was calculated. The frequency in both groups was compared by applying chi square test keeping p-value≤ 0.05. Results: Majority of the patients presented were females in both group, i.e. 20 (66.7%) and 23 (76.7%) respectively. Insignificant difference was observed in the mean age in between group (p- value 0.482). Efficacy was found significantly higher in oral Ivermectin group 26 (86.7%) as compared to 1% Permethrin Shampoo. (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: The efficacy of oral Ivermectin group was considerably higher as compared to 1% Permethrin Shampoo in our cohort

Fabrication of a colorimetric sensor using acetic acid-capped drug-mediated copper oxide nanoparticles for nitrite biosensing in processed food

Nitrite (NO2 −) and nitrate (NO3 −) are frequently used in cured meat products as preservatives, as they give a better taste and work well in color fixation. As a key possible carcinogen, excessive dietary consumption of NO2 − in cured meat products would be bad for health. Herein, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were synthesized using the drug Augmentin as a reducing and capping agent. The desired synthesis of CuO NPs was confirmed by various characterization techniques, including UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The new approach of drug-mediated acetic acid-capped CuO NPs was developed for simple colorimetric detection of nitrite ions in a mimic solution of processed food. The color of the detection system changes from brown to yellow with the increase in the concentration of NO2 − and has been observed with the naked eye. The selectivity of the NO2 − detection system by the UV–visible spectrum and the naked eye is compared to other ions, such as Br−, I−, Cl−1, PO4 −3, CO3 2−, and SO4 2−. The platform was successfully employed for the determination of nitrite in real samples. Moreover, this probe can be used for the sensitive detection of NO2 − with a linear range of 1 × 10−8 to 2.40 × 10−6 M, a detection limit of 2.69 × 10−7 M, a limit of quantification 8.9 × 10−7 M, and a regression coefficient (R 2) of 0.997. Our results suggest that this sensor can be used for on-site analysis and quantification as well as in the fields of disease diagnosis, environmental monitoring, and food safety

Colorimetric sensing of uric acid based on sawdust-deposited silver nanoparticles via an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach

Uric acid is directly linked to gout, arthritis, neurological, cardiovascular, and kidney-related disorders. It is a byproduct obtained from the breakdown of purines and a significant indicator of hyperuricemia observed in both urine and blood. In the absence of any enzyme, it's quite difficult to develop a novel, cost-effective, and clinical method for uric acid detection. Herein, we report a very simple, low-cost, and non-enzymatic method for the selective identification and quantification of uric acid using green synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The desired Ag NPs were synthesized by the hydrothermal method using Erythrina suberosa sawdust as a deagglomeration agent and Psidium guajava extract as a reductant. The synthesis of the sensing platform, i.e., sawdust-deposited Ag NPs, was confirmed through different techniques such as UV-Vis spectrophotometer, FTIR, XRD, EDX, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Sawdust can offer a good, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective strategy to overcome the problem of agglomeration in nanoparticles. The enzyme mimic, with the help of H2O2, oxidizes the colorless 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to oxidized TMB with a blue-green color. The addition of uric acid reduces the oxidized TMB to a colorless product, resulting in a colorimetric change. For quality improvement, different reaction parameters, including pH, time, TMB, and NPs concentration, were optimized. Our proposed sensor responds in linear ranges of 0.04–0.360 μM, with a limit of quantification of 0.01 μM and a limit of detection of 0.004 μM. The suggested enzyme mimic detected uric acid in blood samples, with particular specificity in the presence of competitive analytes

Effects of a high-dose 24-h infusion of tranexamic acid on death and thromboembolic events in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding (HALT-IT): an international randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Tranexamic acid reduces surgical bleeding and reduces death due to bleeding in patients with trauma. Meta-analyses of small trials show that tranexamic acid might decrease deaths from gastrointestinal bleeding. We aimed to assess the effects of tranexamic acid in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods: We did an international, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 164 hospitals in 15 countries. Patients were enrolled if the responsible clinician was uncertain whether to use tranexamic acid, were aged above the minimum age considered an adult in their country (either aged 16 years and older or aged 18 years and older), and had significant (defined as at risk of bleeding to death) upper or lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients were randomly assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Patients received either a loading dose of 1 g tranexamic acid, which was added to 100 mL infusion bag of 0·9% sodium chloride and infused by slow intravenous injection over 10 min, followed by a maintenance dose of 3 g tranexamic acid added to 1 L of any isotonic intravenous solution and infused at 125 mg/h for 24 h, or placebo (sodium chloride 0·9%). Patients, caregivers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. The primary outcome was death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation; analysis excluded patients who received neither dose of the allocated treatment and those for whom outcome data on death were unavailable. This trial was registered with Current Controlled Trials, ISRCTN11225767, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01658124. Findings: Between July 4, 2013, and June 21, 2019, we randomly allocated 12 009 patients to receive tranexamic acid (5994, 49·9%) or matching placebo (6015, 50·1%), of whom 11 952 (99·5%) received the first dose of the allocated treatment. Death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation occurred in 222 (4%) of 5956 patients in the tranexamic acid group and in 226 (4%) of 5981 patients in the placebo group (risk ratio [RR] 0·99, 95% CI 0·82–1·18). Arterial thromboembolic events (myocardial infarction or stroke) were similar in the tranexamic acid group and placebo group (42 [0·7%] of 5952 vs 46 [0·8%] of 5977; 0·92; 0·60 to 1·39). Venous thromboembolic events (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) were higher in tranexamic acid group than in the placebo group (48 [0·8%] of 5952 vs 26 [0·4%] of 5977; RR 1·85; 95% CI 1·15 to 2·98). Interpretation: We found that tranexamic acid did not reduce death from gastrointestinal bleeding. On the basis of our results, tranexamic acid should not be used for the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding outside the context of a randomised trial

Assessment of Clinical Spectrum of Renal Diseases in children – A Descriptive Study at Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi

Introduction: Childhood kidney diseases are a frequent presentation. Most of the affected pediatric populations are from under-developed and developing countries. Noting the epidemiology of childhood renal diseases is very important as it helps in health planning, allows for adequate resource allocation, and enables adequate renal services provision. This study aimed to determine the etiological spectrum of renal disease in pediatric patients. Material and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi over a period of 6 months. Ethical clearance was taken from the institutional review board and written informed consent was administered before enrollment of subject per study criteria. A total of 100 children of both genders, aged up to 12 years with the diagnosis of any renal disease condition were included in the study. Patients having other comorbidities like chronic liver disease and heart diseases were excluded. The study information as age, sex, detailed history, and physical examination, and details of laboratory investigations. Statistical analysis was conducted in SPSS version 20.0. Results: Mean age of patients was 2.1 years. Most patients had a fever, edema, burning micturition, and high blood pressure. In two-thirds of the children RFTs were deranged and 19.0% had positive urinary culture reports. The common kidney diseases were UTI (42.0%), nephrotic syndrome (29.0%), acute kidney injury/ disease (19.0%), and chronic kidney disease (6.0%). Conclusion: UTIs and nephrotic syndrome along with acute kidney injury were the main kidney conditions. Females were more likely to have UTIs whereas nephrotic syndrome was common in male children. &nbsp

Diagenetic Modifications and Reservoir Heterogeneity Associated with Magmatic Intrusions in the Devonian Khyber Limestone, Peshawar Basin, NW Pakistan

In the present study, an attempt has been made to establish the relationship between diagenetic alterations resulting from magmatic intrusions and their impact on the reservoir properties of the Devonian Khyber Limestone (NW Pakistan). Field observations, petrographic studies, mineralogical analyses, porosity-permeability data, and computed tomography were used to better understand the diagenetic history and petrophysical property evolution. Numerous dolerite intrusions are present in the studied carbonate successions, where the host limestone was altered to dolomite and marble, and fractures and faults developed due to the upwelling of the magmatic/hydrothermal fluids along pathways. Petrographic studies show an early phase of coarse crystalline saddle dolomite (Dol. I), which resulted from Mg-rich hydrothermal fluids originated from the dolerite dykes. Coarse crystalline marble formed due to contact metamorphism at the time of dolerite emplacement. The second phase of dolomitisation (Dol. II) postdates the igneous intrusions and was followed by dedolomitisation, dissolution, and cementation by meteoric calcite. Stable isotope studies likewise confirm two distinct dolomite phases. Dol. I exhibits more depleted δ18O (-15.8 to -9.1‰ V-PDB) and nondepleted δ13C (-2.05 to +1.85‰ V-PDB), whereas Dol. II shows a relatively narrow range of depleted δ18O (-13.9 to -13.8‰) signatures and nondepleted δ13C (+1.58 to +1.89‰ V-PDB). Dolomitic marble shows a marked depletion in δ18O and δ13C (-13.7 to -8.5‰ and -2.3 to 1.95‰, respectively). The initial phase of dolomitisation (Dol. I) did not alter porosity (5.4-6.6%) and permeability (0.0-0.1 mD) with respect to the unaltered limestone (5.6-6.9%; 0.1-0.2 mD). Contact metamorphism resulted in a decrease in porosity and permeability (3.3-4.7%; 0.1 mD). In contrast, an increase in porosity and permeability in Dol. II (7.7-10.5%; 0.8-2.5 mD) and dolomitic marble (6.6-14.7%; 8.2-13.3 mD) is linked to intercrystalline porosity and retainment of fracture porosity in dolomitic marble. Late-stage dissolution and dedolomitization also positively affected the reservoir properties of the studied successions. In conclusion, the aforementioned results reveal the impact of various diagenetic processes resulting from magmatic emplacement and their consequent reservoir heterogeneity

Investigation of Silver-Doped Iron Oxide Nanostructures Functionalized with Ionic Liquid for Colorimetric Sensing of Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a by-product of oxidase-catalyzed reactions that serves as a signaling molecule and can cause DNA and protein damage. This leads to an increase in our susceptibility toward various kinds of diseases including diabetes mellitus and hypertension, The novelty of this work lies in the synergistic effect of all three components of the Ag-Fe2O3-IL composite for the colorimetric detection of H2O2. Silver-doped iron oxide nanostructures (Ag-Fe2O3 NS) were synthesized and then coated with ionic liquid (IL) having peculiar characteristics of aromaticity and conductivity to enhance their properties. The prepared Ag-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were characterized through spectroscopic techniques namely FTIR, XRD, SEM and EDX. The characterized Ag-Fe2O3 NS and 3, 3', 5, 5' Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) solutions were employed for the colorimetric sensing of H2O2. To optimize the proposed sensor different reaction conditions including (a) amount of Ag-Fe2O3NS/IL (b) TMB, (c) pH, (d) H2O2 concentration and (e) incubation time were optimized. At optimum conditions, the desired sensor showed a wide linear range 1 × 10−9–3.2 × 10−7 M, a lower limit of quantification 3.20 × 10−7 M, and a limit of detection 1.07 × 10−8 M with a 0.9996 R2 value. The selectivity of the proposed sensor was compared with the potential interfering species and the incubation time was just 5 min. Additionally, the sensor was effectively applied for detecting hydrogen peroxide in the urine samples of diabetes mellitus patients

A comparative toxic effect of Cedrus deodara oil on larval protein contents and its behavioral effect on larvae of mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Cedrus deodara (deodar) is practically used, as insect repellent, in the northern areas of Pakistan but no data available therefore this study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of deodar oil as an alternate of conventional insecticides against the larval pest stage of mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor), by feeding method. The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of deodar oil as an alternate of conventional insecticides against the larval pest stage of mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor), by feeding method. All tested chemicals showed efficacy against the pests. The LC50 was determined by probit analysis and was found to be 3.41, 0.086 and 0.023% of larvae treated with deodar oil, Carbosulfan and Imidacloprid respectively The LC50 treated larvae were subjected to the evaluation of protein activity, qualitatively and quantitatively. The protein level in tested insects was enhanced when treated with Imidacloprid, Carbosulfan and deodar oil. The electrophoretic profile of treated insects showed more bands in insects treated with Cedrus deodara oil. This electrophoretic profile appeared in 4, 5, 7 and 8 bands for tested chemicals including control. Antifeedant activity was observed for C. deodara as larvae were deterred to feed on the food found in the container. Keywords: Tenebrio, Mealworms, Cedrus deodara, Imidacloprid, Carbosulfan, Protein level, Toxicit