ISOLATION OF SOME POTENTIAL PHYTOCOMPOUNDS FROM ADHATODA VASICA THROUGH GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROSCOPY ANALYSIS

  Objective: The aim of this study is to screen the medicinal compounds present in the leaves, shoots, and flowers of Adhatoda vasica by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis. Methods: Plant leaves, shoots, and flowers were collected, washed, shade dried, and powdered. Methanol extracts of all plant parts were prepared by soxhlation method. All the plant part extracts were analyzed for the identification of phytocompounds present in plant parts using GC-MS and matched by the National Institute of Standards and Technology library.Results: A wide range of fatty acids and the heterocyclic compound was identified which is responsible for antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antimycotic activity.Conclusion: The study concludes that A. vasica have many important important biologically compounds so it can be recommended as a plant of pharmaceutical importance

Patch testing in hand eczema: a cross-sectional study from a teaching hospital of North India

Background: Hand eczema is a common dermatological disorder in different occupational groups with multifactorial etiology. Patch Testing serves as an important tool for identifying responsible allergens.Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology, SKIMS-MCH, Srinagar for duration of one year from June 2016 to June 2017. Patients of either gender with hand eczema, aged 18 years and above, presenting to outpatient department were enrolled in the study. After taking informed written consent from patients, a detailed history was taken, and clinical examination was performed on first visit. Patch testing with Indian Standard Series was performed a fortnight after complete resolution of signs and symptoms of eczema and after complete withdrawal of the drugs.Results: Out of 116 patients 60 (51.7%) were males and 56 (48.3%) were females. Male to female ratio was 1.07:1. Mean age of presentation of females was 35.42±12.52years and of males was 49.2±10.01years. The commonest allergen was Nickel sulphate (23.2%) followed by Potassium dichromate (15.1%). Nickel sulphate was most common allergen in females while Cobalt sulphate and Paraphenylene diamine were most common allergens in males. House wives (36.2%) and farmers (11.2%) were occupations with high frequency of hand eczema.Conclusions: Patch testing in clinically diagnosed cases of hand eczema can play a vital role in not just the confirmation of the label but can also reduce the socio-economic burden on such patients

Raga Therapy An Effective Treatment for Stress Management

Delayed encounters with stress are identified with poor individual well-being and related to significant monetary expenses for the general public. Accordingly, the advancement of cost-effective stress prevention or stress management tactics has turned into a vital attempt at recent research endeavors. Music has been appeared to influence physiological, cognitive, and emotional stress-related procedures advantageously. Subsequently, the utilisation of tuning in to music as a financial, non-intrusive, and profoundly acknowledged mediation apparatus has gotten uncommon enthusiasm for the administration of stress and stress-related medical problems. “Raga is the grouping of chosen notes (swaras) that loan suitable ‘temperament’ or feeling in a specific blend. “Raga therapy means healing through the raga. It’s a yoga framework with the help of resonant sounds. Ragatherapy implies curing through the raga. It is the information on the most proficient method to utilise raga for curing [1]”. Symphonies of raga ensure a calming influence on the mind and body. Researchers have found the role of raga therapy in treating stress. In the present research, raga therapy was administered to 74 subjects suffering from stress as an intervention plan. The ISMA questionnaire was administered to them before and after the intervention. Different sequences of ragas were directed to them for 30 min. A significant effect of raga therapy established on stress management

Survey on the use of synthetic Food Colors in Food Samples procured from different educational institutes of Karachi city

The present study was carried out to find the type of food colors added to various food products especially those vended at or near different educational institutes of Karachi city. Different types of food items were analysed for isolation and identification of the added synthetic food colors. The majority of branded food items contained permitted colors however some foods manufactured locally, contained non-permitted colors. About 11% branded and 44% unbranded food items, respectively, were found with not permitted colors for human consumption. Similarly, 4% branded and 30% unbranded beverages were found unfit due to the presence of prohibited colors. Incidences of the use of non-permitted food colors were higher in case of unorganized food makers. Constant vigilance is needed to ensure that the local manufacturers comply with the regulations of food colors not only in terms of non-permitted food colors but also about the control and limits of permitted food colors. Moreover, consumption of colored food items should also be controlled by making the society aware of the hazardous effects of food colors

Success and Complications of Microsurgical Over-Top Decompression for Lumbar Spine Stenosis: Experience in a Limited Resource Center

Objective:  The overtop decompression is also called the outside-in technique or bilateral decompression from the unilateral approach. The objective of the study was to evaluate the success and complications of microsurgical over-top decompression for single-level lumbar spine stenosis. Material and Methods:  This observational study was conducted at the Neurosurgery unit at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from Jan 2018 to December 2021. All those patients who had undergone over-top decompression for single-level degenerative lumbar spine stenosis irrespective of age and gender were included in our study. Results:  We had a total of 187 patients who underwent microscopic over-top decompression for lumbar spine stenosis. Four patients lost their final follow-up. The mean age of the patients was 46 years (ranging from 18 – 68 years). Spinal stenosis was more common in men (58.3%) and at L4/5 (51.87%) level. The mean duration of surgery was 56 minutes (range 35-86 minutes). Leg pain improved in 83.1% of the cases with overall patient satisfaction after surgery in 82.5% of the cases. The most common (6.95%) complication of the procedure was iatrogenic durotomy. Most of the complications were minor and treated conservatively. Conclusions:  Overtop decompression is a safe and effective minimally invasive procedure for lumbar spine stenosis. It has good results in symptomatic improvement. There is minimal soft tissue and bony dissection. Therefore, mobility and stability of the spine are preserved. Moreover, the learning curve for microscopic overtop decompression is shallow and surgery time is short

Clinical and biochemical profile of hyponatremia and the role of vaptans in comparison to other standard modalities of therapy

Background: This study, conducted from August 2014 to August 2015, investigated hyponatremia in 228 in-hospital patients, aiming to discern its clinical and biochemical features and compare the efficacy of vaptans against standard treatments. The null hypothesis assumed no significant disparity in outcomes, while the alternate hypothesis posited otherwise. Methods: Using an open-label, non-blinded, observational, prospective comparative design, we assessed 228 hyponatremia patients. We scrutinized their clinical and biochemical profiles and made comparisons between moderate and profound hyponatremia cases, along with different treatment approaches. Results: Our findings revealed that patients aged 61-80, primarily females, dominated the cohort. Moderate hyponatremia occurred in 56.6% of cases, with severe hyponatremia in 43.4%. Common symptoms included drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting. Euvolemic hyponatremia was predominantly due to SIADH, while heart failure led to most hypervolemic cases. Various treatments were employed, with fluid restriction and normal saline being common. Tolvaptan and 1.6% hypertonic saline significantly increased serum sodium levels at 24 and 48 hours. Hospital stay duration didn’t significantly differ, and no osmotic demyelination cases emerged. Mortality stood at 10.5%, notably higher in profound hyponatremia cases. Conclusions: This study provides insights into hyponatremia’s clinical and biochemical aspects and compares vaptans to standard treatments. Tolvaptan and hypertonic saline displayed promise in raising serum sodium levels. Nevertheless, further research is warranted to validate these findings and explore additional factors impacting hyponatremia treatment outcomes

In vitro susceptibility of typhoidal Salmonellae against newer antimicrobial agents: a search for alternate treatment options

OBJECTIVES: To determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ceftriaxone, azithromycin, pefloxacin, cefipime and imipenem for Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi) and Paratyphi. METHODS: One hundred and fifty four isolates of Salmonella Typhi and S. Paratyphi A, B and C growing in blood culture were selected. MICs of ceftriaxone, azithromycin, pefloxacin, cefipime and imipenem were performed by agar dilution method as recommended by clinical laboratory standard institutes. RESULTS: MIC90 of azithromycin and pefloxacin was 8 microg/ml, cefipime was 0.06 microg/ml and imipenem was 0.5 microg/ml. None of the strains were found to be resistant to ceftriaxone but 3 isolates showed higher MIC value of 2 microg/ml. CONCLUSION: Azithromycin appears a suitable alternate for the treatment of typhoid in the community. Imipenem and cefipime are good options in complicated cases to be treated in hospital settings. Pefloxacin cannot be used as MICs are higher. Presence of isolates with higher MIC of ceftriaxone is serious and stresses upon continuous laboratory surveillance to guide clinicians appropriately

Inducible clindamycin resistance due to expression of erm genes in Staphylococcus aureus: report from a tertiary care Hospital Karachi, Pakistan

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of phenotypic expression of inducible resistance of clindamycin due to expression of erm genes, in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), by double disk diffusion test (D-test). METHOD: This was a cross sectional study conducted in the clinical laboratory of Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. A total of 2432, non duplicate clinical isolates of S. aureus, consisting of 1562 methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and 870 methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), were selected from February 2007 to January 2008. One hundred and thirty eight isolates of S. aureus were selected based on discordant resistance pattern (erythromycin resistant and clindamycin sensitive) on Kirby Bauer Disk Diffusion test and phenotypic expression of inducible resistance was assessed using D-test. RESULT: Analysis of 2432 isolates showed that 64% (n=1553) were susceptible to both clindamycin and erythromycin by disc diffusion method, while 30% (n=741) showed constitutive resistance (in vitro resistance to both drugs). 6% (n=138) isolates showed clindamycin-erythromycin discordance on disc diffusion (in vitro sensitive to clindamycin and resistant to erythromycin). Among the discordant isolates 72% (n=99) had inducible resistance phenotype detected by D-test and of these 85 isolates (62%) were MRSA. CONCLUSION: Inducible resistance is common in our clinical isolates; D-test (a simple phenotypic test) should be performed on all S. aureus isolates showing clindamycin-erythromycin discordance on disc diffusion, to avoid erroneous reporting resulting in treatment failure