UNDERSTANDING THE NEXUS OF INTELLECTUAL, SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITAL TOWARDS BUSINESS INNOVATION THROUGH CRITICAL INSIGHTS FROM ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE

Purpose of Study: The paper sheds lights on the idea of business innovation through pouring scholarly review of the literature. The papers objects to provide scholars enthusiastic about business innovation to understand how intellectual, social and psychological capital can be of prominence and the acute role organizational culture can play to further it. Methodology: The paper has strived to advance intellectual understanding of scholars in the area through underlining the direct and indirect links between these factors to help organizational practitioners obtain competitive results for their respective organizations. Results: The paper also outlines limited studies on these relationships thus, encouraging scholars for empirical attention in the near future. &nbsp

Drug-prescribing patterns during pregnancy in the tertiary care hospitals of Pakistan: a cross sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The rationale for use of drugs during pregnancy requires a careful assessment as in addition to the mother, the health and life of her unborn child is also at stake. Information on the use of drugs during pregnancy is not available in Pakistan. The aim of this study was to evaluate the patterns of drug prescriptions to pregnant women in tertiary care hospitals of Pakistan.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a cross-sectional study conducted at five tertiary care hospitals of Pakistan. Copies of outpatient medicinal prescriptions given to pregnant patients attending the antenatal clinics were collected. The drugs were classified according to the pharmacological class and their teratogenic potential.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All the pregnant women attending the antenatal clinics received a prescription containing at least one drug. A total of 3769 distinct prescriptions given to different women were collected. Majority of the women who received the prescriptions belonged to third trimester (55.4%) followed by second (33.6%) and first trimester (11.0%). On an average, each prescription contained 1.66 ± 0.14 drugs. The obstetricians at Civil Hospital, Karachi and Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana showed a tendency of prescribing lesser number of drugs compared to those in other hospitals. Anti-anemic drugs including iron preparations and vitamin and mineral supplements (79.4%) were the most frequently prescribed drugs followed by analgesics (6.2%) and anti-bacterials (2.2%). 739 women (19.6%) received prescriptions containing drugs other than vitamin or mineral supplements. Only 1275 (21.6%) of all the prescribed drugs (n = 6100) were outside this vitamin/mineral supplement class. Out of these 1275 drugs, 29 (2.3%) drugs were prescribed which are considered to be teratogenic. Misoprostol was the most frequently prescribed (n = 6) among the teratogenic drugs followed by carbimazole (n = 5) and methotrexate (n = 5). Twenty nine pregnant women (0.8% of all the women studied) were prescribed these teratogenic drugs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Less than one percent of the pregnant women attending tertiary care hospitals in Pakistan are prescribed teratogenic drugs. The prescribing practices of Pakistani physicians are similar to those in western countries.</p

Effects of Diabetogenic Agent Streptozotocin on Hematological Parameters of Wistar Albino Rats "An Experimental Study"

Background: Diabetes mellitus has remained the major concern for medical sciences researches due to its deleterious effects on general, physical and mental health of patients. To understand the pathophysiology and to explore better treatment options for such kind of metabolic disorders it is necessary to generate the experimental animal models. To create diabetic animal models, streptozotocin has shown predominance in selectivity as a diabetogenic agent. While studying effects of any intervention in the diabetic animal models, being a cytotoxic drug streptozotocin may affect the study results by inhibiting highly replicating cells especially hematopoietic cells. Keywords: Streptozotocin; animal model; hematological parameters. 1. INTRODUCTION Diabetes mellitus has remained the major concern for medical sciences researches not only due to its high incidence and prevalence rate but also due its deleterious effects on general, physical and mental health of the patients [1]. To understand the pathophysiology and to explore better treatment options for such kind of metabolic disorders it is necessary to generate the experimental animal models [2]. To create diabetic animal models, surgical (pancreatectomy) and pharmacological (alloxan monohydrate and streptozotocin) options have been used in research but pharmacological options particularly use of streptozotocin has shown predominance in selectivity as a diabetogenic agent [1,2]. Chemically, streptozotocin is a derivative of synthetic Nitrosoureido Glucopyranose and has been used for cancer chemotherapies [3], being its potential to inhibit DNA synthesis in bacterial and mammalian cells [4]. While its diabetogenic effect is thought to be attributed to its ability to cause pancreatic β cells’ death by DNA alkylation and hence used to induce diabetes mellitus in experimental animals [5,6]. The methods to induce diabetes in animal models by streptozotocin fall under three categories 1. Multiple small doses (i.e. 40 mg/kg) of streptozotocin over a period of several days 2. A single moderate dose (i.e. 60 mg/kg) of streptozotocin or 3. A single large dose (100 mg/kg) of streptozotocin produce diabetes in 48- 72 hours. Usually a single large dose of streptozotocin is used to induce diabetes in experimental models as reported by Ito et al. 100 mg / kg of streptozotocin produced non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in experimental animals [7]. Streptozotocin can be administered by various routes including subcutaneous and intramuscular routes but intraperitoneal and intravenous administration routes are preferred. [8]. After 3-4 days of streptozotocin administration fasting blood glucose levels are obtained to confirm the accuracy of procedure [9] and on 5th day when 180-500 mg/dl serum glucose levels are obtained experimental animals are considered as diabetic [10]. Though streptozotocin is preferred pharmaco- logical method for induction of diabetes [11], many studies have reported spontaneous recovery from hyperglycemia due to reactive hyperinsulinemia insulinoma [12,13,14]. Streptototozin, not only affects pancreas and cause diabetes in experimental animals but also have a potential to produce toxic effects on other body tissues as well. It has been learnt through a number of studies that streptozotocin is associated with high incidence of hepatic and renal tumors [15], increase in permeability of blood brain barrier [16], renal hypertrophy [17] and retinal damage in experimental animal models [18]. As already discussed that streptozotocin damages DNA by alkylation and produces free radicals, therefore it may harm any organ system of animals [19]. Despite of aforementioned, streptozotocin is still employed Aims: The aim of study was to analyze the effects of streptozotocin on various cellular components of blood such as RBCs, WBCs (Lymphocytes, Neutrophils, Eosinophils), Hb%, HCT and Platelets, at baseline, 5th day and 15th day without any intervention. Study Design: Animal based Experimental study. Place and duration of Study: The study was conducted at animal house of faculty of Pharmacy Ziauddin University Karachi, while laboratory work was performed at MDRL-1 Ziauddin University. Methodology: In Group A normal saline and in group B and C 60 mg / kg streptozotocin diluted in normal saline was administered intraperitoneally. After the confirmation of induction of Diabetes in rats, on fifth day blood samples were drawn from Group A and B and were analyzed. While blood samples from group C were drawn on fifteenth day. Results: Analysis of various hematological parameters on 5th day revealed that there was a decrease in the levels of Hb, HCT, RBCs and WBCs with an increase in platelet count in group B in comparison to group A (control). On the other hand, in Group C (15th day), blood cell counts (Hb, HCT, RBCs, WBCs, Lymphocytes, Neutrophils and platelets) seemed to recover from streptozotocin induced decline that was observed in group B, however did not reach the baselines as in group A(control). Conclusion: It is concluded that change in hematological parameters of rats after administration of streptozotocin is reversible. The blood parameters may recover near to base line values without any intervention within two weeks

Antitumor Potential of Antimicrobials: An Anticipated Armour for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma also known as hepatoma is considered as the most common type of primary liver malignancy and is the leading cause of death worldwide. The incidence and mortality is still on the rise despite the drastic progress in early screening tools and new advancements in diagnosis and treatment. For the patients presenting with advanced disease, Sorafenib is the only approved drug, however the treatment outcome of metastatic cancer is still unsatisfactory with median overall survival below 15 months. Over the past few years great progress has been achieved in anticancer therapy, but development of resistance and unavoidable side effects have weakened these attainments. Keeping in view this stern condition, a number of drugs with novel antitumor mechanisms are under investigations including antimicrobials which have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and cytotoxic effects. In this regard, both conventional and novel antimicrobials are being studied to explore their anticancer potential along with underlying mechanisms which may render them as effective anticancer drugs in near future. Moreover, the new approach of drug repurposing is also being encouraged especially in cancers in order to reduce cost and limit adverse effects. The purpose of this review is to provide comprehensive landscape of current information on anti-tumor evidence in support of certain compounds with well-known antimicrobial activities, against HCC based on relevant literature search on different HCC cell lines

Comparative Analysis of Antidyslipidemic Effects of Fenugreek Seed Extract and Standard Pharmacological Therapy in Diet Induced Animal Model of Dyslipidemia: An Experimental Study

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the antidyslipidemic effects of fenugreek seed extract in comparison to standard drugs used for dyslipidemia in an animal model of dyslipidemia. Methods: It was an experimental study conducted on 42 male, 9 weeks old Wistar albino rats for a period of 7 weeks. Animals were randomly divided into 7 groups, out of which 6 groups were given lipid rich diet to induce dyslipidemia for 28 days while one group served as control given normal diet. After 28 days standard drugs alone as well as in combinations (statins 10 mg/kg and fibrates 100 mg/kg) and fenugreek seed extract in two different doses, 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg were administered once a day for 21 days to all the respective groups except positive (lipid rich diet) and negative control groups (on normal diet), both were administered normal saline. Baseline body weights of all groups of animals were measured at the start of the study. At the end of the study period, body weights of all groups of animal groups were measured again and their blood was drawn through cardiac puncture for the assessment of TC, LDL-C, HDL, TGs, D/B, I/B and ALT. All the intervention groups were compared on the basis of above mentioned parameters and changes in weight. Results: Amongst all the groups, lipid parameters (TC, LDL, TGs) showed a significant reduction and increase in HDL in the group on FSE in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, FSE also showed significant decrease in the levels of liver enzymes including ALT, D/B and in body weight when compared to other groups. While we did not find any significant change for urea, creatinine and I/B amongst all the groups. Conclusion: It is concluded that the fenugreek seed extract showed superior effects when compared to traditional pharmacological therapy against dyslipidemia