ROLE OF SONOELASTOGRAPHY IN THE EVALUATION OF THYROID NODULES

Thyroid nodular disease is one of the most common endocrine disorder. B mode ultrasound provides useful characteristic information about thyroid nodules but it has noticeably low accuracy to differentiate benign from malignant. Fine needle aspiration is widely been used in differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules but it is an invasive procedure. Sonoelastography is a newly developed non- invasive technique which uses ultrasound and gives information about the stiffness of tissue. It estimates the hardness of thyroid lesions in association with adjacent tissues and assists in the differentiation of benign from malignant nodules.Objective:The objective of this study was to evaluate the role sonoelastography in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. Methods:This study was conducted on 72 Patients of age between 18-80 years of either gender at Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Lahore (INMOL) Pakistan, from 25 March 2019 to 23 August 2019 for duration of five months. Elastography was performed using Toshiba Aplio 500.  Patient having one or more solid nodules in thyroid on conventional ultrasound examination were included in the study and the sonoelastography of nodules was confirmed with histopathological findings of nodules. Results: A total 72 participants were included in our study. The mean age of participants was 42.11 years. Gender distribution shows that 51.4% (n=37) were male and 48.6% (n=35) were female. Sonoelastographic strain ratio of 55.6% nodules (n=40) was more than 2.1(malignant feature) and 44.4% nodules (n=32) have less than 2.1 (benign). Histopathology showed 56.9% of participants (n=41) have malignant nodules and 43.1% (n=31) have benign nodules. The comparison of sonoelastography and histopathology in reference with nodules shows that the results of histopathology and sonoelastography were same and support each other. Conclusion: Sonoelastography is non-invasive and cost-effective imaging technique to diagnose thyroid nodules either benign or malignant. Keywords: Ultrasound Elastography, Thyroid Nodules, Benign, Malignant, Fine Needle Aspiration. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/66-08 Publication date:September 30th 201

Potential role of Citrus bergamia flower essential oil against oral pathogens

Abstract Background Oral bacterial infections are difficult to treat due to emergence of resistance against antibiotic therapy. Essential oils are considered emerging alternate therapy against bacterial infections and biofilms. We investigated Citrus bergemia flower essential oil against oral pathogens. Methods The essential oil was analsyed using Gas Chromatography(GC–MS), in silico investigations, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibiofilm and antiquorum sensing assays. Results Gas Chromatography analysis confirmed presence of 17 compounds including 1,6-Octadien-3-ol,3,7-dimethyl, 48.17%), l-limonene (22.03%) and p-menth-1-ol, 8-ol (7.31%) as major components. In silico analysis showed compliance of all tested major components with Lipinski’s rule, Bioavailability and antimicrobial activity using PASS (prediction of activity spectrum of substances). Molecular docking with transcriptional regulators 3QP5, 5OE3, 4B2O and 3Q3D revealed strong interaction of all tested compounds except 1,6-Octadien-3-ol,3,7-dimethyl. All tested compounds presented significant inhibition of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) (IC50 0.65 mg/mL), H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) (63.5%) and high FRAP (ferrous reducing antioxidant power) value (239.01 µg). In antimicrobial screening a significant activity (MIC 0.125 mg/mL) against Bacillus paramycoides and Bacillus chungangensis was observed. Likewise a strong antibiofilm (52.1 – 69.5%) and anti-QS (quorum sensing) (4–16 mm) activity was recorded in a dose dependent manner. Conclusion It was therefore concluded that C. bergemia essential oil posess strong antioxidant, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against tested oral pathogens

Preparation, characterization and evaluation of hydrogels from different fractions of diverse medicinal plants for management of pain and inflammation

ABSTRACTDamage to body tissue either deeply or superficially causes pain sensation in response to which Inflammation occurs which is a normal protective natural response of the body to a variety of hostile agents. Different treatment options, including conventional and herbal therapies, are available for pain and inflammation. This study was designed to evaluate the polyherbal n-hexane and methanolic extracts and their hydrogel formulations prepared from commonly available medicinal plants for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential. Cinnamomum verum J. (bark), Moringa oleifera L. (leaves), Nigella sativa L. (seed), and Trigonella foenum graecum L. (seed) were collected and purchased from the vicinity and local market of Multan Punjab, Pakistan. After drying, extraction was carried out by maceration separately with two different solvents (methanol and n-hexane). An equal quantity of all methanolic and n-hexane extracts was used to formulate polyherbal methanolic and n-hexane extracts separately. Then 1%, 3%, and 5% pH-based hydrogel formulations of methanolic and n-hexane polyherbal extract were prepared. All prepared six formulations were evaluated for pH, rheological study, spreadability, extrudability, stability study, texture, color, and for toxicological study.Then analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential of methanol and n-Hexane polyherbal extracts at (200, 400 and 800.0 mg/kg) in comparison with diclofenac sodium (100 mg/kg) and prepared gel formulations (1%, 3%, and 5%) were also evaluated in comparison to diclofenac sodium 1% gel (standard drug). Both polyherbal extracts and their gel formulations have significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential but methanolic extract and its hydrogel have slightly more potential as compared to n-hexane extracts and its prepared hydrogel. Results also revealed that their gel formulations have more significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory potentials as compared to extracts. All pH-based gels have good texture, spreadability, extrudability, stability, and are safe to use. It is concluded that methanolic polyherbal extract and hydrogel prepared from methanolic extract have more analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential as compare to n-Hexane extract and hydrogel prepare from n-Hexane extract