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Pulmonary toxicity by anticancer drugs often leads to discontinuation of therapy or switching the therapy to alternative drugs. In the present study, serratiopeptidase (SPTD) and fisetin (FST) were evaluated as chemoprotectant to counteract the pulmonary toxicity induced by BLM and MTX. Single dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal and BLM (5 mg/kg) by intra-tracheal route was administered on 7th day of study. SPTD (20 mg/kg), FST (25 mg/kg), and NAC (250 mg/kg) and combinations of SPTD + NAC, SPTD + FST, and FST + NAC were administered through oral gavage for 14 days. SPTD and FST showed significant (p < 0.05) effect in MTX-induced lung toxicity by increasing reduced glutathione (GSH) and decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA), hydroxyproline (HXP), and collagen. SPTD and NAC showed significant (p < 0.05) effect in BLM-induced pulmonary toxicity by increasing GSH and decreasing MDA, HXP, and collagen whereas FST was not much effective. In combination study, SPTD + NAC combination showed significant (p < 0.05) effect in BLM- and MTX- induced lung injury whereas other combinations did not prove to be highly effective. SPTD can be recommended along with BLM and MTX in chemotherapy protocol alone and in combination with NAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan has reported a substantial number of COVID-19 cases since 2020. A multicenter observational study was conducted to identify the pattern of SARS-CoV-2 infection, transmission, and treatment in patients admitted to seven low to middle-income district hospitals in the Province of Punjab, Pakistan from March to June 2020. A total of 102 patients were recruited. 57 patients tested positive and 45 developed moderate-severe COVID-19 disease. About 67% of the patients in March-April and 93% in May-June have contracted the disease from the local transmission. The mean number of symptoms in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients was significantly higher than suspected patients (6.46 vs 5.04, p=0.003). The number of deaths was low (n=8) with 86% recovery rate. Mild COVID patients received acetaminophen (n=102), azithromycin (n=8), and hydroxychloroquine (n=4) in addition to standard medical care. The treatment provided to moderate-severe cases included acetaminophen (45/45), azithromycin (45/45), Ivermectin (14/45) and corticosteroids (13/45). The mean number of antimicrobials was significantly higher in moderate-severe patients than mild cases (1.80 vs 1.12, p=0.001). Low number of deaths with a high recovery rate was reported. Diabetes was the most common comorbid condition followed by hypertension. Many antimicrobials were prescribed in both mild and moderate-severe cases that require careful review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies on risk factors, clinical presentation and treatment of hepatitis C are known to the world. However, no data is available about the safety and efficacy of anti-hepatitis C therapy among the patients of Gujranwala, Pakistan. This retrospective study compared two dosage forms of interferon; conventional interferon (IR) and Pegylated interferon (PIR) in 370 Hepatitis C patients selected through non probability convenient sampling technique. Clinical data were collected related to therapy outcomes at the start of therapy, after each follow up and at the end of therapy. The study indicated that HCV 3 was the most prevalent genotype of hepatitis C. Main side effects associated with therapies were pain at injection site (PIR; 49%, IR; 48%), inflammation at injection site (PIR; 34%, IR; 48%), fever (PIR; 56.12%, IR; 61.5%), myalgia (PIR; 24.5%,IR; 22.99%), malaise (PIR; 7.14%, IR; 5.75%), anorexia (PIR; 46%, IR; 39%), vomiting (PIR; 43%, IR; 41%), irritability (PIR; 4%, IR; 11.5%) and impaired concentration (PIR; 13%, IR; 21). The sustained viral response rate was significantly better in PIR group as compared to IR group (PIR; 80.61%, IR; 66.67%). In conclusion Pegylated interferon based therapy showed better clinical response with less adverse events as compared to conventional interferon based therapy. However, there is dire need to shift from these intravenous dosage forms to relatively new oral dosage forms for the treatment of hepatitis C to further improve clinical outcome and minimize the risks of adverse events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Herbology is the prevailing system among the nationally-accepted alternative or complementary systems of medicine. The system is due to its general and patient-oriented methodology, is widely used in the general population exposing them to the risk of the side effects of the herbal medicines. Method: The aim of study was to assess the acute and sub-acute toxicity of the polyherbal formulation Hab-e-Kabad Noshadri tablets. In the acute arm of the study, a single dose of 2000 mg/kg was administered to Swiss Albino mice which were observed for physical symptoms and behavioral changes for 72 h. In sub-acute toxicity study repeated doses of the polyherbal preparation was administered to Wistar rats of both genders, separately. The animals received three doses of polyherbal product (50 mg/kg/day, 100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day) for a period of 28 days. On 28th day of experiment, blood sampling of animals was done for hematological and biochemical analysis i.e. liver and renal function parameters, lipid profile and then sacrificed for histopathological examination of liver and kidney. Result: There was no morbidity and mortality noticed with single dose administration in acute toxicity study in mice. In sub-acute toxicity study, morphological changes with some damage in liver and kidney tissues of male and female animals were recorded at dose of 100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day. Conclusions: It was found that prolonged use at higher dose i.e. 200 mg/kg/day of this polyherbal formulation should be avoided and practitioners should cautiously prescribe this formulation in patients with hepatic and renal impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to access the acute effects of methanolic extracts of various parts of Nicotiana plumbajnifolia in diabetic mice. Basic phytochemical evaluation showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids and tannins as the min compounds in the methanolic extract. Diabetes was induced experimentally in 12 hours fasted mice by intraperitoneally (i.p.) injecting alloxan (150 mg/kg). The methanolic extracts of Nicotiana plumbajnifolia stem, root, leaves and fruit were evaluated for antidiabetic potential in alloxan treated diabetic mice. The mice were categorized into six groups (n=5). The methanolic extracts of stems, leaves, root and fruit (250 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally once and changes in blood glucose levels were recorded at 6 and 24 hours. Metformin (2 g/kg) was administration intraperitoneally and used as positive control. Methanolic extracts of N. plumbajnifolia leaves showed maximum reduction in blood glucose level (95.33 ±13.6***) when compared with control diabetic group (280.2 ± 7.92). There was 26.6% decrease in blood glucose levels after 6 hours with metformin (2 g/kg) whereas leaves showed 46.3 % reduction. The stems, root and fruit showed 38.9, 39.3 and 42.9 % reduction in blood glucose six hours after dose administration. The leaves have maximum blood glucose reducing capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experiments were designed to investigate the acute effects of methanolic extracts of various parts of H. tetrasperma in diabetic mice. The basic phyto-chemical study showed the occurrence of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids and tannins as main phyto-constituents in the methanolic extract. Diabetes was induced experimentally in mice by intra peritoneally injecting alloxan (150 mg/kg i.p.). In acute study, methanolic H. tetrasperma extracts of various parts of plant were evaluated for anti-diabetic potential in alloxan induced diabetic mice. Extracts of leaves, bark and seeds (250 mg/kg, i.p) and metformin (250 mg/kg i.p) were given intra peritoneal in alloxan treated diabetic mice and blood glucose levels were measured at 0, 360 and 24 h. There was significant lowering of blood glucose level at 1 h after treatment, in diabetic mice treated with methanolic extracts of bark (182.3 ± 3.6 mg/dL), leaves (178.5 ± 1.2 mg/dL) and seeds (156.3 ± 11.3 mg/dL) when compared with control diabetic group (280 ± 7.92 mg/dL). Highly significant results were also obtained at 24 h after treatment with methanolic extracts of bark (187.67 ± 1.2 mg/dL), leaves (170.66 ± 2.3 mg/dL) and seeds (142 ± 8.7 mg/dL) when compared with control diabetic group (257.7 ± 6.7 mg/dL). It is concluded that methanolic extract of all parts possess significant anti-diabetic activity which is due to the presence of phytochemicals, i.e. alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins and it can be further evaluated for the mechanism involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-diabetic effect of crude Pistacia lentiscus gum (mastic gum) in alloxan-treated diabetic rat model. The crude P. lentiscus (100 mg/kg) showed significant (p<0.001) reduction in blood glucose as compared to control. Liver function test also showed significant changes (p<0.001) as compared to alloxan-treated group. The results of this study showed that crude P. lentiscus gum have considerable efficacy in curing diabetes and have hepatoprotective effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan has reported a substantial number of COVID-19 cases since 2020. A multicenter observational study was conducted to identify the pattern of SARS-CoV-2 infection, transmission, and treatment in patients admitted to seven low to middle-income district hospitals in the Province of Punjab, Pakistan from March to June 2020. A total of 102 patients were recruited. 57 patients tested positive and 45 developed moderate-severe COVID-19 disease. About 67% of the patients in March-April and 93% in May-June have contracted the disease from the local transmission. The mean number of symptoms in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients was significantly higher than suspected patients (6.46 vs 5.04, p=0.003). The number of deaths was low (n=8) with 86% recovery rate. Mild COVID patients received acetaminophen (n=102), azithromycin (n=8), and hydroxychloroquine (n=4) in addition to standard medical care. The treatment provided to moderate-severe cases included acetaminophen (45/45), azithromycin (45/45), Ivermectin (14/45) and corticosteroids (13/45). The mean number of antimicrobials was significantly higher in moderate-severe patients than mild cases (1.80 vs 1.12, p=0.001). Low number of deaths with a high recovery rate was reported. Diabetes was the most common comorbid condition followed by hypertension. Many antimicrobials were prescribed in both mild and moderate-severe cases that require careful review.

Curcuma longa (C. longa) is commonly found in different areas of Pakistan. It has been locally utilized as a traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antidiabetic, hepatoprotective and total antioxidant effect of the crude drug and its methanolic extract in rabbits. Diabetes was induced with alloxan (180mg/kg). Two major groups were designed, curative and protective groups. In curative group the crude drug and its methanolic extract was orally administered to the diabetic animals and acute study was performed. On the other hand in protective group the crude drug and its methanolic extract were administered for eight days prior to the diabetes induction. Results indicated that in Curative group the crude and methanolic extract of C. longa significantly improved the levels of serum glucose, serum transaminases and antioxidant activity (AOA). In protective group, serum glucose, serum transaminases were not significantly increased by alloxan, in both crude as well as methanolic extract group. This study shows that C. longa acts as antidiabetic, hepatoprotective and antioxidant in diabetes especially type 1 diabetes.