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As most HIV rapid tests (HRT) detect only HIV‐1/2 antibodies, their performance during primary HIV infection is poor. Determine HIV Early detect (Abbott) (Determine) is the only HRT with an HIV‐1 p24‐antigen detection, but the impact of this addition in shortening the diagnostic window remains unclear. A total of 183 HIV‐1 primary infection samples were tested using the HRTs Determine and ONE STEP anti‐HIV (1&2) Test (InTec Products) (One‐Step). The pre‐seroconversion subgroup was defined as p24‐antigen positivity without Western blot nor Liaison XL (fouth generation enzyme immunoassay with distinct signal for p24‐antigen and HIV‐1 antibody) HIV‐1 antibodies. Global sensitivity (95% CI) was 95% (91–97) for Determine versus 80% (74%–85%) for One‐Step (difference p = 1.38e−06). Pre‐seroconversion subgroup sensitivity was lower, at 71.9 (54.6%‐84.4%) for Determine and 9.7% (3.3%–24.9%) for One‐Step. Among the 45 samples with an HIV‐1 infection date, no HRT was reactive up to 2 weeks. Between 2 and 3 weeks, Determine sensitivity was 78% (45%–95%) versus 56% (27%–81%) for One‐Step. From 3 weeks to 1 month Determine sensitivity was 90% (62%–98%) and One‐Step 45% (21%–72%). The last negative sample occurred at 3 weeks for Determine versus 70–90 days for One‐Step. HRT with p24‐antigen detection significantly shortens the diagnostic window from approximatively 3 months to 1 month. HRTs should be used with caution in the first month after HIV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thiocarbazones are widely used as bioactive and pharmaceutical intermediates in medicinal chemistry and have been shown to exhibit diverse biological and pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-viral, anti-convulsant and anti-inflammatory etc. In continuation of our interest in biologically active heterocycles and in an attempt to synthesize a spiro derivative, 1,2,4,5-tetraazaspiro[5.7]tridecane-3-thione, herein, the synthesis of 1,5-dicyclooctyl thiocarbohydrazone (3) has been reported via reaction of the cyclooctanone and thiocarbohydrazide. The structure was assigned on the basis of detailed spectral analysis and also confirmed by X-ray crystal studies. The Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most significant interaction is S⋯H (12.7%). The presentation of mechanistic aspects regarding the plausible route of its formation has also been included. The first hyperpolarizability (β0) was found to be 10.22 × 10−30 esu, which indicates that the compound exhibits good non-linear optical properties. The density functional theory (DFT) method has been used to characterize the spectroscopic properties and vibrational analysis of 1,5-dicyclooctyl thiocarbohydrazone (3) theoretically. The compound and cisplatin (standard) were screened for their antiproliferative activity against the human cervical cancer cell line (SiHa) and they exhibited significant activity with IC50 values of 250 μM and 15 μM, respectively. The inhibitory nature of the title compound against viral oncoprotein E6 was confirmed by studies using molecular docking analysis. The results of biological activity and in silico analysis indicate that the synthesized molecule could act as a precursor for the synthesis of new heterocyclic derivatives of medicinal importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Vitamin D is an oil soluble vitamin responsible for various skeletal and non-skeletal functions, its deficiency is common in skin pathologies due to consequent abnormality in its synthesis and activation from skin cells. Objective The study targets to study the relationship between the degrees of vitamin D in psoriasis and acne patients, the research study compares the levels in patients suffering from the mentioned diseases. Methods The study employs a cross-sectional comparative method of analysis in Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi's Dermatology ward. 350 participants were selected by non-randomized convenient sampling, out of which 323 signed informed consent and qualified based on inclusion, and exclusion criteria were included. Out of these 323, 140 that were diagnosed with acne were included in group A based on inclusion criteria of age between 12 to 40. And, 183 participants diagnosed with psoriasis were included in group B based on inclusion criteria of age between 16 to 70. All these participants did not have a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or renal and hepatic diseases, and were screened for normal RFTs and LFTs by taking blood samples. Blood samples were collected by using the technique of immune-enzyme assessment ((25(OH)-Vitamin D) with the enabling function of ELISA kit Immundiagnostik AG, Germany) that assessed the level of Vitamin D serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH) D). The result was analyzed on SPSS 26. Results Values of one paired t-test depicts that there is a huge difference between the mean Vitamin D measure of acne (M=41.47, SD=19.6) and Vitamin D level of psoriasis (M=21.83, SD=8.5). Regarding the correlation between the level of serums in acne and psoriasis patients. It was assessed that there has been a direct and non-negligible negative association between the degrees of Vitamin D serum in psoriasis and acne patients (r=0.13, p=0.05). It was also instigated that there had not been vital correlation in Vitamin D serum levels in patients suffering from acne (r=1, p=0.05). Conclusion The research study developed that a direct and significant relationship between the level of Vitamin D serum and psoriasis whereas no vital correlations were found between levels of Vitamin D serum and acne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Alopecia areata (patchy alopecia) is an inflammatory disease which leads to hair loss over scalp and body. It is prevalent in 0.2% of the population without any racial or sexual predilection and may affect any age group and is prevalent in 25% of almost all alopecia cases.1 Azathioprine exerts its full effect after 4 to 6 weeks due to which most of our patients would leave treatment in initial phase of treatment. To cover up this issue of compliance and to increase its efficacy, we bridged this gap of 4 to 6 weeks with single shot of triamcinolone acetonide intramuscular injection. Although corticosteroids are effective in the treatment of alopecia areata whether administered intramuscularly, orally or intralesionally but since it is a chronic disorder and its long term use can lead to potential irreversible adverse effects, the need for steroid sparing immunosuppressive agents like azathioprine is recommended, which has favorable therapeutic action without many systemic side effects (success rate of 28.5 to 61%). Objective To investigate the efficacy of azathioprine with triamcinolone acetonide as a bridging therapy for the management of alopecia areata and its spectrum. Methods Two hundred patients with alopecia areata participated in an interventional single-arm pre and post-study at the Fauji Foundation Hospital in Rawalpindi from August 2018 to January 2021. After receiving consent, patients from dermatology OPD and inpatient settings were recruited. Patients were chosen using a non-probability consecutive sampling procedure. Results Calculation of the SALT score was done using the given formula as pretreatment and 8 weeks post treatment score. There is a 40.3% decrease in SALT score 12 weeks after treatment; the mean pre-treatment score was 35.65±3.7SD. 8 weeks after treatment, SALT score was 20.65±3.7SD and the difference between mean SALT score before and after treatment is statistically significant (t=34.3, p=<0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have investigated phytochemical classes, antileishmanial and cytotoxic activity of Fraxinus xanthoxyloides (Oleaceae) leaves. Powder of F. xanthoxyloides leaves was extracted with methanol to obtain the crude extract (FXM) and the resultant was fractionated with solvents in escalating polarity; n-hexane (FXH), chloroform (FXC), ethyl acetate (FXE), n-butanol (FXB) and the residual aqueous (FXA) fraction. Quantitative estimation of terpenoids, coumarins, flavonoids, phenolics and tannins was conducted. Anti-leishmanial activity was performed against Leishmania tropica promastigote stage parasite while insecticidal activity was assessed through brine shrimps lethality assay. Our results showed the maximum concentration of terpenoids in FXC while the highest quantity of coumarins, flavonoids, phenolics and tannins was recorded in FXE. Presence of terpenoids was not detected in FXB and in FXA. Among the extract/fractions, FXC exhibited the highest anti-leishmanial activity with LD50 of 15.23±0.9 µg/ml to that of glucantime (LD50 = 5.6±2.4 µg/ml) a reference drug. FXH exhibited the anti-leishmanial activity of LD50 = 40.68±1.9 µg/ml followed by FXE (LD50 = 102.9±3.1 µg/ml). Similarly potent insecticidal activity was recorded (LD50 = 28.15±1.8 µg/ml) for FXC followed by FXH (LD50 = 67.59±2.3 µg/ml). However, other fractions exhibited low level of anti-leishmanial and insecticidal activity. Correlation analysis exhibited a strong association (p < 0.05) between the terpenoids and the anti-leishmanial activity and a second but non significant association (p > 0.05) with the insecticidal activity. The coumarins established a medium association with the insecticidal activity. Other chemical classes exhibited a moderate to low level of association with the anti-leishmanial and the insecticidal activity. On the basis of these results we can conclude that chloroform fraction of F. xanthoxyloides is a potential source for anti-leishmanial and insecticidal activities and further studies are required to isolate the active constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]