Search

Aims: The study was aimed to isolate and characterize the mycotoxin-producing filamentous Aspergillus parasiticus from the feed samples. The sensitivity pattern of the isolates was assessed against different disinfectants. Methodology and results: Fifty different feed samples were screened for A. parasiticus isolation. Isolates were subjected to macroscopic and microscopic characterization. Polymerase chain reaction was performed to confirm the isolates at the genomic level. Mycotoxin producing potential of the isolates was assessed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). To quantify the toxins, high performance liquid (HPLC) was employed. The antifungal potential of disinfectants was determined by the well diffusion method followed by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) calculation. Out of twenty isolates of A. parasiticus, 11(55%) isolates were observed positive for toxin production. Three toxigenic isolates (AspP2, AspP4 and AspP8) were selected to evaluate their susceptibility against disinfectants by well diffusion method. AspP2 produced maximum (5.90 ng/mL) toxin, followed by AspP4 (3.11 ng/mL) and AspP8 (18.47 ng/mL). Terralin showed maximum fungicidal activity with 29.66 ± 8.08 mm zone of inhibition at 0.42 µg/mL MIC. Hypochlorite and Instru Star showed 99% disinfection with 30, 60 and 90 min contact time (6 mean log reduction) for all A. parasiticus isolates. Alpha Guard inhibited growth after 15 min contact time for all the isolates. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: This study provides data indicating the contamination of feed samples with mycotoxin-producing A. parasiticus isolates and their sensitivity against commercially available disinfectants. Use of these disinfectants in appropriate concentrations and time could help prevent the contamination of food, feed and healthcare settings with the fungal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was planned to assess the distribution of tuberculosis in children and evaluate the antimycobacterial sensitivity pattern of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates from pediatric patients. A total number of 1718 pediatric patients suspected of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were enrolled in the Institute of Child Health and Children's Hospital, Lahore during 2016-17. Out of 1718, only 710 different types of samples were tested for MTB. The samples were processed using bacteriology and GeneXpert along with the chest X-ray and clinical picture of the patients. The sensitivity pattern of Streptomycin, Isoniazid, Rifampicin and Ethambutol (SIRE) was determined using BACTEC MGIT 960. Total patients were divided into four groups including group A (birth to 12 months), B (1 to 5 years), C (6 to 10 years), and D (11 to 15 years). Out of 710, 106 (55 females and 51 males) were declared positive and 604 negative for tuberculosis. Out of 106 positive cases, 89 (83.96%) were sensitive to Rifampicin and 17 (16.04%) were resistant. Only, 04 (3.77%) were resistant to both Rifampicin and Isoniazid and declared as multidrug-resistant (MDR). It was concluded that children of age 11 to 15 years were more prone to MTB and a minimum percentage of MDR isolates was recorded in age group A (birth to 12 months). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the studies was to evaluate an in-vitro anti-mycobacterial activity of Aloe vera and Allium sativum against MDR-MTB, their cytotoxicity and mutagenicity. Four extracts of Aloe vera and Allium sativum were prepared by Soxhlet apparatus and their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC's) were determined by BACTEC MGIT960 system against multi drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-MTB) isolates, collected from pediatric patients. Fractions of Aloe vera and Allium sativum extracts were separated using glass column chromatography, followed by evaluation of cytotoxicity and mutagenicity by tetrazolium salt (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and Ames test, respectively. Out of four extracts, ethanol extracts of Aloe vera and Allium sativum exhibited activity at MIC 5mg/mL to 7mg/mL and 3mg/mL to 5mg/mL, respectively and IC50 by MTT assay for combination of all fractions were 278.3mcg/100μL and 270.8mcg/100μL and in Ames assay M.I of TA98 were 0.14 and 0.07 and M.I of TA100 were 1.14 and 0.44, respectively. Aloe vera and Allium sativum extracts showed anti-mycobacterial activity against MDR-MTB isolates so, MIC of ethanol extracts of each plant and fractions of column chromatography had been checked. The MTT and Ames tests depicted that ethanol extracts of Aloe vera and Allium sativum were non-cytotoxic and non-mutagenic, and can be used in treatment of patients suffering from MDRMTB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxins are the most deleterious fungal metabolites in humans, animals and plants. Recently, more attention has been paid to the occurrence and growth of Aspergillus spp. In this study, the effects of pH, light, relative humidity (RH) and temperature on the growth of Aspergillus spp. were investigated using broth medium. Results revealed highest mean of dried mycelial weight (365.67mg) at pH 4.0. The highest spores per ml (8.243 × 107) at pH 5.0. Similarly, growth during darkness was higher on first day of incubation in A. candidus and A. niger, while A. flavus and A. fumigatus showed the highest growth under continuous light. Lower RH% (32.5%) favored only the growth of A. niger. However, the growth in other Aspergillus species was significantly increased by RH% (50.5%, 85.0% and 100%). At 40C, only A. fumigatus and A. flavus showed significant (P<0.05) growth. There were significant differences in all the treatments (P<0.05). This proposes that these interacting environmental conditions impact significant effect on Aspergillus growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of dietary aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in growing male buffaloes in terms of feed intake, hematological and serum biochemical parameters. Thirty six bovine growing male buffaloes between 6 months to 12 months of age were divided into four groups to receive diet having no AFB1, 0.6mg/kg, 0.8mg/kg and 1.0mg/kg AFB1 of feed per animal per day for 28 days. The results indicate that the average daily feed intake of AFB1-treated growing male buffaloes significantly declined (P < 0.05) compared with the control. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatinine were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in response to AFB1, However change in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels was non-significant values of all hematological parameters decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in1.0mg/kg AFB1 group as compared to other groups after day 14 onward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present study was aimed to highlight the current prescribing pattern of oral hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus and to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of these therapeutic categories in achieving target glycemic control. Methods: This is a prospective, cross-sectional, observational study of 6 months' duration conducted in a tertiary care hospital of Lahore, Pakistan. Results: The current research recruited 145 patients presented in diabetes management center of a tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Mean age of the participants was 50.2 (± 8.5) years. Out of the 145 patients, 63% were females and 37% were males. Most patients were diagnosed to have diabetes within the past 5 years. Diabetes-induced neuropathy was the most common complication (71.7%) among the patients. A large proportion of these patients (70.3%) were also suffering from other comorbidities among which the most common one is hypertension. The average number of prescribed medications was 1.31. Metformin was prescribed to a majority of patients (64%) as monotherapy while 28.96% received combination therapy. Mean glycated hemoglobin (HBA1c) before and after 3 months of treatment was 8.5 (± 2.3) and 8.04 (± 2.1), respectively. Inferential statistics show a strong association between HBA1c and life style modifications and adherence to medication therapy (P = 0.05). However, the correlation between HBA1c and Morisky score and duration of disease was inverse and weak (P = 0.6, 0.4). The t-test values show a small difference between HBA1c values before and after 3 months (t = 0.440 and 0.466, respectively). Conclusion: Optimization of medication regimen and continuous patient education regarding life style modification and adherence to medication therapy are necessitated to bring HBA1c values near to target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study was designed to evaluate possible antihistaminic and anticholinergic activities of Equisetum debile. Materials and Methods: Effects of crude ethanolic (Ed.Eth) and effects of crude aqueous (Ed.Aq) extracts of E. debile were studied using isolated guinea pig ileum, rabbit jejunum, and rabbit trachea. Tissue responses were recorded using isotonic and isometric transducers, connected with PowerLab data acquisition system. Results: A dose-dependent (0.1-0.3 mg/ml) rightward shift was demonstrated in histamine concentration-response curves. Whereas a complete relaxation of carbachol (1 µM)-induced contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum (3 mg/ml) and tracheal (10 mg/ml) preparations was observed, similar to dicyclomine at 1 and 3 µM, respectively. However, no significant difference between the effects of Ed.Eth and Ed.Aq was observed. Conclusion: Study provides pharmacological evidence for the presence of antihistaminic and anticholinergic activities in crude extracts of E. debile and also highlight its medicinal significance in the management of airway and gastrointestinal disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

180 million people are affected by chronic Hepatitis C Virus infection globally and more than 50 million in South East Asia. Combination of Interferon and Ribavirin is the current anti-HCV therapy in practice and is associated with certain hematologic adverse effects. In this concurrent observational study the incidence rate of major hematologic adverse effects and efficacy outcomes of Interferon and Ribavirin combination therapy was evaluated in 288 chronic hepatitis C patients at Lahore General Hospital. Levels of Hb, TLC, and Platelets counts were monitored for hematologic adverse effects monitoring, whereas, ALT, AST and bilirubin levels were monitored for efficacy. PCR was done at week 4, 12 & 36 for therapeutic success evaluation. A significant reduction in Hb levels (p<0.05) was observed after week 4, 8 and 12 of therapy. Frequency of anemia increased in both genders with body weight <65kg and platelet count <150,000/mm³. End Treatment Response (ETR) was achieved in 64.5%. Anemia was the major side effect of the combination therapy particularly in the males. Higher ETR was observed in patients who achieved RVR and were <50 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Newcastle disease represents as one of the most infectious viral disease, which afflicts almost every species of the birds. The causative agent of the disease is a single-stranded RNA virus with rapid replication capability. Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the comparative anti-viral efficacy and toxicity of Glycyrrhiza glabra aqueous extract and ribavirin against the Newcastle disease virus. Materials and Methods: The embryonated eggs were divided into six groups (A, B, C, D, E and F). Groups A, B, C, and D were further subdivided into three subgroups. The virus was identified by hemagglutination inhibition test. Spot hemagglutination test and viability of embryos were also evaluated. Three different concentrations i-e., 30 mg/100 ml, 60 mg/100 ml, and 120 mg/100 ml of the Glycyrrhiza aqueous extract and 10 μg/ml, 20 μg/ml, and 40 μg/ml ribavirin in deionized water were evaluated for their toxicity and anti-viral activity in the embryonated eggs. Results: 60 mg/100 ml concentration of Glycyrrhiza extract did not produce any toxicity in the embryonated eggs and showed anti-viral activity against the virus. Similarly, 20 μg/ml ribavirin was non-toxic in the embryonated eggs and contained anti-viral activity. Conclusion: It may conclude from the presented study that 60 mg/100 ml Glycyrrhiza extract inhibits replication of Newcastle disease virus and is non-toxic in the embryonated eggs. So, Glycyrrhiza glabra extract may be further evaluated in future to determine the potentially active compounds for their anti-viral activity against Newcastle disease virus. Furthermore, the mechanism of action of these active phytochemicals as an antiviral agent would be helpful to elucidate the pathogenesis of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study to determine the effectiveness of herbal extracts that are said to contain antiviral activity compared to commercially accessible antiviral drugs against the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H7 type). In the study, three different concentrations of extracts of fresh leaves of opuntia herb, papaya and dried powdered leaves of green tea in distilled water were analyzed. It claims that herbal medicines are mainly used in the Asian region, particularly in Pakistan, because of socio-cultural reasons and poor health care situations.

Introduction: The pleiotropic effects of statins are recently explored for wound healing through angiogenesis and lymph-angiogenesis that could be of great importance in diabetic wounds., Aims: The aim of the present study is to fabricate nanofilm embedded with simvastatin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CS-SIM-NPs) and to explore the efficacy of SIM in diabetic wound healing., Methods: The NPs, prepared via ionic gelation, were 173 nm ± 2.645 in size with a zeta potential of -0.299 ± 0.009 and PDI 0.051 ± 0.088 with excellent encapsulation efficiency (99.97%). The optimized formulation (CS: TPP, 1:1) that exhibited the highest drug release (91.64%) was incorporated into the polymeric nanofilm (HPMC, Sodium alginate, PVA), followed by in vitro characterization. The optimized nanofilm was applied to the wound created on the back of diabetes-induced (with alloxan injection 120 mg/kg) albino rats., Results: The results showed a significant (p < 0.05) improvement in the wound healing process compared to the diabetes-induced non-treated group. The results highlighted the importance of nanofilms loaded with SIM-NPs in diabetic wound healing through angiogenesis promotion at the wound site., Conclusion: Thus, CS-SIM-NPs loaded polymeric nanofilms could be an emerging diabetic wound healing agent in the industry of nanomedicines., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)