Antibiotic Susceptibility Surveillance in the Punjab Province of Pakistan: Findings and Implications.

: The increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across countries has seriously impacted the effective management of infectious diseases, with subsequent impact on morbidity, mortality and costs. This includes Pakistan. Antimicrobial surveillance activities should be mandatory to continually assess the extent of multidrug-resistant bacteria and the implications for future empiric prescribing.

Ongoing Strategies to Improve Antimicrobial Utilization in Hospitals across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Findings and Implications.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing global concern, increasing costs, morbidity, and mortality. National action plans (NAPs) to minimize AMR are one of several global and national initiatives to slow down rising AMR rates. NAPs are also helping key stakeholders understand current antimicrobial utilization patterns and resistance rates.

Antibiotic Utilization Patterns for Different Wound Types among Surgical Patients: Findings and Implications.

Antimicrobial prophylaxis is effective in reducing the rate of surgical site infections (SSIs) post-operatively. However, there are concerns with the extent of prophylaxis post-operatively, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This increases antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is a key issue in Pakistan.

Beneficial Effects of Black Cardamom () on Hemodynamic Parameters in Normotensive and Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

<b>Background and Objectives:</b> <i>Amomum subulatum</i> (AS) is used to improve cardiac health in traditional medicine practice. The present study evaluates the pharmacological effect of AS aqueous extract on blood pressure in Normotensive (NR) and Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR). <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Blood pressure, Heart Rate (HR) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV), was recorded in catheterized Sprague-Dawley rats before and after AS intravenous administration by using Mikro-Tip Pressure-Volume System (MPVS), PowerLab.

Comparative effect of coffee robusta and coffee arabica (Qahwa) on memory and attention.

The comparative effects of coffee robusta and coffee arabica (Qahwa) on different attention and memory related assignments were measured in a double-blind study of 300 healthy young adult women who were randomly assigned to one of three different drinks: Group I (coffee robusta sachet dissolved in 100 ml of hot water): Group II (coffee arabica): and group III (100 ml water only). Cognitive function was assessed by standardized tests. Several monitoring cognitive tests and tasks were specifically chosen and performed to investigate the comparative effects of coffee robusta (CR) and coffee arabica (Qahwa; AC) on sleepiness (sleep and clear headed scale), attention (trail A & B, symbol digit, letter cancellation), general cognitive ability (stroop test) and memory (card test).

Decreased brain serotonin turnover rate following administration of Sharbat-e-Ahmed Shah produces antidepressant and anxiolytic effect in rats.

Sharbat-e-Ahmed Shah (SAS) has usually been used in Traditional Unani Medicine (TUM) for depression and insomnia but still not evaluated for its anti-depressant and Neuropharmacological activity. In the present study, a Human dose of SAS (0.6 ml/kg/d) was administered orally to the rats for 15 consecutive days.

Pharmacological evidence of neuro-pharmacological activity of Acacia tortilis leaves in mice.

Acacia tortilis is abundantly present in Saudi Arabia but its neuro-pharmacological activity has not yet been evaluated. In this study, the antidepressant by Forced swim test, Anxiolytic (Light and Dark box) and sedative effects (by using Open Field) of Acacia leaves extract were evaluated in mice. Aqueous extracts of the Acacia tortilis leaves were prepared.

Anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects of the Acacia tortilis growing in KSA.

In different region of Saudi Arabia Acacia tortilis (Fabaceae) is present but still the medicinal properties of Acacia tortilis have not been studied. However, in Zimbabwe different species of Acacia are already used for the treatment of convulsions and dizziness. In the present study, the anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects of the Acacia tortilis, were evaluated by using different paradigms.

Hypotensive activity, toxicology and histopathology of opuntioside-I and methanolic extract of Opuntia dillenii.

Methanolic extract of Opuntia dillenii cladodes and its pure compound alpha-pyrone glycoside, opuntioside-I showed potent hypotensive activity in normotensive rats. Both the extract and opuntioside-I showed comparable effect of 44-54% fall in Mean Arterial Blood Pressure (MABP) at the dose of 10 mg/kg. No mortality was observed in rats even at the doses of 1000 mg/kg/d and 900 mg/kg/d per oral of extract and opuntioside-I respectively.