Cognitive behaviour therapy for white coat hypertension-causing latrophobia in adults: randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To see whether cognitive behaviour therapy improves blood pressure-oriented latrophobia in adults to manage white coat hypertension.

Methods: Present study was conducted at the Kidney Centre, Sialkot, Pakistan from December 2017 to November 2018, and comprised latrophobic attendees of kidney patients without initially exploring the reason of phobia. Either of the intervention or control group was allotted, randomly.

A VIKOR based approach for assessing the social, environmental and economic effects of "smog" on human health.

Nowadays, the excessive industrialization, increased use of fossil fuels, elevated levels of vehicular emissions are causing high level of air pollution reaching epidemic levels. The effects of "smog" or in other words of air pollution can be very dangerous for humans, and plants. In fact, air pollution can be linked to many health-related issues, as it is one of the leading causes of pulmonary, respiratory and skin diseases across the globe.

Synthesis, characterization and antihypertensive activity of 2-phenyl substituted benzimidazoles.

Hypertension is one of cardiovascular disease that is not sufficiently prevented and controlled at both hospital and community levels. Hypertension resulted in significant morbidity and mortality. The benz-imidazole ring is very important pharmacophore in modern drug discovery.

Lecithin-gold hybrid nanocarriers as efficient and pH selective vehicles for oral delivery of diacerein-In-vitro and in-vivo study.

We report the synthesis and evaluation of lecithin-gold hybrid nanocarriers for the oral delivery of drugs with improved pharmacokinetics, Au-drug interactive bioactivity and controlled drug releasing behavior at physiological pH inside human body. For this purpose, diacerein, a hydrophobic anti-arthritic drug, was loaded in lecithin NPs (LD NPs), which were further coated by Au NPs either by in-situ production of Au NPs on LD NPs or by employing pre-synthesized Au NPs. All LDAu NPs were found to release drug selectively at the physiological pH of 7.

Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of lecithin-based nanocarriers for the enhanced pharmacological and oral pharmacokinetic profile of amphotericin B.

We report the synthesis, characterization and evaluation of lecithin-drug hybrid nanocarriers (NCs) with enhanced oral bioavailability and anti-parasitic potential for poorly water-soluble drugs. Amphotericin B (AmB), a poor water-soluble drug with poor membrane penetrating ability, was selected as a model drug to demonstrate the potential of the lecithin-drug hybrid NCs. Lec-AmB NCs were prepared by the self-assembly of lecithin into nanoparticles (NPs) at a critical micellar concentration of 4 mg ml and into liposomes at a critical liposomal concentration of 53 mg ml in aqueous systems.

Improved physicochemical characteristics of artemisinin using succinic acid.

Artemisinin (ARMN) is a potent antimalarial drug, which is effective against multidrug resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum and produces rapid recovery even in patients with cerebral malaria. Being poorly soluble in water, artemisinin is incompletely absorbed after oral intake due to poor dissolution characteristics in the intestinal fluids. To enhance these properties, solid dispersions of artemisinin with succinic acid (SUC) were prepared using drug-carrier ratios 1 : 1, 1 : 4, 1 : 6, 1 : 8 and 1 : 10 by solvent evaporation and freeze drying methods.

Effect of ketoprofen on lactic dehydrogenase from human platelets.

Background: In different clinical investigations of thrombocytopenia, ketoprofen was found to be the associated cause. Ketoprofen alone or in combination with other therapeutic regimens leads to a decrease in platelet count. Thrombocytopenia due to ketoprofen use can be a threatening condition to the patients who require uncompromised platelet function.

Detection of citrus huanglongbing-associated 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' in citrus and Diaphorina citri in Pakistan, seasonal variability, and implications for disease management.

We report the detection of the huanglongbing (HLB)-associated bacterium 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' from both plants and insects in Pakistan and the seasonal variability in the numbers of 'Ca. L. asiaticus'-positive psyllid vector, Diaphorina citri.

Coagulopathies in Naja naja karachiensis (black Pakistan cobra) bites and its effect on coagulation tests upon storage of platelet-poor plasma.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of venom from Naja naja karachiensis on platelet-poor plasma, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT) / international normalized ratio (INR), thrombin time (TT) and to evaluate its effect on clotting time upon storage of plasma for a specific time period with possible mechanism responsible for that. Prolongation of PT / INR, aPTT and TT was observed when different concentrations of venom were introduced due to degeneration of fibrinogen. Preservation of plasma for three months further prolong clotting time for coagulation tests, however, difference of PT and TT results were not very prominent as compared to aPTT.

Improved physicochemical characteristics of artemisinin-nicotinamide solid dispersions by solvent evaporation and freeze dried methods.

Artemisinin (ARMN) is a drug of choice against drug-resistant malaria especially due to Plasmodium falciparum. Being poorly soluble in water, its solid dispersions with nicotinamide (NA) were prepared at various drug-carrier ratios (1:1, 1:4, 1:6, 1:8, 1:10) by solvent evaporation and freeze drying methods. These solid dispersions were characterized by differential scanning calorimetery (DSC), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), phase solubility and dissolution studies.

Impact of alterations in teaching methodologies on learning capabilities.

Objective: To compare the role of new approaches and methods in the development of understanding and learning capabilities of undergraduate medical students in the module of respiratory physiology.

Methods: A comparative cross sectional study was conducted in Bahria Univiersity Medical & Dental College using a sample size of 198 students from February till May 2010. Difficulties in understanding the concepts of respiratory physiology was analyzed in groups A (Batch 2008-2013) and assessed through test performance.

Antihaemorrhagic potentials of Fagonia cretica against Naja naja karachiensis (black Pakistan cobra) venom.

Plants have been extensively used as a remedy for the treatment of snake bites. The aim of this study was to determine the antivenom potentials of methanolic extract from the aerial parts (leaves and twigs) of Fagonia cretica L. on a haemorrhage induced by venom from Naja naja karachiensis.

Synergism between collagen-adenosine diphosphate and collagen-epinephrine in platelets' aggregation: different dose response relationships.

Objectives: To evaluate the possible synergistic interaction of collagen-adenosine diphosphate and collagen-epinephrine in aggregation of human platelets.

Methods: An experimental study was carried out at Armed Forces Instiute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from June 2001 to December 2002. The platelet aggregation was determined by means of turbidometric method, which measures changes in optical density of platelet suspension.

The Community Health Information System (CHIS): delivering web-based customised healthcare using an AI-infused expert system.

The Community Health Information System (CHIS) is an integrated, patient-centric, web-based application that assists all stakeholders in healthcare management. CHIS is a single sign-on portal that allows users to query an immense interconnected database of medical research, healthcare providers, regulations, nurses and physicians. A three member faculty team at Western Michigan University has developed a system prototype using a collection of technologies to deliver the content via a variety of interfaces such as the web, mobile devices, voice and kiosks.

Comparison of lipid profiles and lipoprotein a levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus during oral hypoglycemic or insulin therapy.

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare lipid and lipoprotein (a) profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) on insulin and oral hypoglycemic therapy.

Methods: The study took place in the Department of Physiology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, during 2002. Ninety-seven type 2 DM patients participated in the study.

Synergistic interaction of adenosine diphosphate-epinephrine and epinephrine-collagen in aggregation of human platelets.

Background: Efficient hemostasis in human body depends on a complicated series of events which actively involve blood platelets. Platelets exhibit diverse responses in a variety of agonists. In vivo, most of the agonists act in synergism, causing aggregation of platelets.