An electrochemically pretreated silver macroporous (Ag MP) multiwalled carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode (PAN-Ag MP-MWCNT-GCE) was fabricated for the selective determination of an anti-hyperlipidimic drug, pitavastatin (PST). The fabricated electrochemical sensor was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The fabricated electrode was employed in quantifying and determining PST through differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry (DPAdSV) and CV. The electrode fabrication proceeded with remarkable sensitivity to the determination of PST. The effect of various optimized parameters such as pH, scan rate (ν), accumulation time (tacc), accumulation potential (Uacc) and loading volumes of Ag MP-MWCNT suspension were investigated to evaluate the performance of synthesized electrochemical sensor and to propose a simple, accurate, rapid and economical procedure for the quantification of PST in pharmaceutical formulations and biological fluids. A linear response of PST concentration in the range 2.0×10?7–1.6×10?6 M with low detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) limits of 9.66 ± 0.04 nM and 32.25 ± 0.07 nM, respectively, were obtained under these optimized conditions.

Background/Aims: This study aimed to study the endoscopic yield, appropriateness, and complications of pediatric endoscopy performed by adult gastroenterologists in an adult endoscopic suite. Methods: This a retrospective study in which records of all the patients less than 18 years of age who underwent endoscopy in the last 5 years were studied. The indications of endoscopy in children were categorized as appropriate or inappropriate per the latest guidelines by American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Positive endoscopic yield was defined as the presence of any abnormality on endoscopy. Results: Among the total of 822 children (age <18 years), the most common indications were variceal surveillance/eradication in 157 (19.1%), followed by dyspepsia in 143 (17.4%), upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding in 136 (16.5%), recurrent abdominal pain in 94 (11.4%), unexplained anemia in 74 (9%), recurrent vomiting in 50 (6.08%), chronic refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease in 34 (4.1%) and others; 780 out of 822 endoscopic procedures (94.9%) done in children were appropriate as per the guidelines. The endoscopic yield was 45.8%, highest in patients with UGI bleeding (71.3%), followed by variceal surveillance (54.8%), recurrent vomiting (38%), dyspepsia (37.8%), and recurrent abdominal pain (36%). Minor adverse events occurred in 7.3% of children. Conclusions Pediatric endoscopy performed by an experienced adult gastroenterologist may be acceptable if done in cooperation with a pediatrician.

A multi-centred study was designed to collect dengue epidemiologic data from government and registered private hospitals/clinics and maintained archive of frozen specimens in bio-bank to be used for future dengue epidemic control program, and assess the epidemiology of dengue fever (DF) by evaluating biochemical and oxidative status of patients. ELISA IgM antibodies test was done to confirm DF. From August 2010 to December 2011, 101 confirmed blood samples of DF patients referred to pathology lab of Jinnah Hospital Lahore were subjected to the epidemiologic assessment by evaluating the biochemical and physiological indices and alterations of circulating antioxidants. Clinical features of DF patients and effect of fever on blood components and serum proteins of liver were recorded. The hospital stay in DF, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS) showed significant difference. Significant increases in serum alanine amino transferase (ALT) (P=0.000), aspartate amino transferase (AST) (P=0.000), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P=0.000), malondialdehyde (MDA) along with significant decreases in total protein (TP) (P=0.000), reduced glutathione (GSH) (P=0.000), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) (P=0.000), and sialic acid contents (P=0.016) were observed. A positive correlation existed between bound sialic acid levels, liver enzymes and circulating antioxidants (r=0.656, P=0.016). In the present study, alterations of circulating antioxidants in DF suggest that DF might be a metabolic response to an acute, self-limiting tropical viral infection, and a consequence of the viral inflammatory process.
Adult ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Biomarkers ; blood ; China ; Dengue ; classification ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult