1.Comparison of bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of diclofenac sodium and diclofenac potassium in normal and dehydrated rabbits
Ahmad MAHMOOD ; Iqbal MUHAMMAD ; Murtaza GHULAM
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2009;44(1):80-84
Two different salts of diclofenac, diclofenac sodium and dielofenae potassium, in tablet dosage form were tested for their bioavailability and disposition kinetics in a group of eighteen rabbits in normal and experimentally induced dehydrated conditions with a wash out period of 7 days between both stages of study. Biochemical and physiological parameters were also measured in both normal and dehydrated states. Diclofenac levels in plasma were determined using a validated reversed phase HPLC method. Primary kinetic parameters i.e. AUC0-∞, Cmax, Tmax and other disposition kinetics were obtained with non-compartmental procedure. Biochemical parameters i.e. packed cell volume, plasma glucose and total lipid concentration in dehydrated rabbits increased significantly. Plasma concentration of diclofenac sodium and diclofenac potassium decreased significantly in water deprived rabbits. In comparison, diclofenac potassium in normal and dehydrated state of the same group of rabbits showed a significantly increased plasma concentration when compared with diclofenac sodium.
2.Anti-biofilm activity of the marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas ruthenica KLPp3 against Serratia marcescens and Vibrio alginolyticus
Asmat Ahmad ; Mohd Faiq Iqbal Sulieman ; Gires Usup
Malaysian Journal of Microbiology 2016;12(1):30-34
Aims: Pseudoalteromonas ruthenica KLPp3 is the marine Gram-negative strain isolated from the surface of mud crab at
Pulau Perhentian Malaysia. In this work, the anti-biofilm activity of P. ruthenica supernatant was examined on Serratia
marcescen and Vibrio alginolyticus.
Methodology and results: The crude extract of P. ruthenica KLPp3 was obtained using ethyl acetate. The subminimum
inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the crude extract was determined using the minimum inhibitory test. The subMIC
crude extract was tested against two of the S. marcescen virulence factors, which are the swarming ability and
production of prodigiosin. The crystal violet assay was used to test the anti-biofilm activity of the sub-MIC crude extract
against S. marcescen and V. alginolyticus. The productions of prodigiosin were reduced by 72%. The swarming area
was reduced by 56.06%. It inhibits 26.9% and 48.5% of biofilm production in S. marcescens and V. alginolyticus
respectively. The crude extract was heat stable.
Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Besides combating the S. marcescens virulence factor, P. ruthenica
KLPp3 crude extract in sub-MIC reduces the formation of biofilm of S. marcescens and V. alginolyticus, which may find
applications in biofilm inhibition and prevention.
Anti-Infective Agents
3.Calcitriol-mediated Reversible Hypercalcemia in a Patient with Primary Adrenal Lymphoma
Shahnaz Ahmad Mir ; Shariq Rashid Masoodi ; Arshad Iqbal Wani ; Syed Nisar Ahmad ; Iqra Hameed
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2016;23(6):118-122
Primary adrenal lymphomas (PAL) are rare occurrences with only less than 150 cases
reported in the literature. Two-thirds of these cases were reported in the last decade due to the
advancements in imaging techniques and immunohistochemistry. The non-specific signs and
symptoms have resulted in a delayed onset of symptoms and diagnosis of these tumors. Reports
of the results of chemotherapy are not gratifying, and most patients die within one year of the
diagnosis. We report a 65-year-old male with adrenal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), who
presented with hypercalcemia and renal failure. We reviewed all adrenal NHL cases presented
with hypercalcemia and attempted to comprehend its etiology and overall survival effect.
4.Unlocking the Neurogenic Potential of Mammalian Müller Glia.
International Journal of Stem Cells 2016;9(2):169-175
Müller glia (MG) are the primary support cells in the vertebrate retina, regulating homeostasis in one of the most metabolically active tissues. In lower vertebrates such as fish, they respond to injury by proliferating and reprogramming to regenerate retinal neurons. In mammals, MG may also react to injury by proliferating, but they fail to initiate regeneration. The barriers to regeneration could be intrinsic to mammalian MG or the function of the niche that cannot support the MG reprogramming required for lineage conversion or both. Understanding these mechanisms in light of those being discovered in fish may lead to the formulation of strategies to unlock the neurogenic potential of MG and restore regeneration in the mammalian retina.
Homeostasis
;
Mammals
;
Neurogenesis
;
Neuroglia*
;
Regeneration
;
Retina
;
Retinal Neurons
;
Vertebrates
5.Comparison of bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of diclofenac sodium and diclofenac potassium in normal and dehydrated rabbits.
Mahmood AHMAD ; Muhammad IQBAL ; Ghulam MURTAZA
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2009;44(1):80-84
Two different salts of diclofenac, diclofenac sodium and diclofenac potassium, in tablet dosage form were tested for their bioavailability and disposition kinetics in a group of eighteen rabbits in normal and experimentally induced dehydrated conditions with a wash out period of 7 days between both stages of study. Biochemical and physiological parameters were also measured in both normal and dehydrated states. Diclofenac levels in plasma were determined using a validated reversed phase HPLC method. Primary kinetic parameters i.e. AUC(0-infinity), Cmax, Tmax and other disposition kinetics were obtained with non-compartmental procedure. Biochemical parameters i.e. packed cell volume, plasma glucose and total lipid concentration in dehydrated rabbits increased significantly. Plasma concentration of diclofenac sodium and diclofenac potassium decreased significantly in water deprived rabbits. In comparison, diclofenac potassium in normal and dehydrated state of the same group of rabbits showed a significantly increased plasma concentration when compared with diclofenac sodium.
Administration, Oral
;
Animals
;
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
;
administration & dosage
;
blood
;
pharmacokinetics
;
Area Under Curve
;
Biological Availability
;
Dehydration
;
metabolism
;
Diclofenac
;
administration & dosage
;
analogs & derivatives
;
blood
;
pharmacokinetics
;
Rabbits
;
Tablets
6.Allgrove (Triple A) Syndrome: A Case Report from the Kashmir Valley.
Raiz Ahmad MISGAR ; Nazir Ahmad PALA ; Mahroosa RAMZAN ; Arshad Iqbal WANI ; Mir Iftikhar BASHIR ; Bashir Ahmad LAWAY
Endocrinology and Metabolism 2015;30(4):604-606
Allgrove (Triple A) syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by cardinal features of adrenal insufficiency due to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) resistance, achalasia, and alacrimia. It is frequently associated with neurological manifestations like polyneuropathy. Since its first description by Allgrove in 1978, approximately 100 cases have been reported in the literature. Here we report an 18-year-old boy diagnosed as having Allgrove syndrome, with ACTH resistant adrenal insufficiency, achalasia, alacrimia, and severe motor polyneuropathy. Alacrimia was the earliest feature evident at the age of 8 years. He presented with achalasia and adrenal insufficiency at 12 and 18 years respectively and developed neurological symptoms in the form of severe muscle wasting at the age of 15 years. Patients with Allgrove syndrome usually manifest adrenal insufficiency and achalasia during first decade of life. Our patient manifested adrenal insufficiency and achalasia in the second decade and manifested neurological dysfunction before adrenal dysfunction.
Adolescent
;
Adrenal Insufficiency
;
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
;
Esophageal Achalasia
;
Humans
;
Male
;
Neurologic Manifestations
;
Polyneuropathies
7.Non-occupational lead exposure and hypertension in Pakistani adults.
Sohaila RAHMAN ; Nasir KHALID ; Jamshed Hussain ZAIDI ; Shujaat AHMAD ; Mohammad Zafar IQBAL
Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 2006;7(9):732-737
Hypertension is one of the most prevalent diseases in the developed and developing countries. Based on the long historical association and the provocative findings of blood pressure effects at low level of lead exposure a study was carried out to determine if an association existed between low blood lead concentration and hypertension. In this study the effects of low-level exposure to lead on blood pressure were examined among 244 adults using atomic absorption spectrometer. For quality assurance purpose certified reference materials i.e., Animal blood A-13, Bovine liver 1577 and cotton cellulose V-9 from IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and NIST (National Institute of Standard Technology) were analyzed under identical experimental conditions. The mean age of hypertensive adults was 52 years (range 43 - 66). The mean values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were (209+/-11.7) (range 170 - 250) and (117+/-3.9) (range 105 - 140) mmHg respectively. Blood lead concentration ranged from 78 - 201 microg/L with a mean of 139 microg/L and 165 - 497 microg/L with a mean of 255 microg/L in normal and hypertensive adults respectively. Increase in systolic blood pressure was significantly predictive with increase in blood lead levels. Body mass index (BMI) and lipid profile including total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride correlated with blood pressure.
Adult
;
Blood Pressure
;
drug effects
;
Body Mass Index
;
Cholesterol
;
blood
;
Environmental Exposure
;
Female
;
Humans
;
Hypertension
;
chemically induced
;
Lead
;
blood
;
toxicity
;
Male
;
Middle Aged
;
Occupational Exposure
8.Direct Differentiation of Adult Ocular Progenitors into Striatal Dopaminergic Neurons.
Iqbal AHMAD ; Xing ZHAO ; Sowmya PARAMESWARAN ; Christopher J DESTACHE ; Jorge RODRIGUEZ-SIERRA ; Wallace B THORESON ; Hiba AHMAD ; John SORRENTINO ; Sudha BALASUBRAMANIAN
International Journal of Stem Cells 2015;8(1):106-114
Parkinson's disease, characterized by motor dysfunction due to the loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, is one of the most prevalent age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Given there is no current cure, the stem cell approach has emerged as a viable therapeutic option to replace the dopaminergic neurons that are progressively lost to the disease. The success of the approach is likely to depend upon accessible, renewable, immune compatible, and non-tumorigenic sources of neural progenitors from which stable dopaminergic neurons can be generated efficaciously. Here, we demonstrate that neural progenitors derived from limbus, a regenerative and accessible ocular tissue, represent a safe source of dopaminergic neurons. When the limbus-derived neural progenitors were subjected to a well-established protocol of directed differentiation under the influence of Shh and FGF8, they acquired the biochemical and functional phenotype of dopaminergic neurons that included the ability to synthesize dopamine. Their intrastriatal transplantation in the rat model of hemi-Parkinsonism was associated with a reduction in the amphetamine-induced rotation. No tumor formation was observed 6 weeks post-transplantation. Together, these observations posit limbus-derived neural progenitors as an accessible and safe source of dopaminergic neurons for a potential autologous ex-vivo stem cell approach to Parkinson's disease.
Adult*
;
Dopamine
;
Dopaminergic Neurons*
;
Humans
;
Models, Animal
;
Neurodegenerative Diseases
;
Parkinson Disease
;
Phenotype
;
Stem Cells
9.Sequence Analysis of Hypothetical Proteins from Helicobacter pylori 26695 to Identify Potential Virulence Factors.
Ahmad Abu Turab NAQVI ; Farah ANJUM ; Faez Iqbal KHAN ; Asimul ISLAM ; Faizan AHMAD ; Md Imtaiyaz HASSAN
Genomics & Informatics 2016;14(3):125-135
Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative bacteria that is responsible for gastritis in human. Its spiral flagellated body helps in locomotion and colonization in the host environment. It is capable of living in the highly acidic environment of the stomach with the help of acid adaptive genes. The genome of H. pylori 26695 strain contains 1,555 coding genes that encode 1,445 proteins. Out of these, 340 proteins are characterized as hypothetical proteins (HP). This study involves extensive analysis of the HPs using an established pipeline which comprises various bioinformatics tools and databases to find out probable functions of the HPs and identification of virulence factors. After extensive analysis of all the 340 HPs, we found that 104 HPs are showing characteristic similarities with the proteins with known functions. Thus, on the basis of such similarities, we assigned probable functions to 104 HPs with high confidence and precision. All the predicted HPs contain representative members of diverse functional classes of proteins such as enzymes, transporters, binding proteins, regulatory proteins, proteins involved in cellular processes and other proteins with miscellaneous functions. Therefore, we classified 104 HPs into aforementioned functional groups. During the virulence factors analysis of the HPs, we found 11 HPs are showing significant virulence. The identification of virulence proteins with the help their predicted functions may pave the way for drug target estimation and development of effective drug to counter the activity of that protein.
Carrier Proteins
;
Clinical Coding
;
Colon
;
Computational Biology
;
Drug Discovery
;
Gastritis
;
Genome
;
Gram-Negative Bacteria
;
Helicobacter pylori*
;
Helicobacter*
;
Humans
;
Locomotion
;
Sequence Analysis*
;
Stomach
;
Virulence Factors*
;
Virulence*
10.Montelukast Reduces the Risk of Dengue Shock Syndrome in Dengue Patients
Ahmad, A. ; Waseem, T. ; Butt, N.F ; Randhawa, F.A. ; Shakoori, T.A, U
Tropical Biomedicine 2018;35(4):1115-1122
A significant percentage of dengue patients develop Dengue Shock Syndrome
(DSS) which is characterized by increased vascular permeability, circulatory failure and
often death. Montelukast, a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist regulates vascular
permeability and we hypothesized that it may be effective in protecting against DSS. An open
label, parallel, randomized controlled trial (RCT) was thus carried out at Mayo Hospital,
Department of Medicine, Lahore. A total of 200 patients of dengue fever were recruited and
randomized into two groups. The group A was treated with Montelukast 10 mg once daily for
5 days along with general supportive treatment. Group B received the standard supportive
treatment and served as the control group. The frequency of DSS was compared in the two
groups by Chi square test. A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the
effects of montelukast treatment on onset of DSS after adjusting for gender, age, white cell
count, platelet count, haematocrit, serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate
transaminase (AST). Relative risk (RR), absolute risk reduction (ARR), relative risk reduction
(RRR) and numbers needed to treat (NNT) were calculated. Significance level was set at
p<0.05. We found that only 9% of the patients in treatment group developed DSS compared to
31% patients in group B (p<0.001). The protective effect of montelukast treatment persisted
(p>0.001, Odds ratio=5.01, 95% CI=2.17-11.60) even after adjusting for confounders.
Montelukast reduced the absolute risk (ARR=22%) and the relative risk (RRR=71%) of DSS in
dengue fever. Numbers needed to treat were 4.55. We thus conclude that treatment with oral
montelukast may protect patients of dengue fever from DSS and greatly reduce mortality.