Objective: To investigate the antipyretic and anticonvulsant activities of n-hexane fraction of Viola betonicifolia (V. betonicifolia). Methods: The antipyretic effect was scrutinized using brewer’s yeast induced pyrexia and anticonvlsion effect was tested using pentylenetetrazol and strychnine induced convulsion in mice. Results: N-hexane fraction of V. betonicifolia demonstrated highly significant antipyretic activity during various assessment times (1-5 h) when challenged in yeast induced pyrexia test. The effect was in a dose dependent manner with maximum attenuation (82.50%) observed at 300 mg/kg i.p. When tested in pentylenetetrazol induced convulsion test, the 1st stage (Ear and facial twitching) and 2nd stage (Convulsive wave through the body) was 100% protected during 24 h at all the test doses (300, 400 and 500 mg/kg i.p.), while the latency time of remaining stages was significantly increased. The maximum effect was observed by n-hexane fraction of V. betonicifolia at 400 and 500 mg/kg i.p., as the latency time for generalized clonic-tonic seizure (5th stage) was increased up to 25.34 min. However, n-hexane fraction of V. betonicifolia had no protection in strychnine induced convulsion test. Conclusions:In conclusion, phytopharmacological studies provide scientific foundation to the folk uses of the plant in the treatment of pyrexia and neurological disorders.

Objective:To study the screening of essential oils of Skimmia laureola leaves (SLO) for acute toxicity, antinociceptive, antipyretic and anticonvulsant activities in various animal models. Methods: SLO were extracted using modified Clevenger type apparatus. Acute toxicity test was used in mice to observe its safety level. Antinociceptive activity of SLO was evaluated in acetic acid induced writhing and hot plate tests. Yeast induced hyperthermic mice and pentylenetetrazole induced convulsive mice were used for the assessment of its antipyretic and anticonvulsant profile respectively. Results: Substantial safety was observed for SLO in acute toxicity test. SLO showed a high significant activity in acetic acid induced writhing test in a dose dependent manner with maximum pain attenuation of 68.48%at 200 mg/kg i.p. However, it did not produce any relief in thermal induced pain at test doses. When challenged against pyrexia evoked by yeast, SLO manifested marked amelioration in hyperthermic mice, dose dependently. Maximum anti-hyperthermic activity (75%) was observed at 200 mg/kg i.p. after 4 h of drug administration. Nevertheless, SLO had no effect on seizures control and mortality caused by pentylenetetrazole. Conclusions:In vivo studies of SLO showed prominent antinociceptive and antipyretic activities with ample safety profile and thus provided pharmacological base for the traditional uses of the plant in various painful conditions and pyrexia. Additional detail studies are required to ascertain its clinical application.

Spinal cord injuries are debilitating and life threatening. Paraplegia due to direct traumatic gunshot injury to the spinal cord is common. The most common cause of spinal cord injury is road traffic accidents. This is followed by spinal cord injury due to a fall from a height. Most of the spinal cord injuries due to gunshot wounds occur as a result of direct traumatic effects. We present a rare case of a 49-year-old male with trauma. He developed paraplegia after a gunshot wound injury to the neck and contusion to the spinal cord, with no direct trauma. Paraplegia due to direct gunshot injury can have many different outcomes. In our case, the patient was managed conservatively, and the outcome was favorable.
Accidents, Traffic ; Contusions ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Paraplegia* ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord* ; Wounds, Gunshot

PURPOSE: This study was performed to determine the prevalence of maxillary canine impaction on a basis of a single panoramic radiograph in Bangladeshi population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A random sample of seven hundred panoramic radiographs was collected from the patient record of a dental clinic. All the selected panoramic radiographs were taken from January 2009 to August 2010 by a single panoramic radiograph machine with the same exposure time (19 seconds) for all radiographs. One hundred and twenty panoramic radiographs were excluded to minimize the selection bias. In a dim lit room, an observer assessed the radiographs on a standard radiographic light box. The position of the impacted maxillary canine was recorded in line with the longitudinal axis of a tooth using the edge of a metal ruler. Data were subsequently put on SPSS 11.5 software and chi-square (chi2) tests were applied to find out the association. RESULTS: Among 580 panoramic radiographs it was found that impacted maxillary canines were present in only 7 (1.2%) radiographs. A statistical significant difference was found between the age of the patients and the vertical position of the impacted canines (p=0.000) and between the age of the patients and the horizontal position of the impacted canines (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: The prevalence was found to be low compared with the present study from the limitation of panoramic image. Further study needs to include three-dimensional imaging modality.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cuspid ; Dental Clinics ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Light ; Prevalence ; Radiography, Panoramic ; Selection Bias ; Tooth ; Tooth, Impacted

Our previous studies have shown that subthreshold concentrations of two platelet agonists exert synergistic effects on platelet aggregation. Here we studied the mechanism of synergistic interaction of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and epinephrine mediated platelet aggregation. We show that 5-HT had no or little effect on aggregation but it did potentiate the aggregation response of epinephrine. The synergistic interaction of 5-HT (1-5 microM) and epinephrine (0.5-2 microM) was inhibited by alpha2-adrenoceptor blocker (yohimbine; IC50= 0.4 microM), calcium channel blockers (verapamil and diltiazem with IC50 of 10 and 48 mM, respectively), PLC inhibitor (U73122; IC50=6 microM) and nitric oxide (NO) donor, SNAP (IC50=1.6 microM)). The data suggest that synergistic effects of platelet agonists are receptor-mediated and occur through multiple signalling pathways including the activation PLC/Ca2+ signalling cascades.
Blotting, Western ; Calcium Channel Blockers/pharmacology ; Calcium Signaling* ; Drug Synergism ; Enzyme Activation ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Epinephrine/pharmacology ; G-Protein, Inhibitory Gi/metabolism* ; GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism* ; Human ; Phospholipase C/metabolism* ; Phospholipase C/antagonists & inhibitors ; Platelet Aggregation/physiology ; Platelet Aggregation/drug effects* ; Serotonin/pharmacology ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo study the screening of essential oils of Skimmia laureola leaves (SLO) for acute toxicity, antinociceptive, antipyretic and anticonvulsant activities in various animal models.

METHODSSLO were extracted using modified Clevenger type apparatus. Acute toxicity test was used in mice to observe its safety level. Antinociceptive activity of SLO was evaluated in acetic acid induced writhing and hot plate tests. Yeast induced hyperthermic mice and pentylenetetrazole induced convulsive mice were used for the assessment of its antipyretic and anticonvulsant profile respectively.

RESULTSSubstantial safety was observed for SLO in acute toxicity test. SLO showed a high significant activity in acetic acid induced writhing test in a dose dependent manner with maximum pain attenuation of 68.48% at 200 mg/kg i.p. However, it did not produce any relief in thermal induced pain at test doses. When challenged against pyrexia evoked by yeast, SLO manifested marked amelioration in hyperthermic mice, dose dependently. Maximum anti-hyperthermic activity (75%) was observed at 200 mg/kg i.p. after 4 h of drug administration. Nevertheless, SLO had no effect on seizures control and mortality caused by pentylenetetrazole.

CONCLUSIONSIn vivo studies of SLO showed prominent antinociceptive and antipyretic activities with ample safety profile and thus provided pharmacological base for the traditional uses of the plant in various painful conditions and pyrexia. Additional detail studies are required to ascertain its clinical application.

Analgesics ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Anticonvulsants ; pharmacology ; Antipyretics ; pharmacology ; Body Temperature ; drug effects ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Oils, Volatile ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Rutaceae ; chemistry ; Toxicity Tests

The present study was carried out to examine the mechanisms of the synergistic interaction of PAF and A23187 mediated platelet aggregation. We found that platelet aggregation mediated by subthreshold concentrations of PAF (5 nM) and A23187 (1 micrometer) was inhibited by PAF receptor blocker (WEB 2086, IC50=0.65 micrometer) and calcium channel blockers, diltiazem (IC50=13 micrometer) and verapamil (IC50=18 micrometer). Pretreatment of platelets with PAF and A23187 induced rise in intracellular calcium and this effect was also blocked by verapamil. While examining the role of the down stream signaling pathways, we found that platelet aggregation induced by the co-addition of PAF and A23187 was also inhibited by low concentrations of phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor (U73122; IC50 = 10 micrometer), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin; IC50=0.2 micrometer) and inhibitor of TLCK, herbimycin A with IC50 value of 5 micrometer. The effect was also inhibited by a specific TXA2 receptor antagonist, SQ 29548 with very low IC50 value of 0.05 micrometer. However, the inhibitors of MAP kinase, PD98059 and protein kinase C, chelerythrine had no effect on PAF and A23187-induced platelet aggregation. These data suggest that the synergism between PAF and A23187 in platelet aggregation involves activation of thromboxane and tyrosine kinase pathways.
Blood Platelets/*drug effects ; Calcimycin/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Indomethacin/pharmacology ; Ionophores/pharmacology ; Platelet Activating Factor/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Platelet Aggregation/*physiology ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinase/antagonists & inhibitors/*physiology ; Quinones/pharmacology ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Thromboxane A2/*physiology ; Verapamil/pharmacology

AIM: To study the pattern of presentation and to highlight the common causes of primary benign orbital lesions.of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi from July 1997 to August 2001 and then from September 2001 to date (Continued) at the Department of Ophthalmology of Chandka Medical College & Hospital Larkana. Only patients with primary benign orbital lesions were included in this study. All the patients were admitted in eye ward from the out patients department. The diagnosis of the disease was based on the presentation, clinical examination, investigations and histopathology of excised mass. A total of 68 patients were included in this study. The age range was from 2 months to 60 years. Out of 68, 27 (39.7%) patients were male and 41 (60.3%) were female. The left orbit was involved in 35 (51.5%) and right orbit was involved in 33 (48.5%).revealed that superficial capillary hemangiomas of the eye lid were the most common lesion 26 (38.2%) followed by deep orbital cavernous hemangiomas 5 (7.4%), lymphangiomas 5 (7.4%), orbital varices 4 (5.9%), gliomas 7 (10.3%), meningiomas 5 (7.4%), neurofibromas 5 (7.4%), neurofibromatosis 4 (5.9%), schwannomas 2 (2.9%), and pleomorphic adenoma (benign mixed cell tumor) of lacrimal gland 5 (7.4%) cases.treatment can prevent the patient from visual and life threatening complications.

OBJECTIVEHelicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative organism. Its outer membrane protein Q (HopQ) mediates host-pathogen interactions; HopQ genotypes 1 and 2 are found associating with gastroduodenal pathologies. The authors measured the anti-adhesion effects of the extracts of Abelmoschus esculentus, Zingiber officinale, Trachyspermum ammi, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Curcuma longa and Capsicum annum against HopQ genotypes and H. pylori cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA).

METHODSDNA was extracted by polymerase chain reaction of the HopQ genotypes (i.e., type 1, type 2 and CagA) from 115 H. pylori strains. The effect of the extracts from selected dietary ingredients was determined using a gastric adenocarcinoma cell line and a quantitative DNA fragmentation assay. The anti-adhesive effect of these extracts on H. pylori was tested using an anti-adhesion analysis.

RESULTSC. annum, C. longa and A. esculentus showed prominent anti-adhesion effects with resultant values of 17.3% ± 2.9%, 14.6% ± 3.7%, 13.8% ± 3.6%, respectively, against HopQ type 1 and 13.1% ± 1.7%, 12.1% ± 2%, 11.1% ± 1.6%, respectively, against HopQ type 2. C. longa (93%), C. annum (89%) and A. esculentus (75%) had better anti-adhesive activity against H. pylori with HopQ type 1 compared to HopQ type 2 with respective values of 70%, 64% and 51%. Extracts of C. annum (14.7% ± 4.1%), A. esculentus (12.3% ± 4.1%) and Z. officinale (8.4% ± 2.8%) had an anti-adhesion effect against CagA-positive H. pylori strains compared to CagA-negative strains.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-adhesion properties of the tested phytotherapeutic dietary ingredients were varied with HopQ genotypes. HopQ type 1 was found to be more sensitive to extracts of C. annum, C. longa and A. esculentus compared to the HopQ type 2 genotype.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antipyretic and anticonvulsant activities of n-hexane fraction of Viola betonicifolia (V. betonicifolia).

METHODSThe antipyretic effect was scrutinized using brewer's yeast induced pyrexia and anticonvlsion effect was tested using pentylenetetrazol and strychnine induced convulsion in mice.

RESULTSN-hexane fraction of V. betonicifolia demonstrated highly significant antipyretic activity during various assessment times (1-5 h) when challenged in yeast induced pyrexia test. The effect was in a dose dependent manner with maximum attenuation (82.50%) observed at 300 mg/kg i.p. When tested in pentylenetetrazol induced convulsion test, the 1st stage (Ear and facial twitching) and 2nd stage (Convulsive wave through the body) was 100% protected during 24 h at all the test doses (300, 400 and 500 mg/kg i.p.), while the latency time of remaining stages was significantly increased. The maximum effect was observed by n-hexane fraction of V. betonicifolia at 400 and 500 mg/kg i.p., as the latency time for generalized clonic-tonic seizure (5th stage) was increased up to 25.34 min. However, n-hexane fraction of V. betonicifolia had no protection in strychnine induced convulsion test.

CONCLUSIONSIn conclusion, phytopharmacological studies provide scientific foundation to the folk uses of the plant in the treatment of pyrexia and neurological disorders.

Animals ; Anticonvulsants ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Antipyretics ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Fever ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Hexanes ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Seizures ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Viola ; chemistry