Inhibition of adrenaline-induced aggregation of human platelets by Pakistani medicinal plants

The effects of extracts of Pakistani plants claiming medicinal value were observed on adrenaline-induced aggregation of human platelets according to the method of Born (1962). The extracts manifested significant inhibitory activity in doses of 0.625 mgm(-1) to 2.5 mgml(-1) in this in vitro model. The potency of the plant extracts in inhibiting platelet aggregation induced by adrenaline is in the following order: Sida pakistanica, IC50 = 0.90 mgml(-1) > Tribulus terrestris, IC50 = 0.97 mgml(-1) > Solanum surattense, IC50 = 1.34 mgml(-1) Tephrosia subtriflora, IC50 = 1.40 mgml(-1) > Glycyrrhiza glabra (butanolic extract), IC50 = 1.66 mgml(-1) > Urtica dioica IC50 = 2.17 mgml(-1). Further studies are proposed to find out whether the inhibition of adrenaline-induced platelet aggregation is mediated through alpha-adrenoceptor blockade or suppressed synthesis of prostaglandin endoperoxides.

A study of candidosis: the role of fomites

This study investigates treatment failure and recurrences of vulvo-vaginal candidosis. It reviews the factors possibly associated with both. Patients attending a department of genitourinary medicine with recurrent candidosis (N = 186) were entered in the trial. The patients were investigated for evidence of candidosis from vagina, rectal wall and buccal mucosa and were given antifungal therapy. Prevention and reinfection via fomites was studied by means of a single blind parallel study comparing the effect of soaking undergarments in the amphoteric biocide Tego 103G with the effect of a placebo soak. General and possible contributory factors influencing treatment and failure and recurrences were considered. The success rate of miconazole therapy was typical of any imidazole therapy: 85.4%. There was no evidence that modern oral contraceptives played a role in candidosis. Oral nystan reduced the rectal wall carriage from 39.2% to 23.2%. Oral yeast carriage rate in women was 37.6%. The recurrence rate over a six month period was 47.4%. The laboratory results of Tego soaking reduced the yeast carriage on panties from 85.2% to 23.4%. However, no evidence was found in the trial results that panties were a significant source of reinfection.

Cardiovascular effects of Bacopa monnieri (L.) pennel extract in rabbits

The effects of the crude ethanolic extract of whole plant of Bacopa monnieri have been evaluated on left ventricular contractility, heart rate and coronary flow in isolated rabbit hearth showed cardiac depressive activity in all parameters, like quinidine.

An evaluation of the acute in vivo toxicity of benzylidenechroman-4-ones, 1-thiobenzylidenechroman-4-ones and benzylidenetetralones

A series of new compounds were evaluated for acute in vivo toxicity. Their synthesis and antifungal activity have previously been described by us. The naturally occurring class of compounds to which they belong - the benzylidenechroman-4-ones - have been identified as a potential source of new antifungal agents. These compounds were found to be less toxic, as judged by acute toxicity, than existing commercially available antifungals. A number of conclusions can be drawn about the relationship of structural changes in this series of compounds to increases or decreases in acute toxicity.

Changes in e.C.g. And electrolytes during coronary ligation in anaesthetized cat

The ligation of the coronary artery produces cardiac, and haemodynamic disturbances. Electrolytes disturbances were also noted during the assault (Harris et. al., 1954). In present experiments local cardiac ischaemia was produced by coronary ligation and changes in E.C.G. and electrolytes were noted at various stages. Pre-mature ventricular systoles and T wave inversion with an increase in K+ and decrease in Na+ was observed.

Evaluation of community-based rehabilitation in Punjab, Pakistan: I: Use of the WHO manual, 'Training disabled people in the community'

The WHO community-based rehabilitation programme has been tested in a village and a slum area in Pakistan. House-to-house surveys by physicians identified medical diagnoses and impairments and handicaps according to the ICIDH. Volunteer local supervisors from the communities were taught to identify and train disabled persons according to the CBR manual. The effect of training was evaluated after 1-2 years by an occupational therapist, using questions from the same manual. Of the 82 persons followed up, 80% showed improvement in function. The prevalence of disablement identified by the local supervisors and of handicap identified by a physician agreed well, and was of the order of 5%.

Evaluation of community-based rehabilitation in Punjab, Pakistan: II: The prevalence of diseases, impairments, and handicaps

A health survey using the impairment and handicap classifications from the ICIDH was carried out in conjunction with a study of the WHO community-based rehabilitation programme in a village and a slum area in Pakistan. The prevalence of handicaps defined in this way was about half that of impairments, the most common handicaps being with mobility, occupation, and social integration. There was a slightly higher degree of handicap in the village. In both areas diseases of the musculoskeletal system, the ear, and the respiratory tract were common, but the frequency of infectious, respiratory, endocrine, blood, and digestive diseases was higher in the slum area.

Declaring cure in women with gonorrhoea

The case notes of 426 women who had been treated for uncomplicated gonorrhoea in 1978-83 inclusive, were studied. The findings for 1978 formed a retrospective basis for a prospective study. The aim was to appraise the value of earlier and fewer follow up tests of cure. The new routine was associated with a more assertive approach to other modalities of control. It was concluded that the interests of individual patients, as well as those aimed at control, were adequately served by one set of smear and culture specimens. There was one proviso. Potential "repeaters" need to be identified and treated individually in terms of follow up testing.

Topical treatment of recurrent genital herpes simplex virus infections with trisodium phosphonoformate (foscarnet): double blind, placebo controlled, multicentre study

A double blind, placebo controlled trial was performed in nine sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinics in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands to investigate the efficacy of trisodium phosphonoformate (foscarnet) cream in treating recurrent genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. The study group comprised 145 male and 85 female patients. Men received 0.3% foscarnet cream and women 1% foscarnet cream for five days. The difference in time to healing between patients receiving foscarnet or placebo was not significant. Fewer patients treated with foscarnet had positive viral cultures after treatment, but the difference was not significant. The development of new lesions, however, was significantly less common in patients given foscarnet. Though topical foscarnet is a safe drug, no appreciable efficacy in treating recurrent genital HSV infection could be shown.

Cardioregulatory properties of indoramin in the rat

The antihypertensive action of the competitive alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist indoramin is not accompanied by reflex tachycardia in animals or man. The possibility that the established local anaesthetic property of indoramin is involved in its cardioinhibitory action has been investigated. Indoramin evoked a dose-dependent bradycardia in anaesthetized/pithed rats. The decrease in heart rate was slightly greater than that evoked in anaesthetized intact animals suggesting that indoramin had a direct action on the heart. Reflex tachycardia was simulated in pithed rats be increasing the frequency of cardiac nerve stimulation from 0.3 to 1 Hz. Indoramin and the local anaesthetic agents, lignocaine and procaine, reduced the positive chronotropic response without markedly altering the basal rate. The response curves were parallel. In contrast, phentolamine decreased the positive chronotropic response, but only at high doses which were associated with a marked decrease in the basal rate. Thymoxamine and prazosin had so significant effects on the chronotropic response. These experiments suggest that the cardioregulatory action of indoramin is attributable to its local anaesthetic property had this action further distinguishes it from the other alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists tested.

Prevalence of rectal and pharyngeal infection in women with gonorrhoea in Sheffield

The prevalence of gonococcal infection of the rectum and pharynx in 239 consecutive women with gonorrhoea presenting as named contacts was 47% and 10% respectively. In 2% of all patients the rectum and pharynx were each the sole sites of infection. Treatment failure occurred in three patients given a single dose of aqueous procaine penicillin 2.4 megaunits intramuscularly, two of whom had rectal infections; no treatment failures occurred in patients with pharyngeal infections. The incidence of rectal gonorrhoea significantly increased with the duration of infection (P less than 0.001). This suggests that autoinoculation from infected vaginal material is of major importance in the transmission of gonococcal infection to the rectum.

Improved management in the diagnosis of gonorrhoea in women

In this paper an evaluation is made of the endeavours to improve diagnosis in women named as contacts of gonorrhoea. The problem was approached in three ways. (a) The number of sites sampled was increased. (b) The results of microscopical examination of smears made by clinical staff were regularly evaluated. (c) Cultural examinations by the supporting laboratory were dealt with more efficiently and speedily. It is concluded that the number of tests currently used to establish or exclude a diagnosis of gonorrhoea in women can safely be reduced to two, and that the methods currently in use allow a more cost-effective management of an increasing case load.

Candidal vaginitis: natural history, predisposing factors and prevention

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