Cadmium, a heavy metal with no physiological function in the human body, is considered a bio-hazard. It is also considered to be a potent neurotoxin. The primary sources of cadmium exposure are diet and cigarette smoke. It has been postulated that nutritional deficiencies can increase the risk of cadmium toxicity. Nuts provide essential nutrients which are necessary for the maintenance of brain health in humans. The present study was designed to investigate the possible protective effects of almond and walnut supplementation on cadmium-induced neurotoxicity. Cadmium was orally administered at a dose of 50 mg/kg weekly with or without the supplementation of almond and walnut in rats. Intensities of depression-and anxiety-related behaviors were assessed by the forced swim test and light/dark transition test, respectively. Memory function was also evaluated by the elevated plus maze, Morris water maze and novel object recognition task. After four weeks of treatment it was observed that cadmium administration significantly induced depressogenic and anxiogenic behaviors. Memory function was also impaired by cadmium administration. Cadmium-treated rats exhibited reduced noradrenalin, dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain, whereas the levels of their respective metabolites were significantly increased. The dietary supplementation of almond and walnut at a dose of 400 mg/kg/day significantly attenuated cadmium-induced depression, anxiety and memory impairments. Neurochemical aberrations also normalized following supplementation with these nuts in rats. The present study demonstrates that long-term supplementation with almond and walnut provides essential nutrients which may overcome nutritional deficiencies and thereby reduce heavy-metal intoxication.

Background: Diabetes mellitus has remained the major concern for medical sciences               researches due to its deleterious effects on general, physical and mental health of patients. To understand the pathophysiology and to explore better treatment options for such kind of metabolic disorders it is necessary to generate the experimental animal models. To create diabetic animal models, streptozotocin has shown predominance in selectivity as a diabetogenic agent. While studying effects of any intervention in the diabetic animal models, being a cytotoxic drug streptozotocin may affect the study results by inhibiting highly replicating cells especially hematopoietic cells. Aims: The aim of study was to analyze the effects of streptozotocin on various cellular components of blood such as RBCs, WBCs (Lymphocytes, Neutrophils, Eosinophils), Hb%, HCT and Platelets, at baseline, 5th day and 15th day without any intervention. Study Design: Animal based Experimental study. Place and duration of Study: The study was conducted at animal house of faculty of Pharmacy Ziauddin University Karachi, while laboratory work was performed at MDRL-1 Ziauddin University. Methodology: In Group A normal saline and in group B and C 60 mg / kg streptozotocin diluted in normal saline was administered intraperitoneally. After the confirmation of induction of Diabetes in rats, on fifth day blood samples were drawn from Group A and B and were analyzed. While blood samples from group C were drawn on fifteenth day. Results: Analysis of various hematological parameters on 5th day revealed that there was a decrease in the levels of Hb, HCT, RBCs and WBCs with an increase in platelet count in group B in comparison to group A (control). On the other hand, in Group C (15th day), blood cell counts (Hb, HCT, RBCs, WBCs, Lymphocytes, Neutrophils and platelets) seemed to recover from streptozotocin induced decline that was observed in group B, however did not reach the baselines as in group A(control). Conclusion: It is concluded that change in hematological parameters of rats after administration of streptozotocin is reversible. The blood parameters may recover near to base line values without any intervention within two weeks.

Background and objectives: Irrational and repeated use of broad spectrum antibiotics for infectious diarrhea in children has resulted in their increased resistance along with several systemic toxic effects. Probiotics are also used in the management of infectious diarrhea as these are supposed to be favorable in promoting overall health benefits including stability of the intestinal flora. However, these agents are not used as an alternative to antibiotics as their exact bactericidal/bacteriostatic effects have not been evaluated on the basis of any clinical or in-vitro samples (Culture and Sensitivity test). Hence the aim of our study was to compare the culture and sensitivity patterns of standard antibiotics and two probiotics, Lactobacilli (Lactobacillus paracasei/Lactobacillus acidophilus) and Saccharomyces boulardii used for the treatment of infectious diarrhea in children less than 5 years of age in a tertiary care hospital of Karachi, Pakistan. Methodology: This prospective quasi experimental study was conducted for a period of six months. After getting informed consent from parents/guardians, the stool samples were obtained from children of ages, 6 months to 5 years, presented with signs and symptoms of diarrhea in outpatient department (OPD) or being referred to microbiology department for stool C/S (culture and sensitivity). The sensitivity patterns of the cultured isolates were assessed for standard antibiotics according to the CLSI guidelines (2018), while the two probiotics (Lactobacilli and Saccharomyces boulardii) were evaluated by means of Dried Modification method. The data was analyzed using statistical software SPSS version 19.0. Results: A total number of 325 stool samples were collected, out of which 152 samples were positive for pathogens i.e. E. coli, Klebsiella and Salmonella typhi. The sensitivity of combination of Lactobacilli for E. coli, Klebsiella and Salmonella typhi was 28.3%, 25% and 25% respectively. While, for Saccharomyces boulardii the sensitivity for E. coli, Klebsiella and Salmonella typhi was 37%, 32.1% and 25% respectively, which were slightly higher or equivalent to commonly prescribed antibiotics such as Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid, Ceftazidime, Ampicillin, Cefotaxime, Cefuroxime, Ceftriaxone, Aztreonam, Trimethoprim/ Sulfmethoxazole and Nalidixic acid. In comparison, the antibiotics which are not frequently used for infectious diarrhea showed higher sensitivities for all isolated organisms; as for E. coli the highest sensitivity was observed for Amikacin (96.7%), Gentamycin (95.7%) Imipenim (95.7%) and Piperacillin/Tazobactam (84.8%). Moreover, for Klebsiella the highest sensitivity was observed for Imipenim (98.2%), followed by Amikacin (94.6%), Piperacillin/Tazobactam (92.9%) and Gentamycin (89.3%). Conclusion: On in-vitro cultured samples, the two probiotics Lactobacilli and Saccharomyces boulardii have shown slightly higher or equivalent sensitivity in comparison to the most commonly prescribed antibiotics (Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid, Ceftazidime, Ampicillin, Cefota...

Aims: The aim of this study was to observe the effect of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in combination with Metformin on the Body Mass Index (BMI) and glycemic control of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients. Study Design: Single arm pre post quasi experimental clinical trial. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine of a tertiary care hospital and a Diabetes and Endocrinology clinic, based in Karachi, Pakistan from April to July 2019. Methodology: A total of 30 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled in the study (Males: 17; females: 13; age range: 27-55 years) after obtaining written informed consent. The parameters of Body weight, BMI, Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of each patient were assessed before and after 12 weeks of treatment with Metformin 750 mg plus 2 tablespoons of ACV per day. The baseline and post treatment values of the aforementioned were compared with each other. Results: In all the 30 patients assessed after 12 weeks of treatment, the weight was significantly reduced from 85.66±18.30 kg. to 82.96±18.43 kg with a consequently significant change in the BMI from 29.38±5.08 kg/m2 to 28.43±5.16 kg/m2. Moreover, the glycemic control, assessed as FBS and HbA1c also showed significant reduction in the FBS (127.76±9.17 to 121.23±9.54) and HbA1c (7.14±0.29 to 6.92±0.29) after 12 weeks of treatment in all 30 patients (p<0.01). Conclusion: Apple Cider Vinegar seems to be effective therapy in combination with metformin for newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients in improving glycemic control as well as augmenting weight reduction.