Objectives: The study was designed to investigate the hypoglycaemic effect of Achillea santolina and its comparison with Caralluma tuberculata. Study Design: Experimental study. Setting: Khyber Medical University, Peshawar. Period: July 2017 to February 2018. Material & Methods: Crude extract and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) extract of Achillea santolina were prepared and administered to normal and alloxan treated diabetic rabbits. These extracts were given in capsule form as well as in cooking oil and their effects on blood glucose levels were observed at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 hours of administration. The results were compared with Caralluma tuberculata. Results: The crude extract 200 mg/kg body weight of Achillea santolina showed marked reduction in mean blood glucose level at 2, 4, 8 and 12 hours with significant (p<0.001) difference when compared with Caralluma tuberculata. The metformin 500 mg/kg body weight was also given to compare its effects with the plant crude extracts, which was more or less intermediate between the crude extracts of Achillea santolina and Caralluma tuberculata. The diabetic rabbits were treated with 100 mg/kg body weight CCl4 fraction of Achillea in capsule form. Blood glucose levels dropped markedly at 2 hours and further more at 4 hours as observed with Caralluma. Upon comparison with metformin, Achillea found to lower blood glucose levels but quite late than metformin. The diabetic rabbits were also treated with 100 mg/kg body weight CCl4 fraction of Achillea santolina in cooking oil and Caralluma was found to cause higher reduction in blood glucose levels than Achillea. Conclusion: Both Achillea santolina and Caralluma tuberculata lowered the blood glucose levels but the later turned out to be more significant in developing hypoglycaemia, particularly when taken with cooking oil.

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ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the clinical effectiveness of oral azithromycin with oral ciprofloxacin in the treatment of uncomplicated enteric fever in children. Material and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was carried out in the Pediatric department of Khyber Teaching Hospital for which a sample size of 282 patients was determined using WHO calculator with 5% level of significance and 80% power of test (Two sided). Non-probability consecutive sampling technique was used for selection of children age 6 to 18 years and either gender. They were divided into two groups (141 in each) where Group A was treated with oral azithromycin while Group B with ciprofloxacin for 7 days. Clinical effectiveness was determined when the patient remained afebrile for more than 48 hours without antipyretics. Results: In group A, 128 children (90.78%) while in Group B, 105 (74.46%) children become clinically cure. Conclusion: Oral Azithromycin is more effective than oral Ciprofloxacin in the treatment of typhoid fever in children.

Objective: To compare levobunolol and travoprost for lowering the intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in patients of ocular hypertension and primary open-angle glaucoma. Materials and Methods: A Quasi experimental study was conducted in the ophthalmology department of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. 120 patients of both genders and age between 18-80 years with ocular hypertension or primary open angle glaucoma requiring single pressure lowering drug were enrolled in the study. Subjects were divided into two groups (60 in each). One group was treated with travoprost eye drops (0.004%, OD) while other group with levobunolol eye drops (0.5%, OD). After initial screening visit where demographic data and baseline IOP was recorded on structured proforma, three follow-up visits were arranged each at 02 weeks interval. At each follow-up visit, IOP was recorded by standard protocols to evaluate and compare the ocular hypotensive efficacy of study drugs by calculating mean IOP change from the baseline. Only patients with no missing IOP measurements for all visits were considered eligible for the efficacy evaluation. Results: A total of 120 patients were observed having age range from 18 years and above with mean age 52.16 ± 9.56 and predominance of male gender. Upon comparative analysis, no significant statistical difference (p value >0.05) was observed in the ocular hypotensive efficacy of levobunolol and travoprost measured at each follow-up visit, indicating both the drugs equally effective. Moreover, age groups did not reveal any significant statistical impact on the treatment outcome of patients treated with either study drug. Conclusion: Though both the drugs are equally effective, levobunolol is better option than travoprost for the treatment of glaucoma because of its fast onset of action, cost effectiveness and easy availability.

Objective: Worldwide studies indicate that allergic reactions to drug(s) are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. However, the epidemiological data regarding drug allergies is limited in our community. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of self-reported drug allergic reactions among medical students of Peshawar.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 students from various public and private sector medical colleges of Peshawar from Sept 2020 to June 2021. After brief introduction and explaining the purpose of this study, a close ended self-reported questionnaire was distributed among them. Questionnaire was comprised of demographic data, family history of atopic disease, source of drug allergy, signs and symptoms of allergy and route of drug administration.Results: Among 300 students, 23 participants indicated drug allergy with self-reported frequency of 7.67%. The most frequently implicated drugs were antibiotics (52.17%), of which levofloxacin was the most common antibiotic followed by NSAIDs (17.39%). The most commonly reported allergic manifestations were cutaneous (34.8%), followed by gastrointestinal (17.4%) and respiratory (13.4%) symptoms. 78% allergic patients had the drug in oral dosage form.Conclusion: Self-reported allergic reactions to the drugs are highly prevalent and poorly explored. Being the most frequent source of drug allergies, patient awareness and education is needed while prescribing Antibiotics and NSAIDs.