Azithromycin induced contractile responses of intestinal smooth muscles: A mechanistic approach.

The current work is documented to investigate the actions of azithromycin on intestinal smooth muscles as there are reports of gastrointestinal upsets with use of azithromycin. Azithromycin was tested on rabbit's jejunal and rat's ileal preparations in test concentrations (µM) of 0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 5, 10 and 15µM. After mounting the tissues in organ bath containing Tyrode's solution, spasmogenic activity of azithromycin was observed. To explore its possible mechanisms, response of azithromycin was noted in the presence of 0.3µM atropine, 3µM loratadine, 0.3µM ondansetron, 10µM metoclopramide, 0.3µM verapamil, 1µM propranolol, 3µM amiodarone and combination of 0.3µM each atropine, ondansetron, verapamil and propranolol (AOVP). Mean % Emax for azithromycin was 67.6±1.6 and 54.0±2.1 (% of ACh max) for rabbit's jejunal and rat's ileal preparations, respectively. The Mean % Emax for azithromycin in the presence of various antagonists for rabbit's jejunal and rat's ileal preparations was as: 2.4±0.1 and 11.4±1.3 with atropine; 67.9±2.0 and 50.7±1.9 with loratadine; 27.5±0.5 and 34.0±2.9 with ondansetron; 88.4±1.2 and 79.1±3.8 with metoclopramide; 13.6±1.2 and 22.3±2.5 with verapamil; 10.2±2.1 and 15.6±1.4 with propranolol; 68.4±1.3 and 58.0±3.4 with amiodarone. Results reveal that the spasmogenic response of azithromycin is mainly mediated through muscarinic receptors. However, we found involvement of mixed pathway including serotonergic receptors, voltage gated calcium channels and voltage gated sodium channels.

Anti-Arthritic Effect Of Thymoquinone In Comparison With Methotrexate On Pristane Induced Arthritis In Female Sprague Dawley Rats.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis inflammatory joint disease which is chronic in nature. Since long various researches are carried out to find the remedy of this disease but still a lot of work needed to be done. METHODS: This comparative study was performed from March to August 2013 at Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore. A total of thirty-two female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four equal groups (n=8); group A was kept as healthy control, group B was kept as positive control, group C was treated with thymoquinone and group D was treated with methotrexate. Arthritis developed within two weeks in group B, group C and group D after giving a single shot of pristane intradermally. Treatment was started on day 15. At day 30 (time of dissection) paw weight and histopathological sections of ankle joints of all the animals were taken. RESULTS: The results shown significant rise in paw weight and score of histopathological parameters in group B, group C and group D when compared with healthy control rats. Thymoquinone and methotrexate treated groups shown reduction in paw weight and score of histopathological parameters when compared to positive control rats with p-value 0.001each. The difference between groups C and D was insignificant (p-value 0.062). CONCLUSIONS: Study results supported the anti-inflammatory and disease modifying activities of thymoquinone as it significantly reduces both paw weight and histological parameters of joint inflammation.

Academic performance of male in comparison with female undergraduate medical students in Pharmacology examinations.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the academic performance of male and female medical students in Pharmacology examinations. METHODS: The comparative study was conducted at Rehman Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan, from March to August 2015. For evaluating the students' academic performance, male and female students of academic sessions 2013-14 and 2014-15 were divided into 4 groups. Group 1: < 50% marks; Group 2: 50-69% marks; Group 3: 70-79% marks; and Group 4: >80% marks. SPSS 20 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 200 medical students enrolled, 102(51%) were male and 98(41%) were female. There was no significant difference in the academic performance in terms of gender in multiple choice questions (p=0.811) and short essay questions (p=0.515). The effect of attendance was also insignificant (p=0.130). Significant difference was found between the academic records of urban male and female students compared to rural students (p=0.038). Boarder students' results were insignificantly different from those of day scholars (p=0.887). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference between the academic performance of male and female students.

Academic performance of day scholars versus boarders in pharmacology examinations of a medical school in Pakistan.

Objective: To compare the academic performance of day scholar and boarder students in Pharmacology examinations. Methods: This comparative study was conducted at Rehman Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan, from June to September, 2015. It comprised third-year medical students of the sessions 2013-14 and 2014-15.The record of the results of examinations, which had already been conducted, were assessed. All the exams had two components, i.e. multiple-choice questions and short-essay questions. Students were categorised into 4 groups according to their academic performance: those who got <50% marks (Group 1); 51-69% marks (Group 2); 70-80% marks (Group 3); and >80% marks (Group 4). SPSS 20 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 200 students, 159(79.5%) were day scholars and 41(20.5%) were boarders. In multiple-choice questions, 29(70.7%) boarder students were in Group 2, while none of them was in Group 4. In short-essay questions, 11(26.8%) of them were in Group 1 and 17(41.5%) in Group 2. Results of day scholars' multiple-choice questions exams showed 93(58.5%) were in Group 2 and 2(1.3%) in Group 4. In short-essay questions, 63(39.6%) were in Group 2 (p>o.o5 each). CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference was found between the academic performance of boarders and day scholars.

Problem-based learning in comparison with lecture-based learning among medical students.

OBJECTIVE: To compare performance of medical students exposed to problem-based learning and lecture-based learning. METHODS: The descriptive study was conducted at Rehman Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan from May 20 to September 20, 2014, and comprised 146 students of 3rd year MBBS who were randomised into two equal groups. One group was taught by the traditional lecture based learning, while problem-based learning was conducted for the other group on the same topic. At the end of sessions, the performance of the two groups was evaluated by one-best type of 50 multiple choice questions. Total marks were 100, with each question carrying 2 marks. SPSS 15 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were 146 students who were divided into two equal groups of 73(50%) each. The mean score in the group exposed to problem-based learning was 3.2 ± 0.8 while those attending lecture-based learning was 2.7±0.8 (p= 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Problem-based learning was more effective than lecture based learning in the academic performance of medical students.

Comparison of the Therapeutic Effects of Thymoquinone and Methotrexate on Renal Injury in Pristane Induced Arthritis in Rats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of thymoquinone and methotrexate on blood urea and serum creatinine in arthritic rats. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental, comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore, from March to August 2013. METHODOLOGY: Thirty two female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into four equal groups (n=8); group A(healthy control), group B (positive control), group C (Thymoquinone treated) and group D (Methotrexate treated). Arthritis developed within two weeks after a single pristane injection. Total leukocyte count, blood urea and serum creatinine were taken at day 0, 15 and 30. While clinical score of inflammation was taken at day 0 and then on every alternate day. RESULTS: Development of arthritis and renal involvement was accompanied by significant raise in total leukocyte count, clinical score of inflammation, blood urea and serum creatinine as compared to healthy control rats (group A) till day 15 (p < 0.001). From day 15 to day 30 both thymoquinone (group C) and methotrexate (group D) significantly lowered the total leukocyte count, clinical score of inflammation and improved blood urea and serum creatinine as compared to arthritic rats (group B) (p < 0.001). Methotrexate was found a bit more effective than thymoquinone. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of results supported the beneficial effects of thymoquinone in renal injury produced by rheumatoid arthritis.

Anti inflammatory effect of thymoquinone in comparison with methotrexate on pristane induced arthritis in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the anti-inflammatory effects of thymoquinone on body weight, clinical score of inflammation, total leukocyte count and differential leukocyte count in arthritic rats and compare it with that of methotrexate. METHODS: The study was conducted at the Post-Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore, from March to September 2013, and comprised female Sprague-Dawley rats randomised into four equal groups; group A (healthy control), group B (positive control), group C (thymoquinone treated) and group D (methotrexate treated). Arthritis developed in Group B, C and D within two weeks after a single intra-dermal injection of pristane. Body-weight measured on electronic balance in grams and clinical score of inflammation scored on macroscopic scoring system were monitored on every alternate day while total leukocyte count and differential leukocyte count were taken at day 0, 16 and 30. After day 15, groups A and B were given 0.5ml of distilled water by intra-peritoneal injection daily for 15 consecutive days; group C was given thymoquinone 2mg/kg by intra-peritoneal injection daily for 15 consecutive days, and group D received methotrexate 0.5mg/kg by intra-peritoneal injection, daily for 15 consecutive days. SPSS 20 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The 32 rats in the study were randomised into four groups of 8(25%) each. In group A the body-weight continued to increase and reached a mean of 144.13±10.8% of the baseline at day 30. In group B the weight reduced to 93.13±4.19% at day 16 and to 88.3±6.97% at day 30. In groups C and D the weight reduced to 87.25±7.69% and 88.5±7.07% respectively at day 16; then the animals in the two groups regained their weight which increased to 108.63±10.89% and 103.38±6.25% respectively at day 30. The score was zero in group A throughout the study period. The score of group B, which was zero at day 0, reached a mean of 16±0 at day 16. In groups C and D, the mean score increased till day 16 and reached 16±1 and 16±0 respectively, and then reduced to 5±2 and 4±1 at day 30 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of data supported the anti-inflammatory activities of thymoquinone, so it may be investigated as an effective anti-inflammatory drug in rheumatoid arthritis.