Hypocalcaemia As A Rare Reversible Cause Of Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is characterized by dilation and enlargement of one or both ventricles with reduced systolic function. Calcium plays a key role in myocardial contraction. Hypocalcaemia can lead to a decrease in contraction, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (EF). Hypocalcaemia is a rare reversible cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. The author presents a case who presented with complaints of shortness of breath on exertion, orthopnoea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea, numbness and crampy muscular pains. He had a high JVP, systolic murmur on auscultation, hepatomegaly, pedal oedema and crackles on chest auscultation. His ECG showed sinus rhythm with prolonged QT interval. His echocardiography showed dilated cardiomyopathy with reduced ejection fraction, moderate mitral regurgitation and mild tricuspid regurgitation. His Calcium levels and PTH levels were both low. He was treated with ionotrophes, diuretics, vitamin D and calcium supplements, including both intravenous and oral. With the correction of calcium levels, he was weaned off the ionotrophic support and his ejection fraction improved. Calcium levels if low should be corrected in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Cardioprotective potential of Thymus linearis Benth.

In developing countries, myocardial ischemia and the resulting impairments in heart function are the leading cause of illness and mortality. Thymus linearis Benth has been used as an antibiotic, antioxidant, and antihypertensive agent for centuries. The goal of this investigation was to see if Thymus linearis could protect isoproterenol and doxorubicin-induced myocardial ischemia in vivo at doses of 25 mg/kg s.c. and 15 mg/kg i.p., respectively. The level of cardiac enzymes (CK-MB, LDH, and AST) in the serum isolated from the experimental animal's blood was used to determine myocardial ischemia. The anti-ischemic potential was assessed by comparing the levels of the aforementioned cardiac biomarkers in the intoxicated and treated animal groups. The study found substantial increase (p0.0001) in the serum levels of CK-MB, LDH, AST when compared to intoxicated groups, while pretreatment of animals with crude extract of Thymus linearis significantly reduced the rise in serum cardiac indicators. The findings of the study indicated that the aqueous methanolic Thymus linearis crude extract has cardioprotective potential against Isoproterenol and Doxorubicin-induced cardiac necrosis in rats.

Phytochemical analysis of crude extract of Delphinium brunonianum and its effect on hypertension and metabolic perturbations in fructose fed rats.

The present study aims at phytochemical profiling and valuating the effect of crude extract of Delphinium brunonianum on fructose mediated rise in blood pressure and metabolic abnormalities in rats. Therefore, rats were fed on fructose (10%w/v) for 6 weeks. Rats in treatment groups received amlodipine 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg of DB-Cr separately in concurrent to fructose. Various parameters of metabolic perturbations were assessed at the end of study. Further, DB-Cr was analyzed using LC-MS technique. DB-Cr exerted remarkable antihypertensive effect whereas, sympathetic hyperactivity and hyperinsulinemia in these rats was significantly blunted, further, endothelium functionality was successfully restored. LC-MS analysis of DB-Cr revealed the presence of a variety of chemical constituents (41) including quinic acid, scopolin, gingerol, Robinetin 3-rutinoside, KAPA and maleic acid. In conclusion, D. brunonianum possess the potential to combat the fructose mediated hypertension and metabolic perturbations, which may partially be due to its chemical constituents.

Medicinal plants used by inhabitants of the Shigar Valley, Baltistan region of Karakorum range-Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: The inhabitants of mountainous terrains depend on folk therapies to treat various ailments; however lack of plant based research and geographical constraints set the traditional knowledge in jeopardy. Present study is the first documentation on traditional uses of plant species by the inhabitants of the Shigar Valley, Karakorum Range, Northern Pakistan. METHOD: Ethnobotanical data were collected over a period from July, 2013 to October, 2016 from 84 respondents, using semi structured questionnaire. Quantitative indices such as relative frequency citation (RFCs) and fidelity level (FL) were intended to evaluate the importance of medicinal plant species. RESULTS: In total 84 plant species belonging to 36 families and 72 genera were recorded. Fabaceae was dominant with 7 species, followed by Asteraceae, Lamiaceae and Rosacea (6 species each). Leaves, root, flowers, seeds and fruits were the frequently utilized plant parts, whereas among drug formulations, decoction (49%) was ranked first. Majority of the plant species were used to treat abdominal, respiratory and dermal ailments (31, 12 and 12, respectively). RFCs value ranged 0.477 to 0.11 for Tanacetum falconeri and Allium carolinianum, respectively; while Hippophe rhamnoides and Thymus linearis depicted 100% FL. Comparative assessment with previous reports revealed that traditional uses of 26% plant species counting Hedyserum falconeri, Aconitum violoceum var. weileri, Arnebia guttata, Biebersteinia odora, Clematis alpine var. sibirica, Corydalis adiantifolia and Saussurea simpsoniana were reported for the first time. CONCLUSION: The endemic medicinal plant species and traditional knowledge of Balti community living in extremely high mountains area were explored for the first time. A comprehensive survey of this region could be significant to drive the existing knowledge in market circuit with sustainable collection, and to evaluate economic potential of the plant species. Additionally, social livelihood could be reinforced through establishing collection sites, transformation and drying centres for micro and macro marketing of medicinal plant species. Plants and people interaction in the Karakorum Mountains.