Evaluation of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities, and Metabolite Profiling of Selected Medicinal Plants of Nepal.

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, antiarthritic, and anti-inflammatory properties of extracts from the leaves of twelve different medicinal plants in Nepal. We then evaluated the total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents of the extract using in-vitro assays and characterized it using GC-MS analysis. Results revealed that most of the leaf extracts contained phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, and saponins. Few plants also showed the presence of glycosides, phytate, and vitamin C. Among the studied plants, Neolamarckia cadamba exhibited the highest total phenolic and tannin contents, as 241.53 ± 0.20 µg of gallic acid equivalent/mg and 74.48 ± 1.081 µg of tannic acid equivalent/mg, respectively. Ipomoea batatas exhibited the highest total flavonoid content, as 53.051 ± 1.11 µg of quercetin equivalent/mg. Moreover, Raphanus sativus demonstrated significant ferrous ion chelating, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and total antioxidant activities with IC50 value of 4.76 ± 0.68 µg/mL, 5.84 ± 0.14 µg/mL, 6.89 ± 0.16 µg/mL, and 8.99 ± 0.20 µg/mL, respectively. Similarly, Colocasia esculenta and Cicer arietinum exhibited the highest hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide scavenging activities, measuring IC50 value of 7.22 ± 0.56 µg/mL and 9.06 ± 0.10 µg/mL, respectively. Among all the extracts, Amorphophallus paeoniifolius displayed significant human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization activity (IC50 = 6.22 ± 0.78 µg/mL). Furthermore, Raphanus sativus, Chenopodium album, Cicer arietinum, and Murraya koenigii exhibited the highest inhibitory activities against protein denaturation with bovine serum albumin, antiarthritic, lipoxygenase inhibitory, and proteinase inhibitory, measuring IC50 of 7.48 ± 0.48 µg/mL, 9.44 ± 1.62 µg/mL, 14.67 ± 1.94 µg/mL, and 28.57 ± 2.39 µg/mL, respectively. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the twelve leaf extracts' significant antioxidant, antiarthritic, and anti-inflammatory activities.

Multidrug Resistance among Patients with Surgical Site Infection in a Tertiary Care Centre.

Introduction: Infections at surgical sites are a major problem all over the world. Pathogens linked to postoperative infections are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, which presents a significant therapeutic challenge for surgeons and raises the financial burden placed on patients. The study aimed to find the prevalence of multidrug resistance among patients with surgical site infections in a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 3 November 2022 to 2 May 2023 among post-operative patients with surgical site infection after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. Swab samples were sent for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval. Results: Among 147 patients with surgical site infection, the prevalence of multi-drug resistance was 95 (64.63%) (56.90-72.36, 95% Confidence Interval). Among them, 51 (53.68%) patients were in the 21-40 years age group and most of them were male 53 (55.79%). Conclusions: The prevalence of multidrug-resistant cases was similar to other studies done in similar settings. Keywords: antimicrobial drug resistance; multidrug resistance; Staphylococcus aureus; surgical site infection.

Dry Eye Disease among Patients with Glaucoma under Topical Antiglaucoma Agents in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Dry eye disease is a disorder of the tears and ocular surface that results in various symptoms, such as dryness, grittiness, burning and itching sensation in the eye, excessive tearing, and fluctuating vision. The prevalence of dry eye disease symptoms is increased with long-term topical anti-glaucoma medicine treatment. The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of dry eye disease in glaucoma patients under topical anti-glaucoma agents in a tertiary care centre. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 9 February 2022 to 5 June 2022 among glaucoma patients under topical anti-glaucoma agents at a tertiary care centre after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: UCMS/IRC/028/22). Data were collected using a standard ocular surface disease index questionnaire. The dry eye disease was clinically diagnosed if the ocular surface disease index score was equal to or more than 13. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. RESULTS: Among 250 glaucoma patients, dry eye disease was found in 180 (72%) (66.43-77.57, 95% Confidence Interval). Mild, moderate, and severe symptoms were present in 50 (27.78%), 68 (37.78%), and 62 (34.44%) of the patients, respectively. The most frequently observed dry eye symptoms were itching and irritation seen in 56 (31.11%), followed by pain in the eye in 41 (22.77%) and redness in the eye in 32 (17.77%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of dry eye disease was higher than other clinical studies done in similar setting. It is extremely concerning and calls for increased focus on managing glaucoma and concurrent dry eye disease.