Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding gemstone therapeutics in a selected adult population in Pakistan

Background  

Gemstones have been in use as part of alternative and complementary medicine for years. However, our understanding of the perceived healing powers of gemstones is limited. An extensive literature search revealed that there is a dearth of validated information on this subject. This study was therefore undertaken to explore the various aspects of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the public towards gemstone therapeutics.     

Atypical focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver

BACKGROUND:Focal nodular hyperplasia,a benign hepatic tumor,is usually asymptomatic.However,rarely the entity can cause symptoms,mandating intervention. METHOD:We present a case of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver,which caused a considerable diagnostic dilemma due to its atypical presentation. RESULTS:A 29-year-old woman presented with a 15-year history of a progressively increasing mass in the right upper quadrant which was associated with pain and emesis. Examination showed a firm,mobile mass palpab...     

Embryo selection criteria based on morphology VERSUS the expression of a biochemical marker (sHLA-G) and a graduated embryo score: prediction of pregnancy outcome

Purpose  

To compare pregnancy and implantation rates when embryos are selected based on a single Day 3 (D 3) morphology score vs. a GES score plus sHLA-G expression.     

Sexual orientation and substance use trajectories in emerging adulthood

Aims The current study examined developmental changes in substance use behaviors (SUBS) based upon sexual orientation. The analyses also attempted to address a number of methodological limitations in the extant longitudinal literature (i.e. distinct operationalizations of sexual orientation, timing of sexual orientation assessment with respect to reports of SUBs, non‐linear growth). Participants Data were drawn from a longitudinal study of incoming first‐time college students at a large public university (n = 3720). Design After a paper‐and‐pencil assessment just prior to matriculation, participants completed a web‐based survey every fall and spring for 4 years (sub‐sample n = 2854). Findings Latent growth models revealed that sexual minorities demonstrated significant heterogeneity with regard to substance use trajectories. Initial levels and trajectories of the frequency of substance use for sexual minority individuals were distinct, generally, from their exclusively heterosexual peers. Methodologically, the timing of the assessment of sexual orientation influenced the results, and modeling non‐linear components indicated that sexual minorities are at risk for exponential increases in their frequency of certain SUBs over time (i.e. drunkenness; cannabis use). Conclusions Sexual minority and majority individuals exhibited differences in SUBs during emerging adulthood, especially when using self‐identification to define sexual orientation. Individuals who endorsed a sexual minority self‐identification at the onset of emerging adulthood, as opposed to 4 years later, evidenced exponential increases in rates of drunkenness and cannabis use. These results support that the timing of assessment is important and that some trajectories of sexual minority SUBs are non‐linear during this developmental period.     

Development of hollow/porous calcium pectinate beads for floating-pulsatile drug delivery.

The purpose of this work was to develop hollow calcium pectinate beads for floating-pulsatile release of diclofenac sodium intended for chronopharmacotherapy. Floating pulsatile concept was applied to increase the gastric residence of the dosage form having lag phase followed by a burst release. To overcome limitations of various approaches for imparting buoyancy, hollow/porous beads were prepared by simple process of acid-base reaction during ionotropic crosslinking. The floating beads obtained were porous (34% porosity), hollow with bulk density<1 and had Ft50% of 14-24 h. In vivo studies by gamma scintigraphy determined on rabbits showed gastroretention of beads up to 5 h. The floating beads provided expected two-phase release pattern with initial lag time during floating in acidic medium followed by rapid pulse release in phosphate buffer. This approach suggested the use of hollow calcium pectinate microparticles as promising floating-pulsatile drug delivery system for site- and time-specific release of drugs acting as per chronotherapy of diseases.     

Positron emission tomography study of regional brain metabolic responses to a serotonergic challenge in major depressive disorder with and without comorbid lifetime alcohol dependence.

This is the first study contrasting regional glucose metabolic rate (rCMRglu) responses to a serotonergic challenge in major depressive disorder (MDD) with and without comorbid alcohol dependence. In a university hospital, patients with MDD without a history of alcohol dependence (MDD only) and patients with MDD and comorbid alcohol dependence (MDD/ALC) were enrolled in this study. Subjects with comorbid borderline personality disorder were excluded. A bolus injection of approximately 5 mCi of (18)fluorodeoxyglucose was administered 3 h after the administration of placebo or fenfluramine. We found an anterior medial prefrontal cortical area where MDD/ALC subjects had more severe hypofrontality than MDD only patients. This area encompassed the left medial frontal and left and right anterior cingulate gyri. This group difference disappeared after fenfluramine administration. The fact that the observed group difference disappeared after the fenfluramine challenge suggests that serotonergic mechanisms play a role in the observed differences between the groups.     

In Vitro inhibitory potential of decursin and decursinol angelate on the catalytic activity of cytochrome P-450 1A1/2, 2D15, and 3A12 isoforms in canine hepatic microsomes

Danggui is one of the most popular herbal medicines consumed by patients in different clinical settings in Asian countries. In this study, the two major pyranocoumarin compounds extracted from the Korean Angelica gigas root decursin (DC) and decursinol angelate (DA) were examined in vitro with regard to their abilities to inhibit hepatic CYP1A1/2, CYP2D15, and CYP3A12 catalytic activities in canine liver microsomes. The two components were capable of inhibiting CYP1A1/2, CYP2D15, and CYP3A12 catalytic activities, but the potencies varied. DC and DA selectively and noncompetitively inhibited CYP1A1/2 activity, with K _i values of 90.176 and 67.560 μM, respectively. On the other hand, they exhibited slight inhibitory effects on CYP2D15 and CYP3A12 with K _i values of 666.180 and 872.502 μM, 990.500 and 909.120 μM (1’hydroxymidazolam, MDZ1’H), and 802.800 and 853.920 μM (4-hydroxymidazolam, MDZ4H), respectively. Additionally, they showed increased inhibition after preincubation, which suggests the involvement of a mechanism-based inhibition. In sum, this in vitro data should be heeded as a signal of possible in vivo interactions. The use of human liver preparations would considerably strengthen the practical impact of the data generated from this study. The two authors contributed equally to this paper.     

In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer: two-year experience

Between February 1983 and January 1985, 206 laparoscopies were performed on 172 women following controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Sixty-four clinical pregnancies advanced beyond the sixth week of gestation and were confirmed by ultrasound; and 37.2% of the patients conceived after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. The clinical pregnancy rate was 31.1% when based on the number of laparoscopies performed and 33.9% when based on the number of embryo transfers. There were 12 multiple pregnancies (18.8%), 11 miscarriages (17.2%), and one ectopic (tubal) pregnancy (1.6%). The most important factors contributing toward the success of this program were the establishment of specific criteria for patient selection, rigid adherence to clinical and laboratory protocols, and the maintenance of strict quality control.