Ghulam Murtaza

Ethylcellulose (EC) based microencapsulated drug delivery systems are being extensively studied throughout the world for achieving extended drug release and protecting the core substance from degradation. The in vitro evaluation of EC microcapsules have elucidated that their particle characteristics are very useful to control drug release behavior, since these enable drugs to be released at a certain controlled release rate based on the characteristics of drug-EC linkage. This review encompasses microencapsulation techniques, core substances and other fundamentals involved in the preparation and characterization of EC microcapsules. EC microcapsules can be considered as mini-osmotic pumps. The release kinetics for EC microcapsules can be fine-tuned by altering osmolality of the dissolution medium or formulations and EC film mechanical characteristics by selecting appropriate EC molecular weights (viscosity), EC substitution grades, coating weights, and pore formers.

... Aust J Exp Agri 2005;45:435–443. Ensink JHJ, Simmons RW, van der Hoek W. Wastewater use in Pakistan: The cases of Haroonabad and Faisalabad. In Scott CA, Faruqui NI, Raschid-sally L. Wastewater use in Irrigated Agriculture. Wallingford: CAB International; 2004. ...

To determine the factors associated with asthma in children. The case-control study was conducted in the paediatrics clinic of Lyari General Hospital, Karachi, from May to October 2010. Children 1-15 years of age attending the clinic represented the cases, while the control group had children who were closely related (sibling or cousin) to the cases but did not have the symptoms of disease at the time. Data was collected through a proforma and analysed using SPSS 10. Of the total 346 subjects, 173(50%) each comprised the two groups. According to univariable analysis the risk factors were presence of at least one smoker (odds ratio: 3.6; 95% confidence interval: 2.3-5.8), resident of kacha house (odds ratio: 16.2; 95% confidence interval: 3.8-69.5),living in room without windows (odds ratio: 9.3; 95% confidence interval: 2.1-40.9) and living in houses without adequate sunlight (odds ratio: 1.6; 95% confidence interval: 1.2-2.4).Using multivariable modelling, family history of asthma ...

This study was conducted primarily to determine the prevalence and incidence of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) in a mixed ICU (medical & surgical) population and, secondarily, to compare outcomes between patients with and without IAH. The prospective cohort study was conducted from April to July 2011 on adult patients admitted in ICU, on mechanical ventilation and with an indwelling urinary catheter. Intra-vesicular pressure was measured. Primary endpoint was IAH and it was defined as Intra-abdominal pressure>12 mm Hg on two consecutive readings 6 h apart. Total 83 patients were enrolled in the study; 61% from medical services and 39% from surgical services. Mean age in years±SD was 47 ± 17.5 with male preponderance (66%). IAH was detected in 23/83 (28%) at the time of admission, while six out of remaining 60 patients (10%) developed the condition during their ICU stay; the incidence and prevalence was 10% and 35%, respectively. Secondary end points of the study comparing outcomes between patients with and without IAH, though different in the two groups, did not achieve statistical significance. In-hospital mortality 65.5% vs. 44.4% p-value 0.054. New onset renal failure 34.5% vs. 16.7% p-value 0.054%. Difficulty in weaning from mechanical ventilation 37.9% vs. 25.9% p-value 0.008. IAH is a poorly recognized clinical entity with potentially devastating impact on patient outcomes. Since majority of patients had IAH at the time of admission, all ICU patients especially on ventilator should have baseline intra-abdominal pressures measured at the time of admission and subjected to appropriate management to prevent them from developing abdominal compartment syndrome.

The basic goal of the study is to make a vigorous endeavour to analyse the impact of energy consumption (i.e., electricity, oil and gas) on economic growth and agriculture sector output in Pakistan. It is desirable to find out relationship between disaggregate energy consumption, economic growth and agricultural sector outputs of Pakistan because energy crisis has become a central issue now-a-days. Production sector of Pakistan relying on electricity and gas consumption to large extent and these sources of energy are falling short because of many reasons which is upsetting output and consequently exports and real output of the country. To analyse the relationship, we employed time series data ranges from 1972 to 2011 from a reliable source. To find out long run and short run effects of energy consumption on Agricultural output and economic growth, ARDL modelling approach to cointegration is applied which is most appropriate technique over some other techniques of integration after s...

To assess the morbidity and mortality associated with complicated diverticulitis in Pakistan. The retrospective case series was conducted at an urban tertiary care university hospital of Karachi, Pakistan, comprising data from December 1989 to November 2010. International Classification of Diseases codes for diverticular disease and diverticulitis with abscess, fistula, stricture, bowel obstruction and perforation were obtained from the medical record department. SPSS 19 was used for statistical analysis. A total of 60 (1.9%) cases with complicated diverticulitis were located from among 3170 records reviewed. Mean age was 62.7 +/- 13 years with male-to-female ratio being 36:24. In 37 (62%) patients, the diagnosis was established on computed tomography scan of the abdomen, followed by barium enema in 12 (20%) and colonoscopy in 11 (18%). Post-operative morbidity was observed in 24 (40%) and 7 (16%) expired within 28 days of surgery. Post-operative intra-abdominal sepsis, wound dehisc...

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) is a rare and very high-risk procedure carrying high mortality. In this study we reviewed hospital outcomes and 1-year survivals in these high-risk patients. During a 4-year period (May 2001 to April 2005), 412 patients were operated on for CABG by a single surgeon, and 13 (3.1%) of them were in CS at the time of procedure. The 30-day mortality of patients who underwent CABG during CS was 16%, and mean age was 57+/-10 years. A total of 77% were male, 77% were hypertensive, 38% were diabetic, and 31% had renal impairment. Myocardial infarction (MI) affected 62% within 48 h of surgery. Moderate to poor left ventricular function was found in 92%. Twenty-three percent had a preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump. Postinfract ventricular septal defect was present in 16%, and catheter-related problems were present in 23% of patients. After 1 year, all patients (11) were alive, and 85% of them were in New Y...

ABSTRACT A new potential approximation known as modified Becke—Johnson based on density functional theory is applied to compute the electronic band profile and optical response of CdIn2O4, CdGa2O4 and CdAl2O4 compounds. The direct band gap with common LDA, GGA and EV-GGA is drastically underestimated compared with modified Becke—Johnson approximation, whose results are significantly closer to the experimental findings. The optical properties like dielectric constant, refractive index, reflectivity, optical conductivity and absorption coefficient are also computed. A unique characteristic associated with cation replacement is studied; the replacement of cation In by Ga and Ga by Al significantly reduces the direct energy band gap in these compounds. This variation is of crucial importance for band gap dependent optical properties of these compounds, which is also proof for applications of these compounds in optoelectronic devices.

One of the major complications of diabetes is blood vessel disease, termed angiopathy, which is characterized by abnormal angiogenesis. The objective of this study was to discuss the characteristics of lower limb vascular angiopathy and plaque formation in type 2 diabetes patients and finding its relevance to the carotid atherosclerotic plaque formation, thus directing the clinical diagnosis and treatment. The ultrasonography was used to monitor the patients with carotid artery and lower limb artery. Compared with the control group, decreased blood flow to lower limb and lower limb angiopathy occurred more obviously in dorsal artery of foot than in popliteal artery. The study revealed that the detection rate of the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis plaque and lower limb arterial plaque and the combination of plaque both carotid and lower limb arteries in diabetic patients was 369:342:296 (about 1.25:1.15:1) and that the prevalence of carotid plaque and lower limb arterial plaque in all subjects with plaque was 71.3%. The risk of plaque formation also had positive correlation with patient's age. Color Doppler ultrasound had a clinical significance in the early diagnosis and curative effect observation in type 2 diabetes with lower limb angiopathy. The risk of simultaneous plaque formation in both carotid artery and lower extremity artery was greater in type 2 diabetes than that of control subjects, but they were not necessarily to occur simultaneously. The symptoms were inconspicuous in the early course of diabetes. The application of ultrasound monitoring in patients with carotid artery and lower limb artery might play a role in early warning, delaying the occurrence of macrovascular diseases, and slowing down the development of macroangiopathy such as cerebral infarction and diabetic foot and so on, thus providing a significant basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Central venous catheter complications can be related to insertion, indwelling, or extraction. Most of the times, immediate complications are anticipated and managed; whereas, delayed complications can go unnoticed. In the case discussed here, migration and dislodgement of catheter tip resulted in delayed hydrothorax and sudden death of a 9-month-old female infant.

DC motors have been extensively used in many industrial applications for their accurate, simple and continuous control characteristics. This paper addresses the controlling of the speed of DC motor which remains among the vital issues. It presents sliding mode control, integral sliding mode control and dynamic sliding mode control methods to control the speed of DC motors. Also the merits

We report a case of reconstruction of the right atrial wall using a novel bioresorbable patch derived from porcine small intestinal submucosa. Our patient presented with mediastinal aspergillosis as a result of chronic steroid therapy for an oligodendroglioma. Hemodynamic compromise and syncopal episodes secondary to the mass effect of the aspergilloma prolapsing through tricuspid valve necessitated palliative surgical excision. Intraoperatively, it was confirmed that the lesion had eroded into the right atrium and partially occluded right ventricular inflow. In order to achieve appropriate palliation a wide resection of the atrial wall was necessary. The atrial reconstruction was then performed using an extracellular matrix-derived biopatch. This case was further complicated by postoperative bleeding requiring re-operation. We describe the methods used for repair using a novel patch in this rare case of invasive aspergillosis extending into the right atrium and resulting in compromise of diastolic right ventricular filling.

(English) Forty samples were collected from Hajira and its adjacent areas, district Poonch, Azad Kashmir during 2007, out of which 74 algal species were identified belonging to 46 genera of 8 phyla. Their habitat diversity and frequency of seasonal distribution were investigated. Microcystis aeruginosa and species of the families Achnanthaceae, Cymbellaceae, Fragillariaceae and Gomphonemaceae (Bacillariales, Bacillariophyta) were found to be very common in all the four seasons of the year. Most of the species were very ...

This study presents an application of the piecewise rational quadratic interpolant to the AUC calculation in the bioavailability study. The objective of this work is to find an area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) for multiple doses of salbutamol sulfate sustained release tablets (Ventolin oral tablets SR 8 mg, GSK, Pakistan) in the group of 24 healthy adults by using computational mathematics techniques. Following the administration of 4 doses of Ventolin tablets 12 hourly to 24 healthy human subjects and bioanalysis of obtained plasma samples, plasma drug concentration-time profile was constructed. The approximated AUC was computed by using computational mathematics techniques such as extended rectangular, extended trapezium and extended Simpson's rule and compared with exact value of AUC calculated by using software - Kinetica to find best computational mathematics method that gives AUC values closest to exact. The exact values of AUC for four consecutive doses of Ventolin oral tablets were 150.58, 157.81, 164.41 and 162.78 ngxh/mL while the closest approximated AUC values were 149.24, 157.33, 164.25 and 162.28 ngxh/mL, respectively, as found by extended rectangular rule. The errors in the approximated values of AUC were negligible. It is concluded that all computational tools approximated values of AUC accurately but the extended rectangular rule gives slightly better approximated values of AUC as compared to extended trapezium and extended Simpson's rules.

... MUHAMMAD ARSHAD1,2,*, GHULAM MURTAZA1, MUHAMMAD ARIF ALI1,3, MUHAMMAD SHAFIQ1, CAMILLE DUMAT4 AND NIAZ AHMED3 ... Application of Cu increased the concentration in both wheat straw and grains up to 2.46 and 2.20 mg kg–1 DW respectively relative ...

Phospholipases A2 (PLA2) are the most lethal and noxious component of Naja naja karachiensis venom. They are engaged to induce severe toxicities after their penetration in victims. Present study was designed to highlight hydrolytic actions of PLA. in an egg yolk mixture and to encounter their deleterious effects via medicinal plants of Pakistan. PLA2 were found to produce free fatty acids in a dose dependent manner. Venom at concentration of 0.1 mg was found to liberate 26.6 pmoles of fatty acids with a decline in pH1 of 0.2 owing to the presence of PLA2 (133 Unit/mg). When quantity of venom was increased up to 8 mg, it caused to release 133 pmoles of free fatty acids with a decrease in 1.0 pH due to abundance in PLA, (665 Unit/mg). The rest of other doses of venom (0.3-4.0 mg) was found to liberate fatty acids between these two upper and lower limits. Twenty eight medicinal plants (0.1-0.6 mg) were tried to abort PLA, hydrolytic action, however, all were found useful (50-100%) against PLA,. Bauhinia variegate L., Citrus limon (L.). Burm.f. Enicostemnma hyssopifolium (Willd.) Verdoorn, Ocimum sanctum. Psoralea corylifolia L. and Stenolobium stans (L.) D. Don were found excellent in switching off 100% phospholipases A, at their lowest concentration (0.1 mg). Three plants extract were found useful only at lower concentration (0.1 mg), however, their higher doses were seemed to aggravate venom response. Eight medicinal plants failed to neutralize PLA, rather their higher doses were found effective. Standard antidote and rest of other plants extract were able to show maximum of 50% efficiencies. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and isolate bioactive constituent(s) from above cited six medicinal plants to eradicate the problem of snake bite in the future.