Sclareol (SCL), a labdane diterpene compound found in Salvia sclarea L., exhibited therapeutic effects. This study investigated the potential interaction between SCL and diazepam (DZP) in modulating ...sedation in the thiopental sodium-induced sleeping animal model, supported by in-silico molecular docking analysis.
The control, sclareol (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg), and the reference drugs diazepam: 3 mg/kg and Caffeine (CAF): 10 mg/kg were used in male albino mice. Then, sodium thiopental (40 mg/kg, i.p.) was administrated to induce sleep. The latent period, percentage of sleep incidence and modulation of latency were measured. Further, homology modeling of human γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was conducted examine the binding mode of GABA interaction with SCL, DZP, and CAF compounds
SCL (low dose) slightly increased the sleep latency, while the higher dose significantly prolonged sleep latency. DZP, a GABAA receptor agonist, exhibited strong sleep-inducing properties, reducing sleep latency, and increasing sleeping time. Caffeine (CAF) administration prolonged sleep latency and reduced sleeping time, consistent with its stimulant effects. The combination treatments involving SCL, DZP, and CAF showed mixed effects on sleep parameters. The molecular docking revealed good binding affinities of SCL, DZP, and CAF for GABAA receptor subunits A2 and A5.
Our findings highlighted the complex interplay between SCL, DZP, and CAF in regulating sleep behaviors and provided insights into potential combination therapies for sleep disorders.
This study aimed to determine the activity of PYT and its derivatives against COX-2, including 5IKR protein induced inflammation by using the computational tools. PYT and its derivatives have been ...designed by utilizing density functional theory (DFT) and the performance of the drugs was also evaluated by molecular docking study. Results suggest that the NH2 derivative of PYT (D-NH2) showed binding energy -6.4 (Kcal/mol) with protein 5IKR of COX-2 compared to the main drug (D) that showed binding energy -5.1 (Kcal/mol) with the same protein. HOMO and LUMO energy values were also calculated to determine the chemical reactivity of all the modified drugs. Non-covalent interactions of PYT and its derivatives were essential in improving the performance. In conclusion, D-NH2 showed better preference in inhibiting to the protein 5IKR of COX-2 compared to other modified drugs and it can be claimed that D-NH2 will be the best conformer for COX-2 induced inflammation.
Purpose: ABO blood group glycol-conjugate expression may influence human susceptibility to infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii. This study aimed to assess the relationship between blood group ...phenotypes as risk factors for toxoplasmosis and to correlate the prevalence of the disease with other risk factors. Materials and Methods: A total of two-hundred serum samples were collected from pregnant women referred for routine rotary examination in Rabak Teaching Hospital, White Nile State, Sudan, and examined for the parasite Toxoplasma gondii using the latex agglutination test. Results: The overall prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women (IgG positivity for T. gondii in the absence of IgM) was 41% (82/200). A higher prevalence of the infection was detected in women with blood group type AB 5 (55.6%) among the females in the AB blood group and the lowest in those with blood group type B 11 (35.5%). Those with a history of direct contact with cats reported the possibility of eating undercooked meat and soil-related potential risk factors (working in a garden with bare hands, eating unwashed vegetables and fresh fruits, poor handling of food) recorded 70 (82.4%), 59 (65.6%), 58 (77.3%), 73 (55.7%) and 70 (73.7%) of positive cases, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between Toxoplasma gondii infection and these risk factors. Conclusion: The study concluded that the ABO blood group system was not related to the absence or presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in pregnant women in the study area. Contact with cat feces, raw meat consumption, and farming were identified as possible important risk factors for T. gondii infection within the study area. Keywords: pregnant women, toxoplasmosis, blood group phenotypes, risk factors, latex agglutination test, prevalence
Use of technology in education has increased worldwide. Teaching methodologies are shifting from traditional classroom lectures to e-learning and computer-based learning. Pakistani students are also ...now fathoming necessity of acquiring tools for strengthening their knowledge and skills. The objective of present study was to analyze the shifting trends (perception and attitudes) of Pakistani Pharmacy students towards learning tools. A survey based study conducted on 296 students from various years of Pharmacy, studying in a state owned university, Karachi, Pakistan. This study was initially piloted and Cronbach's-alpha was computed for evaluation of internal consistency of questionnaire (for perception; 0.660, for attitude; 0.777 respectively). Data was computed by SPSS, version 16 (Crosstab) and Chisquare (P=0.05). Most of the students strongly agreed (53%; χ² =495;P<0.05) that introducing technology will improve learning; books are reliable reading source (53%; χ² =437.23; P<0.05) or book-reading is essential (50%; χ² =360.36; P<0.05) while others disagreed that they only study from class lectures (31%; χ² =17.22; P<0.05); not take classes (41%; χ² =48.21; P<0.05); have used software (44%; χ² =46.54; P<0.05). Majority of the students agreed on incorporating technology to improve learning. Other factors such as unavailability and expenditure of books influenced their ability to learn. This study might assist policy makers in developing policies that could improve learning.
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