Disorders Of Gastrointestinal Tract Research Articles

Tips and Thought Processes to Overcome Difficult Situations in Third Space Endoscopy.

Third space endoscopy (TSE) offers diverse treatment options for a variety of conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and motility disorders. Accuracy and precise dissection have helped treat complex conventional surgeries with TSE. Despite over a decade of its presence, difficult situations are routinely encountered. The first challenging situation is decision-making (before the procedure), the second is tackling procedure-induced pulmonary / insufflation-related adverse events and intra-operative complications (during the procedure), and the third is post-operative complications and morbidity (post-procedure). The performance of TSE procedures is not without risk. Patients should receive enough time to weigh their options, considering that attitudes toward risk impact decision-making. Continuous basic patient monitoring and the micro-movements of endoscopic and electrosurgical equipment is crucial to avoid accidental injury. Anaesthetists should be mindful of anticipated complications and closely monitor, diagnose, and treat them. Demanding situations need careful consideration, problem-solving, or persistence to overcome challenges. This brief review provides inputs on preventing and tackling difficult situations in TSE.

Should We Operate Nonagenarians with Symptomatic Giant Paraesophageal Hernias?

Introduction: Hiatal hernia (HH) is a common disorder of the upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract that general surgeons encounter. Giant paraesophageal is a subtype of HH in which more than 30% of the stomach is located in the chest. It can cause symptoms such as dysphagia, UGI bleeding, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and vomiting. As the life expectancy of the general population increases, the incidence of giant HH increases and can cause morbidity, including recurrent admissions and prolonged length of hospitalization. In this article, we describe a cohort of nonagenarian patients with HH who were admitted to our institution and were treated either surgically or medically. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our prospectively maintained database of all nonagenarians who were admitted to our center between 2018 and 2022 with the diagnosis of HH. We compared the demographic data, clinical data, and outcomes between patients undergoing operative and nonoperative management. Results: Twenty patients of age over 90 years were hospitalized with HH-related symptoms. Six underwent surgery, whereas 14 received medical management. Surgical patients had fewer overall hospitalization days, shorter length of stay, and less blood product requirements. Notably two cases of in-hospital mortality occurred in the nonoperative group, whereas none occurred in the operative group. All surgical procedures were performed laparoscopically, with two minor perioperative complications. Conclusion: In selected nonagenarian patients, laparoscopic HH repair is safe and should be considered favorably. It can reduce hospitalization time and can mitigate morbidity.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERIODONTAL PATHOLOGY AND GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT DISEASES: A NARRATIVE OVERVIEW

The correlation between periodontal diseases and numerous general systemic diseases,including gastrointestinal disorders, is very close. The initial clinical indications of the digestivesystem disorders can be the inflammatory processes in the oral cavity, and the presence ofsystemic diseases in the body can affect the ethiology and pathogenesis of periodontal diseases.The aim of research – based on the analysis of literature data to outline relationshipbetween periodontal and gastrointestinal tract pathology and the impact of periodontaldisease on the overall homeostasis of the human body.Conclusions. 1. Summarizing scientific data proves that gastrointestinal pathologyweakens body defenses and can activate periodontopathogenic microflora.Disorders of gastrointestinal tract and hepatobiliary system influences negatively salivarygland leading to their dysfunction. Peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease,chronic gastritis, pancreatitis, and colitis accompanies gingivitis and periodontitis. 2.Therefore, periodontal diseases and gastrointestinal tract disorders are closely linked,and the functional relationship between them should be considered in the diagnosis andtreatment of both types of diseases. The findings of this review suggest that periodontaldiseases can have a significant impact on the overall homeostasis of the human body.

Gastrointestinal Tract and Kidney Injury Pathogenesis in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome.

COVID-19 is a global health emergency that requires worldwide collaboration to control its spread. The scientific community is working to understand the different aspects of the post-COVID-19 syndrome and potential treatment strategies. Interestingly, there have been reports of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) involvement in the post-COVID-19 syndrome, suggesting the presence of both severe and mild GIT disorders. The development of the post-COVID-19- GIT syndrome involves various factors, such as impaired GIT mucosa cells, disruptions in the feeling of satiety, reduced blood supply due to the formation of small blood clots, and increased prostaglandin secretion caused by an excessive immune response. GIT symptoms have been observed in around 16% of COVID-19 patients. Other complications include kidney damage and prolonged impairment in the filtration and excretion functions of the glomeruli and tubules. The pathogenesis of post-COVID-19 renal syndrome involves factors, like an overactive immune response, reduced lung perfusion and oxygenation, viral infection in kidney tissues, endothelial dysfunction, and decreased blood volume. Roughly 20% of hospitalized patients experience renal manifestations after recovering from COVID-19.

A comprehensive review on phytochemicals as potential therapeutic agents for stress-induced gastric ulcer

AbstractGastric ulcers are the most common chronic gastrointestinal tract disorders, marked by an inflamed break of the mucus membrane covering the alimentary tract. According to recent research, stress-induced ulcers are widespread in our society. A stress ulcer is a mucosal defect that may become complicated due to upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding. The underlying cause of this condition is pH. Physiological stress leads to severe sickness by triggering the excessive secretion of peptic juices or gastric acid. There is a never-ending quest for safe and affordable medication for this disorder. Nature offers many medicinal plants that can be used to treat a wide range of human ailments. Due to their relatively harmless and comparatively free of harmful effects, health-promoting features, pharmacological practices, and affordability to common people to regulate various diseases, medicinal plants, and herbal preparations are gaining a lot of interest in scientific communities these days. Many studies have recently been performed to classify extracts and their constituents that may have a therapeutic effect on peptic ulcers. Therefore, this review aims to address the molecular mechanisms and pharmacological effects of various phytochemicals related to stress-induced gastric ulcers. Combining phytochemical constituents with modern drugs and treatment methods can lead to the development of therapeutic drugs for gastric ulcers. Gastric ulcers and other related diseases may be treated permanently with this approach.

Predicting The Course Of Localized Periodontitis Of Traumatic Etiology After Complex Treatment

Due to the noteworthy prevalence of inflammatory periodontal diseases among the population, especially in older age groups, the problem of providing timely and quality care to prevent severe complications leading to tooth loss becomes urgent. Conventional approaches to treatment are not always successful and do not necessarily provide a lasting effect. Therefore, predicting the outcome of the disease is a critical task. Material and Methods — We performed examination of 169 individuals and treatment of 126 patients aged 45-75 years with mild to moderate localized periodontitis of traumatic etiology (LPT) were performed. We employed clinical, radiological, and functional methods of examining periodontal condition, and investigated laboratory blood parameters (complete blood count, C-reactive protein). To assess the body’s adaptive resources, the entropy of the leukocyte blood count was calculated, and risk factors for the occurrence of LPT were assessed. Predicting the course of LPT based on changes in clinical and radiological indicators was accomplished by assessing treatment outcomes and calculating a prognostic score. Results — Patients exhibited a noteworthy prevalence of somatic pathology, with cardiovascular diseases (RR=2.32), anemia (RR=2.26), and gastrointestinal tract disorders (RR=1.88) emerging as predominant conditions (p<0.001). The duration of the disease exceeding three years was associated with a 2.06-fold increase in the risk of developing moderate-grade LPT (p=0.017). With a concentration of C-reactive protein in the range of 3-10 mg/L, the risk of developing moderate-grade LPT increased 1.74-fold (RR=1.74; p=0.0022). The intense type of adaptive reaction of the body was detected in 30.4% and 50.7% of cases with mild and moderate grades of LPT, respectively, increasing the risk of a more severe grade by 1.8 times (p=0.0026). Pronounced local changes in the bone tissue of the alveolar process were observed 1.6-2 times more often in cases of moderate periodontitis vs. mild LPT (p=0.0035). Microcirculation in the inflammation zone decreased by 32% and 50.1% with mild and moderate grade of the disease, respectively (p<0.001). Splinting of teeth in the area of the pathological focus during treatment led to improved clinical indicators vs. the control group (p=0.012). Conclusion — Based on the study results, the prognosis for the course of LPT was most significantly influenced by the following factors: the concentration of C-reactive protein, the grade of LPT, the entropy of the leukocyte blood count, changes in the alveolar bone of the jaw, the duration of the disease, the history of previous periodontal treatment, and tooth splinting. Calculation of a prognostic score for the treatment outcome of LPT allows to qualitatively assess the clinical situation and identify a group at risk of an adverse treatment outcome.

The Role of Probiotics in the Eradication of Helicobacter pylori and Overall Impact on Management of Peptic Ulcer: A Study Involving Patients Undergoing Triple Therapy in Bangladesh.

Background Helicobacter pylori infection has been identified to cause constantly recurring inflammation, leading to gastrointestinal tract disorders, including carcinoma. The standard triple therapy (STT), used to eradicate H. pylori, includes two antimicrobials and a proton pump inhibitor for two weeks. Other drug regimens have also been developed since H. pylori exhibits antimicrobial resistance. These regimens, including probiotics, have been shown to lower adverse drug reactions (ADR), improve drug adherence, exert bacteriostatic effect, and reduce inflammation. Objective This study intended to explore probiotic intervention for improving eradication rates and mitigating adverse effects while administrating STT. Methods This prospective study was conducted from May to December, 2021, in the Department of Gastroenterology of Ship International Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, to observe the effects of probiotics inclusion along with STT on H. pylori eradication. A total of 100 patients aged ≥18 years who tested positive for H. pylori were included. The experimental group (n=50) was given STT and probiotics, and the control group (n=50) was given only STT without probiotics for 14 days. Necessary follow-up was done six weeks after treatment. An independent sample t-test, chi-square test, and multiple regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Result The odds of getting rapid urease test (RUT) negative results from positive were 2.06 times higher (95%CI= 0.95, 3.22, p=0.054) in the experimental group. ADRs were crucially towering in the control group (p=0.045) compared to the probiotics group. The probiotics group had a lower risk of having adverse effects by 0.54 times (95%CI=0.19, 0.84, p=0.032) than the control group. Conclusion Using probiotics and STT together to eradicate H. pylori may lower ADR and improve treatment adherence. It may also help terminate H. pylori infection more effectively. More research is required as H. pylori is very contagious and can ultimately cause life-threatening gastric cancer.

Main Disorders of Gastrointestinal Tract in Older People: An Overview

From a physiological standpoint, aging is a progressive reduction in each organ system’s capacity to maintain homeostasis in the face of illness or stressors. With advancing age, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and signs may increase, not only due to the aging processes but also to the superimposed effects of comorbidities, which can badly affect digestive functions (i.e., diabetes, malignancy, etc.) and environmental exposure. In general, gastrointestinal symptoms in older people more often underlie organic pathologies, while GI functional disorders are less frequently diagnosed in this age group. Moreover, gastrointestinal disease can also present in a nuanced and atypical manner, making the diagnostic hypothesis and, consequently, the correct diagnosis and therapy more challenging. In addition, with reference to this age group, the clinical implications of gastrointestinal pathologies can be more severe due to a decreased physiologic reserve, with a higher risk for malnutrition resulting in falls, depression, social isolation, and a deterioration of functional status. In this review, we focused on the most frequent GI tract disorders, highlighting the main age-related changes, their epidemiological, pathophysiological and clinical implications, and any differences with younger patients.

Eosinophil-associated diseases: the allergist's and clinical immunologist's perspective.

Eosinophil-associated diseases (EADs) refer to heterogeneous conditions in which eosinophils are believed to play critical pathological roles. They encompass common respiratory conditions, such as asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), less common primary eosinophilic disorders of gastrointestinal tract, and rare conditions including eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) and hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). A literature search was carried out in January 2024 in the MEDLINE and Scopus databases using the PubMed search engine (PubMed, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD). We focused on blood eosinophilia and hypereosinophilia. A diagnostic workup is proposed. From allergist's point of view, we focused the review on 4 groups of eosinophilic disorders of specific interest. Our increased understanding of type 2 inflammation and biology has recently led to development of highly effective precision targeted therapies that are now approved for a growing number of eosinophilic disorders. Novel targeted biologics have a major impact on treatment strategies and have resulted in major advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of these disorders. In the context of EADs, according to the heterogeneity of eosinophilic disorders a multidisciplinary approach should be adopted. Allergists and Clinical Immunologists play an important role as they have a clear understanding of the eosinophilic inflammation and the role of cytokines and are trained to recognize and characterize type 2 (T2) inflammation and its associated pathologies.

Molecular docking, characterization, ADME/toxicity prediction, and anti-ulcer activity of new quercetin derivatives on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in mice

Gastric ulcer (GU) is a serious upper gastrointestinal tract disorder that affects people worldwide. The drugs now available for GU treatment have a high rate of relapses and drug interactions, as well as mild to severe side effects. As a result, new natural therapeutic medications for treating GU with fewer negative side effects are desperately needed. Because of quercetin's (QCT) diverse pharmacological effects and unique structural features, we decided to semi-synthesize new QCT derivatives and test them for antiulcer activity. Docking assays were performed on the synthesized compounds to determine their affinity for TLR-4/MD-2, MyD88/TIR, and NF-κB domains, an important inflammatory pathway involved in GU development and progression. Mice were given oral famotidine (40 mg/kg/day), QCT, QCT pentamethyl (QPM), or QCT pentaacetyl (QPA) (50 mg/kg/day) for 5 days before GU induction by a single intraperitoneal injection of indomethacin (INDO; 18 mg/kg). QPM and QPA have a stronger binding affinity for TLR-4/MD-2, MyD88/TIR and NF-κB domains than QCT. In comparison, they demonstrated the greatest reduction in ulcer score and index, gastric MDA and nitric oxide (NO) contents, MyD88 and NF-κB expressions, and gastric TLR-4 immunostaining. They also enhanced the levels of GSH, CAT, COX-1, and COX-2 in the gastric mucosa, as well as HO-1 and Nrf2 expression, with histological regression in gastric mucosal lesions, with QPA-treated mice demonstrating the best GU healing. QPA is safe against all of the target organs and adverse pathways studied, with good ADME properties. However, further in vitro experiments are necessary to demonstrate the inhibitory effects of QPM and QPA on the protein targets of interest. In addition, preclinical research on its bioavailability and safety is essential before clinical management can be undertaken. Overall, the new QPA derivative could one day serve as the basis for a new class of potential antiulcer drugs.

Unraveling the Puzzle: Health Benefits of Probiotics-A Comprehensive Review.

A growing number of probiotic-containing products are on the market, and their use is increasing. Probiotics are thought to support the health of the gut microbiota, which in turn might prevent or delay the onset of gastrointestinal tract disorders. Obesity, type 2 diabetes, autism, osteoporosis, and some immunological illnesses are among the conditions that have been shown to possibly benefit from probiotics. In addition to their ability to favorably affect diseases, probiotics represent a defense system enhancing intestinal, nutritional, and oral health. Depending on the type of microbial strain utilized, probiotics can have variable beneficial properties. Although many microbial species are available, the most widely employed ones are lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria. The usefulness of these bacteria is dependent on both their origin and their capacity to promote health. Probiotics represent a valuable clinical tool supporting gastrointestinal health, immune system function, and metabolic balance. When used appropriately, probiotics may provide benefits such as a reduced risk of gastrointestinal disorders, enhanced immunity, and improved metabolic health. Most popular probiotics, their health advantages, and their mode of action are the topic of this narrative review article, aimed to provide the reader with a comprehensive reappraisal of this topic matter.

Polypoid Lesion Segmentation Using YOLO-V8 Network in Wireless Video Capsule Endoscopy Images.

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract disorders are a significant public health issue. They are becoming more common and can cause serious health problems and high healthcare costs. Small bowel tumours (SBTs) and colorectal cancer (CRC) are both becoming more prevalent, especially among younger adults. Early detection and removal of polyps (precursors of malignancy) is essential for prevention. Wireless Capsule Endoscopy (WCE) is a procedure that utilises swallowable camera devices that capture images of the GI tract. Because WCE generates a large number of images, automated polyp segmentation is crucial. This paper reviews computer-aided approaches to polyp detection using WCE imagery and evaluates them using a dataset of labelled anomalies and findings. The study focuses on YOLO-V8, an improved deep learning model, for polyp segmentation and finds that it performs better than existing methods, achieving high precision and recall. The present study underscores the potential of automated detection systems in improving GI polyp identification.

Functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract in children of different age groups (a literature review)

In recent years, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are becoming more common with economic and social impacts. It is believed that in terms of frequency, they rank second both among the adult and pediatric population, second only to respiratory system diseases. Due to significant morphological and physiological changes in individual organs and systems during the period of intensive development of a child, the formation of gastroenterological pathology occurs most often at the age of 5–6 or 9–12 years, that gives rise to various functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. There is an opinion that among older children, such functional disorders are often bordering on pathology, prompting pediatricians to an increased interest in their etiology, pathogenesis and current therapy. Aim. To highlight the state of the problem associated with the most frequent functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract in children at the present stage. According to the recent recommendations, it has been recommended to consider functional changes as disorders of the interaction between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract (disorders of gut-brain interaction).The underlying disorders are abnormal motility, visceral hypersensitivity, the state of the gastrointestinal mucosa and local immune factors, intestinal microflora, activity of the central and autonomic nervous system. Most researchers tend to think about the key role of impaired autonomic regulation of sphincter activity in the pathogenesis of motor-evacuatory dysfunction of the alimentary canal in children, buoyed by the fact that often the lack of gastrointestinal organic lesions in motility disorders indicates their dysregulatory character. Conclusions. Functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract have an extraordinary brightness of pain syndrome perception (no organic pathology would give such a wide array of symptoms as functional disorders) and a variable pattern of symptoms, so it becomes clear why these diseases impose a major economic burden, and it is this characteristic enables them to be classified as socially significant disorders. This requires a physician at various levels of medical care to provide timely diagnosis, differential diagnosis between organic gastrointestinal diseases, and timely correction of functional disorders.

A comprehensive guide to assess gut mycobiome and its role in pathogenesis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an immune mediated chronic inflammatory disorder of gastrointestinal tract, which has underlying multifactorial pathogenic determinants such as environmental factors, susceptibility genes, gut microbial dysbiosis and a dysregulated immune response. Human gut is a frequent inhabitant of complex microbial ecosystem encompassing bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi and other microorganisms that have an undisputable role in maintaining balanced homeostasis. All of these microbes interact with immune system and affect human gut physiology either directly or indirectly with interaction of each other. Intestinal fungi represent a smaller but crucial component of the human gut microbiome. Besides interaction with bacteriome and virome, it helps in balancing homoeostasis between pathophysiological and physiological processes, which is often dysregulated in patients with IBD. Understanding of gut mycobiome and its clinical implications are still in in its infancy as opposed to bacterial component of gut microbiome, which is more often focused. Modulation of gut mycobiome represents a novel and promising strategy in the management of patients with IBD. Emerging mycobiome-based therapies such as diet interventions, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), probiotics (both fungal and bacterial strains) and antifungals exhibit substantial effects in calibrating the gut mycobiome and restoring dysbalanced immune homeostasis by restoring the core gut mycobiome. In this review, we summarized compositional and functional diversity of the gut mycobiome in healthy individuals and patients with IBD, gut mycobiome dysbiosis in patients with IBD, host immune-fungal interactions and therapeutic role of modulation of intestinal fungi in patients with IBD.

Sustainability in Internal Medicine: A Year-Long Ward-Wide Observational Study.

Population aging and multimorbidity challenge health system sustainability, but the role of assistance-related variables rather than individual pathophysiological factors in determining patient outcomes is unclear. To identify assistance-related determinants of sustainable hospital healthcare, all patients hospitalised in an Internal Medicine Unit (n = 1073) were enrolled in a prospective year-long observational study and split 2:1 into a training (n = 726) and a validation subset (n = 347). Demographics, comorbidities, provenance setting, estimates of complexity (cumulative illness rating scale, CIRS: total, comorbidity, CIRS-CI, and severity, CIRS-SI subscores) and intensity of care (nine equivalents of manpower score, NEMS) were analysed at individual and Unit levels along with variations in healthcare personnel as determinants of in-hospital mortality, length of stay and nosocomial infections. Advanced age, higher CIRS-SI, end-stage cancer, and the absence of immune-mediated diseases were correlated with higher mortality. Admission from nursing homes or intensive care units, dependency on activity of daily living, community- or hospital-acquired infections, oxygen support and the number of exits from the Unit along with patient/physician ratios were associated with prolonged hospitalisations. Upper gastrointestinal tract disorders, advanced age and higher CIRS-SI were associated with nosocomial infections. In addition to demographic variables and multimorbidity, physician number and assistance context affect hospitalisation outcomes and healthcare sustainability.

A guide on transnasal endoscopy: setting up a pediatric unsedated endoscopy program.

Unsedated transnasal endoscopy is becoming an increasingly popular option for the evaluation of upper gastrointestinal tract disorders in adults and children worldwide. This innovative technology has transformative potential as it provides for a more efficient, safe, and cost-effective method for endoscopy and reduces the risks associated with anesthesia, which is particularly relevant in pediatrics as endoscopy is commonly done under general anesthesia or conscious sedation. The aim is to address knowledge gaps amongst pediatric gastroenterologists who may be considering the development of a TNE program, detailing how to implement sedation-free TNE into practice for pediatric patients and current and forthcoming technologies. We conducted a comprehensive review of current literature and collection of data from experts and clinicians in the field on how sedation-free programs were started and being conducted. We aimed to collate the data to provide a guide to address knowledge gaps with a focus on setting up and starting a sedation-free endoscopy program. Here in, we provide a detailed guide for implementing a sedation-free endoscopy program in pediatrics including design and layout of a TNE unit, special staffing needs, equipment, current and forthcoming technologies, financial considerations and training considerations. We highlight special considerations that are relevant in pediatrics incorporating distraction or dissociation techniques such as Virtual Reality Systems, developmentally appropriate preparation for children, and topical analgesia. Sedation-free endoscopy is a rapidly growing option for pediatric patients. Development of an unsedated pediatric endoscopy program will improve patient care, decrease the need for anesthesia, provide a lower cost and safe alternative to traditional sedated endoscopy, and is a viable component to a pediatric gastroenterology practice.

Nutritional Profiling and Characterization of Developed Cake Premix Using Finger Millets (Eleusine coracana) and Sweet Potato (Ipomea batatas L.)

Research in the areas of nutrition and health care, as well as the growing public knowledge of these subjects, support the potential of phytochemicals like dietary fibre on their health-beneficial properties. Finger millet (FM) rates higher in terms of nutritional composition than other cereal grains. When absorbed by the body, FM's nutritional composition lowers the chance of developing type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and gastrointestinal tract disorders. Due to the high levels of calcium (0.38%), dietary fibre (18%), and phenolic compounds (0.3–3%) in it, its usefulness in terms of nutrition is well understood. Additionally, they have been found to have anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, anti-atherosclerotic, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities. The study focused on the development, Physiochemical Analysis, Nutritional Profiling and Microbial analysis of Cake Premix using Finger Millet and Sweet Potato in Different Ratio. A porous shape of the premix powder was shown by Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy. The structure of the Premix was mainly pore-free, uniform, and compact. showed that the Premix's surface was also smooth. Presumption powder's Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra were essentially identical within the wave-number range of 4000–400 cm−1. the six-month period's microbiological proliferation (count of mould and yeast). The findings showed that during the storage period, there was no discernible variation in the microbiological load (yeast and mould count) in the created goods, suggesting that they were safe for ingestion for up to six months. The objective of the present research was intended to develop Cake premix by using Finger Millet and Sweet Potato in different Ratio which could be utilized as nutritional supplement and also helps in lowering the risks of lifestyle disorders.

Exploration of ethnomedicinal plants, diversity and their practices in human healthcare in Tehsil Mandan, District Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

This study aimed to document, compare, and highlight the ethnobotanical significance of medicinal plants in treating various diseases. The study involved interviewing 158 informants (19 females and 139 males), including traditional health practitioners, using semi-structured questionnaires and open-ended interviews. The study documented demographic information about the informants and gathered data on aspects such as the life form of the plants, specific plant parts used, methods of preparation, application modes, and the ethnomedicinal uses of the plants. Data analysis focused on important locally known medicinal plants, using quantitative indices such as Relative Frequency Citation (RFC), Use Value (UV), Informants Consensus Factor (ICF), and Fidelity Level (FL) to assess the validity and consistency of the collected ethnomedicinal data. The agreement and homogeneity of the data were evaluated among the present and previous studies and within indigenous communities using the Jaccard Index (JI). A total of 140 plant species from 98 genera and 65 families were collected, identified, and ethnobotanically evaluated. The reported ailments (30) were categorized into 23 disease categories based on the ICF values. Gastrointestinal and respiratory tract disorders had the highest number of reported plant species for treatment. The families Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were the most frequently reported. Herbs were the most commonly used life form (78 reports), followed by shrubs (32 reports). Leaves were the most commonly used plant part (53 reports), and decoction was the most common administration method (78 reports), followed by powder (25 reports). Eight plant species exhibited a 100% fidelity level due to their frequent use. UV ranged from 0.42 to 0.01, while Relative Frequency Citation (RFC) ranged from 0.98 to 0.75. The studies showed a maximum similarity JI of 46.5, followed by 35.6. Major conservation concerns included urbanization, browsing, overgrazing, invasion of exotic species, fuel-related activities, and lack of public awareness. In conclusion, the diverse range of medicinal plant species and associated traditional knowledge are integral to primary healthcare. Identifying plant species with high RFC and UV values is crucial for comprehensive phytochemical and pharmacological studies. Preserving and globally promoting ethnobotanical heritage is vital for analyzing phytochemicals and facilitating future drug discovery. Recognizing the value of this heritage enables us to harness its potential in advancing healthcare and pharmaceutical research.

Investigations on Escherichia coli serotypes isolated in buffalo species suspected with gastrointestinal tract disorders

Investigations on Escherichia coli serotypes isolated in buffalo species suspected with gastrointestinal tract disorders

Pathological investigations of liver affections in small ruminants suspected with gastrointestinal tract disorders

Pathological investigations of liver affections in small ruminants suspected with gastrointestinal tract disorders