Journal of Advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Behavioural Responses to Limonene Pretreatment and Morphine in Mice: Hot-Plate, Open-Field, Rotarod, and Forced-Swim Assessments

Kona Basak, Rebecca Cynthia Gomes, Maria Chowdhury — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Morphine affects nociceptive responses and motor behaviour in rodents, complicating interpretation of drug interactions. Limonene, a citrus-derived monoterpene, has been reported to exhibit biological activities, but its effects when administered before morphine remain uncertain. Thermal response latency, open-field locomotion, rotarod performance and forced-swim immobility were compared across eight groups of Swiss albino mice receiving saline, limonene, morphine (1, 3 or 5 mg/kg), or limonene before the corresponding morphine dose. The 48 mice (24 females and 24 males; six per group) underwent four assays separated by 15-day intervals. At later nominal hot-plate observation times, several morphine-only groups showed longer latencies than their corresponding combination groups. Morphine-only groups displayed higher open-field square-crossing counts than vehicle at 30–120 min, whereas combination groups generally showed lower counts than morphine alone. Rotarod residence time and forced-swim immobility differed across treatments without a uniform dose-dependent pattern. Findings are descriptive because individual-animal observations, defined statistical contrasts and complete test outputs are not reported. Unresolved dose, timing and recording discrepancies prevent conclusions regarding analgesic enhancement, motor protection, opioid sparing or antidepressant efficacy.

Association of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio with Etiology and Severity of Acute Exacerbation of COPD

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) refer to an abrupt deterioration in airway function and respiratory symptoms among individuals with COPD. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a simple, cost-effective biomarker of systemic inflammation. Early diagnosis and clinical assessment may be enhanced by assessing the relationship between NLR and the aetiology and severity of AECOPD.

Objective: To assess the association of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with the aetiology and severity of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study enrolled 180 patients with AECOPD through convenience sampling at the Department of Medicine, North East Medical College Hospital, Sylhet, over an eight-month period. Clinical information was recorded, and venous blood samples were collected for complete blood count, differential leucocyte count and C-reactive protein assessment. Patients were classified as having infectious exacerbations based on the study's specified inflammatory laboratory criteria. Associations were evaluated using the Mann–Whitney U test, receiver operating characteristic analysis and univariate logistic regression.

Results: Of 180 patients, 126 (70%) were classified as having infectious exacerbations and 54 (30%) as having non-infectious exacerbations. The overall mean NLR was 6.78 ± 4.52. Mean NLR was higher in the infectious than the non-infectious group (5.96 versus 4.59; p = 0.014). An NLR cut-off of 5.12 distinguished severe or very severe exacerbations with 70.7% sensitivity, 73.0% specificity and an area under the curve of 0.772. NLR was associated with exacerbation severity in univariate regression (OR 1.347; 95% CI 1.171–1.550).

Conclusion: NLR was associated with presumed infectious aetiology and exacerbation severity in this hospital-based cohort and may have value as an adjunct to clinical assessment.

Hepatoprotective, Nephroprotective, and Gastric Mucosal Defence Profiles of Viscum album Bioactive Extracts against Lead Toxicity

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Lead acetate exposure can produce biochemical and histological disturbances in several organs. This study evaluated the protective effects of Viscum album leaf extract against lead acetate-induced toxicity in male Wistar albino rats. Thirty rats were randomly assigned to six groups of five animals each. Group 1 served as the normal control and received standard grower mash and water, while Groups 2–6 were administered lead acetate (10 mg/kg body weight) daily to induce toxicity. In addition to lead acetate exposure, Groups 2, 3, and 4 received V. album leaf extract at doses of 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Group 5 served as the untreated lead-exposed control, whereas Group 6 served as the positive control and received omeprazole (500 mg/kg body weight). All treatments were administered for 28 days. Biochemical and haematological analyses indicated that treatment with V. album significantly (P < 0.05) was associated with changes in body and organ weights and modulated liver enzyme activities and haematological indices compared with untreated lead-exposed rats. The extract also helped maintain renal function and electrolyte homeostasis, as assessed using serum urea, creatinine and electrolyte concentrations. Histopathological examination further demonstrated that V. album leaf extract ameliorated lead-induced tissue alterations in the gastric mucosa, liver, heart, and kidneys, with preservation of hepatocytes, cardiomyocytes, and renal architecture. These findings suggest that V. album leaf extract may exert protective effects against lead acetate-induced systemic toxicity in rats, potentially through the preservation of haematological, hepatic, renal, and tissue integrity. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and identify the bioactive constituents responsible for these protective effects.

Antiviral Drug Development against RNA Viruses: Progress, Clinical Translation and Persistent Challenges

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Antiviral drug development has produced transformative treatments for some RNA-virus infections while leaving major gaps in acute respiratory, haemorrhagic and enteric disease. The unevenness of progress cannot be explained by target availability alone. This critical narrative review examines how viral biology, pharmacological exposure, disease timing, trial design, resistance and health-system access jointly determine whether an antiviral candidate becomes a clinically useful intervention. Peer-reviewed mechanistic studies, randomised trials, methodological papers and authoritative institutional evidence published from 2000 to 13 August 2026 were critically synthesised, with earlier foundational findings considered where necessary. Durable combination treatment for human immunodeficiency virus and curative direct-acting treatment for hepatitis C show what sustained target validation and clinical development can achieve. Conversely, trials of influenza, coronavirus disease 2019, respiratory syncytial virus, dengue and emerging infections demonstrate the difficulty of translating reductions in viral replication into reliable effects on symptoms, hospitalisation, transmission or survival. Contrasting remdesivir outcomes across disease stages, context-dependent results for oral coronavirus antivirals, a promising but geographically limited paediatric respiratory syncytial virus trial, and dengue human-challenge studies illustrate why positive virological or early clinical findings require precise interpretation. Resistance is shaped by drug mechanism, treatment exposure, viral population dynamics and surveillance quality, rather than by a uniform property of all RNA viruses. Apparent broad-spectrum activity may also reflect assay artefacts or non-physiological experimental systems. Priorities include pharmacologically credible discovery platforms, earlier diagnosis and treatment, adaptive trials with prespecified patient-important endpoints, resistance-informed combinations, outbreak-ready trial infrastructure and affordability planned before licensing. The central conclusion is that antiviral innovation is most effective when molecular specificity, clinically relevant timing and equitable implementation are developed as a connected evidence pathway.

Microneedle Patches for Vaccine Delivery: A Review of Formulation, Immunogenicity and Distribution Advantages

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Microneedle patches are minimally invasive platforms designed to deliver vaccine antigens across the stratum corneum into the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin, where antigen-presenting cells can contribute to the induction of immune responses. This review examines major microneedle configurations, formulation considerations, immunogenicity, and potential logistical advantages relevant to vaccination. Solid, coated, dissolving, and hollow microneedles differ in their mechanisms of antigen incorporation and release. Among these systems, dissolving and coated microneedles have received particular attention for vaccine delivery. Formulation strategies using stabilising excipients such as trehalose and carboxymethylcellulose have been investigated to preserve antigen integrity during fabrication, drying, storage, and administration. Experimental studies with influenza, measles, and several other vaccine antigens have demonstrated humoral and cellular immune responses that can be comparable with conventional vaccination under specific study conditions. Early clinical studies of influenza and measles-rubella vaccines have also provided preliminary evidence of acceptable safety and immunogenicity. Microneedle patches may additionally offer practical advantages, including reduced sharps waste, single-dose presentation, avoidance of vaccine reconstitution, simplified administration, and the possibility of self-administration or administration by minimally trained personnel. However, important limitations remain regarding long-term antigen stability, dose uniformity, reproducible application, manufacturing scalability, sterilisation, and validation in larger and more diverse human populations. Continued clinical and manufacturing research is therefore required before widespread implementation.

Inclusion of Native, Aboriginal and Tribal Populations in Genomic Medicine and Biorepositories: A Critical Narrative Review of Participation, Governance, Challenges and Guidelines for Equitable Indigenous Genomic Research

Kai Jandial, Raynald Samoa — Tue, 10 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Genomic medicine depends on reference data, biobanks and association studies that remain dominated by participants of European ancestry, while Native, Aboriginal and Tribal peoples continue to be scarcely represented. This imbalance limits variant interpretation, pharmacogenomic prescribing and polygenic prediction for communities that already carry disproportionate burdens of disease. Calls for wider inclusion, however, collide with a history of extractive sampling, secondary use without consent and stigmatising publication, and with Indigenous assertions of collective rights over biological samples and data. This critical narrative review examines how Indigenous peoples have been included in, excluded from and have shaped genomic medicine and biorepository research, and appraises the governance instruments and guidelines that now regulate that participation. Literature published from 2000 onwards was identified through biomedical and multidisciplinary scholarly databases, citation tracking and the official websites of standard-setting bodies, and was appraised qualitatively for relevance, methodological transparency, community partnership and contribution. The synthesis indicates that under-representation is well documented and has measurable clinical consequences, including more variants of uncertain significance, reduced polygenic score accuracy and incomplete pharmacogenomic coverage. Empirical studies of attitudes show conditional rather than absent willingness to participate, with support depending on community governance, local benefit and control over secondary use. Governance has moved from individual informed consent towards collective oversight, tribal research codes, data sovereignty principles and Indigenous-led biobanks, yet these instruments are unevenly enforceable and largely confined to a few high-income settler states. Evidence from Africa, Latin America, South and Southeast Asia and the Arctic is thin, and outcome evaluations of governance models are almost absent. Important unresolved questions concern whether inclusion within national datasets serves Indigenous interests, how benefit sharing can be made concrete, and how ancestry-associated risk can be studied without biologising inequities that have social causes. Equitable Indigenous genomic research appears to require durable community authority over samples and data, investment in Indigenous scientific capacity and prospective evaluation of whether partnership models deliver health benefit.