Evaluation of DNA vaccines encoding M. Tb gene Bfrb and Mpt32 in mice model

Tuberculosis [TB] is a life threatening infectious disease which is prevalent throughout the world. Mycobacterium bovis based Bacille Calmette-Gue'rin [BCG] is the only vaccine available against TB however, this [single] vaccine is not enough to eradicate it. Furthermore, numbers of researches from different parts of the World have shown its efficacy as variable. Hence other [better] vaccines like DNA vaccines are needed in addition to BCG in order to achieve desired goal of TB eradication. The current study was aimed to develop subunit based DNA vaccines against TB and to check their efficacy. Two constructs Bfrb-pND14 and Mpt32-pND14 were made and used as DNA vaccines. Endotoxin free DNA preparations were made and used in immunization studies. Twenty Balb/c female mice of age eight weeks were used in trial. Two experimental groups each comprising eight animals were used to inoculate Mpt32-pND14 and Bfrb-pND14 vaccines respectively. A group of four animals was used as negative control. Animals were bled through tail periodically and finally through cardiac puncture before euthanization. Antibodies were confirmed through dot blot and Agar Gel Immuno Diffusion test [AGID]. All the animals immunized with both vaccines were found positive as tested through dot blot and AGID. The results of this study have indicated that both the M. tb genes have produced strong immune response in mice model through pND14 vector and proved themselves as good subunit based DNA vaccines

Frequency of microalbuminuria in diabetic patients of Islamabad and Rawalpindi

To assess the frequency of microalbuminuria and correlate it with the risk of renal failure in diabetic patients and correlate microalbuminuria with serum Creatinine, a marker of renal damage. Type of study and Setting: This was a descriptive study done at Public Health Laboratories Division [PHLD] of National Institute of Health from May 2004 to April 2005. Two hundred known diabetic patients [both type I and type II] visiting were included in the study. Data on age, gender, family history, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, height and weight was recorded on a questionnaire. Urine and blood specimen were collected and analyzed for proteinuria, microalbuminuria, blood glucose and Creatinine, using Randox kit methods. Fasting plasma glucose level of 126 mg/dl or above was taken as diagnostic criteria for diabetes mellitus, as per standards of WHO. All patients of both genders irrespective of age who had type I or II diabetes for over 5 years and a negative urine dipstick test were selected for the study. Patients with other causes of proteinuria, recent respiratory and urinary tract infection, high grade fever and with clinical proteinuria were excluded. Out of 200 cases 56 [28%] had microalbuminuria. Thirty three patients [59%] had microalbuminuria of less than 75 mg/L. The mean age of the patients was 46.5 years and mean duration of diabetes was 7.63 years. Both in type-1 and type-II diabetes microalbuminuria positivity rate [microalbumin level 20 to 300mg/L] was almost similar i.e. 29% and 27.8%, respectively. No significant relationship was found between gender and microalbuminuria in both types of diabetics. Serum Creatinine, a marker of renal damage, was also measured in all 200 cases and out of 56 microalbuminuria positive cases, only 20 [36%] had a raised serum Creatinine. Patients with microalbuminuria of less than 75 mg/L are the candidates for therapeutic and dietary interventions as they are at the risk of nephropathy and other complications. For the early diagnosis of renal damage in diabetic patients, microalbuminuria is the better marker than serum Creatinine

Serum FSH levels in pre-pubertal and peri-pubertal Pakistani males a preliminary study

Pre and peri-pubertal boys were subjected to evaluation of serum FSH levels, which were 2.830+/-.832 and 2.381+0.199 for the respective groups. During the course of the investigations, it was also found that several boys had elevated levels, which indicated the onset of testicular disorders. These represent the preliminary data for the Pakistani population. Further studies, with a broader population size need to be carried out to establish normal levels for the Pakistani population

Evaluation of serum testosterone level among Pakistani women with a history of infertility

Objective: This study was designed to estimate the incidence of testosterone elevation among infertile women

Method: Three hundred twenty seven married women, presenting with a complaint of infertility, were evaluated at the Reproductive Physiology Laboratory of the NIH, Islamabad. Serum testosterone level was determined using Enzyme Immuno Assay [EIA]

Statistical Analysis: Data were compared using student `t`-test

Results: The results revealed that 36.08% of the infertile women had significantly elevated level of serum testosterone, a predominately male hormone

Conclusion: The estimation of serum testosterone is not usually advised for assessment of the fertility status, unless the patient presents with symptoms of hyper androgenic status. However, the prevalence of a significantly high level of serum testosterone in more than one third of the studied subjects warrants the inclusion of serum testosterone level estimation as a routine component of female factor fertility assessment