Screening of C-kit gene mutation in acute myeloid leukaemia in northern India

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia [AML] is a cancer of blood-forming cells in bone marrow. C-kit gene is a Receptor Tyrosine Kinase class III [RTK] that is expressed by early hematopoietic progenitor cells and plays an important role in hematopoietic stem cell proliferation, differentiation and survival. It is known that c-kit is a proto-oncogene and the activating c-kit mutations are likely to contribute in the development of leukaemia in humans. Exon 11 of c-Kit gene is the frequent site for mutations in different kinds of tumours. In order to determine the frequency and prevalence of exon 11 mutations in 51 AML cases, we have done polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformational polymorphism followed by direct DNA sequencing. The c-kit mutations in exon 11 were detected in 15.68% [8/51] in AML cases. We have detected totally ten missense mutations in eight AML cases those include Lys550Asn, Tyr568Ser, Ile571Leu, Tyr578Pro, Trp582Ser and Arg588Met and novel missense mutations at codons Ile563Lys and Val569Leu. Mutations at codons Ile571Leu and Trp582Ser was found in two independent cases. The presence of c-kit mutations in our study adds to investigative spectrum of AML cases. Since the c-kit mutations are seen in other malignancies, mutations in exon 11 of the c-kit gene might be involve in pathogenesis and represent useful predictive genetic marker in AML. Further studies in larger group of cases possibly will be required to determine the prognostic implications and to investigate how these mutations are co-related to the progression and pathogenesis of AML

Radium and Radon exhalation studies of soil

Everyone is exposed to radon because it is present everywhere with varying concentrations. Radon and its progeny are well established as lung carcinogenic. Track etch technique using LR-115 plastic track detectors has been used to measure the effective radium content and radon exhalation rates in soil samples collected from urban area of Etah district of Uttar Pradesh province in Northern India. The values of effective radium content are found to vary from 27.87 to 45.14 Bq.kg-[1] with a mean value of 34.98 Bq.kg-[1]. The mass exhalation rates of radon vary from 2.38 _ 10[-6] to 3.86 _ 10[-6] Bq.kg[-1].d[-1] with a mean value of 2.99 _ 10-6 Bq.kg[-1].d[-1]. The surface exhalation rates of radon have been found to vary from 6.19 _ 10[-5] to 10.03 _ 10[-5] Bq.m [-2].d[-1] with a mean value of 7.77 _ 10[-5] Bq.m [-2].d[-1]. Radon exhalation study is important for understanding the relative contribution of the material to the total radon concentration found inside the dwellings. The values of radium and radon exhalation rates are found to be below the safe limit recommended by OECD, 1979

Coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with end stage renal disease: overall outcome in single centre experience

Coronary artery bypass surgery and its entire perioperative management is demanding in patients with end stage renal disease [ESRD]. We included data from all patients on hemodialysis who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] between November 1st, 2003 and November 1st, 2006 at Sheikh Zayed hospital and Federal postgraduate medical institute, Lahore, Pakistan. During the study period 41 patients with end stage renal disease underwent coronary artery bypass grafting at the Sheikh Zayed hospital and Federal postgraduate medical institute, Lahore. Among these patients, we recorded a perioperative mortality of 19.51%. Six months survival rate was 75.60% among study group patients. The incidence of peripheral artery disease is reported significantly higher in the dialysis dependent patients. Uremic patients showed significantly lower hemoglobin serum levels [4], fresh frozen plasmas [FFP's] when needed. Our preliminary study indicates that coronary artery bypass surgery can be performed with acceptable midterm results when the specific requirements of this patient group are taken into account

Role of fine needle aspiration cytology in children with peripheral lymphadenopathy

To see the accuracy and role of fine needle aspiration cytology in children with peripheral lym-phadenopathy in our setup. Descriptive study. Department of Pathology Peoples Medical College Nawabshah. January 2002 to December 2004. A total number of 158 children were included in the study having age upto 12 years with history of peripheral lymphadenopathy. Fine needle aspiration cytology was performed with 22 gauge needle attached with 10 ml syringe and without using any local anesthetic. Confirmation of the diagnosis by subsequent surgical biopsy or by a clinical follow up period for at least six months was mandatory. 179 aspirates were obtained from 158 patients. The cytological diagnosis were; 78 [43.6%] reactive, 43 [24.0%] tuberculous lymphadenitis, 27 [15.1%]suppurative inflammation, 15 [8.3%] non Hodgkin's lymphoma, 05 [2.8%] Hodgkin's lymphoma, 03 [1.7%] leukemic infiltration, 02 [1.1%] cytological diagnosis uncertain, 06 [3.4%] material inadequate. 06 cytological diagnosis were false negative and one was false positive. The overall accuracy was 96%. Fine needle aspiration cytology is an initial important diagnostic tool in children having peripheral lymphadenopathy, especially in those rural areas where the surgical facilities are not available. It is a safe, rapid simple and accurate with low morbidity -and only the doubtful cases may go for surgical biopsy

Significance of her-2/neu oncoprotein overexpression in invassive ductal breast cancer

To asses the frequency of HER-2/neu Oncoprotein over expression in invasive ductal breast cancer and correlate it with various prognostic parameters. Cross-sectional study. Department of pathology Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Seventy two [72] formalin fixed paraffin embedded blocks of diagnosed invasive ductal carcinoma were retrieved and 5 p.m thick sections were cut and stained with H and E for the review of diagnosis and grading. The immunohistochemical staining was done on 4p.m thick sections by using Polyclonal Rabbit anti HER-2 ZYMED USA, and ZYMED 2nd generation LAB-SA immunodetection system, to see the HERVneu over expression. Section containing > 50% of tumor cells exhibiting intense circumferential cell membrane stainingscored as positive. Thirty one [31%] positive over expression was observed. A statistically significant result [P<.05] was found between HER-2/neu over-expression and lymph node status and size of tumor. Oncoprotein HER-2 / neu over expression is directly related to the lymph node status and size of the tumor. These patients may benefit from a more aggressive therapy like Herceptin and can also be used as a prognostic marker in the follow up of these patients

Clinical effect of pesticide residues on total bilirubin levels in farm workers fr.om gadap area, Pakistan

Persons from fourteen different fruit and vegetable farms stations were examined for the presence of pesticide residues in their blood samples. The effect of residues on total bilirubin was studied. A significant difference between total bilirubin at different timings and at different stations was noted. Almost all the persons from different stations showed elevated levels of bilirubin. The exposure to different pesticides for prolonged period of time has affected the normal functioning of different organ systems such as liver, kidney and lungs and thus produced possible characteristic clinical effects

Potassium induced salinity tolerance in wheat [triticum aestivum L.]

Water culture experiments were conducted to study the response of ten wheat genotypes to external K application [10 mmol KCI dm[-3]] at seedling stage under saline condition [0 and 100 mmol NaCl dm[-3]]. The data showed that there was an increase in the shoot and root length with the application of external K. The increase was more pronounced under control than under saline conditions. The better performing genotypes under two treatments were Bhitai, NIAB-41, NIAB-1076 and Khirman. The enhanced growth of these genotypes under saline condition might be due to the quick response to external K application, resulting in high K/Na ratio. The results indicated that the genotypes, which have the ability of enhanced K/Na discrimination, might perform better under saline conditions when sufficient potassium is applied in the rooting medium

Prescription pattern of benzodiazepines for inpatients at a tertiary care university hospital in Pakistan

To determine the point prevalence of benzodiazepine prescriptions for inpatients at a tertiary care university hospital in Pakistan and to correlate it with prescription patterns of various specialties, indications and demographic variables of the patients. This 24-hours point prevalence study was done at The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. By convenient random sampling, 208 inpatients were interviewed. Patients' files were also studied to record the drugs administered. Data was entered into questionnaires and analyzed by SPSS 10.0. The point prevalence of the benzodiazepines was 21.2%. It was higher among males than females and among surgical than non-surgical patients. Midazolam was the most commonly used benzodiazepine, followed by Alprazolam and Lorazepam. Pre-anesthesia and psychiatric symptoms were the two most common indications. Oral route was used in 84% patients for drug administration and mean Valium equivalent dosage was 4.86mg/day. Mean length of prescription was 3 days. Longer duration of hospitalization was a significant predictor of the requirement of benzodiazepine prescription [p-value=0.020]. Prescription pattern of benzodiazepines at a tertiary care university hospital is similar to that reported in the developed countries through monitoring at various levels by physicians, clinical pharmacist and nursing staff. Data regarding the prescription pattern of benzodiazepines is scarce, and it needs to be expanded to formulate clear guidelines regarding their prescription

Immunohistochemical determination of HER-2 / new overexpression in invasive ductal carcinoma of breast with cervical nodal metastasis

This study was designed to determine the frequency of HER-2/neu overexpression, in invasive ductal carcinoma of breast and correlate it with various standard prognostic parameters. This study was performed on formalin fixed paraf n embedded blocks of 72 diagnosed cases of invasive ductal carcinoma of breast. The blocks were retrieved and the staining was done to see the HER-2/neu overexpression. Sections containing > 50% of tumour cells showing intense circumferential cell membrane staining scored as positive. The HER-2/neu overexpression was seen in 31% of cases. A significant relationship [P<0.05] was found between HER-2/neu overexpression and lymphnode status and size of the tumour. The overexpressivity of HER-2/neu oncoprotein suggests that Herceptin can be used as therapeutic measure on these cases

Pesticide residues in random blood samples of human population in Karachi

Thirty random samples of blood were taken for pesticide determination from three different laboratories in Karachi. Almost all the samples reported here were found contaminated with organochlorine [OC] compounds. However, samples obtained from 2 centres were found to have more pesticides. Workers deputed to chlorination plants [i.e. third centre] have greater quantity of tenakil and other OC compounds. Among all the samples analysed, only a few were found to have deltamethrin [pyrethroid] and malathion [organophosphate] possibly because of fresh exposure