Selective M1 macrophage polarization in granuloma-positive and granuloma-negative Crohn's disease, in comparison to intestinal tuberculosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Classical M1 macrophage activation exhibits an inflammatory phenotype while alternative M2 macrophage activation exhibits an anti-inflammatory phenotype. We aimed to determine whether there are discriminant patterns of macrophage polarization in Crohn's disease (CD) and intestinal tuberculosis (iTB). METHODS: Colonic mucosal biopsies from 29 patients with iTB, 50 with CD, and 19 controls were examined. Dual colored immunohistochemistry was performed for iNOS/CD68 (an M1φ marker) and CD163/CD68 (an M2φ marker), and the ratio of M1φ to M2φ was assessed. To establish the innate nature of macrophage polarization, we analyzed the extent of mitochondrial depolarization, a key marker of inflammatory responses, in monocyte-derived macrophages obtained from CD and iTB patients, following interferon-γ treatment. RESULTS: M1φ polarization was more prominent in CD biopsies (P=0.002) than in iTB (P=0.2) and control biopsies. In granuloma-positive biopsies, including those in CD, M1φ predominance was significant (P=0.001). In iTB, the densities of M1φ did not differ between granuloma-positive and granuloma-negative biopsies (P=0.1). Interestingly, higher M1φ polarization in CD biopsies correlated with high inflammatory response exhibited by peripheral blood-derived monocytes from these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Proinflammatory M1φ polarization was more common in colonic mucosa of CD patients, especially in the presence of mucosal granulomas. Further characterization of the innate immune system could help in clarifying the pathology of iTB and CD.

Antimicrobial profile of some novel keto esters: Synthesis, crystal structures and structure-activity relationship studies

Rapid increase in bacterial resistance has become a major public concern by escalating alongside a lack of development of new anti-infective drugs. Novel remedies in the battle against multidrug-resistant bacterial strains are urgently needed. So, in this context, the present work is towards the investigation of antimicrobial efficacy of some novel keto ester derivatives, which are prepared by the condensation of substituted benzoic acids with various substituted phenacyl bromides in dimethylformamide at room temperature using triethylamine as a catalyst. The structural build-up of the target compounds was accomplished by spectroscopic techniques including FTIR, [1]H and [13]C NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The purity of the synthesized compounds was ascertained by elemental analysis. The molecular structures of compounds [4b] and [4l] were established by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The prepared analogues were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive [Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus leuteus] and Gramnegative [Pseudomonas picketti, Salmonella setuball] bacteria and two fungal pathogenic strains [Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus], respectively. Among the screened derivatives, several compounds were found to possess significant activity but [4b] and [4l] turned out to be lead molecules with remarkable antimicrobial efficacy. The structure-activity relationship analysis of this study also revealed that structural modifications on the basic skeleton affected the antimicrobial activity of the synthesized compounds

If it's itchy, its scabies not always

Scabies is commonly characterized by the presence of itchy rash but this typical symptom does not necessarily always mean scabies. A female infant presented to the paediatrics department of Kuwait teaching hospital with a characteristic pruritic rash on soles suggestive of scabies. However, failure of the anti-scabies treatment, absence of positive personal and hygienic history and progression towards the deterioration of existing situation lead to the establishment of a history and clinical based diagnosis of Infantile Acropustulosis. The treatment was started accordingly and soon after starting treatment, the patient showed the signs of recovery. No doubt that scabies is comparatively more common as compared to infantile acropustulosis but yet scabies must not be considered as an absolute diagnosis for a patient presenting with an itchy rash particularly on soles

How successful is secondary prevention for coronary artery disease [cad] in the real world?

To document the effects of secondary prevention on different risk factors in the real world situation. It was a cross sectional comparative study carried out at a referral cardiac clinic in Peshawar from January 2010 to December 2010. Study subjects presenting with at least 6 months follow up were included from different parts of Khyber Pukhtunkhawa. All patients with positive history or objective evidence of CAD were enrolled. Study subjects were divided in two groups based on the fact that either taking or had stopped medication for the duration of the study period. Study variables were levels of lipids, glucose, blood pressure [BP], smoking and obesity. A total of 843 patients were included in the study. Males were 70.4% [593]. Mean age was 58.74 +/- 10.6 years. Patients taking regular medicine were 69.03% while 30.97% had stopped their medicine for at least three months. Diabetics, hypertensive and positive family history for CAD were 33.4%, 50.25% and 24% respectively. When compared to patient who had stopped medicine, mean systolic BP [p= 0.014], diastolic BP [p= 0.05], mean Cholesterol [p=0.000], mean LDL [p=0.000], mean HDL [p=0.000] and HbA1c% [p=0.049], was well controlled in patients who were taking medicine regularly. Mean BMI [p=0.786], triglycerides and smoking [p=0.761] had no significant difference between the two groups. Blood pressure, serum cholesterol, LDL, HDL, as well as HbA1c% were reduced with little effect on serum TGs, BMI and smoking in those who were taking medicine regularly compared to those who had stopped

Effect of intervention on the control of risk factors in coronary artery disease patients

To assess the effect of optimal medical therapy on the control of risk factors in coronary artery disease [CAD] patients with or with-out intervention. It was a cross sectional comparative study carried out at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar January to December 2010. Subjects were divided into two groups based on percutaneous coronary intervention and optimal medical therapy. Study variables were smoking, physical activity, dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Informed written consent was taken from all the study participants. Data was recorded on a preformed Questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 16. P-value of 0.05 was taken as significant. A total of 315 patients were studied. Baseline characteristic were similar between groups. Smoking was decreased significantly in [PCI group] as compared to [OMT group] [p=0.027]. Physical activity goal >/= 150 min/ week were achieved more in [PCI group] compared to [OMT group][p=0.019]. Goals set for Serum cholesterol, HbA1c%, serum LDL, Systolic blood pressure and Diastolic blood pressure have significantly achieved in [PCI group] as compared to [OMT group] with p- valves of [0.018,0.027,0.023,0.033 and 0.017] respectively. While goals set for Triglycerides, serum HDL and BMI have no significant difference between the two groups with p-valves of [0.223, 0.089 and 0.164 respectively]. Patients who underwent intervention and remained on optimal medical therapy were more adherent to regular exercise and good compliance which lead to better risk factors control for coronary artery disease as compared to patients who remained on optimal medical therapy alone

Tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis for tracheal stenosis: etiology and outcome

To know the etiology of tracheal stenosis and asses outcome of tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis for tracheal stenosis. Descriptive prospective case series. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi and Quetta from May 2005 to March 2010. Twenty two patients were included in the study who underwent tracheal resection followed by primary tracheal reconstruction by same surgical team. Etiology was ascertained on the basis of available history and per-operative findings. End-to-end tracheal anastomosis was done using vicryl 3/0. Outcome of surgical technique was assessed using peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR] and flexible bronchoscopy. Twenty two patients were managed over a period of five years, of which 17 [77.3%] were male and 5[22.7%] female. Mean patient age was 27.31 +/- 9.61 years. Seven [31.8%] patients had New York Heart Association grade [NYHA]-III and 15 [68.2%] had NYHA grade-IV dyspnoea. Seventeen [77.3%] had stridor. All patients were already being managed by pulmonologists, ENT specialists or intensivists. Twelve [54.5%] had grade-V stenosis [91-100% luminal obstruction] and 9 [40.9%] had cervical tracheal stenosis and 3[13.6%] had mediastinal tracheal stenosis. Six [27.3%] patients had partial cricoid resection followed by thyrotracheal anastomosis, 13[59.1%] patients underwent cervical tracheal anastomosis and 3 [13.6%] patients required mediastinal tracheal anastomosis. Patients were followed up post-operatively for the development of immediate and delayed complications. The follow up was carried out for a minimum period of 6 months to a maximum period of 2 years. Postoperative complications included neck pain, lung collapse, and superficial skin infection. Tracheal resection with end-to-end anastomosis is a safe, reliable and permanent procedure for the treatment of tracheal stenosis

prevalence of stress and associated factors in dentists working at Islamic international dental college hospital, Islamabad

While a number of studies have been conducted to investigate and understand stress in different professions, there are only a few studies which address stress in the dental profession. Such studies are even rarer in Pakistan. This study was conducted to investigate the extent of the stress and its causative factors among the dentists working at Islamic International Dental College Hospital, Islamabad. A cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 85 dentists using a self administered questionnaire was carried out. With a 58.82% response rate, the study showed that 76% dentists were not stressed, while 12% experienced mild, 10% moderate and 2% extremely severe stress, with the main factors being work related or time-management issues

Yield of cervical mediastinoscopy in diagnosis of indeterminate mediastinal lymphadenopathy/masses and staging of lung cancer

To determine the yield of cervical mediastinoscopy in indeterminate antero-superior mediastinal lymphadenopathy or masses and in staging of non small cell carcinoma lung. Descriptive prospective study. Thoracic Surgical unit of Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi from Jan 2007 to June 2009. Patients were placed in group I for diagnostically indeterminate antero superior mediastinal lymphadenopathy/masses and in group II for staging of non small cell lung cancer [NSCLC] with enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes on CT scan [greater than 10 mm on short axis]. All patients underwent the procedure under general anaesthesia. A plane anterior to trachea was developed using blunt finger dissection until carina. Biopsies of the mass or lymph nodes were taken and sent for histopathology. In case of staging for Carcinoma lung, lymph node stations 2L, 2R, 4L, 4R and 7 were searched and biopsied and sent in appropriately labelled containers for histopathology. Patients were usually discharged on the same day. Forty eight cases were included in this study during the course of 2 1/2 years of period. Twenty nine cases were included in group I and nineteen in group II. In group I chronic caseating granulomas due to tuberculosis were the most cause in 45% of cases followed by 24% cases of lymphoma. In group II, 4 [21%] cases revealed no evidence of malignancy in any lymph nodes and in 11 [57.9%] cases only ipsilateral mediastinal lymph nodes were involved by tumor making it N2 disease. In 4 [21%] cases contra lateral mediastinal lymph nodes were involved by tumor making it N3 disease. Mortality in this study was only one case [3 4%] Mediastinoscopy is minimally invasive cost effective and simple procedure in trained hands for both diagnosis and staging purpose

Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery [VATS] lung biopsy for non-responsive patients of interstitial lung disease [ILD]

To study the results of VATS [Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery] Lung Biopsy in Interstitial Lung Disease [ILD] case series. Department of Thoracic Surgery, CMH Rawalpindi from Jan 2009 to Mar 2010. All those patients of ILD [Interstitial Lung Disease] were included who failed to improve after a period of observation including those on empiric therapy, all patients in which BAL [Bronchoalveolar Lavage] and TBLB [Transbronchial Lung biopsy] was inconclusive and all those patients fit to undergo thoracoscopic surgery. Patients excluded were elderly patients, those with systemic disorders frequently associated with ILD and those with known neoplasm likely to have lymphangitic dissemination. We used three thoracoscopic ports, all biopsies were sent for histopathology examination, single chest tube was placed in all cases and it was removed once the airleak ceased. All complications encountered were noted. Fourteen patients were registered during study period. Biopsy showed that 9 had ILD, and 5 did not have ILD. Only complication was a prolonged airleak for 2 days in 2 patients. No mortality was encountered. Thoracoscopic surgical biopsy can be accomplished safely in most cases where there is a diagnostic dilema for interstitial lung disease

Duodenal perforation simple closure or definitive surgery in emergency laparotomy

Perforated peptic ulcer, an emergency, continues to afflict large number of population. Males are affected more than females. There is close association with Helicobacter pylori and NSAID's ingestion. Duration of perforation > 12 hours, systolic blood pressure less than 100 mm Hg and co morbid conditions are the risk factors. Controversy exists regarding simple closure or definitive surgery in emergency setting. This prospective study was conducted at CMH, Rawalpindi from July 2000 to Dec 2001. 46 males, alternatively allocated to two groups received either simple closure with omental patch or truncal vagotomy with drainage procedure. Risk factors were stratified into scoring system. Patients were followed up and results graded as modified Visick's classification. There was no mortality with risk score 1 or 2 in both groups. 66.6% mortality in group - I and 100% mortality in group - II with risk score 3 was noted. Excellent / good results were obtained in 52.3% of cases undergoing simple closure versus 85% undergoing definitive surgery