In Vitro efficacy of ethionamide and clarithromycin in mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates

To determine the sensitivity of clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates against ethionamide, and clarithromycin. Cross-sectional study. Department of Microbiology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology [AFIP] Rawalpindi from June 2003 to June 2004. All routine clinical samples received for acid fast bacilli [AFB] culture and yielding positive growth on Lowenstien Jensen medium and Bactec 460 were included in the study. The isolates were from sputum [n=70], bronchioalveolar lavage [n=10], fine needle aspiration [n=6], lymph nodes [n=7], pleural fluid [n=4], endometrium [n=3]. After the identification of M. tuberculosis [MTB] sensitivity was performed against first-line antituberculosis drugs. Then susceptibility of M. tuberculosis isolates against ethionamide and clarithromycin was performed on LJ medium. Mycobacterium H37Rv was used as control strain. Results were interpreted using resistance ratio method. Out of 100 M. tuberculosis isolates, sensitivity to ethionamide was 93% and 9% to clarithromycin. Clarithromycin when used alone is ineffective as antituberculosis drug but its efficacy in combination needs to be tested. However ethionamide may be used as an alternative antituberculosis drug

Efficacy of amikacin and ciprofloxacin against clinical isolates of mycobacterium tuberculosis

Tuberculosis was a leading cause of death at the turn of the 20[th] century and continues to be one of the medical scourges of mankind. Before the availability of antimicrobial drugs the cornerstone of treatment was rest in the open air in sanatoria. The major breakthrough in treatment of tuberculosis came with the discovery of Streptomycin. Later, INH, Ethambutol, Pyrazinamide, Rifampicin were added to the arsenal. Objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity of clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis against two second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs, Amikacin and Ciprofloxacin. This cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Microbiology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology [AFIP] Rawalpindi. All routine clinical samples received for acid fast bacilli [AFB] in the Department of Microbiology, AFIP, Rawalpindi were processed by modified Petroff's technique and inoculated on Lowenstein Jensen [LJ] medium and Bactec 460 Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture system. After identification of M. tuberculosis sensitivity was performed against first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. Then susceptibility of M. tuberculosis isolates against Amikacin and Ciprofloxacin was performed on LJ medium. H37Rv was used as control strain. Results were interpreted using resistance ratio method. Out of 100 M. tuberculosis isolates, 98% were sensitive to Amikacin and 97% to Ciprofloxacin. Amikacin and Ciprofloxacin are very effective 2[nd] line anti-tuberculosis drugs against tuberculosis isolates in our set-up

comparison between the normal levels of thyroid hormones among elderly and young men

A preliminary study was carried out to observe the levels of thyroid hormones among the normal elderly men and to observe the variation from the levels exhibited by men of younger age. The hormonal levels were measured using Abbott IMX system. Total T3, Total T4 and TSH were evaluated among 47 elderly men [mean age 53.23 +/- 1.00]. Data were analyzed using t-test. It was found that the normal levels of Total T3 and Total T4 did not vary significantly [p>0.05] from that of a younger group of men [28.6 +/- 0.02 years], however, TSH levels among the older men were significantly higher [p<0.001], although well within the permissible levels. It seems to indicate that a slight significant increase [p<0.001] in normal levels of TSH, and a non-significant decrease [p>0.05] in levels of T3 and T4, with age, takes place

Detection and the quantitative analysis of seeds of crotalaria juncea and lac of ficus religiosa for steroidal hormones

As reported in the traditional medicine literature, antifertility properties have been attributed to seeds of Crotalaria juncea and lac of Ficus religiosa. A study was carried out to detect and measure the extent of presence of steroidal hormones of the human reproductive axis, namely, estradiol, progesterone and testosterone, in the seeds of Crotalaria juncea and Ficus religiosa lac. The extracts of the seeds and lac were prepared, and both yielded extracts with two distinct fractions, the upper and lower extracts. The analysis revealed the presence of all these hormones in extracts of both the seeds and lac. In the extract from seeds of Crotalaria juncea, the levels in the upper and lower extracts were 26.070 and 85.210-pg/ml [estradiol], 0.597 and 0.807 ng/ ml [progesterone], while testosterone levels were 1.488 and 10.746 ng/ml, respectively. In Ficus religiosa lac extract, the content in the upper and lower portions were 55.010 and 64.610pg/ml [estradiol], 0.417 and 0.312 ng/ml [progesterone], while testosterone levels were 2.276 and 1.006 ng/ml. The presence of these hormones, and their concentration in seeds and lac could be a reason for the fertility regulating property of these seeds and lac

Identification and determination of the level of steroid hormones of the human reproductive axis, estradiol, progesterone and testosterone, in the seed extracts of psoralia corylifolia

The present study was carried out to detect and measure the extent of presence of the steroidal hormones of the human reproductive axis, namely, estradiol, progesterone and testosterone, in the seeds of Psoralia corylifolia. The analysis revealed the presence of all these hormones in the seed extract. The levels in the first and second extract were 394.84 and 216.64 pg/ml [estradiol], 3.773 and 2.123 ng/ml [progesterone], while testosterone levels were 3.15 and 2.94 ng/ml. The presence, levels of these hormones in the seeds could be a reason for the fertility regulating property of these seeds

Dehydrating diarrhoea in children due to vibrio cholerae

A descriptive study was carried out to determine the causative organism of diarrhea, it's possible source and the clinical outcome after therapy. Fifteen children were admitted with H/ o acute onset of watery diarrhea. Stool samples were submitted to look for motility of the organisms and cultures. Stools in 8 patients revealed the growth of Vibrio cholerae 01 biotype El Tor serotype Ogawa. All the isolates were sensitive to Doxycycline, Ciprofloxacin and resistant to Cotrimoxazole, Chloramphenicol, Nalidixic acid. Three of the isolates were resistant to Ampicillin. Cholera is endemic in Pakistan with the propensity to cause epidemics especially in summer season. Adequately chlorinated water supply and improvement in public and personal hygiene can go a long way in preventing large epidemics of Cholera

Six month follow-up study on Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi. A infections for carrier state

Humans are the only natural reservoir of Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi A., therefore, the disease can be acquired through proximity with a person who is a chronic carrier. Most often this involves acquisition of organisms via ingestion of food or water contaminated with human excreta. A follow up study was carried out at the Armed Forces institute of Pathology [AFIP] Rawalpindi on 22 patients at two monthly intervals over a period of six months, with the objective to detect Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi A carrier state among these patients. Follow up investigations included stool cultures for both salmonella infections. None of our cases terminated as chronic carrier for Salmonella typhi and S. paratyphi A

outbreak of viral hepatitis E

An outbreak of acute hepatitis E virus [HEV] infection occurred from the beginning of June 1998 till the end of July 1998 at one of PAF bases in Karachi. The epidemic was water borne and confined to base personnel out of whom 204 hospitalized icteric patients were studied. The clinical course was mild and short without any progression to fulminant hepatitis or death. All cases were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg], 10 for hepatitis C virus antibodies [Anti-HCV] and HEV antibodies [Anti HEV]. Anti HCV was negative in all the cases and Anti HEV was positive in all the tested cases. The need for an easily available, inexpensive serological test for HEV infection, protection of water supplies from fecal contamination, adequate chlorination and/or boiling of drinking water and health education about personal and environmental hygiene, especially in communities at high risk is stressed