Diffused idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis in a fighting bulldog: a case report

This case report illustrates the presence of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis [DISH] in a fighting Bulldog. The dog was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan, with the presenting complaint of slowly progressing staggering gait, inability to stand on hind limbs and muscle stiffness in lumbo-sacral region. Hematological, serobiochemical and clinical examination were insignificant except presence of extensive new bone formation in the radiograph on the ventral of last 4 consecutive body lumbar vertebras [L4-L8] in lumbar region, running parallel to nuchal ligament. Diagnosis of DISH was made on the basis of clinical signs and radiographical examination which were suggestive of DISH. This report documents the first case of DISH in fighting Bulldog in Pakistan

Frequency of cardiovascular risk factors among prisoners

To find out frequency of various risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in prisoners. This was an cross-sectional study involving prisoners recruited in Peshawar Heart Study [PHs]. All participants were interviewed in detail including family history, past medical history, smoking history and drug history. All participants pulse, blood pressure, body mass index [BMI] and waist hip ratio was determined. Their random blood sugar and total cholesterol was checked. ECG was carried out. Data was analyzed for cardiovascular risk factors. Total of 166 prisoners were screened and interviewed. Mean age was 62 years. Mean BMI was 26.52 +/- 4.59. Mean systolic BP was 136.8 +/- 22.91 mm Hg and mean diastolic BP was 87.77 +/- 11.93 mm Hg. Mean random blood cholesterol was 178.91 +/- 29.12mg/dl. Mean random blood sugar was 135 +/- 4.93 mg /dl. Out of 166 prisoners, 20 [2%] had random blood sugar more than 180 mg /dl. Active smokers were 36 [21.7%]. Most prisoners were not exercising 119 [71.7%]. We found that risk factors for cardiovascular diseases like lack of exercise, smoking, obesity and hypertension are quite frequent in this group

Prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among journalists in Peshawar - the Peshawar heart study

To assess the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in journalists working in Peshawar. This was a descriptive study involving journalists working in Peshawar recruited in Peshawar Heart Study [PHS]. All participants were interviewed in detail including family history, past medical history, smoking history and medications history. Dietary habits were explored. All participants' pulse, blood pressure, BMI and waist hip ratio was determined. Their random blood sugar and total cholesterol was checked. Twelve lead ECG was recorded. Data was analyzed for cardiovascular disease risk factors. Total of 150 Journalists were interviewed at press club Peshawar. Mean age was 32 +/- 7.7 years. Current smokers were 36% [n=54]. Naswar was consumed by 6% [n=10]. Family history of cardiovascular disease was present in 30% [n=46]. Only 26% [n=40] took regular exercise. Mean Body Mass Index was 25.68 +/- 4.78. Mean W/H ratio was 0.91 +/- 0.03. Mean systolic blood pressure was 115. 31 +/- 14.63 mmHg while 20% [n=31] had systolic of > 140 mmHg. Mean diastolic blood pressure was 75.30 +/- 9.92 mmHg. Mean cholesterol was 158 .53 +/- 20.31 mg%. Mean random blood sugar was 98. 28 +/- 32.12 mg% with five journalists having more than 180mg%.Risks factors for cardiovascular disease like obesity, smoking, sedentary life style, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension were found prevalent among the journalists working in district Peshawar

Octreotride in acute pancreatitis - have it or not?

The study was conducted in the Department of Surgery, Mayo Hospital, Lahore from March 2003 to January 2006. The objective of the study was to see the beneficial effects of Octreotride in acute pancreatitis. Thirty five patients who were diagnosed as acute pancreatitis were divided in two groups. In group A [controlled] Octreotride was given in a dose of 100

Should we say good bye to exercise ECG testing?

This study was aimed to find out the accuracy of exercise test in patients with suspected coronary artery disease [CAD] presenting to Cardiology department, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. In this retrospective study, records of all those patients with suspected CAD, who presented to Cardiology department, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar from July 2000 to July 2003, were analyzed. Only those patients who underwent both exercise tolerance test [ETT] and coronary angiography were included in the study. Exercise test was performed using standard Bruce protocol. Study population comprised of 664 patients, including 559 [84%] men and 105 [16%] women, with mean age of 50+9.7 [range 20-85] years. Coronary angiography showed 601/664 patients had stenosis of >70% in at least one coronary artery. Of these 601 patients 351[58.47%] had abnormal ETT, 105[17.47%] had negative ETT and 145[24.12%] had non-diagnostic ETT. After excluding the non-diagnostic results, the sensitivity was 76.97%. Among the 63/664 individuals with minimal or no coronary stenosis, 18[28.57%] had no ischemic ST changes during ETT, 21[33.33%] had positive ETT and 24[38.09%] had non-diagnostic ETT. Thus the specificity was 46.15%. Positive predictive value of ETT was 95% and negative predictive value was 15%. Overall accuracy of ETT was 55.50%. Exercise ECG testing has an important role in diagnosing suspected coronary artery disease. Patients with positive ETT should further be evaluated by coronary angiography. A negative ETT does not exclude CAD

Somatic embryogenesis in wild relatives of cotton (Gossypium Spp.) / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

Wild cotton species can contribute a valuable gene pool for agronomically desirable cultivated tetraploid cultivars. In order to exploit diploid cotton a regeneration system is required to achieve transformation based goals. The present studies aimed at optimizing the conditions for regeneration of local varieties as well as wild species of cotton. Different callus induction media were tested with varying concentrations of hormones in which sucrose was used as nutritional source. Different explants (hypocotyls, cotyledon, root) were used to check the regeneration of both local cotton plants and wild relatives using T & G medium, BAP medium, CIM medium, EMMS medium, and cell suspension medium. Different stages of embryogenicity such as early torpedo stage, late torpedo stage, heart stage, globular stage and cotyledonary stage were observed in wild relatives of cotton. The results of this study pave the way for establishing future transformation methods.

Comparison of di-isopropyl iminodiacetic acid with methyl isobutyl isonitrile in the work-up of infants with prolonged jaundice

The study group comprised of 16 jaundiced children [mean age 3.16 months] with bilirubin levels of more than 8mg/dl. The clinical differential diagnosis included biliary atresia versus neonatal hepatitis. Informed consent was taken from all the parents. Parents were advised to omit the morning feed. All children were pretreated with phenobarbitone [5mg/ kg/day for 5 days] and imaged twice on two different days: first with Tc-99m-DISIDA and dose of 37MBq was injected intravenously. Liver images were obtained at 1, 2, 3 and 24 hours following injection. Then injection of Tc-99m-MIBI with a dose of 37MBq was injected intravenously. Anterior abdominal images with 350k counts were obtained at 10, 20, 30 and 40 minutes post injection and where appropriate delayed additional views were taken to optimize radionuclide intestinal transit. Two nuclear medicine physicians visually analyzed the scintigrams. On the basis of biliary-enteric kinetics the patients were subdivided into sub-groups: Group 1: Included 12 patients with no bowel activity with DISIDA scan but demonstrable bowel activity with MIBI liver scan with the appearance of central or peripheral abdominal activity. Group 2: Consisted of 4 patients with no bowel activity with both DISIDA and MIBI liver scans. Of the 4 patients 2 had biliary atresia confirmed at laparotomy whilst 2 children were lost to follow-up since the children had traveled from remote parts of the country

Hypoglycemic efficacy of leaf extracts of Adhatoda vasica Nees

The present enumeration is a base to know the antidiabetic efficacy of fresh leaves extract of Adhatoda vasica Nees. Study was designed to use the fresh leaves extract to lower the blood glucose level of diabetic patients. Ten local diabetic patients were selected randomly from villages near Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. The blood sugar level of the selected patients were tested before and after treatment. It was concluded that the Adhatoda vasica Nees shows symptomatic hypoglycemic effect on diabetic patients