Effect of smokeless tobacco on the outcome of Swiss albino mice pregnancy and changes in their offspring's body weight; an experimental study

Objective: To study the harmful effects of smokeless chewing local tobacco on Swiss Albino mice pregnancy outcome and observe the effect on their offspring's body weight

Study Design: An Experimental study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Anatomy Department Al- Tibri Medical College, Isra University Karachi during June 2015 to December 2015

Materials and Methods: Twenty pregnant Swiss albino mice and their 40 offspring male and female equal number, Selected randomly. The mice were divided into Experimental and control groups. Inclusion criteria were the healthy offspring of two weeks age. At the time of birth initial weight was taken and the final weight was taken after two weeks. Exclusion criteria was unhealthy, less or more than two week's age. Independent sample t-test was used for analysis of data through SPSS version 20.0

Results: Total of 20 female Swiss albino mice divided equally into two groups experimental and control. Experimental group was kept on 5% smokeless tobacco. Twenty offspring from experimental and twenty offspring from control group of both sexes were taken. Initial and final weights of both groups were recorded. Significant difference was observed in initial and final weights of offspring with P-value=0.01

Conclusion: Tobacco which is frequently used in our region without any knowledge of its harmful effects. It is proved that smokeless tobacco not only reduces the weight of offspring but during pregnancy it effects the growing fetus leading to stillbirth and neonatal deaths

Comparative study of effects of azadirachtaindica [Neem] leaf aqueous extract and n-acetylcysteine on paracetamol induced liver damage in rats

Objective: To study the comparative effects of aqueous Neem leaf extract with N-Acetylcysteine on the basis of liver enzymes [AST, ALT, ALP] and histopathological changes in paracetamol induced liver damage

Study Design: Experimental / Interventional comparative study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Pharmacology Department, Al-Tibri Medical College, Karachi from January 2015 to June 2015

Materials and Methods: Total sixty [60] albino rats of either gender were equally divided into four [04] respective groups. Each group comprised of 15 animals. Animals of group A were considered as un-treated or control group. In group B animals were treated with a single dose 2mg/kg b/w of paracetamol orally. Group C animals with neem extract 500mg/kg b/w orally for 15 days along with oral administration of 2mg/kg b/w paracetamol. In group D, animals were treated with same dose of paracetamol and 140mg/kg b/w of N-Acetylcysteine intraperitoneal for 06 days

Results: The results showed that the liver enzymes were markedly increased in paracetamol treated group of animals, but decreased when animals were treated with Neem and N-Acetylcesteine. The mean serum level of enzymes such as AST, ALT and ALP were found to be more i.e, 110.8, 40.00 and 444.33 respectively but the mean level decreased in the animals of group C such as 29.133, 20.00 and 240.33. However, liver enzymes were also reduced in group D but their levels were relatively lesser than animals of group C. Regarding histopathological review, the tissue sections showed necrotic hepatocytes, congestion in blood vessels in paracetamol treated group of animals. However, the changes were found significantly reversed in group C and group D, but marked changes were seen in animals of group C as compared to N-Acetylcysteine treated group of animals

Conclusion: Paracetamol is a hepatotoxic drug causing histomorphological damage in liver along with alteration in the level of Liver enzymes. Azadirachta indica leaves have given better results compared to N-Acetylcysteine, on the basis of significant differences in biochemical parameters

Gestational diabetes mellitus; still a great problem

Objectives: The present study was designed to find the importance of proper screening and early diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus. Study Design: A prospective/ descriptive study Place of Study: tertiary care hospital Hyderabad. Duration of Study: from September 2014 to November 2014

Materials and Methods: A total of 168 pregnant females between the ages of 20-40 years and in their 24[th] to 28[th] week of gestation were enrolled for the study. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test of all the participants was done after an overnight fasting of 10-12 hours. All the participants were given 75gm of glucose per 100 ml of distilled water. The blood samples were collected after two hours time for serum glucose levels

Results: Most of the participants were below 26 years of age 47[27.9%] with the mean age of 30.2 +/- 5.83 years. However the highest prevalence of GDM was observed in age group 31-35 years [36%]. Among the 25 cases of gestational diabetes mellitus the highest number of patients with GDM were multipara [40%] followed by parity of 3-4 gravida [32%]. Twenty seven women [16%] women had family history of diabetes mellitus. Among these 12/27 [44.4%] women were found with GDM, compared to 15/141 [10.6%] who have no family history of diabetes mellitus. Total 14 [8.33%] women were found obese, out of these 8 [57%] women had GDM while only 6 [42.8%] women had no GDM

Conclusion: The prevalence of GDM in the present study is found to be 14.8%. A prevalence of GDM was higher in the elderly multiparous females who were overweight and had family history of diabetes mellitus

Celiac disease; histopathological evaluation of endoscopic duodenal [D2] biopsies in patients

To find out the Modified Marsh type of celiac disease [CD] patients on histopathological examination of duodenal [D2] biopsies and to correlate it with tissue transglutaminase IgA levels. Cross sectional study. Place of Histopathology laboratory [Department of Pathology], Isra University Hospital and Asian Institute of Medical Sciences [AIMS], Hyderabad. July 2013 to December 2013. 96 patients with a history of malabsorption or atypical symptoms with clinical suspicion of CD were subjected to endoscopy. Endoscopic duodenal [D2] biopsies were taken regardless of age and gender. D2 biopsies were processed for histopathological examination under light microscopy. Out of 96 patients, 45 [46.9%] patients had moderate type of lamina propria inflammation along with highly significant p-value [0.0001].CD type 3a was observed in 34 patients [35.4%]. In this study the comparison of serological level of tissue Transglutaminase IgA [tTGA] and histological severity revealed significant correlation. All Modified Marsh types of CD with tTGA level seen in our study were highly significant [p-value 0.001]. In this study strong correlation was observed between the serological tTGA level and histological findings by Modified Marsh classification along with lamina propria inflammation of duodenal mucosa in CD patients

Relationship of chromium toxicity with diabetes mellitus and chronic renal failure

To assess the association between diabetes mellitus and chronic renal failure with toxic effects of chromium on the onset of the Chronic Kidney disease. A prospective cross sectional study. This study was carried out at the Jinnah Post graduate Medical Centre and Kidney Centre Karachi during December 20 12 to December 20 13. The present study was conducted on a total of 150 patients [age > 40 years] divided into three groups. Patients in Group I included 50 patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 whereas Group II included 50 patients with diabetes mellitus associated with chronic renal failure [CRF] and Group III consisted of 50 healthy controls. Results showed that levels of fasting blood sugar and HbAlc in both group I and group II were significantly high where as it was lower in controls. Serum urea [125.2 +/- 32.49] and creatinine [7.3 +/- 1.41] levels in patients with DM with CRF were significantly high as compared to patients with DM only and control group. The Creatinine clearance [55.1 +/- 9.61] in patients with DM with CRF was decreased in comparison with DM patients and control group. Serum chromium levels were significantly high in patients with DM with CRF and in patients with DM. Serum chromium level showed significant correlation with glycemic index when the two groups including DM patients and patients with DM accompanied with CRF were compared with the controls, while correlation with renal failure was significant only in group II patients

Effects of lactobacillus [acidophilus] on cutaneous wound repair with respect to neutrophil count in comparison with steroid

Objective: To evaluate the effects of lactobacillus [acidophilus] in repairing of wound with respect to neutrophil count in comparison with steroid therapy

Study Design: Experimental study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy of Al-Tibri Medical College Isra University Karachi Campus from June 2014 to October 2014

Materials and Methods: Randomly selected Wistar albino rats were taken and their weight was between 100 -150 gms. The rats were divided in three groups on the basis of topical application. Group I was treated with topical normal saline, Group II with topical lactobacillus[acidophilus], and Group III topical Steroid were applied once daily].Each group is further divided into four sub groups according to the day of sampling like group Ia[day 03], group Ib[day 07], group Ic[day 14] and group Id [day 21]. Samples were taken on day 3,7,14 and 21 from each group and tissues were processed and stained to observe the neutrophil count that showed rapid healing processes. Data was analyzed on SPSS version 21 by applying ANOVA and post hoc tukey'stest

Results: Results compared the neutrophil count of Lactobacillus group with steroid group and control group.Mean +/- SD of numbers of Neutrophils / x400 in group IIa was20.500 +/- 0.577, in group IIb11.250 +/- 1.258, in group IIc5.7500 +/- .0.5000, group IId3.7500 +/- 0.9574and in groupIawas54.25 +/- 2.872, group Ib41.250 +/- 2.629, group Ic23.500 +/- 3.000 and group Id18.750 +/- 0.957. The significant value was in group IIa and group Ia[P<0.000], group IIb and group Ib[P<0.000], group IIc and group Ic[P<0.000] and group IId and group Id [P<0.000]. Mean +/- SD of numbers of Neutrophils / x400 in groups IIa was 20.500 +/- 0.577, in group IIb 11.250 +/- 1.258, in group IIc 5.7500 +/- .0.5000, group IId 3.7500 +/- 0.9574 and group IIIa was54.500 +/- 1.290, group IIIb 42.000 +/- 1.414,group IIIc32.000 +/- 0.8165 and group IIId28.750 +/- 1.258. The significant value was in group IIa and group IIIa[P<1.000], group IIb and group IIIb[P<0.002], group IIc and group IIIc[P<0.000] and group IId and group IIId[P<0.000]

Conclusion: Lactobacillus showed potent anti-inflammatory effect against both therapeutic groups