In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial effect of miswak against common oral pathogens

Miswak is a natural tooth cleaning tool which is being used in many parts of the world since ancient times. It is known to be useful in prevention of dental caries. But still it is not used as frequently as other oral hygiene tools. This research was designed to scientifically establish antimicrobial effect of miswak in vitro against common oral pathogens. This was a cross-sectional study involving 100 health care workers. This research was carried out in Microbiology section of Dow Diagnostic Research and Reference Laboratory. A questionnaire was designed to test oral hygiene habits of study subjects. Oral swabs were taken and microorganisms were identified by standard bacteriological methods. Test material included four different types of miswaks i.e. [1] root of the peelu [Salvadora persica] tree [in packing] [2] root of the peelu tree [without packing] [3] stem of the peelu tree and [4] stem of the neem [Azadirechta indica] tree. These miswaks were tested against three different types of microorganisms isolated from oral swabs: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans by agar diffusion method. Inhibition zone was measured after 24 hrs of incubation at 37°C. Among the miswaks used, root of the peelu tree in both packing and without packing exhibited strong antimicrobial effect against all three tested microorganisms. However miswak taken from the stem of the peelu and neem tree did not show any antimicrobial activity against all three types of the tested microorganisms. Miswak taken from the root of the peelu tree exhibited antimicrobial activity against all the common oral pathogens and could be a good oral hygiene tool in combating dental caries

Detection of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus in prostate biopsy samples

To determine the association of Xenotropic murine leukemia virus related virus [XMRV] infection with prostate cancer and compare it with benign prostate hyperplasia. Case control study. Department of Histopathology and Molecular Pathology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from January 2009 to December 2012. XMRV was screened in 50 prostate cancer and 50 benign prostatic hyperplasia biopsies using conventional end-point PCR. Other studied variables were family history of prostate cancer, patients age and Gleason score. XMRV was detected in 4 [8%] of the 50 prostate cancer biopsy specimens compared to none in biopsies with benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, there was no significant statistical association of XMRV infection with the other variables. A low frequency of XMRV infection was found in this case-control study. Men, who harbor XMRV infection, may be at increased risk of prostate cancer but this needs to be investigated further at a larger scale

Vitamin D deficiency in healthy female medical students of a public sector hospital

To determine Vitamin D levels in healthy female medical students. Public sector university in Karachi during the month of November 2010. A total of 84 healthy, female medical students were included in the study. 25 [OH] Vitamin D, serum calcium, phosphorous and alkaline phosphatase levels were determined in their blood samples. Vitamin D was analyzed by chemiluminesence technique, while serum calcium, phosphorous and alkaline phosphatase were determined photometrically. A comprehensive questionnaire was also filled out by 57 students which included biometrics, dietary habits, sun exposure and physical activity details. Almost all [98.8%] subjects had low levels of vitamin D, with 96.4% having values less than 10 ng/ml. There was no correlation of low Vitamin D levels with calcium, phosphorous or alkaline phosphatase levels or with biometric measurements. Vitamin D deficiency was very common even in apparently healthy young females with no correlation to calcium, phosphorous and alkaline phosphatase levels. Nationwide studies are needed to see the cases for low levels of vitamins D

Evolutionary root defines the structural basis of high and low level vancomycin resistance in enterococci

D-alanyl-D-lactate [Dlac] and D-alanyl-D-serine [Dser] ligases respectively mediates high and low level vancomycin resistance among enterococci. To date, the evolutionary relationship of both ligases is largely unaddressed. Also poorly understood are the molecular differences in the magnitude of vancomycin resistance. To address the mention, we constructed the phylogenetic tree of all vancomycin resistance conferring ligases with the wild type ligases [Dala]. Multiple sequence alignment and tertiary structures of the structurally unresolved proteins were constructed by homology modeling. Phylogenetic tree revealed that both Dlac and Dser are profoundly different from Dala as a result of continuous selection pressure. Separate clustering of Dlac and Dser also highlighted the structural basis of molecule in maintaining different level of resistance as exhibited by the bacteria. This notion was further augmented as the functionally key region, omega loop [omega-loop], was found relatively more structured in only Dlac. Moreover, the critically active residue, His-243/244, was also noticed to be restricted in Dlac and found replaced by non polar residues in Dser. The present study not only provides protein structural explanation of the different intensities of vancomycin resistance among enterococci, but also presents yet another example for the scope of evolutionary science in biomedicine

Effects of Ramadan fasting and physical activity on glucose levels and serum lipid profile among type 2 diabetic patients

To assess the effect of fasting and physical activity on blood pressure, fasting glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, high density and low density lipoproteins among diabetic type 2 patients. Seventy five patients who had three visits [last ten days of Shabann [visit 1], Ramadan [visit 2] and Shawwal [visit 3]] were included in the study. Physical measurements, clinical measurements and 12 hours fasting blood sample were taken, along with an interview for demographic information and physical activity on each visit. The samples were analyzed for 1] Glucose, 2] Cholesterol, 3] Triglyceride, 4] Uric Acid, 5] HDL-C, and 6] LDL-C. The mean weight of the patients decreased significantly from 71.43 kg to 69.41 kg from visit 1 to visit 2. Mean systolic blood pressure also decreased significantly from 124.25 mm/Hg to 119.86 mm/Hg while. Mean triglyceride level decreased from 239.095mg/L to 207.07 mg/L from visit 1 to visit 2 and it kept decreasing to 159.25 mg/L till third visit. Mean LDL value increased from 104.12 mg/L to 112.64 mg/L from visit one to visit two and then further increased to 119.0 mg/L on the third visit. Ramadan fasting is safe for diabetes type II patients and is associated with weight loss and improvement in the overall diabetic control. Furthermore, the physical activities could reduce the body weight, waist measurement, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride and HDL

Frequency of endoscopic gastric neoplasms in five years at JPMC

Gastric cancer is among the most common malignancies in Pakistan. The aim of our study are i] to document different histological types of gastric malignancies as per age and sex ii] discuss its possible association in patients who underwent endoscopy and iii] compare our data with local and abroad studies. Retrospective study. This study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Basic Medical Science Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan, from 1[st] January 2003 to 31 December 2007. A total of 740 cases of gastric endoscopic biopsies were received for histopathological evaluation at the Department of Pathology, Basic Medical Science Institute, JPMC, Karachi. Out of these cases, a total of 70 gastric neoplasms were separated, analyzed and classified according to the WHO classification system and their relative frequencies were recorded. Gastric adenocarcinoma was the commonest neoplasm with male predominance in 5th to 7[th] decade of life, account for 88.57% [62/70] of all gastric neoplasms. Gastric lymphoma was the second common with 8.57%[06/70] and gastric carcinoid was least common with 1.43%[1/70] of all gastric neoplasms. This study highlights that adenocarcinoma is the most common gastric malignancy seen in most high risk group includes elderly males followed by lymphoma with no gender difference. So we advise regular endoscopic biopsies surveillance at least in high risk age group for the early detection of cancer

Physical and microbiological analysis of water from different sources of Karachi

A number of diseases are caused by consuming water of poor quality. According to a community health study 30% of all reported cases of illnesses and 40% of deaths in Pakistan are due to waterborne disease. The purpose of the study was to i] to determine the physical quality and presence of total coliforms and Escherichia coli count and also ii] to compare the coliform and Excherichia coli bacteria in drinking water of different towns of Karachi with WHO's recommended values. Retrospective Study. This study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry in collaboration with Department of Microbiology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah postgraduate medical Centre Karachi during the period of June 2007 to February 2008. Multiple water sample collected from 18 towns of Karachi by different sources like Piped water, hand pumps, Mineral bottles and Filter plants. The 250 milliliters sample for microbiological analysis was collected to perform all the required analyses and to provide for any quality control need, split samples or repeat examination. Statistical Package for social Science [SPSS version 11.0] used for data feeding and analysis. The results were given in the text as number and percentage for qualitative/ categorical variables like E. Coli and coliform and mean and standard deviation for quantitative variables like Physical parameters pH, Temp, DO, Conductivity, TDS]. The pH in tap water samples ranged between 6.8 to 7.6. Temperature recorded at spot ranged between 25- 32 [degree sign] c. The dissolved oxygen varied from 3.6 to 4.8 pm, its permissible limit is 4ppm. In 108 tap water samples MPN of coliform/100 ml water samples were < 10 in 21[19.4%] samples and > 10 in 87 [80.6%] samples. Recovery of E. coli as indicator organisms of fecal pollution in different water samples were found. During the drinking water quality assessment a wide range of pollutions were found and generated very useful baseline information on the current pollution status of supplied water to Karachi which indicates that Karachi is receiving highly polluted water

histopathological pattern of ovarian teratomas at a tertiary care centre

To determine the frequency and types of various ovarian teratomas amongst various age groups, and 2] To compare the results with other workers. Study Design: Retrospective study. The study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute[BMSI], Jinnah Post graduate medical centre [JPMC], Karachi from 1[st] January 2001 to 31[st] December 2005. 1128 cases of ovarian biopsies were received for histopathological examination at the Department of Pathology, Basic Medical Science Institute, JPMC,Karachi.Out of 365 cases of ovarian neoplasms teratomas were separated, analyzed and classified according to the WHO classification system 1994 and their relative frequencies were recorded. Teratomas account for 14.52% [53/365] of all ovarian neoplasms. Mature cystic teratomas were the most common i.e 86.80% [46/53].Immature teratomas were 9.43% [05/53] followed by special subtypes 3.77% [02/53]. Mature cystic teratomas are the most common germ cell neoplasms of ovary. Immature teratomas are rare above 30 years of age

Microcephaly: tracing the evolutionary lineage of ASPM gene

Microcephaly, in the form of congenital autosomal recessive disorder [MCPH], is characterized by the reduced occipital frontal head circumference >3 standard deviation of otherwise normal population of matching age and sex. The disease is primarily associated with mild to severe mental retardation. Earlier studies have unravelled that among Pakistani population, mutations in ASPM gene is strongly associated in MCPH. In the present study, we have explored the ancestral root of this disease and the process involved in its evolution using tools of bioinformatics. Experimental Methods: cDNA gene and protein sequences of ASPM gene were retrieved from NCBI database and subjected to the non-redundant BLAST. Consensus phylogenetic tree was developed after multiple sequence alignment and bootstrapping of the protein sequences of ASPM gene from different mammals using Neighbour Joining method, selecting non mammals as an out group. Comparisons of the gene synteny and exon and intron patterns of ASPM gene were also undertaken to investigate chromosomal changes during the course of human evolution. Different statistical evolutionary models namely, Codon Based Z test and Maximum Composite Likelihood Estimate were used in order to estimate the nature of nucleotide substitution and the type of selection pressure the gene has undergone. Phylogenetic tree based on ASPM gene clearly segregated all non mammalian members as an out group. Mammalian in group holds the established evolutionary lineage, based on morpho-genetic attributes of mammalian evolution, segregating monotremes at the beginning followed by the members of rodentia and finally radiation of the primates including humans. Orientation of the ASPM gene remains conserved between human and chimpanzee, however, it was found reversed along with two flanking genes, a zinc finger binding domain 41 and coagulation factor XIII, which suggest relatively recent event of gene inversion. Some earlier and, in comparison, more intricate chromosomal changes have also been detected among the lower order of mammals. Aligning ASPM gene exons with the primates and lower order mammals indicates transitional bias of mutation over transversion [R value= 1.563]. Holistically, codon based Z test revealed positive selection pressure on of ASPM gene from rodentia to primates. Briefly, the studies highlights the evolutionary events of ASPM gene in mammals especially primates including humans. Further studies in connection to correlating the cranial cavity size and ancestral gene sequences and in depth sequence comparison would be more insightful in this regard and studies in this connection are ongoing and will be reported shortly

AIDS-diagnosis and management

HIV infection is universal with an ever increasing number of HIV infected people. However the pattern of infection varies depending on the region involved. In Pakistan, 960 HIV positive cases were detected, of which 52 were AIDS cases. HIV is transmitted more commonly in individuals who are involved in risk activities or who belong to the high risk group. The disease has varied presentations and needs a high degree of suspicion from the health care providers. Two different types are identified; HIV [widest distribution] and HIV-2 [mostly in West Africa]. Most of HIV-1 individuals have antibodies detectable in all assasy, excepting those who have been recently exposed. No patient with suggestive symptoms or signs should be dismissed on the basis of a single negative test results and no patient should be informed definitely about a positive finding without confirmed positive results. ELISA, PCR and virus culturing are methods for diagnosis the disease

Beta-Lactamase producing Neisseria Gonorrhea strains in Karachi

Urethral or cervical swab of 255 patients attending Skin and Social Hygiene Centre and found positive for gram negative intracellular diplococci on direct microscopy were inoculated on Modified New York City [MNYC] medium and chocolate [heated blood] agar for isolation of neisseria gonorrhea. Growth of N. gonorrhea was obtained in 134 [52.5%] cases. These strains were tested for penicillin susceptibility by disc diffusion method and for the production of B-lactamase by rapid penicillinase paper strip test and rapid chromogenic cephalosporin method. Penicillin resistance was found in 31 [23%] strains, of which twelve [9%] were beta-lacatamase producers [PPNG], the remaining 19 [14%] strains were penicillin resistant beta-lactamase negative [Pen RB Neg]. We conclude that PPNG as well as other penicillin resistant strains [Pen RB Neg] of neisseria gonorrhea are prevalent in our country and appropriate changes in the conventional therapeutic regime are desirable