ABSTRACT
The therapeutic effects of the leaves of Couroupita guianensis, a large tropical tree in the family of Lecythidaceae improving testosterone-induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) were tested In Vitro and In Vivo. In BPH rats induced by castration and testosterone treatment, the prostate index was improved in groups administered with the extracts of C. guianensis extracted with 50%-, 100%-ethanol or boiling water, which was comparable with positive control, finasteride. The extract C. guianensis leaves showed significant inhibition on the expressions of type 2 5-alpha reductase (5αR) in RWPE-1 human prostatic epithelial cells, and effectively attenuated the expressions of androgen receptor, type 2 5αR and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in LNCap human prostatic adenocarcinoma cells. The leaves of C. guianensis that exerted evident suppression on BPHrelated biomarkers In Vitro and improvement of prostate index In Vivo has a potential therapeutic use for the treatment of BPH.
ABSTRACT
Background: Among the several human species of malarial parasites, Plasmodium falciparum can cause severe infection and if left untreated, there may be fatal complications. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment have been proposed to reduce the morbidity and mortality from malaria. Objective: To assess the diagnostic efficacy of antigen detection by immunochromatographic test (ICT) at different levels of parasitemia for diagnosis of malaria. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out in the department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College for a period of one year from July 2005 to June 2006. A total of 98 clinically suspected malaria patients were included in this study. Peripheral blood films (PBF) were examined under microscope and parasite count/μL of blood was performed. Subsequently ICT for malaria antigen was done for each case. Results: Out of 59 cases positive by microscopic examination of blood films, 54 cases had parasitemia >600 parasites/μL of blood and all these cases were positive by ICT for malaria antigen. Rest 5 cases showed parasitemia <600 parasites/μL of blood and one case was found positive by ICT for malaria antigen. Conclusion: Immunochromatographic test can be used for early diagnosis of malaria with hyperparasitemia, especially for cerebral malaria.
ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis is an ancient disease that is known to have existed in the prehistoric times, and has been a major health burden, even today 95% of the cases are present in the developing countries. The exact proportion of children with tuberculosis is unknown but it is estimated to be between 3-13% of all cases [Ejaz and Mumtaz, 2002]. The child with TB in a community will represent a failure of TB control in that community. Patients included in the study were children age between 1-15 years of either sex coming to a tertiary hospital with history, clinical and laboratory findings of tuberculosis. Diagnosis of tuberculosis was made on the basis of WHO criteria, with the support of MT, chest X-ray, clinical history and history of contact with patients of pulmonary tuberculosis. There were total 160 patients include in our study, 109 [68.1%] patients had positive history of contact from home, close relatives and from neighbors while in 51[30%] cases there was no history of contact detected
ABSTRACT
A study involving 60 patients with ureteric calculi was conducted at the Department of Urology, Lahore General Hospital, from January 1991 to December 1993. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and complications of uretero-renoscopy for ureteric calculi. This procedure was performed for fragmentation or removal of stone with the help of auxiliary instruments where possible. The study group predominantly consisted of male patients more than 14 years of age having ureteric calculi larger than 5 mm in diameter. The overall success rate of fragmentation, removal or push/bang of ureteric Galculi was 66.7 percent. In 15 patients although ureteric orifice was negotiated, the calculi could not be accessed either due to failure of visualization [n=8] or due to oedema and narrowing of lumen [n=7]. In five patients [25 percent] we failed to negotiate ureteric lumen due to narrow ureteric orifice. Perforation of ureter [n=1] and mucosal injury [n=1] occurred during the procedure. Fever in postoperative period occurred in three patients