Marine Sponges as a Drug Treasure

Marine sponges have been considered as a drug treasure house with respect to great potential regarding their secondary metabolites. Most of the studies have been conducted on sponge's derived compounds to examine its pharmacological properties. Such compounds proved to have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antimalarial, antitumor, immunosuppressive, and cardiovascular activity. Although, the mode of action of many compounds by which they interfere with human pathogenesis have not been clear till now, in this review not only the capability of the medicinal substances have been examined in vitro and in vivo against serious pathogenic microbes but, the mode of actions of medicinal compounds were explained with diagrammatic illustrations. This knowledge is one of the basic components to be known especially for transforming medicinal molecules to medicines. Sponges produce a different kind of chemical substances with numerous carbon skeletons, which have been found to be the main component interfering with human pathogenesis at different sites. The fact that different diseases have the capability to fight at different sites inside the body can increase the chances to produce targeted medicines.

Erratum to “Marine Sponges as a Drug Treasure” Biomol.Ther. 24 (2016) 347–362

The authors request to correct the title of Table 3.

Frequency of HCV infection and its genotypes among patients attending a liver clinic and voluntary blood donors in a rural area of Pakistan

To determine the frequency of Hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection and its genotypic distribution in a rural area of Sindh, Pakistan. Retrospective study of patients attending the Free Liver Clinic [FLC], and investigated for detectable HCV antibodies [n=1638], and those screened for HCV infection prior to voluntary blood donation [n=804] at a teaching hospital, located in rural Sindh. All patients had HCV antibodies tested by ELISA. A total of 1022 patients, who tested 'reactive' to HCV antibodies, and who could financially afford to have HCV RNA tested by PCR, had their results analysed. A total of 200 patients also had their HCV genotyped and analysed. Patients at FLC had a higher chance of being reactive for HCV antibodies, compared to voluntary blood donors [20% VS 14% - p = 0.004]. HCV RNA was detectable in 904/1022 [88%] patients. Among typeable genotypes, 125/166 [75%] had a single genotype, and 7 patients [4%] were infected with genotype 1, either alone [n=4] or in combination with 3a. One out of every five people tested in our FLC, and 14% of "healthy" voluntary blood donors were seropositive for HCV antibodies. Genotype 1 is very rare in our region

Non-B, Non-C Hepatitis as a cause of advanced chronic liver disease requiring medical admission at a rural centre in Pakistan

To study the frequency and mortality of hepatitis B and C negative chronic liver disease [CLD] at a rural tertiary centre in Pakistan. Data was collected retrospectively from the case notes of all the 176 patients consecutively admitted with advanced CLD in our medical ward during one year period. Patients, who were seropositive for hepatitis B and / or C, were separated from those who were negative for them, and the data was analysed. Thirty five patients [20%] were negative for both viral markers. They were more likely to die during the admission than those who were seropositive [11% VS 25% - p = 0.029]. A significant proportion of patients with CLD are negative for viral markers. These patients are at higher risk of mortality, and need testing for other causes of CLD as some of them may benefit from curative treatments available

Acquired haemoglobin H disease associated with myelodysplastic syndrome

A 60-year-old male patient presented with jaundice. Initial investigations showed anemia, indirect hyperbilirubinemia, raised Lactic Dehydrogenase [LDH] and increased reticulocyte count suggestive of hemolysis. Considering hemolysis low MCV and basophilic stippling on peripheral film, hemoglobin electrophoresis was done that showed Haemoglobin H [15.5%] that in the absence of family history was thought to be acquired. After bone marrow examination, the final diagnosis was Myelodysplastic Syndrome [MDS], Refractory anemia with excess of blast [RAEB] associated with acquired Haemoglobin H [Hb H] disease

Liver diseases: admissions and mortality in a medical ICU at a rural centre in Pakistan

To study the frequency of admissions, complications and death rates in patients with chronic liver disease [CLD] in a rural medical Intensive Care Unit [ICU]. Retrospective analysis of 174 consecutive admissions. Out of 174 consecutive admissions, 69 patients [40%] had background liver disease. However, 55 patients out of this total [32%] were admitted directly in ICU because of the features of complications of their liver disease. Twenty six out of fifty five [47%] died. Thirteen out of twenty six had signs of encephalopathy. Seven out of fifty five had more than one complications of liver disease-only one of them survived. Hepatitis C was the cause of liver-related deaths in 18/26 [69%]. CLD is the commonest cause of admissions [32%] in medical ICU-Hepatitis C being responsible for 69%. Liver disease and its complications were also the commonest cause of all deaths in medical ICU, of which Hepatitis C contributed 69%. Encephalopathy was the most common manifested complication of cirrhosis, causing highest mortality

Pattern of gallbladder diseases in Pakistan: an audit of 163 consecutive patients operated at a teaching hospital

To find out the presentation and histological diagnosis of patients with gallstones. A retrospective review of 163 consecutive patients who underwent cholecystectomy in a teaching hospital between 01-01-93 to 31-12-96. Baqai University Hospital, Nazimabad, Karachi. One hundred sixty three patients who underwent cholecystectomy. Histopathological reports of gallbladder. One hundred sixty three patients were operated between 1993 to 1996 at a teaching hospital of Karachi. 96 patients were started as laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Of these, 12 were converted to open procedure. Rest were planned and done as open cholecystectomy. 11 patients had exploration of common bile ducts. The histological reports of all these patients were assessed. The commonest finding was chronic cholecystitis. We however, found that 9 female and 1 male patients had carcinoma of gallbladder. Our management of gallstone disease stems from conclusions based on figures from the West. This study shows that the risk of gallbladder carcinoma may be higher in this part of the world. We have seen that out of 163.patients, 10 patients had carcinoma of gallbladder [over 6%]. This is in sharp contrast to the West where the rate of incidental carcinoma is only 1-2% of routine cholecystectomy. It is about time that a large, multicentral, prospective study is designed in line of that done by Ranshoff et al. to find if the natural history of gallstones is any different in our country