ABSTRACT
The present study was conducted to evaluate the mutagenic and antimutagenic potential of Cousinia thomsonii (CT) extract in bone marrow cells of male wistar rats using some important parameters like micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte (MnPCE), mitotic index (MI), chromosomal aberrations (CA) and polychromatic erythrocyte to normochromatic erythrocyte ratio (PCE/NCE). 30 male rats of wistar strain were divided into 6 groups with 5 rats each group. Group 1 rats were taken as negative control having free access to distilled water and rat feed. Group 2 rats were taken as positive control treated with mutagen cyclophosphamide (CP) at dose of 60 mg/kg b wt. for 2 days. Group 3 and 4 were treated with CT extract at dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg b wt. for 20 days. Group 5 and 6 were treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg b wt of CT extract for first 18 days and for last 2 days with CP at dose concentration of 60 mg/kg. It was found that rats treated with CT extract alone did not produce any significant changes in MnPCE, PCE/NCE ratio, CA and MI when compared with control treated rats (group 1). However in group 5 and 6 rats treated with CT extract in combination with CP a protective effect was observed against the cyclophosphamide induced cellular mutagenicity. In concluding remark Cousinia thomsonii was found to show antigenotoxic potential and also produce protective antimutagenic effects against CP induced chromosomal damage.
ABSTRACT
Sporadic cases of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection occur throughout the year in Pakistan. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HEV immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM antibodies in 93 hepatitis B and C-negative patients as such patients are not routinely tested further despite having signs and symptoms of hepatitis. Anti-HEV IgG and IgM were detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay technique. Among them five patients (5.4%) were positive for HEV IgG and IgM, with an average age of 30.95 +/- 15.35 years. Hepatitis E infection was independent of the sex. Liver function tests of hepatitis E-positive IgG and IgM patients showed increased values of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin that indicate damaged hapatocytes and malfunctioning of the liver.
ABSTRACT
A sixty year old female referred for thyroid and liver scintigraphy had a clinical history of progressive swelling in the neck with hepatomegaly. A large cold area was detected in the right thyroid lobe using 99mTc pertechnetate and in the right lobe of liver using 99mTc phytate. Subsequent whole body scan with 99mTC DMSA(V) showed avid tracer uptake in right lobe of thyroid and liver. Aspiration cytology of thyroid and liver showed medullary carcinoma of thyroid with its metastasis in liver. Histopathology following thyroidectomy confirmed the diagnosis. Thus 99mTc pentavalent DMSA contributes specificity to diagnose medullary carcinoma of thyroid and metastatic lesions.