Hepatitis B surface antigen carrier rate in unvaccinated and vaccinated children with thalassaemia major at Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Screening of blood reduces but does not eliminate the risk of hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection in multi-transfused thalassaemia patients. This study was done to evaluate efficacy of HBV vaccination on hepatitis B virus surface antigen [HBsAg] carrier rate in children with thalassaemia major receiving multiple blood transfusions. In a cohort study conducted at a hospital in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, during 2009-10, children with thalassaemia major aged < 60 months who received more than 24 blood transfusions and were HBsAg negative at the time of first blood transfusion were included. Of 196 unvaccinated children, the seropositive rate was 12.2%; while among 218 children vaccinated during the first year of life via the Pakistan Expanded Programme on Immunization, the seropositive rate was only 0,9%. The HBV vaccine was highly effective in reducing the HBsAg carrier rate in children with thalassaemia aged < 5 years

Contamination and impacts of new antifouling biocide lrgarol-1051 on subtropical coral reef waters

Coral reefs are deteriorating worldwide due to various stresses, including pollution of hazardous chemicals such as antifouling chemicals. Occurrence and impacts of a new antifouling biocide Irgarol-1051 [2-methylthio- 4-tert- butylamino -6-cyclopropylamino -s-triazine] have been studied in coral reef waters around Okinawa Islands, Japan. The average concentration of Irgarol detected at commercial and fisheries Ports was 24.70 +/- 9.88 ng/L. In Naha Bay, the average concentration of Irgarol was 10.00 +/- 12.98 ng/L. The average level detected around the Ports has already approaches the environmental risk limit for the marine organisms. Irgarol was detected in waters at the frequency of 92.3% [24/26] of the total samples collected during two sampling campaigns [September and December, 2007] at the Ports. In Naha Bay, Irgarol was detected by 40.5% [17/42] of the total water samples collected monthly from Sep., 2007 to Feb., 2008, indicating that Irgarol is widely detected along the coastal shorelines of Okinawa Island. The ecotoxicological study revealed that the rate of photosynthesis in the coral Galaxea fascicularis was significantly reduced by 18% and 121% relative to control when the corals were exposed to 1000 and 10,000 ng/L of Irgarol, respectively. The calcification rate dropped by 98.3% relative to control when the corals were exposed to 10,000 ng/L of Irgarol. The results of the present study report the wide occurrence of new antifouling biocide Irgarol around coastal areas of Okinawa Island. However, the contamination does not pose serious threat on the photosynthesis and calcification of corals under short term exposure [96 h]

[Biological control of apples blue mold by two isolates of saccharomyces cerevisiae in order to reduce the environmental pollution]

In the recent decays, application of the fungicides has provided some concern in the scientific society. Recently, biological control was developed as an alternative to synthetic fungicides, and considerable success was achieved by utilizing antagonistic microorganisms for controlling postharvest diseases. In this present research, two yeast antagonists of Saccharomyces cerevisiae [04,69] applied instead of fungicide that it controlled blue mold of apple caused by Penicillium expansum. Blue mold agent isolated from infected apples. Dual culture, cell free metabolite and volatile test were used in vitro assay to evaluate as potential biological control agent against apple blue. In storage assays [in vitro assays], apple fruit wounds were inoculated with 40 microl of yeast cell suspension [10[7] cell/ml] followed 24h later by P.expansum [10[5] conidia/ml]. The apples were then incubated at 20[degree sign] C and 5 [degree sign] C. The inhibition varied among isolates of yeasts and ranged from 33.12% to 58.4%, in dual culture, from 54.93% to 72.87% in volatile metabolite and from 50.23% to 76.23% in cell free metabolite test. In the storage test, two isolates of S. cerevisiae reduced the decay area from 1416 to 1435 mm[2] compared to 3151.1 mm[2] in control after at 5 [degree sign] C. At 20[degree sign] C, the lesion area ranged from 1347 to 1598 mm[2] for the antagonist treatments compared to 3257.4 mm[2] for the control treatments. The two isolates of S. cervisiae were the effective isolates at both temperatures in this assay and could be two of important new biological control agents for apple blue mold

Health of people working/living in the vicinity of an oil-polluted beach near Karachi, Pakistan

A short-term study was conducted after the oil spillage from the tanker Tasman Spirit to analyse seawater and sand samples taken from Karachi beach for hydrocarbon/organic contents. Blood samples were collected from people who were working or living in the vicinity of the beach. Lymphocyte and eosinophil levels were slightly increased. About 11 people had raised serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, but this was not significant. Such steps are vital to ensure that there are no long-term hazardous effects of oil on human health

Serum prostate-specific antigen levels in Middle Eastern men with subclinical prostatitis

To investigate the influence of subclinical or histologically diagnosed prostatitis on serum prostate-specific antigen [PSA] in patients investigated for prostatic disease in Kuwait. Serum PSA was assayed in patients investigated for prostatic disease in Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Kuwait, between December 2002 and December 2004. These included patients undergoing transrectal ultrasound with needle biopsy of the prostate gland and those who were treated with transurethral resection of the prostate or retropubic prostatectomy. The tissue was evaluated for prostatitis as well as the underlying disease, and the type and severity of prostatitis were compared with levels of serum PSA. Of the 331 tissue specimens, 18 [5.4%] did not show prostatitis, while 233 [70.4%] with benign prostate and 80 [24.2%] with malignant prostate disease showed prostatitis. Of 270 men with known serum PSA levels, 198 and 72 had benign and malignant prostate disease, respectively. Of the 198, 77 [41%] with benign prostate disease and prostatitis and of the 72, 52 [76%] with malignant prostate disease and prostatitis had serum PSA levels >10 ng/ml. The data showed that although raised serum PSA is more commonly associated with prostate cancer, subclinical prostatitis is a significant source of high serum PSA in over 40% of men in Kuwait. That local factors may obscure the usefulness of serum PSA as a screening tool suggests the need for a locally applicable paradigm to identify prostate cancer

Efficacy of ultrasound diagnostic criteria using scoring system for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis [IHPS]

An analytic cross sectional study in the Department of Paediatric Surgery, Mayo Hospital, Lahore conducted. Twenty patients of non-bilious projectile vomiting with a control group of 20 patients were evaluated from June 2001 to May 2002. An attempt was made to prepare a diagnostic criteria with a scoring system using ultrasonography as a primary tool. Pyloric diameter was 9.1

Childhood intussusception

In a retrospective study, 38 patients with intussusception presenting to paediatric surgical emergency were studied. The objective was to review the management of childhood intussusception and identify factors that require attention for improved outcome. Out of 38 children 26 were males and 12 were females. Age ranged from 2 months to 10 years. Presenting features were mainly vomiting, abdominal pain/excessive crying, abdominal distension, passage of blood and mucus in the stool and a palpable abdominal mass. Duration of symptoms i.e., time period lapsing between the onset of symptoms and seeking the treatment was < 24hours in 21.3% cases, 24-72 hours in 3l.5% > 72 hours in 39.4% and > 1 week in 7.8% cases. Ileo-colic intussusception was found in 76% cases, colo- colic in 16 and ileo-ileal in 8% cases. Manual reduction was successful in 34% cases and resection of the gut had to be done in 66% cases. Delay in diagnosis was associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The authors recommend that prompt treatment is the key to reduce the morbidity and mortality

Mathieu repair in distal penile hypospadias with or without stent

To compare the outcome of two techniques for repair of distal penile hypospadias: Mathieus repair with and without stent. Prospective observational descriptive study. Department of Paediatric Surgery, Mayo Hospital, Lahore from September 2000 to September 2002. Sixty boys were randomly assigned the two groups of thirty boys each. Detailed scrutiny of procedure done and analyses of the clinical outcome made prospectively. A total of sixty patients were treated in two separate groups. All the boys had Mathieus repair done for distal hypospadias. In group A stent/ indwelling catheter was used for 7-8 days while in group B no stent was used. Stratification was done using Chi square test. Median age was 4 years and most of them belonged to low socioeconomic class [61.6%]. A high percentage [48.3% were born to mothers of age ranging from 30-40 years. Sixteen [26.66%] patients had a family history of hypospadias. Only twelve mothers [2 0%] gave a positive history of drug intake in first trimester. Sixteen [26.66%] patients had associated anomalies of undescended testis / inguinal hernia. Twenty four [40%] patients were brought because of the abnormal appearance of the childs penis while their stream [21.66%] and dysuria [25%] were presenting complaints of two other major groups. Mathieus repair was done in all cases with group A. Thirty boys [50%] having a stent post operatively and the group B thirty boys [50%] were without stent. Total complications rate is 46.66% with group a showing eight cases [26.66%] and group B having twenty [66.66%] cases with compliec. Major complication in group B was urinary retention in eleven cases [36.66%] while no patient had retention in group A. overall twenty six [86.66%] in group A and twenty one [70%] in group B showed satisfactory results. Mathieus repair without stent has been advantage of shorter hospital stay but a fair proportion of patients [36.66%] having urinary retention calls for further studies on a larger scale

Intraprostatic tissue infection in catheterised patients in comparison to controls

Objective: To determine the effect of indwelling urinary catheter on frequency of intraprostatic tissue infection and posto-perative morbidity in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia undergoing transurethral resection of prostate [TURP]

Material and Methods: Frequency of intraprostatic tissue and urinary infection, prevalent organisms, histopathology of prostatic tissue, post-operative morbidity were analyzed for 25 consecutive patients' of clinically diagnosed benign prostatic hyperplasia who underwent TURP in catheterized and non-catheterized groups

Results: Patients mean age was 62.2+7.9 years. In non-catheterized group nocturia and frequency were the most common symptoms. Ninety two percent and 28% patients acquired intraprostatic tissue infection in catheterized and non-catheterized group respectively, while 80% of catheterized patients and 24% of the non-catheterized patients had bacteriuria. Catheterized patients had E. coli as prevalent organism both in intaprostatic tissue and urine [34.8% and 40% respectively]. E. coli Serratia and enterobacter were equally prevalent in intraprostatic tissue of non-catheterized patients. Enterobacter was the prevalent organism in urine [50%] of these patients. There was no significant difference in the presence of non-specific inflammatory cells in the two groups. Catheterized group showed significantly high frequency of fever >38.5 C and hematuria for more than 24 hours

Conclusion: Catheterization significantly increases the frequency of intraprostatic tissue infection as well as morbidity of TURP

Diagnostic delay in tuberculosis and its consequences

To find out the average duration from onset of symptoms to the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis, reasons for diagnostic delay, its consequences, association of variables and formulation of recommendations. Design: Hospital based cross-sectional study, conducted on 115 randomly selected patients. Setting: Lyari Chest Clinic and Nazimabad Chest Clinic in Karachi. In this study it was found that average time from onset of initial symptoms to diagnosis and treatment of Tuberculosis was 120 days. In 64% of the patients medical practitioners were responsible for delaying the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Loss of weight in 40% and haemoptysis is 21% were the consequences of diagnostic delay of Tuberculosis. Delay in the diagnosis of tuberculosis was statistically significant in those patients who consulted private practitioners, and consequences of tuberculosis were severe in those patients who consulted late

Incidence of urinary tract infection during pregnancy

Incidence of urinary tract infection [UTI] during pregnancy among Pakistani women was examined. Midstream urine was collected from 250 pregnant and 100 control women and streaked on blood agar and incubated. Growth was considered significant if > / = 10[5]/mL bacteria were present. Among the pregnant women, 28.5% had UTI; 30.0% of controls had UTI. Among the pregnant and control women, 24.4% and 20.0% respectively had UTI symptoms, such as incontinence, nocturia and urgency. Symptoms did not correlate with incidence. Socioeconomic status, personal hygiene, education level, pregnancy duration, postcoital washing, contraceptive use and use of underclothing had no significant association with UTI occurrence. A history of past urological problems was associated with an increased incidence of UTI in pregnancy

rare case of choroidal malignant melanoma in Pakistan

Malignant melanoma of the choroids is very rare in Pakistan is A 43-year-old woman from Gujranwala had uneventful right extracapsular cataract extraction on January 20, 1993. On postoperative examination a retinal detachment was found, the further evaluation of which suggested the presence of a choroidal malignant melanoma of the inferoposterior fundus. The eye was enucleated on January 27, 1993, and the diagnosis confirmed by histopathology studies. No systemic or local metastases were found after a follow-up of 18 months. [Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology 10:79-81, October, 1994.]