Cytotoxic activities of Rosa brunonii, Calligonum polygonoides Pegnum harmala and Sueda fruticosa extract using brine shrimp

The present study was carried out to record and evaluate the effect of Rosa brunonii, Calligonum polygonoides, Sueda fruticosa and Pegnum harmala L., extracts on brine shrimp collected during March-June 2013 from different regions of District Bannu. These four plants were medicinal xerophytes and widely distributed throughout Pakistan. Rosa brunonii is commonly used as a hedge plant for gardening. Calligonum polygonoides and Sueda fruticosa are locally used as a fuel, while Pegnum harmala [L.] is the most important multipurpose medicinal xeric plant, which is used for various purposes. All these selected medicinal xerophytes have inhibitory effect on bacterial growth. In this study the effect of different concentration [10-70 microg/ml] were tested on brine shrimp. The results showed that maximum cytotoxic activities were observed in Rosa brunonii [100.0+/-0.4], Calligonum polygonoides [100.0+/-0.2] and Pegnum harmala [L.] [90.0+/-5.2] while Sueda fruticosa [50.0+/-7.1] has less cytotoxic property. These activities are may be due to the presence of bioactive constituents

Chronic renal failure in children; etiology and clinical presentation

Chronic renal failure is defined as progressive and irreversible loss of renal functions that gradually progress to end-stage renal disease. The etiology of chronic renal failure in childhood correlates closely with the age of patient at the time when the renal failure is first detected. The aim was to assess the underlying causes and risk factors of chronic renal failure and to identify the clinical presentation of chronic renal failure in children reporting at Allied Hospital Faisalabad. It was a cross sectional study. The study was done in a period of one year starting from March 20th, 2007 to March 20, 2008. The study was done in the Department of Pediatrics medicine Allied Hospital Faisalabad. CRF was defined as glomerular filtration rate less than 25% of the normal for that age and sex. Patients of either sex ranging from 6 months to 15 years fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in this study. Sampling technique was non-probability convenience sampling. In addition to clinical evaluation, they were investigated to find out the underline causes. Out of 40 patients of CRF males were [n-28], females were [n-12], with male to female ratio of 2.3:1. Mean age of males was 7.36+ 3.98 and females was 8.96+ 2.65. Etiological factors found in 34[85%] patients included congenital malformations [9-22.5%] urolithiasis [8-20%] reflux nephropathy [6-15%] glomerulopathies [3-7.5%] neurogenic bladder [2-5%] strictures [1-2.5%] and miscellaneous [5-20.5%] Etiology was unknown in 6 patients [15%]. Failure to thrive 77%, Respiratory distress 75%, Pallor 75%, Fever 75%, Headache 67%, Vomiting 63%, Edema 50%, and Anorexia 42% were the most common clinical features at presentation

Down's syndrome; congenital heart disease in children, an experience in Faisalabad Pakistan

To evaluate the various types of congenital heart defects and to determine their frequency in children with Down's syndrome. Descriptive study. Department of Pediatrics, Independent University Hospital Faisal Abad Pakistan, from January 2010 to December 2012. 93 children between the ages of day 1 to 12 years, diagnosed clinically as Down's syndrome based on its characteristic phenotypic appearance, were included in the study. A detailed history, physical examination and evaluation of cardiovascular status [including Chest x-ray, Electrocardiogram and Echocardiography] were performed in each Down's syndrome case. Variables of interest included age, sex, maternal age at birth and type and frequency of congenital heart disease. Congenital heart disease was present in 48 [51.62%] children out of 93 children with Down's syndrome. Congenital cardiac defects in order of predominant type and their frequency included Ventricular septal defect [29, 60.4%], Atrioventricular septal defect [14, 29.1%], Atrial septal defect [2, 4.1%], Patent ductus arteriosis [2, 4.1%] and Tetralogy of Fallots [1, 2%]. 68 [73.2%] Down's syndrome children [n=93] presented during their first year of life with mean age of 7 +/- 4 months. Male predominance was observed in both with and without congenital heart disease Down's syndrome children [male: female 1.7:1 and 2.5:1 respectively]. Mean maternal age at birth was 27 +/- 2 years. Congenital heart disease [CHD] is frequently associated with Down's syndrome [DS]. Ventricular septal defects and atrioventricular septal defects are the most common forms of CHDs in DS children of our region. Their earlier presentation [in infancy] and significant contribution to the morbidity and mortality of DS children warrants early diagnosis of DS and mandatory screening of all DS children for associated CHDs

Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in zoo animals in Pakistan

The study was carried out in zoo animals at Islamabad Zoo, Pakistan to know the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis. An overall prevalence of 3.3% was recorded in zoo animals with 3.6% in Bovidae, 3.2% in Cervidae and 0% in Equidae families. The positive animals included spotted deer [1/3; 95% CI = 0.84, 90.57], Chinkara gazella [1/5; 95% CI = 0.51, 71.64] and Blackbuck gazelle [1/30; 95% CI = 0.08, 17.22], while the negative animals were barking deer [0/4], hog deer [0/24], grey gorals [0/2], urial [0/9], mouflon [0/4], nilgai [0/5] and zebra [0/4]. The results revealed significant association of live weight and number of calving with the positive tuberculin test, with 32% higher chances for females to show a positive test. Results also showed that odds of a positive test were 1.19 times higher when animal number was less than 10. The results of haematological parameters showed significant differences in total erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin, total leukocyte counts, eosinophil and basophil percentages between positive and negative animals

Performance of ICT-TB test in the detection of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a major public health problem of the developing nations including Pakistan. We need a simple, economical and non invasive test to make an early diagnosis of T.B. in order to avoid the complications. A study was conducted at the Dept. of Pulmonology, PGMI LRH Peshawar and Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad with the collaboration of Deptt of Pathology KMC Peshawar from Jan 1998 to Dec 2002. A total of 129 patients were included in the study. Out of these 129 patients 52 were pulmonary TB [PTB] smear positive, 30 were PTB smear negative, 30 pleural effusion and 17 were TB lymphadenitis. The control group consisted of 25 non TB patients and healthy subjects. Antibody was detected in 23 of 52 [44%] sputum positive patients, 11 of 30 [36%] sputum negative PTB patients, 10 of 30 [20%] patients of TB pleural effusion and 6 of 17 [35%] patients of TB lymphadenitis. Antibody was detected in none of the control subjects. The overall sensitivity for Pul-T.B. Sputum positive patients was 44%, 36% for sputum Negative Pulmonary TB, 20% for TB pleural effusion and 35% for TB lymphadenitis. The specificity was 100%. ICTTB is a highly specific, but less sensitive aid in the diagnosis of Pulmonology and extra Pulmonology TB

Efficacy, safety and tolerability of streptokinase in multiloculated empyema

Empyema thoracis is a common illness with significant morbidity and mortality. Standard treatment of Empyema includes tube drainage and antibiotics. But the tube drainage often fails if the fluid is loculated. Intrapleural Streptokinase has been used in multiloculated empyemas with good success rate. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of intra-pleural Streptokinase in loculated empyemas. A total of 15 patients admitted in Pulmonology unit with multiloculated empyemas whose drainage via drainage tube was less than 100 ml during the last 24 hours were included in the study. Aliquots of 250,000 units of Streptokinase in 100 ml of normal saline were instilled into the pleural cavity and the tube clamped for 3 hours. Response was assessed by clinical outcome, measurement of drain output after unclamping and subsequent chest radiography and serial chest ultrasounds. Streptokinase enhanced drainage in all patients with complete resolution of Empyema in 13 patients. Two patients with thickened visceral pleura following empyema drainage were referred to thoracic surgeon for decortication. The number of instillations of Streptokinase per patient ranged from 1 to 3 and the volume of drained empyema fluid ranged from 60 ml to 600 ml per patient. Streptokinase was well tolerated in all patients. Intrapleural Streptokinase is a safe and effective means of increasing the tube drainage in multiloculated Empyema without causing systemic fibrinolysis

Tuberous sclerosis-rare presentation as pneumothorax

A 33 years old lady was admitted in Pulmonology unit of the Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar on September 6, 1999 with the complaints of dry cough, fever off and on and left-sided chest pain for the last five months. The pain started suddenly and was not related to exertion. There was no history of haemoptysis or weight loss. Her appetite was good. She used to get breathless on exertion. She gave a history of repeated attacks of epileptic fits since childhood. She consulted many physicians and the diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis with epilepsy was made for which she received treatment. She did not improve with the treatment. On physical examination, her pulse was 96 beats per minute and her blood pressure was 120/80 mm Hg. She was not anaemic and her temperature was normal. Her JVP was normal and lymph nodes were not enlarged. She was not cyanosed. Her chest examination revealed hyper resonant percussion note on the left side and breath sounds were decreased on the same side. There were no added sounds. Examination of other systems did not disclose any abnormality. Her laboratory investigations showed an Hb level of 12.4 g/dl, a fasting blood sugar level of 100 mg/dl and serum calcium of 9 mg/dl. Renal function tests were normal, serum electrolytes were normal, ECG and Echocardiography were normal. The diagnosis of Tuberous Sclerosis with left-sided pneumothorax was made. She was intubated and the lung got expanded in 6 days without any complications

PH dependent properties of chicken and beef cytochrome C oxidases

The pH dependent properties of mono-meric form of cytochrome c oxidases isolated from beef and chicken hearts tissue are described and compared with those of the enzyme dimer. Dimeric form of oxidase dissociated into Monemeric state of enzyme with increase of pH. The absorbtion spectra of alkaline incubated oxidase at pH 9.5 to pH 11.0 showed lambda Fe+2 maximum at 441 nm compared to 444 nm for typical dimeric oxidase at pH 7.4. The maxima for alpha Fe+2 are indicated at 604 nm for both neutral and alkaline incubated oxidase. The difference spectra [reduced-Co minus reduced] showed absorption maxima at 430 nm for alkaline incubated oxidase and 430 nm for dimeric oxidase. Carbon monoxide titration showed that alkaline incubated oxidase [at or above pH 10.5] reacted with approximately twice the amount of carbon monoxide compared to the oxidase at neutral pH of equal haem A contents. Titration of the purified monomers showed the reaction of carbon monoxide with only one of the two haem A contents of the oxidase similar to that of dimeric enzymes