Assessment of oxidized low density lipoprotein, as atherosclerosis risk marker in type 1 diabetic children with short history of diabetes mellitus

To evaluate the type-1 diabetic children for early atherosclerosis risk by measuring serum oxidized lipoprotein in relation with glycaemic control. Recent studies indicate that systemic markers of inflammation can identify subjects at high risk of cardiovascular disease [CVD]. Oxidized low density lipoprotein [OxLDL] levels have been regarded as one of the independent determinants of atherosclerosis. This cross sectional study involved a total 79 subjects including 39 type 1 diabetics and 40 non-diabetic controls between the ages of 9 to 16 years. A detailed medical history was taken from each subject and the individual with history of type-1 diabetes underwent clinical examination. Individuals with obesity, hypertension, smoking, and chronic infections, autoimmune and renal diseases were excluded. Serum concentrations of glucose and lipid profile were measured in duplicate by kits based on enzymatic methods. OxLDL was measured in duplicate by using standard enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] method. Haemoglobin A[1c] and Body mass index [BMI] were also measured. Diabetic patients had significantly elevated levels of blood glucose [320.1 vs 97] and HbA1c [10.3% vs 5.21%] as compared to controls [p<0.001] but the serum levels of OXLDL were found to be significantly elevated in diabetic children [222.4 vs 140.2] as compared to controls [p>0.05]. OxLDL is a strong independent risk marker for atherosclerosis observed in diagnosed old age patients of CVD but in present study we could not find statistically significant elevated levels of OxLDL in young diabetic subjects with short duration of diabetes

Protective effects of garlic oil on acetaminophen induced nephrotoxicity in male albino rats

Acetaminophen is a severe hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic drug. This study was undertaken to examine the preventive effects of garlic oil, obtained by steam distillation of crushed garlic, on acetaminophen induced nephrotoxicity in male albino rats. Twenty four albino rats, 6-8 weeks old, weighing 150-200 gm, were used; these were divided into four groups having six rats in each. Group I served as control and was given normal saline 5ml/kg intraperitoneally on 7[th] day of the experiment. Group II was treated with a single dose of acetaminophen [1000 mg/kg] dissolved in 5 ml of normal saline, given intraperitoneally on 7[th] day of the experiment. Group III was given orally garlic oil, 100 mg/kg in 1ml of corn oil, daily for one week before giving an intraperitoneal injection of acetaminophen on 7[th] day of experiment. Group IV was treated with corn oil orally, 1ml/kg for one week. At the end of the experiment, the animals were anaesthetized under chloroform and blood from each animal was drawn by cardiac puncture for renal function tests. The animals were then sacrificed under anaesthesia and the kidneys were removed; these were normal in gross appearance with no significant difference between control and experimental groups. Slides were prepared for histological study; these were stained with H and E and PAS, examined under light microscope, evaluated by using the different parameters including measurement of size of glomeruli and nuclei of epithelial cells of proximal and distal convoluted tubules. Statistical analysis showed that garlic oil pretreatment significantly reduced acetaminophen induced nephrotoxicity as evidenced by amelioration of histological changes in size of glomerulus from 51.50 +/- 3.60 micro in group II to 84.63 +/- 2.89 micro in group III [p<0.001]. Garlic oil also reduced deleterious effects of acetaminophen on tubules of kidney as evidenced by absence of vacuolation and granularity of epithelial cells of proximal and distal convoluted tubules and, protein casts in thick ascending limb of loop of Henle in all rats of group III. Value of serum urea was restored from 95.28 +/- 2.90 mg/dl in group II to 65.15 +/- 2.68 mg/dl in group III [p<0.001] and that of serum creatinine from 2.71 +/- 0.68 mg/dl in group II to 1.73 +/- 0.04 mg/dl in group III [p < 0.03]. It was therefore, concluded from current results that garlic oil is useful in protecting acetaminophen induced nephrotoxicity

Echocardiographic profile of rheumatic heart disease at a tertiary cardiac centre

Rheumatic Heart Disease [RHD] continues to be a major public health problem in developing countries like Pakistan. Objective of this cross sectional-analytical study was to analyze the severity of valvular lesions on echocardiography in patients pre-diagnosed with RHD. The transthoracic echocardiographic records of RHD patients from 2004 to 2008 were retrospectively reviewed for type and degree of valvular involvement according to AHA/ACC guidelines. A total of 13, 414 patients [7, 219 Males [53.8%], 6, 195 Females[46.2%]] ranging from 11 to 90 years with a mean age of 42.33 +/- 18.976 were studied. On echocardiography, 7, 500 [56%] had mitral regurgitation [8.8% severe MR], 6, 449 [48.2%] had tricuspid regurgitation [7.1% severe TR] and 5, 550 [41.4%] had aortic regurgitation [8.8% severe MR], 6, 449 [48.2%] had tricuspid regurgitation [7.1% severe TR] and 5, 550 [41.4$] had aortic regurgitation [4.8% severe AR]. MS was detected in 2, 729 [20.3%] patients [15.3% severe MS], AS in 102 [0.8%] and TS in 31 [0.2%] patients. Mixed mitral valve disease was seen in 3, 185 [23.7%], mixed aortic valve disease in 222 [1.7%] and mixed tricuspid valve disease in 47 [0.4%] patients. All three valves were involved in 2, 826 [21.06%] patients, combination of mitral and aortic valves in 3, 103 [23.13%], mitral and tricuspid in 3, 784 [28.2%], and mitral only in 3, 701 [27.59%] patients. There was some mitral valve abnormality in all patients. Mitral valve was most commonly affected, while regurgitant lesions were more common than stenotic lesions, and most severe in younger patients. All valvular lesions had almost an equal distribution among the sexes, except aortic regurgitation, which was more common in females. Therefore, echocardiography should be done routinely for patients with RHD, focusing on younger population, to facilitate diagnosis and definitive treatment before complications set in

Histological changes in fetal liver after maternal treatment with panax ginseng

It is generally believed that 'natural' herbal medicines are better and safer than conventional medicines. Various in vitro studies have proved that Ginsenosides exert direct teratogenic affects on rat and mouse embryos and there is a significant variability in embryotoxic effects of different Ginsenosides. Histological examination revealed signs of hepatocyte degeneration, sinusoidal congestion and erythrocyte infiltration in the sections of liver. The changes encountered in the treated groups were dose dependant; these were marked in the high dose treated group. Ginsenosides present in the commercially available Ginseng products have teratogenic effects in vivo, although results from animal teratogenicity may not reflect the circumstances in humans. Our investigation indicates that Ginseng products have teratogenic effects in vivo and suggest that further investigations and monitoring of effects of Ginsenosides on human embryoes are warranted

comparison of histological appearances of Hodgkin's disease in Pakistani and Saudi patients

Hodgkin's disease [HD] is a relatively rare lymphoma that affects younger as well as older persons. It is reported in the Western as well as Asian studies that HD is a rare disease in developing world. It is commoner in males in most of the countries and shows a bimodal pattern of age. The commonest subtype is nodular sclerosis in the west and mixed cellularity in the eastern and developing countries. The present study compares eight years' data of HD as regard age, sex, site of anatomical presentation and subtypes according to WHO classification among Pakistani and Saudi patients. This retrospective comparative study included 211 cases of HD from various institutions of Lahore, Pakistan; and 78 cases retrieved from the data of King Abdul Aziz Hospital and Oncology Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The analysis of both data of HD showed lack of bimodal age pattern and was common among younger age. Male was the dominating sex. Cervical group of lymph nodes was the commonest presenting site. Mixed cellularity HD [MCHD] was the commonest subtype among Pakistani patients whereas Nodular Sclerotic HD [NSHD] was more common among Saudis. A comparison of the pattern of Pakistani and Saudi data of HD showed lack of bimodality in both. The male sex predominated. Morphologically the MCHD and NSHD were the commonest subtypes in Pakistani and Saudi patients respectively