Therapeutic potential of stem cell and melatonin on the reduction of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in experimental mice model / Potencial terapêutico de células-tronco e melatonina na redução da fibrose hepática induzida por CCl4 no modelo de ratos experimentais

Liver fibrosis is initial stage of any chronic liver disease and its end stage is develops into cirrhosis. Chronic liver diseases are a crucial global health issue and the cause of approximately 2 million deaths per year worldwide. Cirrhosis is currently the 11th most common cause of death globally. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) treatment is the best way to treat acute and chronic liver disease. The aim of this study is to improve the therapeutic potential of MSCs combined with melatonin (MLT) to overcome CCl4-induced liver fibrosis and also investigate the individual impact of melatonin and MSCs against CCl4-induced liver impairment in animal model. Female BALB/c mice were used as CCL4-induced liver fibrotic animal model. Five groups of animal model were made; negative control, Positive control, CCl4+MSCs treated group, CCl4+MLT treated group and CCl4+MSCs+MLT treated group. Cultured MSCs from mice bone marrow were transplanted to CCl4-induced liver injured mice model, individually as well as together with melatonin. Two weeks after MSCs and MLT administration, all groups of mice were sacrificed for examination. Morphological and Histopathological results showed that combined therapy of MSCs+MLT showed substantial beneficial impact on CCl4-induced liver injured model, compared with MSCs and MLT individually. Biochemically, considerable reduction was observed in serum bilirubin and ALT levels of MLT+MSC treated mice, compared to other groups. PCR results shown down-regulation of Bax and up-regulation of Bcl-xl and Albumin, confirm a significant therapeutic effect of MSCs+MLT on CCI4-induced liver fibrosis. From the results, it is concluded that combined therapy of MSCs and MLT show strong therapeutic effect on CCL4-induced liver fibrosis, compared with MSCs and MLT individually.

A fibrose hepática é a fase inicial de qualquer doença hepática crônica, e em sua fase final desenvolve-se para cirrose. As doenças hepáticas crônicas são uma questão de saúde global crucial e a causa de aproximadamente 2 milhões de mortes por ano em todo o mundo. A cirrose, hoje em dia, é a 11ª causa mais comum de morte globalmente. O tratamento da célula-tronco mesenquimal (MSCs) é uma maneira eletiva de tratar a doença hepática aguda e crônica. O objetivo deste estudo é melhorar o potencial terapêutico dos MSCs combinados com a melatonina (MLT) para superar a fibrose hepática induzida por CCl4 e também investigar o impacto individual da melatonina e MSCs contra o comprometimento do fígado induzido por CCl4 no modelo animal. Os ratos BALB / C fêmeas foram usados ​​como modelo de animal fibrótico de fígado induzido por CCl4. Cinco grupos de modelo animal foram feitos: Controle Negativo, Controle Positivo, CCl4 + MSCs Tratados Grupo, Grupo Tratado CCl4 + MLT e Grupo Tratado CCl4 + MSCs + MLT. MSCs cultivados da medula óssea dos ratos foram transplantados para o modelo de camundongos de fígado induzido por CCl4, individualmente, bem como em conjunto com a melatonina. Duas semanas após a administração MSCs e MLT, todos os grupos de camundongos foram sacrificados para o exame. Os resultados morfológicos e histopatológicos mostraram que a terapia combinada do MSCs + MLT mostrou impacto benéfico substancial no modelo ferido no fígado induzido pelo CCl4, em comparação com o MSCs e o MLT individualmente. A redução bioquimicamente considerável foi observada em bilirrubina sérica e níveis ALT de ratinhos tratados com MLT + MSCs, em comparação com outros grupos. Os resultados de PCR mostraram regulação negativa do BAX e regulação positiva do BCL-XL e da albumina, confirmando um efeito terapêutico significativo do MSCs + MLT na fibrose hepática induzida por CCl4. Dos resultados, conclui-se que a terapia combinada de MSCs e MLT mostram um forte efeito terapêutico na fibrose hepática induzida por CCl4, em comparação com MSCs e MLT individualmente.

Evaluation of sulfadimidine, amprolium and triquen to treat coccidiosis in wild pigeons / Avaliação da sulfadimidina, amprólio e triquenho no tratamento da coccidiose em pombos selvagens de Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Paquistão

Abstract Coccidiosis remains one of the major problems in poultry all over the world. Very limited data on anticoccidial drugs in wild pigeons is available. The current study was aimed to understand the comparative efficacy of sulfadimidine, amprolium and triquen in wild pigeons of Dir district, Pakistan suffering from coccidiosis. The faecal matter of wild pigeons were purchased from the local market for coccidian infection. Results revealed that 88.8% (16/18) were found infected with Eimeria spp. Three positive groups were treated with sulfadimidine (0.2mg/L), amprolium (25mg/L) and triquen. Sulfadimidine was most effective (45%) followed by amprolium (44.6%) while triquen (24.0%) showed less effectiveness against coccidiosis in pigeons. Number of oocysts were 79, 81 and 80 before treatment and 60, 44 and 44 after treatment with sulfadimidine, amprolium and triquen respectively. This study showed that sulphadimidine, amprolium and triquen could not significantly reduce the coccidiosis in pigeons. Further studies are required to clear the mechanism of anti-coccidial drugs in wild pigeons.

Resumo A coccidiose continua sendo um dos maiores problemas em aves de todo o mundo. Dados muito limitados sobre drogas anticoccidiais em pombos selvagens estão disponíveis. O presente estudo teve como objetivo compreender a eficácia comparativa da sulfadimidina, amprólio e triquenho em pombos selvagens do distrito de Dir, no Paquistão, que sofrem de coccidiose. A matéria fecal dos pombos selvagens foi comprada no mercado local para infecção por coccídios. Os resultados revelaram que 88,8% (16/18) foram encontrados infectados com Eimeria spp. Três grupos positivos foram tratados com sulfadimidina (0,2mg / L), amprólio (25mg / L) e triquenho. A sulfadimidina foi mais eficaz (45%), seguida pelo amprólio (44,6%), enquanto o triquenho (24,0%) apresentou menor efetividade contra a coccidiose em pombos. O número de oocistos foram 79, 81 e 80 antes do tratamento e 60, 44 e 44 após o tratamento com sulfadimidina, amprólio e triquenho, respectivamente. Este estudo mostrou que sulphadimidine, amprolium e triquen não poderiam reduzir significativamente a coccidiose em pombos. Mais estudos são necessários para limpar o mecanismo de drogas anticoccidiais em pombos selvagens.

Description of Lutziella swatensis sp.n. (Trematoda: Dicrocoelidae) from Rattus rattus in Swat, Pakistan / Descrição de Lutziella swatensis sp.n. (Trematoda: Dicrocoelidae) de Rattus rattus em Swat, Paquistão

Abstract A new species of the genus Lutziella (Rohde, 1966) Yamaguti, 1971 is described here and named Lutziella swatensis sp.nov. from the liver of rat (Rattus rattus L.). The new species is characterized by having body flat, smooth, longer than broad with maximum width at the level of the ovary, oral sucker with weak musculature, pharynx small; eosophagus long; caeca of irregular shape which bifurcate on the anterior border of the ovary in to unequal portions, acetabulum weakly muscular, post-testicular, testes lobed, cirrus pouch somewhat median, small in size containing winding seminal vesicle, prostatic complex and short ejaculatory duct. Genital pore median. Ovary post testicular, submedian; seminal receptacle overlapping ovary, laurer's canal present. Vitellaria follicular extending on each side from almost the level of testes to anterior portion of posterior half of the body. Uterus filled with eggs occupying most of the body, eggs oval rather small, numerous, brownish in colour, excretory vesicle tubular with terminal pore. Lutziella swatensis n. sp. is the second species of the genus known from Pakistan as well as the second species described from murid rodents in the world.

Resumo Uma nova espécie do gênero Lutziella (Rohde, 1966) Yamaguti, 1971 é descrita aqui e denominada Lutziella swatensis sp.nov. do fígado do rato (Rattus rattus L.). A nova espécie é caracterizada por ter corpo liso, liso, mais longo que largo com largura máxima ao nível do ovário, otário oral com musculatura débil, faringe pequena; eosôfago longo; ceco de forma irregular que se bifurca na borda anterior do ovário em porções desiguais, acetábulo fracamente muscular, pós-testicular, testículos lobados, bolsa cirrus um pouco mediana, pequeno em tamanho contendo vesícula seminal sinuosa, complexo prostático e ducto ejaculatório curto. Mediana dos poros genitais. Ovário pós testicular, submediano; ovário sobreposto do receptáculo seminal, canal de laurer presente. Vitellaria folicular que se estende de cada lado de quase o nível dos testículos para a porção anterior da metade posterior do corpo. Útero cheio de ovos que ocupam a maior parte do corpo, oval ovos bastante pequenos, numerosos, de cor acastanhada, vesícula excretor tubular com poro terminal. Lutziella swatensis n. sp. é a segunda espécie do gênero conhecida do Paquistão, bem como a segunda espécie descrita de roedores do mundo.

Morphometrics of the indian false vampire bat (Megaderma lyra) from district Jhelum, Pakistan / Morfometria do falso morcego vampiro indiano (Megadermalyra) do distrito de Jhelum, Paquistão

Abstract During the present study thirteen Megaderma lyra bats were observed roosting in dark, domed shaped room of Rohtas Fort, district Jhelum. Out of these, six specimens were captured from the roosting site, using hand net. All captured specimens were male. These bats were identified through their unique facial features, an erect and elongated nose-leaf, large oval ears that joined above the forehead and no tail. Mean head and body length of captured specimens was 80 mm, forearm length was 67 mm while average lengths of 3rd, 4th and 5th metacarpals were 51.73 mm, 55.17 mm and 60.42 mm, respectively. Mean skull length was 29.84 mm, breadth of braincase was 12.77 mm. Average Penis length of two specimens was 6.6 mm and total bacular length was 3.08 mm respectively. This is the first record of Megaderma lyra from district Jhelum.

Resumo Durante o presente estudo, 13 morcegos Megadermalyra foram observados empoleirados em uma sala escura em forma de cúpula no Forte Rohtas, distrito de Jhelum, dos quais 6 espécimes foram capturados no local usando rede manual. Todos os espécimes capturados eram machos. Esses morcegos foram identificados por suas características faciais únicas, uma folha nasal ereta e alongada, grandes orelhas ovais que se juntam acima da testa e sem cauda. O comprimento médio da cabeça e do corpo dos espécimes capturados foi de 80 mm, o comprimento do antebraço foi de 67 mm, enquanto os comprimentos médios do 3º, 4º e 5º metacarpos foram de 51,73 mm, 55,17 mm e 60,42 mm, respectivamente. O comprimento médio do crânio foi de 29,84 mm, e a largura da caixa craniana, de 12,77 mm. O comprimento médio do pênis de duas amostras foi de 6,6 mm, e o comprimento total do báculo foi de 3,08 mm. Este é o primeiro registro de Megadermalyra no distrito de Jhelum.

Medical management of male infertility.

Management of male infertility is always a difficult task. In recent years booming of artificial reproductive technologies (ART) has put infertologists and andrologists in front of a million dollar question whether to treat the person or the gametes. A basic andrology laboratory at present has become part and parcel of an infertility clinic. Hence treatment of male infertility has become institutional and collective for clinicians and basic scientists. The basic approach towards management of male infertility includes confirmation of diagnosis and to find out the cause for which pathological, endocrinological and biochemical tests are essential. In this series specific defects causing seminopathy has been found in 18% cases where treatment is straightforward and towards the cause. The main bulk of idiopathic seminal defects (82%) really poses challenge to the infertologists so far management is concerned. In this study commonest seminal defect has been found to be oligoasthenozoospermia which amounts to 63% cases. For medical management purpose drugs commonly used are clomiphene, gonadotrophins, bromocriptine, L-thyroxine, vitamin E, B12, etc. When they fail the main approach remains to be intra-uterine insemination (IUI) and ART eg, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Pericardial effusion following esophageal variceal sclerotherapy.

We report a 37-year-old man with portal cavernoma who developed pericardial effusion two weeks following sclerotherapy for esophageal varices. It responded to conservative management.

Percutaneous sonography-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of colonoscopic biopsy-negative colonic lesions.

BACKGROUND: Pre-operative tissue diagnosis with colonoscopy is not always possible in patients with colonic lesions. OBJECTIVE: To study the usefulness and efficacy of percutaneous ultrasound-guided aspiration biopsy of colonic lesions. METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients with colonic lesions in whom colonoscopic brush cytology and biopsy were either negative or the lesion was not accessible on colonoscopy on two attempts, underwent percutaneous ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. The results were compared with surgical findings. RESULTS: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in 40 patients; one had lymphoma, 2 had tuberculosis, 2 had abscess and 5 patients had negative aspiration. Forty-eight patients (excluding 2 with tuberculosis) underwent laparotomy and the diagnoses on aspiration biopsy were confirmed. Of the 5 negative aspirations, 3 had adenocarcinoma, one had tuberculosis and one intussusception. Thus, we had sensitivity of 91.8%, specificity of 100%, predictive value of positive results 100%, predictive value of negative results 20%, and percentage of false negative results 8.1%. Two patients developed complications--hemorrhage into the peritoneum and sepsis due to perforation at the site of aspiration; both survived after surgery. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous ultrasound-guided aspiration biopsy may be attempted for diagnosis of colonic lesions in situations where it may be the only means of obtaining a cytological diagnosis before surgery.

Role of pulse oximetry during nonsedated upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures.

BACKGROUND: Although upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is generally a safe procedure, it is known to be associated with arterial oxygen desaturation, resulting in rare serious cardio-pulmonary events. OBJECTIVE: To determine the severity of oxygen desaturation during nonsedated upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and study the effect of various variables on oxygen saturation. METHODS: 126 patients underwent nonsedated upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (82 diagnostic, 44 therapeutic). Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) was monitored using a pulse oximeter. RESULTS: Baseline SaO2 was mean (SD) 97.8 (1.8%). It remained > 95% in 60.2% of patients during the procedure, whereas mild oxygen desaturation (SaO2 90%-94%) occurred in 23.7% and severe oxygen desaturation (SaO2 < 90%) occurred in 15.8% of patients. Six patients (4.7%) required supplemental oxygen administration sometime during the procedure. Desaturation occurred in patients undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures but was severe in the latter group (p < 0.002). Patients aged more than 60 years (p < 0.001), hemoglobin < 10 g/dL (p < 0.001), history of smoking (p < 0.001), and underlying chronic obstructive airway disease (p < 0.001) were significantly related to oxygen desaturation. However, on multivariate analysis, no significant correlation was observed with hemoglobin value. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic intervention during nonsedated upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, old age, smokers and chronic obstructive airways disease are independent risk factors for oxygen desaturation. We recommend continuous monitoring of SaO2 in these high-risk patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

IgA nephropathy in teaching hospitals of Dhaka.

A light and immunofluorescence microscopic study on renal biopsies were performed on 42 patients. Nephrotic syndrome with accompanying microhematuria and recurrent hematuria (Macroscopic/microscopic) with or without renal failure were the commonest indications for renal biopsy. Primary IgA nephropathy was diagnosed in five cases. Among the IgA nephropathy patients, the commonest light microscopic finding was mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. Macroscopic hematuria with proteinuria was the commonest feature. Three of the patients had hypertension at the time of renal biopsy. The age of the patients ranged from 19-38 years with a mean of 26 years. The high frequency of hypertension, degree of proteinuria and associated renal failure in one patient that it is a progressive disease. This preliminary study revealed that IgA nephropathy exists in Bangladesh. Larger samples need to be studied with a view to find out its prevalence and its peculiarities in this part of the world.

Anti-oxidant effects of curry leaf, Murraya koenigii and mustard seeds, Brassica juncea in rats fed with high fat diet.

Status of lipid peroxidation was studied in rats induced high fat diet and some commonly used spices, viz. Murraya koenigit and Brassica juncea. The study revealed that these species alter the peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) level to a beneficial extent. Histological studies also focus on modulation of hepatic functions to near normal level.

Effect of onion extract on immune response in rabbits.

A total of 40 NZW rabbits were selected for this study to see the effect of onion extract on immune response following antigenic challenge. These animals were randomly divided into four groups, each composed of ten rabbits. Group I and II were challenged with typhoid H (TH) antigen and groups III and IV with sheep red blood cells (SRBC). Groups I and III were considered as control and II and IV as treated groups. The latter two groups were treated with onion extract orally. The immunosuppressive effect of onion extract was evaluated by estimating antibody levels by Widal test and hemolysin titer. It was found that mean antibody titers were significantly lower in the treated groups than in controls. The weights of thymus and lymph nodes were higher and of adrenal glands were lower in the control groups than in the treated groups. It appeared from the current study that onion extract has an inhibitory effect on immune response.

Role of Murraya koenigii (curry leaf) and Brassica juncea (Mustard) in lipid peroxidation.

The status of lipid peroxidation was investigated in rats fed M. Koenigii (curry leaf) and B. juncea (Mustard). Concentration of malondialdehyde showed a significant decrease, while hydroperoxides and conjugated dienes were significantly increased in liver and heart of both the experimental groups. SOD and catalase activity was found to be increased in liver and heart of both the spices administered groups. Glutathione levels in liver, heart and kidney were lowered in rats administered these spices. Glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase activity showed a sharp increase in the experimental groups compared to the controls.

Haematological & histological studies after curry leaf (Murraya koenigii) & mustard (Brassica juncea) feeding in rats.

Whole curry leaf and mustard fed to rats at doses equal to normal human intake did not cause any adverse effect on food efficiency ratio (FER), red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), total count, differential counts or on the levels of blood constituents, like serum electrolytes, blood urea, haemoglobin, total serum protein, albumin-globulin ratio, fibrin level, glycosylated haemoglobin and the activity of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and alkaline phosphatase in serum. No histopathological changes were observed in the liver of rats administered curry leaf and mustard.

Hypoglycemic action of Murraya koenigii (curry leaf) and Brassica juncea (mustard): mechanism of action.

Effect of Murraya koenigii and Brassica juncea on carbohydrate metabolism has been studied using rats as experimental animals. Both showed significant hypoglycemic action. There was increase in the concentration of hepatic glycogen and glycogenesis, as evident from the increased activity of glycogen synthetase, and decrease in glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis as evident from the decreased activity of glycogen phosphorylase and gluconeogenic enzymes.

Clinicopathological profile of bronchogenic carcinoma in Bangladesh.

This study reflects some of the basic facts and present status of bronchogenic carcinoma in Bangladesh. Of the total patients admitted in one surgical unit of IDCH during the period 1983 to 1986, 28.7 were clinically suspected to be suffering from bronchogenic carcinoma. Males largely dominated the females (82.4 percent as against 17.6 percent) giving a ratio of 4.6:1.0, and more than 90 percent of the victims were heavy smokers. All the suspected patients were then subjected to radiological examination of chest, bronchoscopic examination (73.0 percent), histopathological examination of the bronchial biopsy specimen and sputum cytological examination (63.2 percent) cases. Bronchoscopic examination revealed endobronchial tumor or suspicious lesion in 63.2 percent cases. The sputum cytological examination were positive for malignant cells in 35.6 percent cases. Histopathological gradation of the carcinoma in order of frequencies were squamous cell carcinoma (13.3 percent), large cell carcinoma (9.7 percent) and adenocarcinoma (4.2 percent) respectively. About one fourth of the cases (27.6 percent) were found to be clinically suitable for operation but on thoracotomy resectability was possible only in 20.6 percent cases. Inoperable cases were subsequently referred for radio or chemotherapy. Follow-up of the cases were rather difficult.