Hemoprotozoa and Anaplasma spp. in rodents and shrews of Bangladesh

@#Hemoprotozoans are important pathogens of animals and humans, among which some species have zoonotic significance. The prevalence of different hemoprotozoa and Anaplasma spp. in larger mammals have been reported from different regions of the world. But, very few studies have been conducted to estimate the prevalence of hemoprotozoa in rodents and shrews of South-East Asia. The study assessed the prevalence of hemoprotozoa and Anaplasma spp. in rodents and shrews of Bangladesh. Blood samples (n=451) were collected from rodents and shrews between June 2011 and June 2013 and July-December 2015 from 4 land gradients of Bangladesh. Giemsa-stained blood smears revealed that 13% of animals were harboring hemoprotozoa (4.7% Babesia spp., 0.67% Plasmodium spp.), and Anaplasma spp. (7.5%). The study may serve as a guide for future hemoparasitic research of rodents and shrews.

Pulmonary Hypertension in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been reported to be high among maintenance dialysis patients. There is a paucity of data on the incidence and prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in chronic kidney disease(CKD) in Bangladeshi patients. Materials and Methods: A total 70 CKD patients (male 47,female 23), who were on conservative management and maintenance hemodialysis were studied for the presence of pulmonary hypertension. The variables studied were hypertension, diabetes, duration of dialysis and the hemoglobin, serum creatinine and serum bicarbonate levels. Results: 68.6% of the patients on maintenance hemodialysis had pulmonary hypertension compared to 8.6% of the prediadysis CKD patients. 97.1% of maintenance dialysis patients had anaemia (Hb <10gm/dl) and 42.9% of patients had metabolic acidosis. Conclusion: The incidence of pulmonary hypertension was highest in the hemodialysis group. Significant Pearson’s correlation was found between pulmonary arterial systolic pressure with the duration of hemodialysis, hemoglobin level, serum creatinine, blood sugar and serum bicarbonate level in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Clinical Outcome and Echocardiographic Evaluation of Inferior Myocardial Infarction with Right Ventricular Involvement.

Background : Acute right ventricular myocardial infarction complicates inferior wall myocardial infarction with an incidence of 14-84%. ECG is the cornerstone in initial diagnosis as it is cost effective and done easily. Echocardiographic analysis of the right ventricular involvement can shed light on the severity of the disease. Hence we aimed to study right ventricular infarction in acute inferior wall myocardial infarction using right precordial lead as well as echocardiography. Methods: Present study is based on the analysis of 100 patients admitted to Coronary care unit of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases & Hospital during July 2010 to June 2011, with acute inferior wall myocardial infarction. 12 lead ECG with thorough physical examination was done along with right precordial mapping. ST ³ 1mm in V4R was initial diagnostic of right ventricular involvement followed by echocardiographic assessment of RV and LV within 24 hours. Results: A total of 50 patients showed right ventricular involvement with V4R being the sensitive lead. Echocardiography showed mean RVEF of patients with 29.5 % ± 9.5 in comparison of 44.9%±12.2 without right ventricular involvement. Right ventricular involvement presented with bradycardia (40%) and hypotension, 80% Kussmaul’s sign, 14% with complete heart block. Mortality in right ventricular involvement was 6 times higher than without right ventricular involvement (12 %). Conclusion: Clinical signs and symptomatology are not fully diagnostic of RVI in inferior wall acute MI. ECG can diagnose (using right precordial mapping) this condition very early. Echocardiography help to assess the right ventricular function high-risk groups for aggressive management like primary PCI. Early diagnosis will help in careful monitoring and management of such cases.

Helicobacter pylori; histological and cultural correlation in chronic gastritis.

Seventy seven antral biopsies were collected from patients attending endoscopy clinic at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during a period of six months between December 1988 to May 1989. Of these 69 (89.6%) showed chronic gastritis as well as Helicobacter-like organisms (HLOs) in the biopsy specimens while 63 (81.8%) of biopsies grew Helicobacter pylori on culture. These findings indicate a good correlation between the histological diagnosis of chronic gastritis and isolation of H. pylori on culture.

Inhibitory effect of natural honey on Helicobacter pylori.

Honey is widely used in folk-medicine throughout the world. However, it has a limited use in modern medicine due to lack of scientific support. Based on some recent reports, an in vitro study was undertaken to evaluate its antibacterial activity on Helicobacter pylori and a few other pathogenic organisms. All isolates of H. pylori were inhibited by 20 per cent of honey. Most of the other bacteria examined (including both Gram-positive and Gram-negative) were also inhibited at concentrations of 20 per cent of honey; and half of them were inhibited by 10 per cent of honey. Furthermore, it was observed that some isolates were resistant to various antimicrobial agents but honey inhibited these organisms and the sensitive ones equally. Our study advocates carrying out clinical investigation of the effect of honey on gastroduodenal disorders colonised by H. pylori.

Use of selective and non-selective media for the isolation of Helicobacter pylori.

Antral biopsy specimens from patients having gastroduodenal disorders were cultured in parallel on sheep blood agar (SBA) and Skirrow's selective medium (SSM) for Helicobacter pylori. It was found that the overall isolation rate of the organism was much lower in SSM (54.5%) than on SBA (87.9%), a difference which is statistically significant (P less than 0.01). This may be due to the incorporation of polymyxin B in SSM. In absence of a suitable selective medium, blood agar may be used. Although consideration must be given to contamination, we found that contamination of SBA culture plates was not significant enough to hamper the isolation of the organism in the vast majority of the cases (98.5%).