Hepatoprotective effects of berberis lycium, galium aparine and pistacia integerrima in carbon tetrachloride [CCL4]-treated rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of mixture of berberis lycium, galium aparine and pistacia integerrima in carbon tetrachloride [CCL4]-treated rats. This study was conducted in the animal house of the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad in the year 2000. A total of 20 rats were divided in 4 groups of 5 rats each. 1. Normal Control Group: with no medication given 2. CCl4 Treated Group: only CCl4 was given 3. Hepatopreventive group: Initially treated with medicinal plants mixture followed by CCl4 4. Hepatoprotective group: Initially treated with CCl4 followed by medicinal plants mixture Then blood sample from each rate was collected and analysed for ALT, AST and ALP. The rates included in the study were male Sprague Dawley rats [albino] weighing 150-300g received from the animal house of the NIH, Islamabad. ALT, AST and ALP activities were significantly raised [P<0.001] in hepatocurative groups as comparative to the normal control, and decreased [P<0.001] as compared to the CCl4-treated rated and the hepatopreventive group. While the hepatocurative group treated with aqueous extract of the mixture of medicinal plants decrease more than treated with suspension of medicinal plants mixture and alcoholic extract. The results this study indicates that a mixture of Berberis lycium, Galium aparine and Pistacia integerrima have hepatoprotective effects. These medicinal plants have more effect as curative agents rather than preventive agents

Isolation and seroprevalence of avian influenzavirus [H9N2] at Islamabad/Rawalpindi

The aim of this study was to isolate and evaluate the seroprevalence of avian influenza virus [AIV] infection in chicken in Pakistan with special reference to its serotype/H9N2. Laboratory based prospective. This study was carried out at department of Biological Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad and National Agricultural Research Centre Islamabad Pakistan from 2000 to 2001. The human virological aspects were dealt by AF Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi. The chicken flocks studied belonged to different poultry farms located at Islamabad/Rawalpindi area. For the isolation of avian influenza virus, lungs and trachea specimens were processed to prepare virus inoculum and inoculated in 9-day old embryonated eggs via allantoic route. For identification of virus, haemagglutination test and immunofluorescent antibody test [IFA] were used. Serological analysis was done by Agar Gel Precipitation Test [AGPT], Haemagglutination [HA] and Haemagglutination inhibition test [HI]. This study was divided into two parts; firstly the sera of chicken with history of respiratory tract infection were tested for the presence of antibodies against H9N2 virus. Such chicken were found to have seroconverted against H9N2. Secondly, it was aimed to isolate virus from kidneys, lungs and trachea of infected birds by growing virus in 9 days old chick embryos. Out of 40 clinical samples, 9 isolates of AIV were recovered and typed serologically as serotype H9N2. In this scenario, the presence of H9N2 in poultry in the country poses a continuous threat for the emergence of more pathogenic strains of human influenza virus. For this purpose there is a constant need to carry out surveillance for influenza viruses both in birds and humans in the country

Bone marrow changes in human malaria: a retrospective study

The bone marrow reports of 1966 patients admitted to a provincial teaching hospital between January, 1992 to April, 1995 were retrospectively analyzed. Twenty-six [1.3%] bone marrows showed the presence of malarial parasites. Sixteen [62%] patients had Plasmodium falciparum 9 [34%] Vivax malaria and one [4%] mixed infection. All these patients gave a history of prolonged illness and had low parasite counts. Plasmodium vivax malaria was not associated with any significant pathology in the bone marrow, except iron deficiency anaemia. The bone marrows with Plasmodium falciparum malaria showed myeloid hyperplasia, erythroid hyperplasia, megaloblastosis and hypoplasia in different proportions. No evidence of dyserythropoiesis was found in this series. The possible mechanisms producing these changes and the factors responsible for the discrepancy in bone marrow findings in different geographical areas are discussed

Tumor necrosis factor in falciparum malaria

To investigate the relationship of TNF alpha levels to Plasmodium falciparum [PF] infection, plasma TNF alpha concentrations were measured in Pakistani adults and children with mild, severe, cerebral and chronic falciparum malaria and healthy [control] subjects. The initial geometric mean plasma concentrations of TNF alpha in adult patients with severe malaria [187.6 pg/mL] were significantly higher than mild malaria patients [87.1 pg/mL, P < 0.001]. TNF alpha levels were not correlated to parasite density, cerebral malaria, young age, hypoglycemia or fatal outcome; however, they were associated with severe anemia, and hepatic and kidney dysfunction. TNF alpha levels were not significantly increased in 16 patients with hyperparasitemia and were significantly elevated [P < 0.02] in chronic malaria patients as compared to control subjects. TNF alpha levels were elevated independently in patients with anemia, hypoglycemia [P < 0.001, P < 0.05], and hepatic and kidney [P < 0.001 each] dysfunction. In this study, high TNF alpha levels were associated with several manifestations of severe malaria and were not specific to cerebral malaria and hyperparasitemia

Haematological changes in falciparum malaria and tumor necrosis factor

Tumor necrosis factor and various haematological parameters were studied in 90 patients suffering from falciparum malaria. They were divided into three groups on the basis of haemoglobin level. The difference in haemoglobin level between group-1 [Hb<7 gm/dl] and group-2 [Hb 7-10 gm/dl], as well as group-I and group-3 was statistically significant. The geometric mean TNFalpha concentrations in group-1 [193.9 pg/ml] and group-2 [132.2 pg/mI] were higher as compared to group-3; however, the difference was statistically non-significant. The TNF concentration in group-2 correlated negatively with haemoglobin level [r=-.43, p=.05]. As a whole, 21% patients had leukocytosis, 3% leukopenia, 46% increased ESR and 26% elevated levels of fibrin degradation products. The platelet count was done only in 4 patients with bleeding problems. Twenty-five healthy subjects were included in the study as controls. The difference between TNF and haemoglobin level in group-1 and controls was statistically significant [p<.05, p<.001 each]. The role of tumor necrosis factor in the production of these changes is discussed

Heroin addiction and sex hormones in males

To investigate the effects of illicit heroin abuse on the endocrine system a study was carried out in North West Frontier Province [NWFP] where heroin addiction is prevalent. Sixty-eight subjects were included in this study. Thirty-three were untreated heroin addicts visiting "drug abuse treatment centres" in Peshawar and 35 age matched normal males. Urine samples of all addicts showed the presence of morphine. The serum concentrations of testosterone [T] in addicts was 228 ng/ml, leutinizing hormone [LH] 10.7mlU/ml and follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] 4.9 mlU/ml whereas the corresponding values for control males were T 630 ng/ml, LH 14.3 mlU/ml and FSH mlU/ml, respectively. Heroin exerts a depletion effect on T and FSH levels in more or less all the groups studied irrespective of age, amount of heroin intake per day and period of contact with heroin. LH levels remain unaffected and are within clinically accepted normal range