Surgical Correction Of Pincer-Nail Deformity Using Autologous Full Thickness Skin Graft: A Case Report

Pincer nail deformity is often undertreated although it is a cause of pain and disfigurement.This may be attributed to underdiagnosis and lack of awareness of the available treatmentoptions especially surgical options. Not many centres offer surgical correction of pincer naildeformity in Malaysia. We would like to describe a surgical method of correcting this deformity.

Sensitivity analysis of METRIC-based evapotranspiration algorithm

METRIC [Mapping Evapotranspiration at High Resolution with Internalized Calibration] is known as an appropriate surface energy balance model for the estimation of the spatial distribution of evapotranspiration [ET] in semi-arid regions. Based on lysimeter measurements, METRIC has shown ET estimates of 10% on a sub-field scale on a daily basis. There is a need to identify how the model is sensitive to the input parameters. Therefore, the most influential parameters in the algorithm can be identified and the model can be further improved. Sensitivity analysis at three levels of vegetation cover shows that METRIC is highly sensitive to dT, surface temperature, net radiation, sensible heat flux, surface albedo, soil heat flux, and air temperature. It is also moderately sensitive to friction velocity, aerodynamic resistance to heat transfer, surface emissivity and less sensitive to leaf area index, soil adjusted vegetation index, wind speed [except wind speed at low level of vegetation cover][4], and roughness length for momentum [except Z[om]<0.1]. A two-factor analysis of the algorithm's primary inputs showed that the pair albedo-surface temperature is the most and the normalized vegetation index-soil adjusted vegetation index or normalized vegetation index-leaf area index is the least effective pair in this model. In order to improve the accuracy of METRIC, this study suggests upgrading the equations for the above-mentioned effective variables

Determination of residues of sulphonamide in eggs and laying hens

Eggs were collected from different areas of Faisalabad city. The quantity of sulphonamides was determined in yolk, white and whole egg and compared with the permissible limit 1 micro g/ml for sulphadimethoxine available in literature. In another experiment, a group of hens were kept at a poultry farm after medicating them with darvisal liquid to see if the residues of sulphonamide pass into the eggs of poultry. The period of existence of residues was noted

Antimicrobial susceptibility and plasmid profile study of Clinical Shigella isolates in Pakistan

The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of nine .Shigella isolates from clinical sources in Pakistan, were analyzed. The commonly used antibiotics Chloramphenicol, Vancomycin, Velosef, Septran and Rocephin were used in this study. The Shigella isolates showed high resistance against all antibiotics except Vancomycin while 100% resistance was observed for antibiotic, Septran. Most of the Shigella isolates [88.8%] were multiple drug resistant and four different antibiograms were observed among these resistant Shigella isolates. Plasmid profile analysis showed no plasmid in the Shigella isolates and it was presumed that the resistance determinants of Shigella for these antibiotics were located on the chromosomal DNA

A Study of the in vitro cytotoxic activity of Gelsemium elegans using human ovarian and breast cancer cell lines

The crude methanol extracts of Gelsemium elegans leaves were assessed for their cytotoxic activity using the microculture 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay for cellular viability. This study utilized two different types of human cancer cell lines, CaOV-3 (human ovarian cancer cells) and MDA-MB-231 (human estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cells), allowing for comparison of toxicity of G. elegans against these two cancer cells lines. Our results showed that the methanol extract of G. elegans exhibited high cytotoxicity against the human ovarian cancer cell line CaOV-3 with an IC50 value of 5microg/ml after 96 h incubation. However, G. elegans displayed discernibly less toxicity against the MDA-MB-231 cells with an IC50 value 40microg/ml after 96 h incubation and this effect was dose- and time-dependent, up to 72h and 20-30 microg/ml. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that G. elegans is potently cytotoxic against the human ovarian cancer cell line CaOV-3 and to a lesser extend towards the human breast carcinoma cancer MDA-MB-231 cells, suggesting that the extract is selective towards CaOV-3 cells and may have a chemotherapeutic role for ovarian cancer treatment in the future.

Spetrum of complications and mortality of bacterial meningitis: an experience from a developing country

The aim of this study was to obtain data on predisposing factors, causative organisms and their associated mortality and complications related to acute bacterial meningitis. The chart review of all patients in whom acute bacterial meningitis was diagnosed at The Aga Khan University Hospital from January 1995 through December 2001. One hundred ninety-four patients were included in study. There were 146 males and 48 females. The mean age of our study population was 41 +/- 12.3 years. One hundred and ninety [97.9%] patients had communityacquired meningitis-, only 4 [2.0%] patients developed meningitis nosocomially. The two most common predisposing factors were diabetes mellitus [13.9%] and otitis media [7.7%] among all 194 patients. A significant proportion of patients with complications had diabetes mellitus [24.6%, p<0.001]. CSF and blood cultures were positive in 53 [27.3%] and 42 [21.6%] patients respectively-, there was no statistical difference found. The most common organisms isolated were Streptococcus pneumoniae in 35 [36.8%] patients followed by Neisseria meningitides in -30 [31.5%] -patients. Approximately 68% of -positive cultures -yielded S. pneumoniae and N. meningitides [p<0.0001]. The overall mortality rate was 22.1%. The mortality rate for Streptococcus pneumoniae was 17.1%. The highest mortality was observed in patients with Pseudomonal meningitis where all four patients expired followed by mortality rate of 85.7% in Escherichia coli afflicted patients [p<0.001]. Complications occurred in 73 [37.6%] patients with persistent complications in 31 [42.4%] patients. Complications resolved in 34 [46.5%] patients. The most common complications were seizures [12.8%] and cranial nerve palsies [11.3%]. Seizures were more likely to occur in older patients [p<0.05] whereas hydrocephalus was more common in younger patients [p<0.05]. Bacterial Meningitis remains a serious disease associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Most cases are community acquired with S. Pneumoniae being the most common pathogen. Old age, diabetes mellitus, a positive culture, seizures as a complication and late stage in the disease are the important predictors of a poor outcome

Psychiatric Comorbidity in Substance Abuse

OBJECTIVE: To find the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among the opioids dependents and to assess the severity of their addiction profile. METHOD: Sample comprised of fifty patients admitted in drug treatment and rehabilitation center at Psychiatry Department of Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, between March to August 1997. DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were applied to diagnose substance dependence and associated psychiatric morbidity, while Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and Addiction Severity Index were used to assess severity of anxiety, depression and dependence respectively. The major co-morbid psychiatric conditions were major depression [30%], personality disorder [6%], generalized anxiety disorder [4%], phobic disorder [4%], panic disorder [2%], dysthymic disorder [2%]. The overall findings in this study lends support to the hypothesis, that there is substantial psychiatric co-morbidity amongst the opioid abusers and dependents in our population, as is found in studies from the West

Study of the interactions between ketoconazole and isoniazid in human volunteers

An interaction study between ketoconazole [antifungal agent] and isoniazid [antitubercular agent] was made in ten healthy human volunteers [male] of the age 20 - 30 years and weight 54 - 72 kgs. The blood sampling was done at different time intervals after dosing isoniazid alone and in combination with ketoconazole. The samples were centrifuged and the serum separated was stored [-20°C] for analysis. HPLC was used to determine the serum concentrations of isoniazid. The effect of ketoconazole on the pharmacokinetic parameters [AUC, Cmax t1/2 Ke, Ka and tmax] of isoniazid was investigated. A 50% reduction in the value of area under serum concentration - time curve [AUC] of isoniazid was observed when it was concurrently administered with ketoconazole. The value of Cmax and Ke were also reduced significantly [p<0.05], while elimination half life [t1/2] of isoniazid was increased significantly [p<0.05]. Differences in the values of K2 and tmax were found to be insignificant

Pharmacokinetic interactions of ketoconazole with rifampicin in human volunteers

The interaction of ketoconazole [antifungal agent] and rifampicin [antitubeculosis agent] was studied in the serum of ten healty human volunteers [male], having age between 20 to 30 years and weight from 54 to 72 kg. The blood samples were collected after administrating rifampicin alone and currently with ketoconazole at different time intervals. The serum was separated and stored [-20°C]. Reverse phase HPLC was used as analytical tool to determine the serum concentrations of rifampicin. The influence of ketoconazole on the pharmacokinetic parameters [AUC, Cmax, t1/2, Ke, Ka and tmax] of rifampicin was assessed, when both the drugs were administered simultaneously. It was observed that AUC and Cmax got decreased highly significantly [p<0.001], while t ' reduced and Ke increased significantly [p<0.05]. Statistically significant increase in the values of Ka and tmax was also observed

Biosynthesis of L-ascorbic acid

Biosynthesis of L-ascorbic acid in animals and plants has been discussed and compared. The production sites of this vitamin have been presented. L-ascorbic acid is not detectable in plant seed and is synthesized during germination which is influenced by environmental temperature. The species that are unable to synthesize L-ascorbic acid lack the microsomal enzyme, L-gulono-oxidase, which converts L-gulonolactone to 2-keto-L-gulonolactone. This is considered to be a genetic defect. The pathway of L-ascorbic acid biosynthesis in animals is more clear than that in plants. Radiation induced synthesis of ascorbic acid in germinating mungbeans, was studied. A dose of 0.1.kGy resulted in the development of maximum amount [35.5 mg / 100g] as compared with 29.7 mg / 100g in the unirradiated controls after 48 hours of germination