TRPC signaling mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities: trapdoors are monitored by gatekeepers

This Review summarizes our current state of knowledge of the functional role of TRPC channels in health and disease, with particular emphasis on current advancements in the field. Additionally, this review provides an up-to-date summary of SKF-96365 acting on TRPC channels, and discusses strategies to further investigate the potential of these channels for therapeutic intervention

Pattern of genitourinary tuberculosis in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an ancient disease. It is responsible for causing a major health problem in developing countries. Genitourinary tuberculosis is the second most common form of extra pulmonary tuberculosis after lymph node involvement. This study was carried out to determine the pattern of genitourinary tuberculosis in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. It is a cross sectional descriptive study. Carried out in the Urology Department of Jinnah Hospital and T.B outdoor of Gulab Devi Hospital, Lahore during the period Oct, 2002 to Oct, 2004. Two hundred patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 117 males and 83 females, ranging from 17 to 80 years of age [mean 37.9 years] were included in the study. Hundred patients were freshly diagnosed cases [group-1] and the remaining hundred patients were already diagnosed cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and had received antituberculous treatment [ATT] for at least three months [group-2]. Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis was based on positive sputum smear for acid fast bacilli [AFB] by Ziehl Neelsen [ZN] staining technique. Twenty four hours urine was collected from each patient. Each specimen was examined for the presence of mycobacterium tuberculosis by ZN staining and culture on Lowenstein Jensen [LJ] medium. Positive for one or both of these procedures was taken as positive for genitourinary tuberculosis. Biopsy of urogenital tract was carried out and histopathological examination was done in patients with positive bacilluria and having urinary symptoms. Genitourinary organs of 9 patients in group-1 and 18 patients in group-2 were found involved for genitourinary tuberculosis. Among 9 patients in group-1, the urinary bladder and kidney involvement were highest 3 [33.3%] followed by epididymis 2 [22.2%] and Ureter 1 [11.1%]. Among the 18 patients in group-2, urinary bladder involvement was highest 9 [50%] followed by kidney 5 [27.8%], epididymis 3 [16.7%] and testis 1 [5.5%], Genitourinary organ involvement in patients already on antituberculous treatment is more common as compared to freshly diagnosed cases. Urinary bladder involvement is highest in both groups

Trends of serum thyrotropin concentration and associated factors in urban Pakistan [Karachi]

This investigation aimed at assessing trends of TSH levels and associated factors in apparently normal subjects of urban Pakistan [Karachi]. The survey was conducted in 2004 in Lyari, Karachi. Using a geographical imaging system, 85, 520 households were identified, of which 532 were randomly selected; 867 adults aged >/= 25 years consented to take part in the study. Blood samples from 324 subjects were available for analyses. Subjects with previous history of thyroid disorders were excluded. Mean age of subjects was 40.8 +/- 14.13 years; 68.2% were females; mean values of waist circumference of males and females were 89.5 +/- 16 cm 87.8 +/- 15.7 cm repectively. Fifty-nine [18.2%] subjects had TSH>6.0 cm [mU/L] based on the ELISA laboratory reference range, used for the estimation of TSH. Based on the American Thyroid Association [ATA] guidelines, 159 [49.07%] subjects had TSH<2.5, while 76 [23.45%] subjects with TSH between 2.5-4.0 mU/L as per ATA definition were in the "at risk" category. Thirty subjects [9.26%] had TSH levels between 4.1-6.0 mU/L. A significant correlation was found between TSH and BMI and waist circumference, whereas a weak, non significant one was observed between TSH and waist hip ratio. A strong association between overweight [BMI>23] and elevated serum TSH concentration [TSH>4.1 mU/L] was also observed. This spectrum of TSH levels highlighted a high prevalence of increased serum TSH levels in the population studied, a trend that was associated with obesity and various lipid abnormalities. Further population based studies are needed to correlate these findings with clinical parameters of hypothyroidism

Kartagener syndrome

12 year old boy presented in ENT OPD with rhinorrhoea, nasal obstruction and chronic cough since childhood. He had hypertelorism and his nose was filled with watery and mucoid secretion with extensive nasal polyps bilaterally. Otoscopy revealed secretary otitis media confirmed on tympanometery and myringotomy. Suspicion of Kartagener syndrome came from dextrocardia and was confirmed on electron microscope that revealed missing dynin arms on quantitative estimation of cilia

comparison of medical treatment versus surgical treatment for the management of otitis media with effusion

This study is designed: To assess outcome of the two modes of treatment [medical and surgical] of otitis media with effusion in terms of their effectiveness and patient compliance, and to compare in terms of side effects and complications. Forty patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria included in the study. They were divided into two groups by random allocation of medical or surgical mode of treatment. Thus each group consisted of twenty patients. The study was conducted in the Department of ENT Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. In Medically Treated Twenty patients effusion did not resolve in most of the cases, and recovered after some time during the follow-up period. In remaining twenty patients treated surgically, there was immediate improvement in hearing in most of the patients. Complications rate is more in surgical treatment as compared to medical treatment. But in spite of this, surgical treatment is better option in our set-up r egarding effectiveness and patient compliance

Pattern of primary pulmonary malignancies in central Punjab

Three hundred patients of primary malignancies of the lung from Gulab Devi Chest Hospital and other hospitals of Lahore were studied. The history of the patients and their clinical findings were recorded. The sections of the tissues were stained with haematoxylin and eosin whereas all large cell carcinomas were stained with Alcian Blue-Periodic Acid-Schiff [AB-PAS] stain. There were 255 males and 45 females with a male to female ration of 5.7:1. The age ranged from 10-90 years with a mean age of 54.17 +/- 3.46 years. Different tumours were significantly more [p<0.001] in males than in females. The mean age in squamous cell carcinoma cases was significantly high [P<0.001] as compared to adenocarcinoma. Small cell carcinoma cases had significantly low [P<0.02] mean age as compared to squamous cell carcinoma. The difference of mean age in cases of adenocarcinoma approached significant level [0.1> P>0.05] as compared with small cell carcinoma

Modified Epley's maneuver for treatment of benign positional vertigo: an experience with over 100 cases

Treatment for Benign positional vertigo has traditionally been pharmacological. However, physical methods of treatments are gradually replacing the former. Particle repositioning maneuver as described by Epley, has gained wide acceptance over the last decade. We present our experience with more than 100 cases treated with modified Epley's maneuver [no sedation given, nor mastoid vibrator applied]. The study was conducted at CMH Rawalpindi from Jun-2002 to May-2003. All patients with features typical of benign positional vertigo, confirmed by positive Dix-Hallpike test, were included. The patients were followed-up for 3 months. The success rate in our series was around 66%. We conclude that modified Epley's maneuver is indeed an effective method for treatment of BPV, but success rate is less than generally reported

Chemistry of the medicinal plants of the Genus Nigella

The botanical and chemical background of the plant of the genus Nigella [Family - Ranunculaceae] has been described. Many researchers have isolated and identified a variety of compounds such as alkaloids, glycosides, amino acids, fatty acids, essential oil, saponins and sterols. Various constituents of the Nigella sativa and Nigella damascene seeds were found to be pharmacologically active. Antiplaque action of the N. sativa seeds extract against S. mutans, topical use in inhibition of skin carcinogenesis in mice, antitumour activity of the active principle of N. sativa seed, insecticidal activity of acids isolated from N. sativa seeds against insects such as Sitophilus oryzae, Tribolium castaneum, Stegobium paniceum ans Bruchus chinesis have also been reported

Chemistry of the medicinal plants of the genus acorus [family araceae]

The botanical and chemical background of the plants of genus acorus [family araceae] have been described. Many investigators have isolated and characterised a variety of compounds such as glucosides, amino acids, flavones, fatty acids and essential oils. Numerous applications of the plants as insecticides, plant growth inhibitors, antifeedants and hair growth sitmulant have been described. The pharmacological studies of the A. calamus rhizomes in drug preparation with varying content of beta-asarone have ben discussed in detail, since the A. calamus having a high content of beta-asarone has been proved to be carcinogenic

Controversies in water-lilies [Nilofar]

The botanical, chemical, medicinal and pharmacological background of some plants of the genus Nymphaea [N. alba, N. lotus and N. stellata], commonly known as water-lilies in English, has been described to resolve the controversy regarding the indigenous name, Nilofar, used for this group of species. Based on this and the pharmacognostic studies reported earlier, the name Nilofar, has been assigned to N. alba

Chemistry of the medicinal plants of the genus cestrum [family solanaceae]

The botanical and chemical background of plants of the genus Cestrum N.O. Solanaceae has been described. Many inestigators have isolated and characterized a variety of compounds such as saponins, glycosides, hydrocarbons alkaloids, fatty acids and essential oils. The medicinal and curative effects generally associated with chemical constituents have been briefly outlined. The biological activity of 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol in calcium absorption and in the synthesis of the intestinal Vitamin D dependent calcium binding protein has been discussed

Simple, efficient and simultaneous determination of anabolic steroids in human urine

A high performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of free anabolic drug "sustanon 250" [Organon] is developed. Four testosterone esters, propionate, phenylpropionate, isocaproate and decanoate were detected simultaneously and quantitatively in only 15 minutes. The percentage extraction in dichloromethane of the four testosterone esters from doped urine was 88,87,89 and 94% respectively. The separation recorded at 254 nm using analytical column ODS-C[18] and methanol as an eluent, showed no interference of naturally occurring steroids. This method can be used for pharmacokinetic studies, routine analysis in pharmaceutical industry, routine therapeutic surveillance and in drug abuse by sportsmen

chemistry of indigenous medicinal plants of the genus ageratum [family compositae]

The botanical and chemical background of plants of the genus Ageratum N.O. Compositae has been described. Many research workers have isolated and characterised a variety of compounds such as flavones/flavonoids, sterol, amino acids, essential oil and fatty acids form these plants. Ageratochromene, 6 -demethoxy-ageratochromene, precocene [1] and precocene [2] from the plants showed anti-juvenile hormone activity in insects. These compounds showed 100% mortality in respect of Sitophilus oryzae and Thlaspida japonica

chemistry of indigenous medicinal plants of the genus vitex [family-verbenacease]

The botanical and chemical background of plants of the genus Vitex of Verbenaceae family has been described. Many investigators isolated and characterised a variety of compounds such as flavones/flavonoids, glucosides, amino acids, fatty acids, substituted aromatic acids and essential oils from these plants, while a few other chemical components have been mentioned as well. The medicinal and curative effects generally associated with chemical constituents of their flowers, fruits, leaves and roots have been briefly outlined for a number of ailments. The essential oils obtained from Vitex negundo, in isolation and in combination with others possessed not only knocking-down and in-activation of a variety of pests [especially S. cearealella of stored rice] but also caused mortality