Assessing the efficacy of aqueous garlic extract, sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate against prolonged oral cyanide exposure in rabbits

This study was aimed to compare the efficacy of aqueous garlic extract, sodium nitrite [SNT], sodium thiosulfate [STS] and hydroxocobalamin against oral cyanide exposure in rabbits. For this purpose, forty two adult male rabbits were divided randomly into 7 groups of 6 animals [A-G] each. Rabbits in group A were offered feed only and served as negative control, while the rabbits in group B received feed plus potassium cyanide [KCN] at 3mg/kg orally and were kept as positive control. Animals in group C received feed, KCN and intraperitoneal injection [IP] of aqueous garlic extract at 500mg/kg. Rabbits in group D were given feed, KCN and IP injection of STS at 600mg/kg. Members in group E received feed, KCN and IP injection of both aqueous garlic extract at 500mg/kg and SNT at 20mg/kg. Animals in group F were given feed, KCN and IP injection of both STS at 600mg/kg and SNT at 20mg/kg, while the rabbits in group G received feed, KCN and IP injection of hydroxocobalamin at 300mg/kg. The treatments were given to respective groups for 40 days. The efficacy of the antidotes was measured on the basis of changes in biochemical profile of rabbits in each group. In this study, hydroxocobalamin was found to be significantly more effective cyanide [CNI] antidote than garlic, STS, SNT plus garlic extract, or SNT and STS, either alone or in combination. A combination of SNT and garlic extract was the second most effective CNI antidote. The efficacy of garlic alone was significantly higher than STS alone or in combination with SNT. The efficacy of combined SNT and STS was superior to STS alone in treating rabbits with CNI toxicity. In conclusion, aqueous garlic extract alone or in combination with STS can effectively be used against cyanide toxicity

Insecticidal Exposure may be the Cause of Progression of Immune Disorders and Inflammatory Diseases through Dys-regulation of Cytokines

Industrial revolution has dangerously increased the load of environmental or environmentally induced diseases. Recently, the insecticides (a class of pesticides killing various insects) have become one of the most important environmental pollutants. This Review discusses the association of insecticides, cytokines dys-regulation and the development of immuno-regulatory disorders and chronic inflammatory conditions. In spite of abundant reviewing and reporting of various immuno-inflammatory diseases individually, efforts lack to understand the central pathological mechanism underlying these diseases collectively. The cytokines are extensively involved in inter-cellular communications; they are regarded attractive markers for risk stratification or patient prognosis. In this Review, an understanding has been generated about the role of various receptors, genes and signaling pathways etc. in the trianglular link of cytokines, immuno-inflammatory diseases and insecticides. Such role, in a number of instances, had been those of (1) a receptor tyrosine kinase designated as c-kit or SCF receptor and (2) NFκB, the most excellently described transcription factor. The conclusion of the Review is that insecticides are linked with increasing susceptibility to various diseases especially any type of chronic inflammation through cytokine dys-regulation. Moreover, insecticidal toxicity can cause deviations in certain parameters of diagnosis. So insecticide applicators must be stressed to ensure only recommended doses and formulations of insecticides if really necessary.

Epidemiology of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen screening among blood donors in Estern Saudi Arabia. Need to replace the test by HBV DNA testing

Prevention of the residual risk of transfusion transmitted hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection is mostly relied on serological screening of blood donors for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen [HBc], to detect donors in window period of HBV infection. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of anti-HBc antibody among blood donors and its impact on rejection of collected blood units. Blood bank records of all the blood donors who donated blood at blood bank of King Fahad Hospital, Al-Hofuf, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the period of 2000 to 2003 were reviewed. All the collected blood units were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg], anti-HBc, hepatitis C virus [HCV], human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] 1 and 2, HIV p24, human T-cell lymphotropic virus [HTLV] I/II, venereal disease research laboratory [VDRL] and malaria. All the HBsAg negative with anti-HBc positive units were checked for anti-HBsAg antibodies. Of 26606 blood donors screened, 514 [1.9%] were HBsAg positive, 853 [3.2%] were isolated anti-HBc positive and 2687 [10.1%] were both anti-HBc and anti-HBsAg positive. The blood units, which were anti-HBc and anti-HBsAg positive, were utilized and the isolated anti-HBc positive blood units were rejected. There was a significant [odds ratio of 1.653, 95% confidence interval 1.298-2.105, p<0.0001] decline in anti-HBc positivity during the study period. Isolated anti-HBc positivity as a marker for window period of HBV infection leads to high rejection rate of collected blood units without completely covering the residual risk of HBV transmission by transfusion. Policy for checking the collected blood unit by 3 tests for anti-HBc, anti-HBsAg and HBsAg should be reconsidered in favor of HBV-DNA testing by polymerase chain reaction, to possibly achieve the zero risk goal of transfusion transmitted HBV infection

Ground water in southern areas of Faisalabad; biochemical analysis

Objective: To evaluate biochemically the water pollution by estimating various quality parameters of ground water supply available in the southern area of Faisalabad. Design: Prospective study Setting: Biochemistry Department Punjab Medical College Faisalabad and Soil Research laboratory of AARI Jhang Road Faisalabad. Duration: May 2000 to September 2000

Material and Methods: Different parameters were divided into three different categories i.e. Highly-desirable [HD], Maximum-permissible [MP] and In-Tolerant [IT] limit groups

Results: Total Hardness [HD] showed 35% in HD, 40% in MP and 25% in IT limits. Similarly Total Dissolved Solids [TDS] were 23% in HD, 52% in MP and 25% in IT range. The Ca was 30%in HD, 50% in MP and 20% in IT limits. The Mg showed 50% in HD, 38% in MP and 12% in IT range. Similarly Cl was, 45% in HD, 32% in MP and 23% in IT range. Lastly SO4 percentage showed 45% in HD, 37.5% in MP and only 17.5% in IT limit

Conclusions: The result showed that people living in Bawaywala area were consuming highly polluted water and similarly the peoples of other colonies are using more or less the same type of water

Prevalence of human T-lymphotropic virus type I and type II antibody among blood donors in Eastern Saudi Arabia

Human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type I and type II [HTLV-I/II] infections can be transfusion associated, leading to tropical paraparesis, myelopathy and other neurological disorders. The aim of this study is to circumvent the risk of transmission through blood transfusion and to describe the prevalence of HTLV-I/II antibody among blood donors of Al-Hasa region and the cost effectiveness of screening blood donors. The study was conducted at the Department of Laboratory and Blood Bank, King Fahad Hospital, Al-Hofuf, Al-Hasa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period of 1997 to 2003. A total of 47426 blood donors were screened for HTLV-I/II antibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test, during the 7 years of study period. The positive samples were confirmed by western blot analysis. Overall, HTLV-I antibody positivity [confirmed by western blot] was 3/47426 [0.006%]. Out of 3 donors positive for HTLV-I antibody during 1997 to 1998, 2 were expatriates [Indian] and one was native Saudi donor. Human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type I antibody positivity among the native Saudi donors was 1/47426 [0.002%] [2/100000 blood donors]. None of the donor were positive for HTLV-II antibody. During the last 5 consecutive years of the study period [1999-2003], none of the donor was positive for HTLV-I/II antibody. Al-Hasa region is non-endemic for HTLV-I/II virus infections. Screening of native Saudi blood donors for these viruses does not appear to be cost effective

Acute lymphoblastic leukemias; haematologic comparison between two treatment protocols

The present study conducted by the authors showed that in 1st group out of 21 cases, 3 left and remaining total 18 patients of ALL who received conventional treatment 16 [92%] showed complete remission and 2 died showed non-remission. In this group 10 [62%] showed complete remission after 2 months while 6 [38%] showed remission after 3 months. Similarly in 2nd group out of 21 cases, 4 left and in remaining 17 patients who received conventional therapy without L-asnase 16 [94%] showed complete remission and 1 [8%] died. The 16 patients who were in remission and received conventional treatment along with L-asnase enzyme showed complete remission in 14 [87%] cases after 2 months of treatment and 2 [13%] after 3 months of duration. The estimation of various parameters were continued till 6 months which showed maintenance of remission in 15[94%] patients in 1st group and all [100%] patients in 2nd group. This showed that the recommended chemotherapy without any L-asnase is less effective as induction of remission therapy while the addition of L-asnase enzyme in that treatment resulted in intensification of results which are maintained for longer time

Deranged serum lipids, a cause or effect of hypertension; serum lipids comparison between healthy and hypertensive subjects

OBJECTIVE: To find out deranged serum lipids, a cause or effect of raised blood pressure. SETTING: Punjab Institute of Cardiology Jail Road Lahore. DESIGN: Prospective study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of ninety four male subjects between 40-55 years of age were included in the study. out of these sixty three were patients of hypertension, selected from outdoors, while the remaining thirty one were taken from general population as control for comparison. Depending upon the levels of blood pressure the hypertensive subjects were divided into mild [DBP 104 mm Hg] and moderate [DBP 114 mm Hg] hypertensive groups. The serum levels of total cholesterol, were 182.31 mg/dl +/- 28.08 mg/dl in normotensive control group while these values were 205.96 mg/dl +/- 15.79 mg/dl and 261.45 mg/dl ' 57.40 mg/dl in mild and moderate hypertensive subjects. The mean serum levels of HDL cholesterol in the above three groups were 45.25 +/- 4.35 mg/dl, 42.36 +/- 2.76 mg/dl and 37.66 +/- 3.45 mg/dl. The mean serum levels of LDL cholesterol as determined by applying the formula were 102.49 +/- 29.07 mg/dl, 128.98'21.69 mg/dl and 175.32 +/- 63.72 mg/dl and man serum levels of triglycerides were 176.75 +/- 42.45 mg/dl, 175.79 +/- 58.47 mg/dl and 200.44 +/- 102.82 mg/dl in normotensive, mild and moderate hypertensive subjects respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The serum total cholesterol was increased in the hypertensive group as compared to control group. The mean serum HDL cholesterol level was significantly lower in hypertensive than in normotensive control subjects. Similarly the mean serum LDL cholesterol was higher in hypertensive as compared to normotensive subjects, while serum triglycerides showed controversial results