Diagnosis of Malaria by Detection of Parasite Lactate Dehydrogenase with Advantage Mal Card Test.

Background : Malaria is a global problem. Rapid diagnosis is essential for effective treatment and reducing mortality and morbidity of malaria. Diagnosis of malariaby peripheral smear is labor-intensive and requires considerable expertise for its interpretation. A rapid test , Advantage MAL card test is based on detection of parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) and has the ability to differentiate the four major Plasmodium species in 20 minutes. Objectives: 1) To evaluate utility of parasite lactate dehydrogenase for diagnosis of malaria with Advantage Mal card test.2) To compare the results of Advantage Mal card test with peripheral smear findings. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, total 5242 patients with malaria like symptoms attending OPD and admitted in wards at Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital (AVBRH) from January 2008 to August 2011 were studied. Result: The age of patients ranged from < 1 year- >80 years. The commonest age group affected was 21-30 years. Male to female ratio was 1.04: 1. Prevalence rate of malaria was 101/1000 population in AVBRH. Malarial parasites were detected in PS in10.11% patients (P.falciparum 27.73% , P.vivax 71.32% , mixed infection 0.94%) and in 10.07% patients with Advantage Mal test (P. falciparum 28.03%, P.vivax 71.02%, mixed infection 0.95%). 3 cases of P.vivax and 1case of P.falciparum detected by PS were not detected by Advantage Mal test. 2 cases of P.falciparum detected by Advantage Mal and not by PS. Compared to PS, the Advantage Mal had sensitivity 99.24%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, negative predictive value was 89.92%. Conclusion: Diagnosis of malaria by detection of pLDH with Advantage Mal card test is simple ,rapid, reliable and cheap method. Results are comparable to blood films. It can detect P.flciparum infection when parasites are sequestered.

Determination of concentration of some blood serum enzymes of huso huso

The aim of the present study was determination of reference values of blood serum enzymes of Huso huso. Descriptive study. 18 male and 18 female Huso huso was studied. Blood samples were obtained from caudal vein of 18 males and 18 females and the levels of enzymes were measured by an autoanalyzer. Parametric t- test and Pearson correlation test. Results of measurements for total samples are as follows: Asparat amino transferase [AST] = 290/27 +/- 60/29 IU/L, Alanine amino transferase [ALT] = 6/06 +/- 1/14 IU/L, Alkanine phosphatase [ALP] = 76/13 +/- 13/54 IU/L, Lactate dehyrogenase [LDH] = 2083/05 +/- 495/18 IU/L, Creatine phosphokinase [CK] = 6724/85 +/- 2079/29 IU/L, Acid phosphatase [ACP] = 16/76 +/- 2/53 IU/L, Obtained results showed, based on t- student statistical method used for the 6 enzyme that there is not any significant difference among male and female fishes. Also in pearson correlation test, there could neither be found any correlation among the 6 enzymes which were studied, nor any correlation among the male and female fishes

Association between testicular microlithiasis, testicular cancer, cryptorchidism and history of ascending testis

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively determine the prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in symptomatic patients who were referred for scrotal ultrasound examination and to evaluate the possible association of testicular microlithiasis with testicular cancer and other conditions such as cryptorchidism or history of ascending testis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 391 men who were referred to our institutions between July 2002 and May 2005 for any type of symptoms from the testicles, underwent physical and scrotal ultrasound examination. The presence of testicular microlithiasis, the number of lesions and the involvement of both testicles in relation to the symptoms as well as the coexistence of other lesions were studied. RESULTS: Eighteen (4.6 percent) of 391 men enrolled into the study had testicular microlithiasis. Two out of the eighteen patients (11 percent) had concomitant testicular cancer, which was confirmed by pathological evaluation of the orchidectomy specimen. One of the patients with testicular microlithiasis presented a rising in biochemical tumor markers (LDH, and HCG) and underwent orchidectomy one year later. Five of the remaining 373 (1.3 percent) patients without microlithiasis were diagnosed with testicular cancer. Thirty six men reported having a history of ascending testis, but none of them was found with testicular cancer. Two cases of testicular torsion in a cryptorchid position had testicular microlithiasis, but the orchidectomy specimen (after surgery) was negative for testicular cancer. The correlation between testicular cancer and testicular microlithiasis found in our study was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There seems to be an association between testicular microlithiasis and testicular cancer.

Biochemical alterations of the molluscan hosts tissues infected with schistosoma mansoni

As larval trematodes live within tissues of their molluscan hosts and indulge in asexual reproduction on a phenomenal scale, it is not surprising that snail tissues show biochemical changes. Levels of tissue glycogen, lactate, pyruvate and LDH[1] isoenzyme were measured in extracts of whole soft tissues of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails, specific molluscan hosts of Schistosoma mansoni. Moreover, assay of adenine nucleotides [ATP, ADP and AMP] and inorganic phosphate [Pi] was established to evaluate the adenylate energy charge [AEC] and the phosphate potential in trematode-infected snails. These parameters were measured in infected snails over four weeks, at weekly interval post exposure to S. mansoni miracidia and compared to age-matching non-exposed snails. The highest lactate/pyruvate concentration ratio with the lowest LDH[1], isoenzyme activity and glycogen level were observed two weeks post exposure. In addition, the lowest ATP content, ATP/ADP and ATP/AMP concentration ratios were also recorded at the same duration post exposure. The energy charge does not co-vary with ATP level but was slightly manipulated within the non-stressed range, while phosphate potential as a direct measure of oxygen consumption was significantly altered within 1[st], 2[nd] and 3[rd] weeks post exposure. This study clarify the most characteristic pattern of changes induced by the developing parasite. Moreover it reflects the need for an efficient glycolytic flux in the B.alexandrina snails to ensure survival and further development of S mansoni parasite

Differences in enzyme activity and biological behavior of three leishmania promastigotes isolated from patients with zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis

Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis [ZCL] is reported to cause a spectrum of clinical manifestations. To unravel some of the mechanisms associated with different disease manifestations, enzyme activities were compared among the promastigotes of leishmania isolated from three clinically different forms of ZCL from Isfahan, central Iran. Specific activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, hexokinase, lactate dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase in the promastigotes isolated from a scaly flat ulcer were 5.5, 2.2, 1.6 and 2.6 folds greater respective to those isolated from a small papular lesion. The activity of these enzymes in the promastigotes isolated from a volcano-shaped lesion was notably higher than those isolated from a papular lesion, but lower than those isolated from a scaly flat ulcer. Significant differences were not observed in alkaline phosphatase activity of different isolates. These results may indicate that differences in the clinical manifestation of the lesions in ZCL might be related to certain metabolic pathways of the parasites, growth kinetics in NNN medium and the course of infection in BALB/C mice