Combination of preconditioned adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and platelet-rich plasma improves the repair of osteoarthritis in rat.

Aim: To observe the combined effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and preconditioned adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) on the injured articular cartilage of the rat. Materials & methods: Animals in the study received an intra-articular injection of PRP and preconditioned ADMSCs, both in combination and separately. The response to therapeutic intervention was evaluated by inflammatory markers, proteoglycans content, chondrogenesis and gene expression analyses. Results: The combined therapy resulted in a reduction of IL-6 and TNF-α, increased proteoglycan content of the articular cartilage, upregulation of Acan, Col2a1 and PCNA genes. Downregulation of Col1a1, Col10a1 and Casp3 genes was observed as compared with the untreated osteoarthritis rat model. Conclusion: PRP potentiates the effects of ADMSCs on the repair of damaged articular cartilage.

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Left Atrial Volume Index in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are at high risk of developing cardio vascular disease. Left atrial volume index (LAVi) is an indicator of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. We conducted this study to find out the correlation of LAVi and other echocardio- graphic parameters with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We prospectively enrolled 170 individuals: 69 patients with CKD and 101 controls. Echocardiographic parameters including systolic and diastolic volumes of left ventricle, LAVi, ejection fraction (EF), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), and E/e ratio were measured in all participants. The demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic parameters were examined. From the total of 170 individuals, 69 (40.5%) patients had CKD and 101 (59.5%) had normal renal profile. There were 38 (55.07%) males in the CKD group and 71 (70.29%) in the control group. Patients with CKD had higher median LAVi [33.33 mL/m2 ± 11.71 vs. 22.54 mL/m2 ± 5.82; P < 0.001], higher median E/e ratio [10.41 ± 6.28 vs. 7.48 ± 2.28; P < 0.001], higher median PASP [42.47 ± 13.64 vs. 33.59 ± 12.51; P < 0.001], and lower median EF [52.79% ± 14.37 vs. 60.7% ± 8; P < 0.001]. There was a statistically significant negative correlation of eGFR with LAVi (r = -0.515, P < 0.001), PASP (r = -0.44, P = 0.001), and E/e ratio (r = -0.331, P = 0.001). Patients with CKD have higher LAVi, PASP, and E/e ratio and lower EF as compared to individuals without CKD. There is a significant negative correlation between eGFR and LAVi.

Causes of short stature in Pakistani children found at an Endocrine Center.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Short stature is defined as height below 3rd centile. Causes of short stature can range from familial, endocrine disorders, chronic diseases to chromosomal disorders. Most common cause in literature being idiopathic short stature. Early detection and management of remedial disorders like malnutrition and vitamin D deficiency, Endocrine disorders like growth hormone deficiency & hypothyroidism can lead to attainment of expected height. Pakistani data shows idiopathic short stature as the most common cause of short stature. Our study aimed at detecting causes of short stature in children/adolescents at an Endocrine referral center. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at WILCARE Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Lahore on 70 well-nourished children/adolescents. The patients had been evaluated clinically, biochemically and radiologically as needed. Biochemical testing included hormonal testing as well to detect endocrine causes. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS 20.0. RESULTS: Leading cause of short stature in our population was Growth Hormone (GH) deficiency seen in 48 out of 70 (69%) patients. Second most common endocrine abnormality seen in these patients was Vitamin D deficiency [44 out of 70 patients (63%)]. Primary hypothyroidism; pan-hypopituitarism & adrenal insufficiency were other endocrine causes. The weight for age was below 3rd percentile in 57 (81%) patients, with no association with other major causes. CONCLUSION: Growth hormone and Vitamin D deficiency constitute one of the major causes of short stature among well-nourished children with short stature in Pakistan.

An outbreak of pyrimethamine toxicity in patients with ischaemic heart disease in Pakistan.

We investigated an outbreak of darkening of skin, bleeding from multiple sites, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia in ischaemic heart disease patients. Case patients were defined as patients who had received medicines from the pharmacy of Punjab Institute of Cardiology between 1 December 2011 and 12 January 2012 and who developed any one of the following: darkening of skin, bleeding from any site, thrombocytopenia and leucopenia. Clinical and drug-related data were abstracted. All 664 case patients had received iso-sorbide-mono-nitrate contaminated with about 50 mg of pyrimethamine, and 151 (23%) died. The median age of 117 patients admitted at Jinnah Hospital Lahore was 57 years (range, 37-100) and 92 (79%) were male. The median time from intake of medicine to presentation was 37 days (range 13-72). Symptoms and signs included bleeding (in 95% of the patients), skin hyperpigmentation (in 61%), diarrhoea (in 53%) and abdominal pain (in 48%). At presentation, the median white cell count was 2.3 × 10(9) /L (range, 0.1 × 10(9) -16.0 × 10(9) ), the median hemoglobin concentration was 109 g/L (range 58-169) and the median platelet count was 18 × 10(9) /L (range, 0 × 10(9) -318 × 10(9) ). Bone marrow examination revealed trileneage dysplasia and severe megaloblastosis. The predictors of mortality included presentation prior to 15 January 2012, age more than 57 years, hypotension and leukocyte count less than 1.5 × 10(9) /L. None of the patients who died received Calcium folinate because all deaths occurred prior to contaminant identification. We describe an outbreak of pyrimethamine toxicity in ischaemic heart disease patients receiving medicines from a single pharmacy due to accidental contamination of iso-sorbide mono-nitrate tablets at industrial level. Late recognition of illness resulted in high mortality.

Effectiveness of platelet transfusion in dengue Fever: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Scientific data regarding effects of platelet transfusion on platelet count in dengue-related thrombocytopenia is scanty. METHODS: A single center, randomized non-blinded trial was conducted on adult patients with dengue fever and platelet counts less than 30,000/µl. Patients were randomized to treatment and control group. Treatment group received single donor platelets. Patients with post-transfusion platelet increment (PPI) ≥10,000/µl and/or corrected count increment (CCI) ≥5,000/µl 1 h post-transfusion were considered responders. Primary outcome was platelet count increments at 24 and 72 h. RESULTS: 87 patients were enrolled, and 43 (48.2%) received platelet transfusion. Mean PPI and CCI at 1 h post-transfusion in the treatment group were 18,800/µl and 7,000/µl respectively. 22 (53.6%) patients in the treatment group were non-responders. Mean platelet increments at 24 and 72 h were higher in the treatment group as compared to the control group. Responders showed significantly higher increments when compared to non-responders and the control group at 24 h (p = 0.004 and p ≤ 0.001, respectively) and 72 h (p = 0.001 and p ≤ 0.001, respectively). Significant differences were found between non-responders and the control group at 24 h (p ≤ 0.001), but not at 72 h (p = 0.104). Patients with lower baseline platelet count were more likely to be non-responders. Platelet transfusion neither prevented development of severe bleeding nor shortened time to cessation of bleeding. Three severe transfusion reactions and two deaths occurred in treatment group. CONCLUSION: In this trial, almost half the patients showed no response to a high-dose platelet transfusion. Platelet transfusion did not prevent development of severe bleeding or shorten time to cessation of bleeding and was associated with significant side effects. Therefore, platelet transfusion should not be routinely done in the management of dengue fever.