Levamisole Induced Agranulocytosis in a Child with Steroid Dependent Nephrotic Syndrome: A Case Report.

ABSTRACT: Levamisole has been used as an effective immunomodulator. Levamisole has been used for nephrotic syndrome due to its immunostimulant, immunomodulating, and steroid-sparing effects. Common adverse effects of levamisole are gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, abdominal cramps), and pyrexia. However, agranulocytosis or pancytopenia is also a rare but life-threatening complication of levamisole. This is a case report of a 5-year-old girl who had steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome for which she was started on levamisole as per her weight, following which she had falling total leukocyte count levels on every visit. Thus, this case report emphasizes identifying this rare side effect and its management.

Urine Discoloration Associated with Metronidazole: A Case Report.

Metronidazole belongs to the nitroimidazole group of antibiotics. It is used for the treatment of anaerobic and protozoal organisms. Its common side effects are nausea, vomiting, headache, and abdominal pain. Urine discolouration is one of the rare side effects of metronidazole. We report a case of 4-years-old male, a known case of Steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome; Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis type who developed reddish discolouration of urine following the introduction of oral metronidazole which reverted back to its usual colour within 24 hours of discontinuing metronidazole. With no evidence of other possible causes, urine discolouration was linked with the use of metronidazole. Urine discoloration as a side effect of metronidazole is rarely reported in the literature. This case report of the rare adverse effects of the commonly used drug can be of importance in the scientific community. Urine discolouration could be considered a side effect of metronidazole when there is no other obvious cause. Keywords: flagyl; hematuria; metronidazole; side effects of drugs.

Electropsun Polycaprolactone Fibres in Bone Tissue Engineering: A Review.

Regeneration of bone tissue requires novel load bearing, biocompatible materials that support adhesion, spreading, proliferation, differentiation, mineralization, ECM production and maturation of bone-forming cells. Polycaprolactone (PCL) has many advantages as a biomaterial for scaffold production including tuneable biodegradation, relatively high mechanical toughness at physiological temperature. Electrospinning produces nanofibrous porous matrices that mimic many properties of natural tissue extracellular matrix with regard to surface area, porosity and fibre alignment. The biocompatibility and hydrophilicity of PCL nanofibres can be improved by combining PCL with other biomaterials to form composite scaffolds for bone regeneration. This work reviews the most recent research on synthesis, characterization and cellular response to nanofibrous PCL scaffolds and the composites of PCL with other natural and synthetic materials for bone tissue engineering.

Berardinelli-Seip Congenital Generalised Lipodystrophy.

Berardinelli-Seip congenital lipodystrophy (BSCL) syndrome is a rare genetic disorder caused by dysregulation of glycemic and lipid metabolism. We report five BSCL cases with typical clinical pictures and complications. These, to the best of our knowledge, represent the first case series from Pakistan. BSCL is characterized by marked atrophy of adipose tissue, acromegaly, acanthosis nigricans and tall stature. We could not perform genetics studies in any patient owing to non-availability of genetic laboratory in Pakistan. All the cases presented hypertriglyceridemia. One case developed hyperinsulinism controlled with metformin. There is no curative treatment and the current approach is low-fat diet and management of insulin resistance and diabetes. Recently published studies showed that leptin-replacement therapy is promising in the metabolic correction of complications of BSCL. This highlights the importance of further research in BSCL treatment.

Physico-Chemical and Bacterial Evaluation of Public and Packaged Drinking Water in Vikarabad, Telangana, India - Potential Public Health Implications.

INTRODUCTION: Humanity highly depends on water and its proper utilization and management. Water has various uses and its use as thirst quenching fluid is the most significant one. AIM: To assess physical, chemical, trace metal and bacterial parameters of various public and packaged drinking water samples collected from villages of Vikarabad mandal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Public and packaged drinking water samples collected were analysed for various parameters using American Public Health Association (APHA 18(th) edition 1992) guidelines and the results obtained were compared with bureau of Indian standards for drinking water. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlations were done. RESULTS: Among bottled water samples, magnesium in 1 sample was >30mg/litre, nickel in 2 samples was >0.02mg/litre. Among sachet water samples, copper in 1 sample was >0.05mg/litre, nickel in 2 samples was >0.02mg/litre. Among canned water samples, total hardness in 1 sample was >200mg/litre, magnesium in 3 samples was >30mg/litre. In tap water sample, calcium was >75mg/litre, magnesium was >30mg/litre, nickel was >0.02mg/litre. Among public bore well water samples, pH in 1 sample was >8.5, total dissolved solids in 17 samples was >500mg/litre, total alkalinity in 9 samples was >200mg/litre, total hardness in 20 samples was >200mg/litre, calcium in 14 samples was >75mg/litre, fluoride in 1 sample was >1mg/litre, magnesium in 14 samples was >30mg/litre. Total coliform was absent in bottled water, sachet water, canned water, tap water samples. Total Coliform was present but E. coli was absent in 4 public bore well water samples. The MPN per 100 ml in those 4 samples of public bore well water was 50. CONCLUSION: Physical, chemical, trace metal and bacterial parameters tested in present study showed values greater than acceptable limit for some samples, which can pose serious threat to consumers of that region.