Gene signatures of cyclin-dependent kinases: a comparative study in naïve early and advanced stages of lung metastasis breast cancer among pre- and post-menopausal women.

The Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC) is a more aggressive tumor with 5 years median survival rates after metastasis. Despite successful treatment, unfortunately, the majority of affected patients die. Defects in cell cycle and transcription regulation phases which are governed by cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are the hallmark of many cancers that underpinning the progression of the disease. Therefore, the current study looked at the alteration of six CDKs mRNA expression levels in pre- and postmenopausal lung metastasis BC groups; the majority were HER2+. Two hundred pre-and postmenopausal lung metastasis breast cancer and healthy control blood samples were taken for RNA isolation. Quantitative PCR was done for CDKs mRNA expressions. We observed overexpression of CDK11, CDK12, CDK17, CDK18, and CDK19 in both pre- and postmenopausal groups. However, CDK20 showed progressive downregulation from early to advanced stages in both groups of patients. Collectively, this data revealed that CDKs overexpression levels may predict BC disease progression and provide further rationale for novel anticancer strategies for HER2+ BC cancers.

Biodeterioration studies of thermoplastics in nature using indigenous bacterial consortium

Thermoplastics, poly vinyl chloride and low-density polyethylene were treated in the presence of indigenously developed bacterial consortium in laboratory and natural conditions. The consortium was developed using four bacteria, selected on the basis of utilization of PVC as primary carbon source, namely P. otitidis, B. aerius, B. cereus and A. pedis isolated from the plastic waste disposal sites in Northern India. The comparative in-vitro treatment studies as revealed by the spectral and thermal data, illustrated the relatively better biodegradation potential of developed consortium for PVC than the LDPE. Further, the progressive treatments of both the thermoplastics were conducted for three months under natural conditions. For this purpose, bioformulation of consortium was prepared and characterized for the viability up to 70 days of storage at 25±1ºC. The consortium treated polymer samples were monitored through SEM and FT-IR spectroscopy. Analytical data revealed the biodeterioration potential of the developed consortium for PVC and LDPE, which could help in disposing the plastic waste.

In vitro assessment of Ag2O nanoparticles toxicity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

In view of antibiotic resistance among pathogens, the present study is to address the toxicity of Ag2O nanoparticles against the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria through in vitro assays. The preliminary screening by agar diffusion assay confirms the antibacterial activity of Ag2O nanoparticles against all the test bacteria. Comparative antibacterial activity of Ag2O nanoparticles and respective antibiotics reveals their broad range of activity and lower inhibitory dose against the used bacterial strains. Further, they can inhibit E. coli with an effective dose of 0.036 mg/ml within 1 h of exposure time as determined by luciferin based ATP assay. Moreover, the Ag2O nanoparticles exhibit higher antibacterial efficacy against Gram-negative bacteria than Gram-positive bacteria, as revealed by their MIC & MBC values. Therefore, Ag2O nanoparticles pave the way for a new generation of antibacterial agents against the emerging multidrug resistant pathogens.

Diagnostic yield of color Doppler ultrasonography in deep vein thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: To see the diagnostic yield of color Doppler ultrasonography in patients who presented with clinical symptoms and signs of acute deep vein thrombosis of lower limb. DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The study was carried out in Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta from January 2002 to December 2002. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty five patients, who presented with clinical symptoms and signs of acute deep venous thrombosis of lower limb, were selected. In all patients color Doppler ultrasound and venography was performed to compare the results. RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from 16-82 +/- 20.33 years. The mean was 49.16, median 50.00 and mode 60.00 There were 15 females (60.00%) and 10 males (40.00%). Left lower limb involvement was seen in 12 patients (48.00% +/- 0.51), right lower limb involvement in 10 patients (40.00% +/- 0.50) and both limbs involvement in 3.0 patients (12.00% +/- 0.33). Color Doppler ultrasound was positive in 16 patients (64.00% +/- 0.48) while venography was positive in 21 patients (84.00% +/- 0.37%). Doppler ultrasonography and venography showed that 11 patients (52.38%) had distal DVT, while 10 patients (47.62%) had distal as well as proximal DVT. Ten patients (100.00%) of proximal as well as distal DVT were diagnosed by CDU and later confirmed by venography. Eleven patients (100.00%) of distal DVT only in whom 6 patients (54.54%) were diagnosed by CDU, while 5 patients (45.46%) had inconclusive findings, which were confirmed by venography. Doppler ultrasonography compared venography showed sensitivity 76.1%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, negative predictive value 44.45% and accuracy 80.00%. CONCLUSION: Color Doppler ultrasonography is a non-invasive, safe, efficient and cost-effective method in diagnosing acute deep venous thrombosis of lower limb but still it has not 100% accuracy. It is better for diagnosing proximal DVT than distal DVT. 7.

Comparison of unfractionated heparin vs low molecular weight heparin in the treatment of acute deep vein thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of unfractionated heparin (UFH) with low molecular weight heparin in the treatment of acute deep vein thrombosis of lower limb. DESIGN: Randomized control trial. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta from January 2002 to July 2003. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients who presented with acute deep vein thrombosis of lower limb, confirmed by either Doppler ultrasonography or venography, were selected for the study. Patients were divided randomly into two groups for treatment. Group 1 was started with unfractionated heparin while group 2 with low molecular weight heparin. Comparison of two treatments to determine the efficacy was done by certain criteria like pain improvement, reduction in swelling, alteration in bleeding profile, complications of therapy, recurrence, morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from 16-82 years. There were 15 females (50.00%) and 15 males (50.00%). Pain and swelling were present in all patients (100%), while temperature and superficial vein dilation in 43.3% and 30% respectively. The distribution of DVT in left lower limb was in 13 patients (43.33%), right lower limb involvement in 12 patients (40.00%) and both limbs involvement in 5 patients (16.67%). In group 1 improvement in pain occurred after 4th day in 13 patients, while in group 2 before 4th day in 8 patients (p-value = 0.068). Improvement in swelling was observed after 6th day in 11 patients (group 1), while before 6th day in 8 patients (group 2) (p-value = 0.171). Bleeding time was prolonged in 5 patients in group 1 and statistically found significant (p-value = 0.014), while in group 2 it was normal. Thromboembolism in 3 patients and major bleeding was observed in 2 patients in group 1, while in group 2 it was normal. Recurrence was reported in 2 patients in group 1 and 1 patient in group 2 (p-value 0.0815). The hospital stay was more than 10 days in group 1 (12 patients), and less than 10 days in group 2 (13 patients). It was found statistically significant (p-value = 0.001). Three patients died in group 1, while no mortality was observed in group 2. CONCLUSION: Treatment with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) has good patient compliance and is easy to administer. LMWH has an advantage over UFH due to its normal bleeding profile and significantly less hospital stay.