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Research article:-
Wangai Nyawira L1, Karau Muriira G2, 3, Gitonga Wachira4.
1.Ph.D. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Department Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
2.Kenya Bureau of Standards, P. O Box 54974-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
3.Ph.D (Candidate). Kenyatta University, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, P.O Box 43844 Nairobi, Kenya.
4.MSc. School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, P. O Box 19676-00202, Nairobi.
Abstract:-Plasmodium falciparum strains resistant to the commonly used antimalarial drugs are becoming more prevalent in Kenya, thus becoming a great challenge to the efforts to manage malaria, especially in endemic areas where mortality and morbidity rates are high. In the present study, the presence of dhfr-codon Arg 59 and dhps-codon Glu 540, associated with sulfadoxine pyrimethamine (SP) drugs resistance was determined by polymerase chain reactions (PCR) followed by restriction fragments digestion. Blood samples were collected from Mbita and eight epidemic districts in Kenya. It was found that the prevalence of the mutants’ strains was 16.7% in 1998 when SPs were introduced in Kenya. In 2007, about 10 years since the introduction of SPs, the prevalence of mutant strains was significantly high at 78.9% in malaria endemic areas of Mbita and 43.4% in the eight epidemic districts in Kenya. This study suggests that resistance to SPs could be largely due to drug pressure which has been present, and is still present after the withdrawal of the SPs due to their use as second line drugs, and their availability over the counter out lets in the country. To ensure that the circulation of the resistant mutants is controlled, strict adherence to the withdrawal policy should be observed.
Keywords:- Dehydrofolate reductase (dhfr), dehydropteroate synthase (dhps), endemic, epidemic, mutants, sulfadoxine pyrimethamine (SP).
Original research article:- *Dr. S. Swaminathan1, Dr. M. S. Seshadri2, Dr. A. S. Kanagasabapathy3
1.Sr. Consultant & Head, Biochemistry Department Apollo Speciality Hospital, Chennai -600 035, India.
2.Prof & Head, Endocrinology, Christian Medical College, Vellore-632004, India.
3.Former Prof of Clinical Biochemistry Christian Medical College, Vellore -632004 ,India.
Abstract:- Recently there has been considerable interest in the use of hair as an index to the status of essential trace metal metabolism in the body particularly zinc. In many respects hair is ideal for such use. The sample can be readily obtained without pain or trauma for the patient, is easily collected and requires no special equipment or storage. The concentration of the metal in the hair is high and large quantities of samples are easily available, making the task of the analyst easier. Further, hair does not readily deteriorate, and can be stored until it is convenient to perform the analysis. In this study we have established a Quality Control (QC) method for the day to day measurement of zinc in human hair making use of a pool of human hair collected from both men and women. The QC thus prepared shows good stability for a period of six months. The intra and inter assay precision (%CV) using such a hair QC were 3.6 and 5.9 respectively and both values are within acceptable limits.
Keywords:-Quality Control, Hair zinc, SD, %CV, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
Original research article:- *M.P.Saraswathy1, U.M. Dhanalekshmi2
1.M.D Microbiology, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, Melmaruvathur Adiparasakthi Institute of Medical sciences & RI, Melmaruvathur,Tamilnadu- 603319 ,India.
2.M .Pharm PhD, SRF, Dept of Bio-organic, CLRI, Chennai,Tamilnadu, India.
Abstract:- Plants are among the most important and common sources of potentially valuable new drugs. Use of herbal products as antimicrobial agents may provide the best alternative to the wide and injudicious use of synthetic antibiotics. The aim of this study was to determine the level of antimicrobial activity of aqueous and methanolic extract of Evolvulus alsinoides (EA) towards 9 bacterial isolates and 5 fungal isolates. The study was conducted at department of Microbiology, Melmaruvathur AdhiParasakthi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research. The assays were performed using disc diffusion method and MIC was calculated by agar dilution method. Ciprofloxacin was used as a standard reference drug. In our study, aqueous extract displayed strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, S.epidermidis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Vibrio cholera. The MIC value 133µg/ml of methanolic extract was inhibitory to most of the gram negative organisms tested, except E.coli. The aqueous extract was effective against all the fungal isolates tested at MIC of ≥166 µg/ml. The identified phytochemical compounds viz., flavonoids and alkaloids may be responsible for the antimicrobial activity of EA. The study shows that plant extract has wide antimicrobial as well as antifungal activity. Therefore, it supports the traditional use of the plant in the treatment of infectious diseases like Enteric fever, Cholera and fungal skin diseases caused by candida and dermatophyte.
Key words:- Aqueous extract, Antimicrobial activity, Antifungal activity, Evolvulus alsinoides, Methanolic extract, MIC.
Research article:-
* I.O.George, A.I.Frank-Briggs Department of Paediatrics, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
Abstract:-
Background: Children with sickle cell anaemia are often treated with blood transfusion which is an important route of transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV infection among previously transfused children with sickle cell anaemia at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital(UPTH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria Methods: This was a prospective study of sickle cell anaemia patients with previous blood transfusion (aged 6 months to 16 years) attending the paediatric haematology clinic of UPTH, Port Harcourt, Nigeria from January 2008 to December 2009. Results: There were a total of 118 patients with previous blood transfusion from January 2008 to December 2009. Out of these, 66 (55.9 %%) were males while 52 (44.1%) were females .The Mean age (± 1 standard deviation) was 2.7 ±2.6 years (range 0.5-16 years). Five (4.2%) of 118 patients were HIV-seropositive. The parents of these patients were HIV-seronegative. However, the HIV-seropositive patients are being followed up at the paediatric HIV clinic of our hospital after post-test counseling. Conclusion: The HIV-seropositive rate in this study is comparable with national estimates thus highlighting the continued risks of inadequate blood banking systems in Nigeria.
Keywords:- HIV INFECTION, Sickle Cell Anaemia, Blood Transfusion, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Research article(Case Report):- * Balachandra S. Ankad 1, Sharada S. Patil 2, Vijay D. Dombale 3, Yamanur P Lamani.4
1.Department of Dermatology, S. Nijalingappa Medical College, Bagalkot , India.
2.Department of Pathology, S. Nijalingappa Medical College, Bagalkot , India.
3.Department of Pathology, S. Nijalingappa Medical College, Bagalkot , India.
4.Department of Surgery, S. Nijalingappa Medical College, Bagalkot , India.
Abstract:- Background: Liposarcoma is one of the most common soft tissue sarcoma in adulthood. Most frequently it arises in the retroperitonium, lower extremities and less often in the head and neck area. Only a few cases of scalp liposarcoma have been previously reported. Main observations: We report a case of lipomatous tumour of scalp in a 30 year old female. Wide surgical excision of the lesion was done under local anaesthesia and sent for histopathological examination. Microscopic picture revealed features suggestive of sclerosing atypical lipomatous tumour, dermis showed small clusters and isolated adipocytes with atypical features surrounded by hyalinizing fibrous stroma. After one year of follow up, the patient remained free of disease. Conclusions: Liposarcoma of head and neck is very rare, with only a handful of cases reported on scalp. Patients with cutaneous and subcutaneous atypical lipomatous tumour or well differentiated liposarcoma have a good prognosis, but there are reports of local recurrences after a long period, as well as high grade change and dedifferentiation. Hence careful follow up is required.
Key words:- Atypical lipomatous tumour, liposarcoma- scalp, sclerosing variant.