Isolation and characterization of a lectin from Japanese mottled beans.

A 64-kDa dimeric lectin was purified from Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Japanese mottled beans. The purification protocol involved ion exchange chromatography with Q-Sepharose and SP-Sepharose and size exclusion chromatography on Superdex 75. The lectin was adsorbed on both Q-Sepharose and SP-Sepharose columns. Finally, the lectin gave a sharp absorbance peak which corresponded to 64 kDa based on results of size exclusion chromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulphate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis displayed a single band at around 32 kDa, indicating that the protein was dimeric. The hemagglutination inhibition assay indicated that the lectin showed specificity toward galactose. The lectin preserved hemagglutinating activity below 70 °C and at a pH range 3 - 12. The lectin was able to inhibit proliferation of MCF-7 cells and Hep G2 cells and possessed antifungal activity toward Mycosphaeralla arachidicola with an IC50 value of 3.9 µM. The activity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase was reduced by 61.9 % in the presence of the lectin at 6.25 µM concentration.

Risk factors of retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus at a tertiary care hospital, Bahawalpur Pakistan.

OBJECTIVES: To find out the risk factors of diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODOLOGY: It was a cross-sectional study involving 300 patients of type 2 diabetes. Clinical history, relevant examination including fundoscopy and lab investigations were done. Data was analysed with SPSS 17.0. T-test and chi square/Fischer exact were applied to determine significance. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 49.04 ± 0.69 years with slight female predominance with male to female ratio of 3:4. Average duration of disease was 7.17 ± 0.38 years. Diabetic retinopathy was diagnosed in (74, 23.9%). Mean HbA1c was 8.15% in patients with retinopathy and 8.884% in those who had no retinopathy (p=0.08). However, duration of DM, age of patients, male gender, high total cholesterol, high LDL and microalbuminuria were significantly associated with the development of retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic retinopathy was found in 23.9% of type 2 diabetics. It was associated with duration of disease, age at presentation, male gender, high total cholesterol, high LDL and microalbuminuria. A single high level of HbA1c was not associated with retinopathy.

Intrathecal anti-tetanus human immunoglobulin in the treatment of neonatal tetanus.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcome of tetanus in neonates treated with intrathecal tetanus immunoglobulin in terms of mortality and hospital stay. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Paediatric Unit I, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, from April 2004 to December 2007. METHODOLOGY: Seventy neonates with diagnosis of neonatal tetanus were included in the study. The neonates with fits due to causes other than tetanus were excluded. Thirty five patients received intrathecal immunoglobulin in addition to standard treatment (group A) while, the other 35 patients received only standard treatment (group B). The mortality and duration of hospital stay in 2 groups were recorded. RESULTS: In group A, mean duration of hospital stay was 10 days while, in group B it was 13 days (p < 0.001). One patient from group A and 8 patients from group B expired (p = 0.026). The occurrence of refractory fits, repeated apnoeic episodes and high grade fever did not show any statistically significant difference in the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Intrathecal anti-tetanus immunoglobulin in addition to the standard improved the outcome of neonatal tetanus in terms of mortality and hospital stay.

Modified Kenneth Jones criteria for diagnosing tuberculous meningitis in children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate accuracy of modified Kenneth Jones scoring criteria (MKJSC) as a screening tool to diagnose tuberculous meningitis in children. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Paediatric Medicine, Unit-I, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, from May 2006 to March 2007. METHODOLOGY: A total of 100 children admitted through emergency in Paediatric Medicine, Unit-I, were included who were having fever and features suggestive of central nervous system (CNS) infection. Lumbar puncture was done in all patients after written consent. Findings of lumbar puncture were taken as gold standard for the diagnosis of TBM. MKJSC was applied on each patient and accuracy determined against the gold standard. RESULTS: Out of 100 children, 47 were diagnosed as TBM on the basis of CSF results. All children had scored 0-7 or above according to MKJSC. A score 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 and 7 or more was obtained in 23, 25, 30 and 22 children respectively. Children who had scored 5 or more received ATT. Accuracy of MKJSC was calculated to be 91%. CONCLUSION: MKJSC is a simple and accurate tool to improve tuberculous meningitis case detection rate in children.

Farber disease: a rare neurodegenerative disorder.

This is the case report of a two-and-a-half-year old male infant with Farber disease, which is a rare neurodegenerative mucolipidosis. The child presented with regression of milestones, laryngeal involvement and painful joints with swellings around the joints. Neuroimaging findings and the biopsy of the soft tissue swellings helped to reach the diagnosis.

Comparison of measles complications in well-nourished and mal-nourished children.

BACKGROUND: Measles is the most common and the most infectious of the viral infections of childhood. It can cause severe pneumonia, diarrhoea, encephalitis, and death. A significant proportion of deaths due to measles in young children worldwide are attributable to low weight for age To compare the measles complications in well-nourished and mal-nourished children, this cross-sectional study was conducted at Paediatric out-patient department and paediatric unit 1 Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur. METHODS: Total 120 patients were included in the study. All patients presented with signs and symptoms suggestive of measles according to WHO criteria. These patients were divided into well-nourished and malnourished according to the modified Gomez classification. Both groups were evaluated for measles complications like pneumonia, diarrhoea, encephalitis, corneal ulceration, thrombocytopenia, otitis media and myocarditis by detailed history and complete physical examination, and statistically analysed. RESULTS: In the studied patients, 75 were males and 45 were females. Mean age was 23 months. Fifty-nine (49.2%) patients were well-nourished and 61 (50.8%) were undernourished. Fifty-two (43.3%) patients were having pneumonia. Fifty-three (44.2%) patients were having diarrhoea. Twenty-six (21.7%) patients were having encephalitis. Corneal ulceration was found in 9 (7.5%) patients. Thrombocytopenia and otitis media was present in 1 patient in each group. Fourteen patients expired. CONCLUSION: Measles is a global epidemic problem having many serious complications, including pneumonia, diarrhoea, encephalitis, corneal ulcerations etc. Moreover these complications are more frequent in under nourished children. Efforts should be made to improve the nutritional status of the children and to eradicate this disease by effective vaccination.