Anti-Bacterial effect of Aqueous Garlic Extract (AGE) determined by Disc Diffusion Method against Escherichia coli.

The study was performed to determine the antibacterial effect of aqueous extract of garlic (Allium sativum) against standard strain of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. An interventional study was conducted in Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics in collaboration with Department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh. Antibacterial effect of AGE was determined by disc diffusion method. Sensitivity of AGE determined in disc diffusion and the zone of inhibition (ZOI) was 4 mm, 10 mm and 20 mm at 25 µg/10 µl, 50 µg/10 µl and 100 µg/10 µl concentrations respectively. From the findings it is clearly determined the extract has definite antibacterial effect upon Escherichia coli. Further studies are required to detect and isolate the active ingredients present in the Garlic extract as well as detail steps of mechanism responsible for antibacterial effect. Then their effects against the studied organism should be studied in vivo separately and its toxicity profile should also be taken into account.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in the Sultanate of Oman.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the feasibility of newly started sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in our center at the Royal Hospital in the Sultanate of Oman. METHODS: Twenty five patients with Breast cancer and melanoma were staged with sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy, followed by Axillary lymph Node Dissection (ALND). Axillary SLN were detected by injection of blue dye alone or with radioisotope. Intraoperatively, a gamma probe detector identified the isotope-labeled SLN. Two patients underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy. The SLNs were examined histologically by hematoxylin-eosin staining and, if negative by this method an immunohistochemical staining (IHC) was done. RESULTS: The only failure to detect inguinal SLN was one case after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Total detection rate of SLN was of 96%. Metastatic spread occurred in 11 patients of these 9 had other lymph node (LN) involved. Nine patients had no SLN involvement and no other LNs involved. CONCLUSIONS: Ethically, according to the international recommendations and looking to the statistics of the Sultanate all clinical NO should have the choise of SLN biopsy prior to ALND.

Hook wire localization procedure in biopsy and diagnosis of early breast cancers: Oman experience.

INTRODUCTION: Between January 2000 and December 2005, a total of 30 cases of impalpable suspicious breast lesions (microcalcifications or impalpable lumps classified as BRADS IV and above) were biopsied after hook wire localization. This is a retrospective review of these cases. RESULTS: One third of the suspicious lesions were malignant or pre-malignant. All these had further oncological treatment and follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Hook wire localization biopsy remains an important tool for the diagnosis of impalpable lesions of the breast. The incidence of malignancy in our series was similar to the published international levels. Our series is small, so there is a need to review the data with bigger number.