Detection of genes for superantigen toxins in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates in Karachi

To detect genes for enterotoxins, exfoliative and toxic shock syndrome toxins in Staphylococcus aureus [S. aureus] strains isolated from clinical specimens. Cross-sectional observational study. Department of Molecular Genetics, Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi, from January to December 2010. Two hundred and ninety eight S. aureus clinical isolates were obtained from various clinical samples received at Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi. Out of these, 115 were detected as methicillin resistant [MRSA] by cefoxitin disk diffusion test showing a prevalence rate of 38.6%. Detection of individual toxin genes was performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR] by using only one primer pair for each tube. Uniplex primers were preferred as multiplex primers are longer in base pairs and have the potential for cross reaction due to non-specific binding and increase in optimization time. The possession of a single gene or more than a single gene in MRSA isolates was found in 61.73% of clinical samples; the highest number was found in pus swab, followed by sputum, blood, urethral swab, and urine. The prevalence of toxin genes was higher in MRSA as compared to methicillin sensitive [MSSA] isolates [19.12%]. PCR detects strains possessing toxin genes independent of their expression. The possession of genes for super-antigens seems to be a frequent and habitual trait of S. aureus more so in MRSA

Prostate cancer; frequency of prostate cancer in different hospitals of Karachi

Introduction: A study was done on the prostate cases received in pathology department, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, from different hospitals of Karachi to see the frequency of prostate cancer

Objectives: Benign hyperplasia prostate is common in middle and old age men, while prostate cancer is found more in older age group, it can occur in middle age also

Methodology: Slides / paraffin blocks were taken for study from 1[st] January 2008 to 31[st] December 2011 retrospectively and from 1[st] January 2012 to 31[st] December 2012 prospectively

Results: In present study 300 cases of prostate slides were studied in which 274 [91.33%] cases of benign hyperplasia prostate and 26 [8.67%] cases of prostate carcinoma were found of 46-74 years of age, including 2 [7.70%] cases, of 45 years of age

Conclusions: It is observed that the increased tendency of prostate carcinoma was found more after 50 years of age and in present study 2 cases, of 45 years of age, showing the occurrence of prostate carcinoma in early age

Miscellaneous liver diseases in infancy and childhood in several hospitals

Most of the liver diseases are different in pediatric age group, as compared to those in adult in many respects. Beside inflammatory, neoplastic and metabolic liver diseases; pediatric liver diseases also exhibit specific features of genetic predisposition, as well as environmental or other acquired diseases. In congenital diseases choledochal cyst, biliary atresia and cholestasis are included. While in environmental or acquired/nutritional diseases, fatty change liver and Kawashiorkor are found. A study is done to overview the miscellaneous congenital and acquired liver diseases in infancy and childhood which are important but less common as compare to inflammatory, metabolic and other liver diseases. Retrospective Study. This study was conducted at Department of Pathology, Basic Medical Science Institute [BMSI], Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi from 1995 to 2004. Slides / paraffin blocks of liver biopsies were taken from patients under 15 years of age. The cases were retrospective. The distribution of 100 cases of miscellaneous liver diseases in infancy and childhood were according to age and sex. Total 48 [48%] cases were encountered in the youngest of 0-5 year's age group, 36 [36%] cases in 6-10 years and only 16 [16%] cases in 11-15 years age group. It is observed that the tendency of miscellaneous liver diseases are higher up till 5 years of age and sexual differentiation showing male predominance with male to female ratio of 3:2. The miscellaneous liver diseases in younger children, may be congenital like biliary atresia, intra hepatic biliary hypoplasia and cholestasis or acquired; like tuberculosis and the Kawashiorkor [malnutrition].These are well known in third world countries and in Pakistan

Prevalence of pharyngitis and tonsilitis among children

Tonsillitis and pharyngitis are very common medical problems especially among the children. Tonsillitis affects mostly children between the age of 3-5 years because this is when their tonsils are in their most active stage, fighting infectious. When the child grown older, the tonsils will shrink and infection will become less common. Tonsillopharyngitis is one of the most common infections worldwide especially in children and young adults. Viruses are often involved in children younger than 5 years of age and a bacterial etiology is more usual after this age. Cross Sectional Study. This study was conducted at the Department of Microbiology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi from Dec. 2008 to June 2009. A total of 300 subjects [250 suspected children and 50 healthy children as control] of age /= 5-8 years, it was 13 [13.7%], among the age of 9-12 years it was 6 [6.2%] and among the age group of 13-15 years it was 5 [8.6%]. Distribution of tonsillitis and pharyngitis among 166 male children, 4 [2.4%] were positive for tonsillitis, while 11 [6.6%] were positive for pharyngitis, while in female children, which 84 in total, 3 [3.65] were positive for tonsillitis and 6 [7.1%] were positive for pharyngitis. Group A beta hemolytic Streptococcal infection of throat constitute one of the major public health problems due to its post infectious complications. The data obtained provides information about the commonly prevalent bacteriological agent in pharyngitis and tonsillitis. Furthermore, it helps to outline the strategy towards appropriate therapy. It has also been concluded from this study that pharyngitis is more prevalent than tonsillitis

Incidence of liver cirrhosis in infancy and childhood

Cirrohsis is the end result of chronic liver disease caused by the different pathological factors including congenital malformation, inflammation [hepatitis] and metabolic /storage disorders, leading to liver cell damage. To determine the incidence of liver cirrhosis and childhood with chronic hepatitis, we studied 41 biopsies of children for the presence of cirrhosis. To provide an overview of current childhood statistics of hepatitis and liver cirrhosis to facilitate analysis of the impact of past research discoveries on outcome and provide essential information for prioritizing future research directions. Retrospective study. This study was conducted at the Department of Basic Medical Sciences Institute, JPMC, Karachi from Jan.2000 to Dec. 2007. Slides/ paraffin blocks of liver biopsies from patients under 15 years of age. The cases were of two categories i.e. retrospective and prospective. The distribution of 41 cases of hepatitis was according to Age and Sex. Total 22 [53.7%] cases were encountered in the youngest of 0-5 years age group, 13 [13.7%] cases in 6-10 years and only 6 [14.6%] cases in 11-15 years age group. The distribution of 41 cases of cirrhosis of liver, according to age and sex. The maximum 22 [53.7%] youngest case in 0-5 years, 13 [31.7%] cases in 6-10 years and 6 [14.6%] cases were found in 11-15 year age group. It is observed that the tendency of liver inflammation was decreased with increasing age and sexual differentiation shows male predominance with male to female ratio of 2.4:1. Liver cirrhosis discovered with increasing age in children. It is found to be a common cause for enlargement of liver with associated hepatitis and chronic liver diseases in infants and children. It can lead to higher risks of acute or chronic responses in adulthood and will require new treatment paradigms building on an increased understanding of the molecular processes for infancy and childhood liver cirrhosis

Frequency of streptococcus pneumoniae, haemophilus influenzae and moraxella catarrhalis causing lower respiratory tract infection in local population

To see the frequency of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis causing lower respiratory tract infection and sensitivity pattern of the isolated organisms to various antibiotics. Experimental Study. This study was conducted at the Dept. of Microbiology Basic Medical Sciences Institute, JPMC, Karachi, from January 2001 to September 2001. A total of one hundred clinically suspected cases of lower respiratory tract infections attending OPD or admitted to the wards of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre [JPMC] and Civil Hospital, Karachi were included in the study. Out of 100 cases 53% cases were positive for bacterial pathogens. Of the positive cases. S. pneumonae was 35.9%, H.influenzae 30.2% and other bacteria were 34.9%, in rest of the cases no bacterial pathogen was isolated. Age range in this study was 15-90 years and mean age was 38 years. Smokers have higher frequency i.e., 65.5% as compared to non-smokers in which 47.9% cases were positive for bacterial pathogens. Higher the number of pus cells /HPF [high power field] in sputum greater was the positivity of bacterial pathogen. Sensitivity pattern to antibiotics of different organisms was also seen in this study. The goal of the study was to see the behavior of the frequent organisms on the culture and to see the antibiotic sensitivity of lower respiratory tract specimen for the treatment. It requires increased number of patients with more advanced testing system

Role of rapid antigen detection test [RADT] and throat culture in the diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis

To observe the sensitivity and specificity of the rapid antigen detection test and throat culture in the diagnosis of pharyngo tonsillitis. An Experimental study. This study was conducted in microbiology department, basic medical sciences institute, Jinnah post graduate medical centre, National institute of child health, and civil hospital Karachi, from May 2003- April 2004. A total of 300 children attending OPD's and admitted [250 suspected and 50 Normal as control cases] of age group 5-15 years were included in this study and this age group was again divided into three sub groups I.e: first group from 5-8 years, second groups was from 9-12 years, and the third group was from 13- 15 years. Rapid antigen test carried out was based on immuno- chromato graphic membrane assay procedure, a total of 24 positive antigen detection test from suspected 250 cases and 5 from 50 control cases were isolated and these isolated [RADT positive] cases were again confirmed by throat culture. The Bacitracin sensitivity and catalase tests were also performed. The Rapid antigen detection test [RADT] is a rapid way of diagnosing the group A, Beta hemolytic streptococci, result can be obtained within 5-10 minutes so the treatment may be started accordingly, while the throat culture is still considered as the Gold standard for the diagnosis of group A beta hemolytic streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis. The positive as well as negative RADT cases were confirmed by the culture

Prevalence of hepatitis in neonates and children in Karachi

Inflammation of liver is known as "hepatitis" is commonly found in infant as neonatal hepatitis and in children as acute and chronic hepatitis. Neonatal hepatitis is a general term for inflammation of the liver that occurs shortly after birth in newborns [less than 3 months of age] for which a specific cause cannot be identified. To provide an overview of current childhood statistics of hepatitis and jaundice to facilitate analysis of the impact of past research discoveries on outcome and provide essential information for prioritizing future research directions. Experimental Study. This study was conducted at the Department of Histopathology, BMSI, JPMC, Karachi from May 2004 to March 2005. Slides / paraffin blocks of liver biopsies from patients under 15 years of age. The cases were of two categories i.e. retrospective and prospective. The distribution of 480 cases of hepatitis was according to Age and Sex. Total 200 [41.7%] cases were encountered in the youngest of 0-5 years age group, 180 [37.5%] cases in 6-10 years and only 100 [20.8%] cases in 11-15 age group. The distribution of 24 cases of hepatitis was according to Age and Sex. Total 200 [41.7%] cases were encountered in the youngest of 0-5 years age group, 180 [37.5%] cases in 6-10 and only 100 [20.8%] cases in 11-15 age group. It is observed that the tendency of liver inflammation was decreased with increase in age and sexual differentiation showing male predominance with male to female ratio of 2:1. The inflammation of liver /hepatitis in young children, can be caused by infectious, metabolic, and genetic disorders. Physiological jaundice or neonatal hepatitis is mostly reported in male population than females, in children. In Karachi this is found that neonatal jaundice can be recovered with the growing age and it is found to be a common cause for enlargement of liver and associated liver diseases in infants and children that can lead to higher risks of acute or chronic liver diseases in adulthood