A Study on the Healing of Peptic Ulcer Disease after Eradication of Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Rural People Bangladesh

Objective: In this study our main aim is to evaluate the healingof peptic ulcer disease after eradication of helicobacter pyloriinfection in rural people Bangladesh.Methodology: This Prospective observational study wasconducted at tertiary hospital Dhaka district from Tertiarymedical college and hospital among 100 patients diagnosedcoming to the gastroenterology outpatient departmentaccording to inclusion and exclusion criteria was included inthe study.Result: In our study among 100 patients, most of the patientsbelong to 31-40 years age group, which was 37.78% and 57%were male and 43% were female. 15.07% patients hadduodenal ulcer and 21.09% had gastric ulcer for H. pyloripositive.18% patients were still positive for H.pylori aftereradication therapy.Conclusion: In conclusion, we can say that, prolonged Followup with upper GI endoscopy for additional period for recurrenceof ulcer should have been done for patients whose peptic ulcerdisease had resolved but could not attain H. pylori eradication.

Effect of macrophage alone or primed with cytokines on Balamuthia mandrillaris interactions with human brain microvascular endothelial cells in vitro

Balamuthia mandrillaris is well known to cause fatal Balamuthia amoebic encephalitis [BAE]. Amoebic transmission into the central nervous system [CNS], haematogenous spread is thought to be the prime step, followed by blood-brain barrier [BBB] dissemination. Macrophages are considered to be the foremost line of defense and present in excessive numbers during amoebic infections. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effects of macrophages alone or primed with cytokines on the biological characteristics of Balamuthia in vitro. Using human brain microvascular endothelial cells [HBMEC], which constitutes the BBB, we have shown that Balamuthia demonstrated >90% binding and >70% cytotoxicity to host cells. However, macrophages further increased amoebic binding and Balamuthia-mediated cell cytotoxicity. Furthermore macrophages exhibited no amoebicidal effect against Balamuthia. Zymography assay demonstrated that macrophages exhibited no inhibitory effect on proteolytic activity of Balamuthia. Overall we have shown for the first time macrophages has no inhibitory effects on the biological properties of Balamuthia in vitro. This also strengthened the concept that how and why Balamuthia can cause infections in both immuno-competent and immuno-compromised individuals

Methanolic extract of peganum harmala exhibit potent activity against acanthamoeba castellanii cysts and its encystment in vitro

Acanthamoeba castellanii is member of free living amoeba that may cause painful sight-threatening keratitis and life threatening encephalitis which involves central nervous system. Treatments for both infections are problematic because of the amoebic cysts resistance to therapeutic agents. Here we evaluated in vitro strength of methanolic seed extract of Peganum harmala on Acanthamoeba cysts and its encystment mechanism. Our results revealed seed extracts [1 to 30mg/ml] exhibited amoebicidal effects against Acanthamoeba cysts. Furthermore Acanthamoeba encystment was also inhibited in concentration dependent manner with maximum inhibition at 2 micro g/ml after 48h incubation. In conclusion, we demonstrated for the first time that methanolic extracts exhibit remarkable inhibition of Acanthamoeba cysts and encystment in vitro which could serve a potential new natural agent against Acanthamoeba

Cancer types; correlation of renal and liver function tests

This study attempts to highlight the relation of various types of cancers to abnormalities in liver and renal function tests. Correlation of deranged renal and liver function tests to different types of cancers in industrial workers who are exposed to industrial chemicals and carcinogens. This non-interventional study included 100 hundred confirmed cases of cancer were selected and studied from July 2011 to December 2011. The study was conducted at Fatima Memorial Hospital/College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore. Out of these 100 patients, 21 had CA lung, 19 had lymphoma, 14 had sarcoma, 13 had CA breast, 6 had CA prostate, 4 had CA liver, 3 had CA colon, 3 had CA ovary, 3 had CA testis, 2 had leukemia, 2 had multiple myeloma, 2 had CA gall bladder, 2 had CA stomach, 1 had CA esophagus, 1had CA tongue, 1had CA parotid, 1 had CA rectum, 1 had CA cervix and 1 had CA larynx. Among lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma was more than Hodgkin lymphoma [out of 19 patients, 13 had non-Hodgkin and 6 had Hodgkin lymphoma]. Out of 14 patients of sarcomas, 5 had Ewing sarcoma, 4 had chondrosarcoma, 3 had fibrosarcoma and 2 had liposarcoma. Similarly the serum bilirubin levels in liver cancer, ovarian cancer, multiple myeloma, stomach and gall bladder cancer were 1.50 +/- 0.31, 1.17 +/- 0.10, 1.46 +/- 0.15 and 1.40 +/- 0.50 mg% were 32.38 +/- 18.81, 37.73 +/- 4.35, 34.43 +/- 4.35, 45.00 +/- 46.17, 31.33 +/- 44.70, 65.25 +/- 31.14, 33.67 +/- 80.90, 99.00 +/- 73.08, 50.00 +/- 98.49, 33.50 +/- 75.0, 36.50 +/- 85.0 and 49.0 +/- 11.0 micro /l respectively which were statistically significantly higher [p<0.05] then control individuals. respectively which were significantly higher [p<0.05] than the control individuals Similarly the ALT levels in lung cancer, lymphoma, sarcoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, leukemia, ovarian cancer, cancer of colon, multiple myeloma, cancer of testis and stomach. The mean serum creatinine levels in lung cancer, liver cancer and cancer of colon were 0.89 +/- 0.05, 0.90 +/- 0.16 mg% respectively which were significantly higher than the control individuals [p<0.05]. The renal and liver function tests should be frequently monitored in cancer patients from industrial back grounds

In vitro assessment of cytokines interactions with Balamuthia mandrillaris using human brain microvascular endothelial cells

Balamuthia amoebic encephalitis [BAE] is a life threatening human disease which, always lead to death. Amoebae invasion of the bloodstream is considered an important step in BAE followed by their haematogenous spread. It is more likely that Balamuthia mandrillaris enters into the central nervous system through blood-brain barrier [BBB] sites. The objective of the present study was to determine the impact of cytokines on biological properties of alamuthia in vitro. Human brain microvascular endothelial cells [HBMEC], which constitutes the BBB were used in vitro test model for the present investigation. It was observed that Balamuthia exhibited >90% binding and >70% cytotoxicity to HBMEC. However, cytokines did not affect amoebic binding and cytotoxicity except lipopolysaccharide [LPS] which reduced Balamuthia-mediated HBMEC cytotoxicity. It is also important to note that amoebic numbers were reduced in the presence of LPS within 24 h. We have shown previously the bacterial uptake by Balamuthia is very limited which is further investigated in the presence of cytokines and observed a slight reduction of bacterial uptake during phagocytosis assay. Zymography assays revealed there is no effect of cytokines on proteolytic activity of Balamuthia. Overall we described for the first time that cytokines has no inhibitory effects on biological properties of Balamuthia in vitro.

Phospholipase Activities in Clinical and Environmental Isolates of Acanthamoeba

The pathogenesis and pathophysiology of Acanthamoeba infections remain incompletely understood. Phos-pholipases are known to cleave phospholipids, suggesting their possible involvement in the host cell plasma membrane disruption leading to host cell penetration and lysis. The aims of the present study were to determine phospholipase activities in Acanthamoeba and to determine their roles in the pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba. Using an encephalitis isolate (T1 genotype), a keratitis isolate (T4 genotype), and an environmental isolate (T7 genotype), we demonstrated that Acanthamoeba exhibited phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and phospholipase D (PLD) activities in a spectrophotometry-based assay. Interestingly, the encephalitis isolates of Acanthamoeba exhibited higher phospholipase activities as compared with the keratitis isolates, but the environmental isolates exhibited the highest phospholipase activities. Moreover, Acanthamoeba isolates exhibited higher PLD activities compared with the PLA2. Acanthamoeba exhibited optimal phospholipase activities at 37degrees C and at neutral pH indicating their physiological relevance. The functional role of phospholipases was determined by in vitro assays using human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC), which constitute the blood-brain barrier. We observed that a PLD-specific inhibitor, i.e., compound 48/80, partially inhibited Acanthamoeba encephalitis isolate cytotoxicity of the host cells, while PLA2-specific inhibitor, i.e., cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine, had no effect on parasite-mediated HBMEC cytotoxicity. Overall, the T7 exhibited higher phospholipase activities as compared to the T4. In contract, the T7 exhibited minimal binding to, or cytotoxicity of, HBMEC.

Interaction of Escherichia coli K1 and K5 with Acanthamoeba castellanii Trophozoites and Cysts

The existence of symbiotic relationships between Acanthamoeba and a variety of bacteria is well-documented. However, the ability of Acanthamoeba interacting with host bacterial pathogens has gained particular attention. Here, to understand the interactions of Escherichia coli K1 and E. coli K5 strains with Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites and cysts, association assay, invasion assay, survival assay, and the measurement of bacterial numbers from cysts were performed, and nonpathogenic E. coli K12 was also applied. The association ratio of E. coli K1 with A. castellanii was 4.3 cfu per amoeba for 1 hr but E. coli K5 with A. castellanii was 1 cfu per amoeba for 1 hr. By invasion and survival assays, E. coli K5 was recovered less than E. coli K1 but still alive inside A. castellanii. E. coli K1 and K5 survived and multiplied intracellularly in A. castellanii. The survival assay was performed under a favourable condition for 22 hr and 43 hr with the encystment of A. castellanii. Under the favourable condition for the transformation of trophozoites into cysts, E. coli K5 multiplied significantly. Moreover, the pathogenic potential of E. coli K1 from A. castellanii cysts exhibited no changes as compared with E. coli K1 from A. castellanii trophozoites. E. coli K5 was multiplied in A. castellanii trophozoites and survived in A. castellanii cysts. Therefore, this study suggests that E. coli K5 can use A. castellanii as a reservoir host or a vector for the bacterial transmission.

Traditional use of shrubs and trees of Himalayan region, Shogran valley district Mansehra [Hazara], Pakistan

Ethnobotanical survey was conducted on Shogran valley m 1999-2000. Local people of the area are actively involved with consumption of plant resources for various needs such as food, fodder, shelter and health care. Information about the local names, traditional medicinal and other uses of the shrubs and trees has been provided. About 85 informants were interviewed In total twelve species of shrubs and eighteen species of trees were recorded for their medicinal use and for other purposes by the local population of the valley. Five species of shrubs and twelve species of trees are collected for sale in the local market as well as in other parts of the country. Juglans regia L. is found vulnerable in this area [towards extinction] due to utilization of its various parts for different purposes, like use of its bark for commercial purpose as Dendasa [cosmetic product] and use of its wood for furniture and as fuel material. Melia azedarach L. is found under pressure for its over exploitation as fuelwood. In addition, wild fruits such as Ficus carica L., Diospyros lotus L., Morus alba L., Pyras communis L., Pyrus pashia Ham. ex D. Don., and Prunus persica [L.] Batsch., require in situ conservation in the area for maintaining future germplasm source