Seizures in activating calcium-sensing receptor antibodies positive autoimmune hypoparathyroidism and preponderance of steroids therapy: A case report.

A 55-year-old female patient presented with generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Laboratory evaluation revealed low calcium (4.9 mg/dl), low PTH (0.9 pg/ml), and positive activating CaSR antibodies. The condition was diagnosed as autoimmune hypoparathyroidism. Calcium and vitamin D supplements did not correct the patient's hypocalcemia. The addition of prednisone to vitamin supplements showed a better response and corrected the hypocalcemia. The patient remained in seizure-free for one year.

Explicating physiological and biochemical responses of wheat cultivars under acidity stress: insight into the antioxidant defense and glyoxalase systems.

Soil acidity causes proton (H+) rhizotoxicity, inhibits plant growth and development, and is a major yield-limiting factor for wheat production worldwide. Therefore, we investigated the physiological and biochemical responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to acidity stress in vitro. Five popular wheat cultivars developed by Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), namely, BARI Gom-21, BARI Gom-24, BARI Gom-25, BARI Gom-26, and BARI Gom-30, were studied in growing media under four different pH levels (3.5, 4.5, 5.5, and 6.5). We evaluated the cultivars based on their relative water content, proline (Pro) content, growth, biomass accumulation, oxidative damage, membrane stability, and mineral composition, as well as the performance of the antioxidant defense and glyoxalase systems. Although decrements of pH significantly reduced the tested morphophysiological and biochemical attributes in all the cultivars, there was high variability among the cultivars in response to the varying pH of the growing media. Acidity stress reduced growth, biomass, water content, and chlorophyll content in all the cultivars. However, BARI Gom-26 showed the least damage, with the lowest H2O2 generation, lipid peroxidation (MDA), and greater membrane stability, which indicate better tolerance against oxidative damage. In addition, the antioxidant defense components, ascorbate (AsA) and glutathione (GSH), and their redox balance were higher in this cultivar. Maximum H2O2 scavenging due to upregulation of the antioxidant enzymes [AsA peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), GSH reductase (GR), GSH peroxidase (GPX), and GSH-S-transferase (GST)] was observed in BARI Gom-26, which also illustrated significant enhancement of methylglyoxal (MG) detoxification by upregulating glyoxalase I (Gly I) and glyoxalase II (Gly II). This study also showed that balanced essential nutrient content as well as lower toxic micronutrient content was found in BARI Gom-26. Therefore, considering the physiological and biochemical attributes and growth, we conclude that BARI Gom-26 can withstand acidity stress during the early seedling stage, by regulating the coordinated action of the antioxidant defense and glyoxalase systems as well as maintaining nutrient balance.

Oxidative Damage and Antioxidant Defense in Sesamum indicum after Different Waterlogging Durations.

The present study was designed to investigate the duration-dependent changes in the biochemical attributes of sesame in response to waterlogging stress. Sesame plants (Sesamum indicum L. cv. BARI Til-4) were subjected to waterlogging for 2, 4, 6, and 8 days during the vegetative stage and data were measured following waterlogging treatment. The present study proves that waterlogging causes severe damage to different attributes of the sesame plant. The plants showed an increasing trend in lipid peroxidation as well as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and methylglyoxal contents that corresponded to increased stress duration. A prolonged period of waterlogging decreased leaf relative water content and proline content. Photosynthetic pigments, like chlorophyll (chl) a, b, and chl (a+b) and carotenoid contents, also decreased over time in stressed plants. Glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) contents increased under waterlogging, while the GSH/GSSG ratio and ascorbate content decreased, indicating the disruption of redox balance in the cell. Ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione peroxidase activity increased under waterlogging, while dehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione reductase, and catalase activity mostly decreased. Waterlogging modulated the glyoxalase system mostly by enhancing glyoxalase II activity, with a slight increase in glyoxalase I activity. The present study also demonstrates the induction of oxidative stress via waterlogging in sesame plants and that stress levels increase with increased waterlogging duration.

The awareness and prevalence of metabolic syndrome in medical community of bahawalpur.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the frequency of Metabolic Syndrome and evaluated the level of awareness about this condition in medical community (healthcare workers) of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study. It was carried out over a period of one year (June 2008 to May 2009). The following institutions took part in the study: Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Paramedical and Nursing Schools and Female Jubilee Hospital. A total of one hundred and ninety four (194) Doctors and Paramedics (Nurses and Dispensors) working in the institutions included in study were selected by simple random sampling technique. Demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical data were recorded, lifestyle features were inquired about, and the level of awareness regarding MetS was surveyed. The criteria recommended by the Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III were used for the diagnosis of MetS. The presence of MetS was evaluated in all (194) subjects. RESULTS: Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 29 participants (14.95%), and there was no statistically significant difference between men and women in this respectAt least three criteria of MetS were correctly listed by 36 participants (18.56%), with physicians showing significantly higher awareness levels (p<0.001). The frequency of abdominal obesity was 22.68% and it was significantly higher in males than in females (29.29% vs 14.74%; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Current study shows that only a minority of medical community are aware of MetS as a clinical entity. Nurses and other paramedics are unaware of the problem.

Teaching strategies and academic performances of undergraduates in quaid-I-azam medical college, bahawalpur.

OBJECTIVE: to assess the outcomes and competencies of medical undergraduates regarding their learning abilities after introducing Clinical Presentation Curriculum (CPC) instead of Traditional Curriculum in Quaid-i-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur. DESIGN: a cross-sectional comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: 3rd and 4th year MBBS class during session 2004-2005 at Quaid-i-Azam Medical College (QMC), Bahawalpur. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Five hundred students of 3rd year and 4th year MBBS who were taught for 176 and 172 hours respectively, appeared in 20 tests during session 2004-2005, were included in the study. Students were taught pathology according to Traditional Curricular model for 88 and 86 hours, respectively during college hours. Ten class tests each of 3rd and 4th year MBBS were taken and scores recorded. In the next step, the same group of students were taught in accordance with CPC model for 88 and 86 hours respectively in college hours. Ten class tests each were taken and scores recorded. A standardized questionnaire was given to all 500 students after finishing with each curricular model and then the results were compared on SPSS 8.0 regarding their study trends, thinking abilities, intellectual skills and liking of CPC. Chi-square test was used to get significance values and percentages were used for the evaluation of differences. RESULTS: This study detected the positive effects of CPC model not only on study trends and thought process but also had the beneficial effects on learning potential of students in QMC where traditional curriculum was being followed for teaching students. When compared with traditional curricula, CPC model significantly ( p =< 0.01) improved the learning methods to improve knowledge and intellectual skills e.g; group discussions, internet use, reading latest and relevant journals and visits to wards and concerned teachers. Academic performances of these students significantly (p =< 0.01) improved regarding their class test attendance, class room attendance and marks obtained in tests when compared with traditional curricula. Similarly, there was significant (p =< 0.01) increase in divergent thinkers. CONCLUSION: CPC, introduced in 3rd and 4th year MBBS of QMC, Bahawalpur, with traditional curriculum, significantly improved the academic performance, learning behaviour and intellectual skills of students.