Paclitaxel and immune system.

Chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment for both early stage as well as metastatic tumors. Paclitaxel (PTX), a novel anticancer drug, is a prominent taxane which is active against a broad range of tumors that are generally considered to be refractory to conventional chemotherapy, with benefits gained in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival. PTX is initially characterized as a mitotic inhibitor, and its anti-neoplastic effect is derived from binding to tubulin and excessive microtubule stabilization.

Pre and post cloning characterization of a beta-1,4-endoglucanase from Bacillus sp.

Consistent with its precloning characterization from the cellulolytic Bacillus sp., beta-1,4-endoglucanase purified from the recombinant E. coli exhibited maximum activity at 60 degrees C and pH 7.

MTHFR polymorphisms and 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal cancer.

Background: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase is a pivotal enzyme in folate metabolism and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) cytotoxicity. Two common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), MTHFR 677C>T (rs1801133) and 1298A>C (rs1801131), reduce enzyme activity. Initially, these SNPs were claimed to predict clinical efficacy, but further studies have yielded contradictory results.

Early lymphocyte recovery after allogeneic hematopoietic SCT is associated with significant GVL effect in pediatric ALL but not acute myelogenous leukemia-Update study.

We earlier published data on 136 children who received hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) for ALL, and showed that early lymphocyte recovery is a powerful indicator for survival by GVL effect without increase in GVHD. To answer the question whether this is true for AML, we extended our cohort to 207 consecutive children with acute leukemia by adding 71 children with AML who received 75 HSCT's between 1994 and 2005. For the AML cohort, all patients at time of HSCT were in complete morphological remission (CR) except for one patient in CR1, who had 8% blasts in the BM before HSCT.

Excitatory amino acid transporters EAAT-1 and EAAT-2 in temporal lobe and hippocampus in intractable temporal lobe epilepsy.

Intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is an invalidating disease and many patients are resistant to medical treatment. Increased glutamate concentration has been found in epileptogenic foci and may induce local over-excitation and cytotoxicity; one of the proposed mechanisms involves reduced extra-cellular clearance of glutamate by excitatory amino acid transporters (EAAT-1 to EAAT-5). EAAT-1 and EAAT-2 are mainly expressed on astroglial cells for the reuptake of glutamate from the extra-cellular space.

DJ-1/PARK7 is an important mediator of hypoxia-induced cellular responses.

In cancer, DJ-1/PARK7 acts as an oncogene that drives Akt-mediated cell survival. Although amplification of DJ-1 has been described in several types of tumors, the mechanistic basis of DJ-1's oncogenic effect remains incompletely understood. A tumor's ability to adapt to hypoxia is absolutely critical for its survival and progression, and this adaptation is largely mediated by the transcription factor HIF1.

Ethno-botanical studies from Northern Pakistan.

Background: In this research paper efforts have been made to document the ethno-botanical knowledge of important plant species found in Northern Pakistan. It includes Thandiani, Galiat, Kaghan, Swat, Buner, Dir, Chitral and Northern Areas of Pakistan. The area has many climatic and vegetation zones or biomes.

Comparison of traditional two injections dorsal digital block with volar block.

Objective: To compare the traditional two injections dorsal digital block with volar block in terms of effectiveness of anaesthesia and pain of initial pinprick.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental.

Place And Duration Of Study: AVH and casualty operation theatres, Mayo Hospital, KEMU, Lahore, from January to June 2007.

Outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for children with acute myelogenous leukemia in second complete remission: single center experience.

We reviewed 26 consecutive patients with AML who were transplanted in second CR2 between 1994 and 2005. The most common conditioning regimen was CY and TBI. Median age at transplant was 8.

Pediatric standard-risk AML with fully matched sibling donors: to transplant in first CR or not?

Allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) for children with standard-risk AML in first CR (CR1) is controversial. We reviewed 32 consecutive children with standard-risk AML who received matched sibling donor HSCT in CR1 from 1995 to 2004. With a median follow-up of 76 months (range: 36-114), 3 year EFS was 0.

Daclizumab therapy for children with corticosteroid-resistant acute graft-vs.-host disease.

MAbs such as daclizumab have shown promising results in the treatment of corticosteroid-resistant aGVHD. Data describing the efficacy of MAbs in children are limited. We describe the efficacy of daclizumab in children with corticosteroid-resistant aGVHD.

RETRACTED: Magnetic resonance imaging of lumbar intervertebral discs in elderly patients with minor trauma.

Purpose: Vertebral body fractures due to minor trauma, which commonly occur in the elderly, are a frequently encountered clinical problem. We utilized MRI in patients with acute back pain following minor injury to ensure the earliest possible diagnosis. Lumbar discs adjacent to fractured vertebral bodies were evaluated, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to elucidate how often these discs were injured and how the injured discs were depicted by MRI.

A comparison of the outcomes of children with acute myelogenous leukemia in either first or second complete remission (CR1 vs CR2) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at a single transplant center.

We reviewed 70 consecutive children with AML who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in our institution between 1994 and 2005. Forty-seven children were transplanted in CR1 and 23 were transplanted in CR2. BU/CY was the most common pretransplant conditioning regimen for CR1 patients and a TBI-based conditioning regimen was the most common regimen for CR2 patients.

Short segment pedicle screw instrumentation and augmentation vertebroplasty in lumbar burst fractures: an experience.

To assess the efficacy and feasibility of vertebroplasty and posterior short-segment pedicle screw fixation for the treatment of traumatic lumbar burst fractures. Short-segment pedicle screw instrumentation is a well described technique to reduce and stabilize thoracic and lumbar spine fractures. It is relatively a easy procedure but can only indirectly reduce a fractured vertebral body, and the means of augmenting the anterior column are limited.

Perforated appendicitis: accuracy of ct diagnosis and correlation of ct findings with the length of hospital stay.

Objective: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of CT findings in the differentiation of perforated from nonperforated appendicitis and correlate CT diagnosis with the length of hospital stay.

Study Design: An analytical study.

Place And Duration Of Study: This study was conducted at Radiology Department of Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2004 to June 2005.

Characterization of cardiomyopathy cases at a forensic institute in the period 1992-2006 and perspectives for screening.

We surveyed our data over a 15-year period to determine the prevalence of cardiomyopathy diagnoses in our database and characterized the cases in regards to demographic and clinicopathological data. Furthermore we evaluated implications for screening. The data were acquired through our computerized database containing autopsy reports.

Pattern of orthopaedic injuries in bear attacks: report from a tertiary care centre in Kashmir.

Interaction between humans and wild animals has increased in recent times, because of overlap of habitats. A proportion of this interaction is violent. Most of the literature describing the injuries sustained by humans in such contact pertains to the involvement of soft tissues.

Early lymphocyte recovery post-allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is associated with significant graft-versus-leukemia effect without increase in graft-versus-host disease in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

To study the effect of early lymphocyte recovery post-allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) on outcome in pediatric ALL, we reviewed 136 consecutive pediatric patients with ALL who received allogeneic HSCT between 1994 and 2005 at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. Patients with an absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) <0.3 x 10(9) per liter at day 21 (n=104) had more than five times risk of relapse compared to those with ALC >0.

Outcome of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in third complete remission: a vital role for graft-versus-host-disease/ graft-versus-leukaemia effect in survival.

Children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) receiving haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in third complete remission (CR3) are at high risk for transplant-related mortality (TRM) and relapse. Twenty-two consecutive children with ALL in CR3 received HSCT between January 1994 and August 2005. Ten patients died of TRM, seven patients relapsed, six did not have graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

Pesticides exposure in Pakistan: a review.

This is the first systematic review of studies done since 1960, and to give an integrated picture of pesticides exposure to humans, animals, plants, waters, soils/sediments, atmosphere etc. in Pakistan. Authors have extracted data from different departments, published literature in research journals and National reports.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic fractures.

Background: Vertebral augmentation has been widely used to treat vertebral body compression fractures caused by varied pathologies. The lifetime risk of a vertebral body compression fracture is 16% for women and 5% for men, and exponential increase of osteoporotic fractures worldwide.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy and durability of percutaneous vertebroplasty for the treatment of back pain associated with osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Clinical diagnostic criteria for suspected ileocaecal tuberculosis.

Background: Ileocecal Tuberculosis (TB) is difficult to diagnose clinically as getting histological specimens means resorting to surgery, which is often hazardous and complicated in sick, anemic and emaciated patients with malabsortion syndrome. The present study was undertaken as an attempt to devise clinical criteria for diagnosis of ileocecal TB without resorting to invasive surgery.

Methods: 52 patients with suspected ileocecal TB were assigned pre-determined criteria based on clinical signs, symptoms and simple laboratory investigations.

Threshold parameters for choroidal vessel closure with the photosensitizer, lambda 27.

Objective: To determine the threshold photodynamic therapy parameters, required for choroidal vessel closure, with the photosensitizer, Lambda 27, in Dutch belted rabbits, using fluorescein angiography and histopathology.

Design: A pre-clinical experiment.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Ophthalmology at the Tulane University Health Sciences Center, between June 2001 - July 2002.