A Novel Variant in Dopamine Receptor Type 2 Gene is Associated with Schizophrenia.

Background: Being the primary target of antipsychotic therapy, dopamine receptor type 2 (DRD2) remains a point of interest in schizophrenia pathology. Polymorphisms in DRD2 have been shown to alter patients' response to antipsychotics. DRD2 SNP rs6275 (C>T) have found to be associated with schizophrenia in different populations; however, data remains inconsistent.

Synonymous polymorphism rs201256011 in dopamine receptor type 2 gene is associated with schizophrenia and PANSS score in Pakistani population: A first report.

Aim: Variations of dopamine receptor type 2 (DRD2) are among the key factors involved in the pathology of schizophrenia. Presence of certain SNPs in DRD2 gene also amend patients' response to antipsychotics. Keeping in view the genetic diversity among populations and important role of DRD2 polymorphisms in schizophrenia, we aimed to study two of its SNPs rs1801028 and rs6277 in patients with schizophrenia from Pakistan.

Viral etiology of prostate cancer: Genetic alterations and immune response. A literature review.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. Recent estimates suggest that over a million men are diagnosed with the disease annually. Prostate cancer pathogenesis involves both heritable and environmental factors.

Adipocyte-derived soluble factor(s) inhibits early stages of B lymphopoiesis.

B lymphopoiesis declines with age, and in rabbits this occurs by 8 wk of age. We found that CFU fibroblasts (CFU-Fs) in the bone marrow (BM) decrease 10-fold by a few weeks of age and that the CFU-Fs preferentially differentiate into adipocytes instead of osteoblasts. BM becomes filled with fat spaces during this time, making rabbit a unique model to study the effects of accelerated fat accumulation on B lymphopoiesis.

Frequency and clinical spectrum of rare inherited coagulopathies--a tricenter study.

Objective: To determine the frequency of rare inherited coagulopathies at three centers of haematology in Karachi and to study the clinical spectrum and laboratory data of these coagulopathies.

Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted from September 2003 to December 2004 on subjects from Aga Khan University Hospital, Husaini Blood Bank and Fatimid Blood Transfusion Centre. All the subjects with bleeding tendency without any acquired causes of bleeding were selected for further investigation, and were asked relevant questions as present in the questionnaire.

Frequency of irregular red cell alloantibodies in patients with thalassemia major: a bicenter study.

Objective: To provide frequency and distribution pattern of various types of irregular red cell alloantibodies in patients with thalassemia major.

Methods: This is a descriptive study conducted at two centers from January to December 2001. Purposive sampling was done and all patients diagnosed to have thalassemia major were included in the study.

Anaphylactic reaction after intramuscular injection of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12): a case report.

We report a case of anaphylactic reaction to intramuscular injection of cyanocobalamin. This 52-year-old lady was diagnosed as a case of megaloblastic anemia secondary to dietary vitamin B12 deficiency. She had severe anaphylactic reaction after the parenteral administration of cyanocobalamine.

Hairy cell leukemia: clinical presentation and long term follow up after treatment with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA).

The aim of the study was to the clinical features and long term follow up after treatment with Cladarbine in a tertiary care hospital. Seven patients with hairy cell leukemia were diagnosed between January 1990 till December 2003. Diagnosis in all the patients was established by bone marrow aspirates and trephine biopsy along with TRAP.

Familial homocystinuria.

Two cases of siblings diagnosed as cases of familial homocystinuria are reported. Both the cases have classical presentation of familial homocystinuria including history of dislocation of lens of the right eye. Brother had history of psychomotor retardation while sister had a significant history of deep vein thrombosis.