A simple high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the measurement of pyridoxal-5-phosphate and 4-pyridoxic acid in human plasma.

Background: Low concentration of plasma pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP) is associated with hyperhomocysteinemia and inflammation. Most methods for the measurement of plasma PLP require large specimen volume and involve the use of toxic reagents.

Methods: We have developed a HPLC method for the measurement of PLP and 4-pyridoxic acid (4-PA) in plasma, which requires small specimen volume.

Seroprevalence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in five draught equine populated metropolises of Punjab, Pakistan.

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) caused by intraerythrocytic parasites (Theileria equi and Babesia caballi) is an emerging equine disease of world-wide distribution. In Pakistan, the prevalence and incidence of EP are unknown. In order to obtain the first insights into the prevalence of the disease, a total of 430 equids, including 33 mules, 65 horses and 332 donkeys, aging from ≤ 5 to ≥ 10 years of either sex, from five metropolises of Punjab, Pakistan, were serologically tested for the presence of antibodies directed against B.

Kidney donors and kidney transplants have abnormal aminothiol redox status, and are at increased risk of oxidative stress and reduced redox buffer capacity.

Objective: Living kidney donors have been part of a successful kidney transplant programme in Norway for almost 50 years. Glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) have tended to remain stable at about 70% of pre-donation levels. Plasma total homocysteine (Hcy) has an inverse relationship to kidney function, and previous reports indicate elevated levels of Hcy in kidney donors.

Increased incidence of adrenal gland injury in blunt abdominal trauma: a computed tomography-based study from Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the frequency of adrenal injuries in patients presenting with blunt abdominal trauma by computed tomography (CT).

Methods: During a 6 month period from January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011, 82 emergency CT examinations were performed in the setting of major abdominal trauma and retrospectively reviewed for adrenal gland injuries.

Results: A total of 7 patients were identified as having adrenal gland injuries (6 males and 1 female).

Pseudomelanosis of stomach, duodenum, and jejunum.

Pseudomelanosis is a rare finding during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and is most commonly seen in the duodenum. Involvement of other organs in the upper gastrointestinal tract is extremely rare, with only 1 reported case involving the stomach, duodenum, and jejunum. We present a case of a 60-year-old woman with mild anemia and hematemesis, who was found to have characteristic speckled pattern of gray-black pigmentation on endoscopic examination.

Dieulafoy's lesion: a rare cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

The most common etiologies of lower gastrointestinal bleeding include ischemia, diverticulosis, and angiodysplasia. A Dieulafoy's lesion, an uncommon cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, is even more rare as an etiology of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. We report a case of an elderly patient with abrupt hematochezia requiring stabilization and blood transfusions.

Increased fitness and realized heritability in emamectin benzoate-resistant Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae).

The common green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea is a key biological control agent employed in integrated pest management (IPM) programs for managing various insect pests. A field collected population of C. carnea was selected for emamectin benzoate resistance in the laboratory and fitness costs and realized heritability were investigated.

Impact of granular drops.

We investigate the spreading and splashing of granular drops during impact with a solid target. The granular drops are formed from roughly spherical balls of sand mixed with water, which is used as a binder to hold the ball together during free-fall. We measure the instantaneous spread diameter for different impact speeds and find that the normalized spread diameter d/D grows as (tV/D)(1/2).

The Human Proteome Organization Chromosome 6 Consortium: integrating chromosome-centric and biology/disease driven strategies.

Unlabelled: The Human Proteome Project (HPP) is designed to generate a comprehensive map of the protein-based molecular architecture of the human body, to provide a resource to help elucidate biological and molecular function, and to advance diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Within this framework, the chromosome-based HPP (C-HPP) has allocated responsibility for mapping individual chromosomes by country or region, while the biology/disease HPP (B/D-HPP) coordinates these teams in cross-functional disease-based groups. Chromosome 6 (Ch6) provides an excellent model for integration of these two tasks.

Spontaneous renal artery dissection: current perspective.

Spontaneous Renal artery dissection is a rare entity that may remain clinically silent or present with non-specific signs and symptoms, which makes it a diagnostic challenge. It may be associated with certain underlying vascular pathologies, but its occurrence remains idiopathic in the majority of cases. While there are no evidence-based guidelines for its management, blood pressure control and preservation of renal function remain the cardinal goals of therapy.

Early biochemical and hematological response to intramuscular cyanocobalamin therapy in vitamin B(12)-deficient patients.

Background: Data on early biochemical and hematological responses to cobalamin therapy in vitamin B12-deficient patients are scarce. Therefore, we investigated whether cobalamin injections would include prompt biochemical and hematological responses in vitamin B12-deficient patients.

Subjects And Methods: Seven female patients (mean age: 69.

Perovskite-structured PbTiO3 thin films grown from a single-source precursor.

Perovskite-structured lead titanate thin films have been grown on FTO-coated glass substrates from a single-source heterometallic molecular complex, [PbTi(μ2-O2CCF3)4(THF)3(μ3-O)]2 (1), which was isolated in quantitative yield from the reaction of tetraacetatolead(IV), tetrabutoxytitanium(IV), and trifluoroacetic acid from a tetrahydrofuran solution. Complex 1 has been characterized by physicochemical methods such as melting point, microanalysis, FTIR, (1)H and (19)F NMR, thermal analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Thin films of lead titanate having spherical particles of various sizes have been grown from 1 by aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition at 550 °C.

Incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome in adult patients with mitochondrial disease.

Symmetrical polyneuropathy is a common feature of mitochondrial disease. Both axonal and demyelinating types are described, with Schwann cell abnormalities demonstrated on nerve biopsy. Some authors have also suggested an increased incidence of entrapment neuropathy.

Significant correlation of TLR4 expression with the clinicopathological features of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Toll-like receptor 4 belongs to the family of pattern recognition receptors and is therefore an important part of innate immunity. Since the last decade, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have gained much interest in cancer research due to their role in tumor progression. However, there is scarcity of data evaluating TLR4 expression in different cell populations of tumor in relation to clinicopathological parameters of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Higher leukocyte subpopulation counts in healthy smoker industrial workers than in nonsmoker industrial workers: possible health consequences.

Objectives: Cigarette smoke contains free radicals, which cause injury to endothelial cells and oxidize bioactive components in the blood. Neutrophils, a subpopulation of leukocytes, contain the enzyme myeloperoxidase that mediates production of hypochlorous acid during oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated whether smoker industrial workers had significantly higher neutrophil counts than nonsmoker industrial workers.

Adjuvant steroid therapy in community-acquired pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among adults. Although steroids appear to be beneficial in animal models of CAP, clinical trial data in humans are either equivocal or conflicting.

Purpose: Our purpose was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the impact of steroid therapy on clinical outcomes among adults admitted with CAP.

Effectiveness of an antimicrobial treatment scheme in a confined glanders outbreak.

Background: Glanders is a contagious and fatal zoonotic disease of solipeds caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia (B.) mallei. Although regulations call for culling of diseased animals, certain situations e.

Evaluation of protective effect of Sapindus mukorossi saponin fraction on CCl(4)-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats.

Aim: This investigation aimed to assess the hepatoprotective effect of saponin fraction isolated from the fruit pericarp of Sapindus mukorossi on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatotoxicity.

Methods: Fruit of S. mukorossi was collected and authenticated, and dried pericarp powder subjected to extraction with cold ethanol (70%) by maceration followed by isolation of total saponin fraction.

A case of cyclic neutropenia in adults.

A 22 years old patient presented with recurrent episodes of diarrhoea, pharyngitis, apthous ulcers and fever for the past 6 months. The episodes lasted a week each time. The patient was admitted and blood studies revealed neutropenia with increased number of Large Granular Lymphocytes.

Antischistosomal effect of holothurin extracted from some Egyptian sea cucumbers.

Context: Holothuria polii (H. polii) Linnaeus (Holothuriidae), Actinopyga mauritiana (A. mauritiana) Quoy & Gaimard (Holothuriidae) and Bohadschia vitiensis (B.

A case report of cecal plasmablastic lymphoma in a HIV-negative patient.

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a unique type of diffuse proliferation of large neoplastic lymphoid cells most of which resemble B immunoblasts, but all tumor cells show the immunophenotype of plasma cells. It has a strong predilection for jaw and oral cavity in HIV-positive patients. Incidences of extraoral location of this tumor is increasingly being recognized especially in HIV-negative patients for example, stomach, jejunum, omentum, anorectum, lungs, testes, soft tissues, lymph nodes, bone marrow, skin, and central nervous system.

Eating patterns are associated with biomarkers in a selected population of university students and employees.

The association between diet and CVD cannot be assigned to a single nutrient, but rather to a set of nutrients and non-nutrients, and eating pattern analyses have become an important tool in investigation of this relationship. Our objective was to investigate eating patterns in relation to nutrient intake and serum concentration of folate, vitamin B12 and TAG in ninety-five healthy adult participants. Dietary information was collected by an FFQ, and eating patterns were obtained by principal components analyses of thirty-three food groups.

Serum folate is significantly correlated with plasma cysteine concentrations in healthy industry workers.

Background: A low concentration of serum folate is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Extracellular cysteine is involved in aging, cancer and cardiovascular disease. The relationship between serum folate and plasma cysteine is poorly understood.

Superficial bladder tumours: recurrence and progression.

Objective: To determine various presentations of superficial bladder cancer, its management, recurrence and progression rates.

Study Design: Case series.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Urology, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, from January 2002 to December 2009.