Comparative predictive value of three prognostic markers--S-phase fraction, PCNA and mitotic count on axillary lymph node metastasis in carcinoma breast

Background: Axillary lymph node metastasis is the single most important prognostic factor in carcinoma of the breast. Therefore, prognostic markers that may reliably predict probability of lymph node (LN) metastases are of great value. This study was conducted to compare the predictive value of two novel prognostic / proliferative markers i.e. S-phase fraction (SPF) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in parallel with mitotic index. Methods: Data of consecutive cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) breast diagnosed from July 2003 to July 2004 at the section of the Histopathology, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, were reviewed. A total of 112 cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast with axillary LN sampling were selected. SPF was calculated by flow cytometry while PCNA staining was done by immunohistochemistry. Mitotic count was calculated according to modified Bloom and Richardson’s grading guidelines. Result: It was observed that the number of axillary LN metastases was increased with higher SPF (p value: 0.008). However no significant difference was found between the results of various categories of PCNA on axillary LN metastases (p value: 0.182) and mitotic count with axillary lymph node metastases (p value: 0.324). Conclusion: It was concluded that mitotic count and / PCNA alone cannot be used in predicting axillary LN metastases. SPF was found to be a more reliable marker compared to PCNA reactivity and conventional mitotic count in predicting axillary LN metastases

MANOVA with Summary Statistics: A STATA Program

Almost all available statistical packages are capable of performing Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) from raw data. Some of statistical packages have capability to perform independent sample t-test, ANOVA and some other tests of significance on summary data, but you come across not single software that has the capability to perform MANOVA directly on summary data. A STATA programme has been written to perform Multivariate ANOVA on summary data. The programme computes available statistics for Multivariate ANOVA (i.e Willk’s Lembda, Lawley’s-Hotelling trace, Pillae’s trace and Roy’s largest root). The programme is also capable to perform Box–M test for testing equality of covariance matrices on summary data. Example has been given by using the programme on summary data to perform Multivariate ANOVA

Antimicrobial Peptides as Infection Imaging Agents: Better Than Radiolabeled Antibiotics

Nuclear medicine imaging techniques offer whole body imaging for localization of number and site of infective foci inspite of limitation of spatial resolution. The innate human immune system contains a large member of important elements including antimicrobial peptides to combat any form of infection. However, development of antibiotics against bacteria progressed rapidly and gained popularity over antimicrobial peptides but even powerful antimicrobials failed to reduce morbidity and mortality due to emergence of mutant strains of bacteria resulting in antimicrobial resistance. Differentiation between infection and inflammation using radiolabeled compounds with nuclear medicine techniques has always been a dilemma which is still to be resolved. Starting from nonspecific tracers to specific radiolabeled tracers, the question is still unanswered. Specific radiolabeled tracers included antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides which bind directly to the bacteria for efficient localization with advanced nuclear medicine equipments. However, there are merits and demerits attributed to each. In the current paper, radiolabeled antibiotics and radiolabeled peptides for infection localization have been discussed starting with the background of primitive nonspecific tracers. Radiolabeled antimicrobial peptides have certain merits compared with labeled antibiotics which make them superior agents for localization of infective focus

2-Bromo-4-methyl­benzonitrile

The title mol­ecule, C8H6BrN, is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation for the non-H atoms = 0.008 Å). In the crystal, weak π–π stacking inter­actions [centroid–centroid separations = 3.782 (2) and 3.919 (2) Å] generate [100] columns of mol­ecules

Detection of phytoplasma in citrus orchards of Pakistan

Citrus fruits are one of the major export commodities of Pakistan. However, being such an important crop citrus is affected by a number of destructive diseases and phytoplasmal disease is one of them. In Pakistan no significant research has been conducted on phytoplasmal diseases of citrus. Therefore, present study was conducted to confirm the presence of phytoplasmal particles in diseased samples of citrus from Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Multan and Khaenwal districts the most important citrus growing areas of Pakistan. For this purpose DNA was extracted from leaf samples collected from the three districts and single (O-MLO) and nested PCR were applied to detect phytoplasmal particles. With O-MLO primers a 558bp fragment was amplified from 16S rRNA phytoplasmal gene and 1.2kb phytoplasmal DNA fragment was amplified with nested PCR. The results revealed the presence of citrus phytoplasma in Southern Punjab region of Pakistan. In order to confirm the alternate hosts of citrus phytoplasma as well as the insect vectors involved in the transmission of the disease, weeds as well as insects were collected from citrus orchards for molecular detection of phytoplasma and their analysis are is in progress

Torsion of ovarian dysgerminoma in a child: role of computed tomography.

Dysgerminomas are malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary that most commonly occur in the adolescent population. Ovarian dysgerminomapresenting with complications like torsion is a rare entity in the pediatric age group. Cross-sectional imaging plays a crucial role in diagnosis, tumor staging before surgical resection, and for planning adjuvant chemotherapy. We report a case of a nine-year-old female who presented to the emergency room (ER) with abdominal distention and abdominal pain. Computed tomography scan revealed a large right-sided pelvic mass with areas of low attenuation, speckled calcification, peritumoral free fluid, and a twisted vascular pedicle that was likely originating from the left adnexa. The right ovary was normal in appearance. Suspicion of a left-sided ovarian tumor with torsion was raised, which was later confirmed on surgery and histopathology of the resected specimen

The Role of Distribution Channels and Educational level towards Insurance Awareness among the General Public

This research study aims at giving an overview of the emerging research field of Islamic insurance in a phase that is still under debate among Muslim nations. No doubt, Takaful (Islamic insurance) is growing rapidly but it is still behind conventional insurance. Most of the researches reveal the fact that general public is unaware about Takaful and Takaful awareness level is low among general public. Researchers and practitioners are trying to explore the crucial factors which creates Takaful awareness among general public. However, only few studies are available in Pakistan which formally documented the issue and explore different Takaful awareness factors among general public of Pakistan. Therefore, the ultimate objective of this study is to find out general factors which enhance Takaful awareness level among general public of Pakistan. To achieve this objective, three hypotheses are proposed concerning the relationship of Takaful awareness level and other Takaful awareness factors such as Educational Level of general public, Religious Orientation of general public and Takaful Distribution Channels. Primary data was collected from general public of Pakistan by using 5-point Likert scale. These hypotheses predicting a positive relationship between Takaful awareness level and awareness factors (i.e., educational level, religious orientation, distribution channels). However, religious orientation has higher impact as compared to Takaful distribution channels and educational level. Study found that these three factors are crucial to enhance Takaful awareness level among general public. Hence, this study is contributing in the body of knowledge by exploring the vital factors to enhance Takaful awareness level and tried to resolve the important issue of Takaful awareness by developing a framework. This study is more significant for practitioners to enhance Takaful awareness level by exercising these three factors among general public of Pakistan

Efecto del grado de maduración en el perfil de ácidos grasos de diferentes tejidos de rohu (Labeo rohita) salvaje y criado

During the breeding season, lots of physiological changes occur in the bodies of fish which lead to other phenotypical, anatomical and behavioral changes. To evaluate the impact of breeding on the bodily composition of fish, tests were conducted to determine the fatty acid profile of the brooder and Non-brooder wild and farmed fish. Samples were analyzed by gas liquid chromatography using a flame ionization detector.There are non significant differences in the amount of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in wild and farmed nonbrooder fish whereas in case of brooder there are significant differences. Brooder farmed fish contained more saturates in gonads approximately twice that of wild fish with C16:0 as the dominating fatty acid. C18:2n-6 and C20:5n-6 were the dominating unsaturated fatty acids in the gonads. Non-brooder fish contained more unsaturated fatty acids in the meat as compared to the brooder fish and farmed fish contained higher amounts of saturated fatty acids as compared to wild fish. C18:1n-9 and C20:4n-6 fatty acids were found in higher quantities and among the saturated acids, C16:0 is the dominating one. More or less similar results were found in the case of the liver fatty acid profile of breeding and nonbreeding fish. Fish of lower weight categories contained more unsaturated fatty acids and so better for consumption to leave the brooders of higher weight categories for the breeding of future generation.Durante la época de reproducción numerosos cambios fisiológicos ocurren en el cuerpo de los peces que guían a cambios anatómicos y de comportamiento. Para evaluar el impacto de la etapa de reproducción en la composición de los peces, ensayos para determinar el perfil de ácidos grasos fueron conducidos en peces salvajes y criados, en dos categorías de peso, maduro (booder) o inmaduro (non-brooder). Las muestras fueron analizadas por cromatografía de gases usando un detector de ionización de llama. No hubo diferencias significativas en la cantidad de ácidos grasos saturados e insaturados en peces salvajes o criados non-brooder mientras que en el caso de los brooder sí hubo diferencias significativas. Los peces brooder criados contienen más ácidos grasos saturados; en gónadas aproximadamente el doble que los salvajes con el C16:0 como el ácido graso dominante. C18:2n-6 y C20:5n-6 fueron los ácidos grasos insaturados dominantes en las gónadas. Los peces non-brooder contienen más ácidos grasos insaturados en la carne que los peces brooder y los peces criados contienen mayores cantidades de ácidos grasos saturados en comparación con los peces salvajes. Los ácidos grasos C18:1n-9 y C20:4n-6 fueron encontrados en cantidades más altas y entres los saturados el C16:0 fue uno de los principales. Resultados más o menos similares fueron encontrados en el caso del perfil de ácidos grasos de hígados de peces en etapas de reproducción y no reproducción. Los peces de la categoría de pesos más bajos contienen más ácidos grasos insaturados y son mejores para el consumo y permite la cría de peces de peso más alto

Mitochondrial genetic characterization of Gujar population living in the Northwest areas of Pakistan

Background: Diversity of communities with specific cultural, ethnic, lingual and geographical backgrounds makes Pakistani society a suitable study subject to unravel the early human migrations, evolutionary history of population having about 18 ethnic groups. Gujars are mostly Indic-speaking nomadic herders with the claims of multiple origins in the sub-continent. Present study was aimed at the determination of maternal lineage of Gujars by mitochondrial DNA analysis.Methods: Total DNA from the human buccal cells was isolated using modified phenol chloroform method. Purified DNA was used for the PCR amplification of mitochondrial Hyper Variable Region 1 and 2 (HVR1 & 2). The nucleotide sequences of amplified PCR products were used to explore the maternal lineage of the Gujar population residing in Northern Pakistan.Results: Haplotypes, allele frequencies and population data of the mitochondrial control region was determined in 73 unrelated individuals belonging to Gujar ethnic group of Northwest areas of Pakistan. Total 46 diverse haplotypes were identified out of which 29 were found unique with (0.9223) genetic diversity and (0.9097) power of discrimination. Haplogroup R was the most frequent (48%) followed by haplogroup M (45%) and N (7%).Conclusion: We found that the Gujar population has multiple maternal gene pool comprising of South Asian, West Eurasian, East Eurasian, Southeast Asian and fractions of Eastern Asian, Eastern Europe and Northern Asian lineages. This study will contribute for the development of mitochondrial DNA database for Pakistani population