Diagnostic significance of MCV, MCH AND NESTROFT in thalassemia minor individuals

Thalassemia is a blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The disorder results in excessive destruction of red blood cells, which leads to anemia. Thalassemia minor occurs if a person receives the defective gene from only one parent. If a person inherit defective gene from both parents then it will result in thalassemia major. Therefore carrier identification is necessary in order to prevent the major form of thalassemia. Although sophisticated methods of screening have become available, a hunt for a cheap, rapid, objective screening method still remains elusive. So in microbiology department at Jinnah University for women we design a study project to evaluate the significance of cell counter–based parameters that are MCV and MCH and to appraise the usefulness of Naked-Eye-SingleTube-Osmotic-Fragility-Test (NESTROFT) in detection of thalassemia minor. For this purpose 100 thalassemia minor individuals were selected for the study along with control (normal) sample. Their blood samples were subjected to NESTROFT and CBC samples were analyzed on cell counter Sysmex K21 for the estimation of MCV and MCH. All individuals give positive NESTROFT. MCV and MCH values were significantly low. MCV values were between 56- 75fl with a mean of 64.552fl and MCH values were between15-24pg with a mean of 19.603pg. This indicates MCV â€

Isolation of Gram Positive and Gram Negative Organisms from Pus Samples: One Center Study

The contamination of pus organisms in infected wounds, ears, brain abscesses and post surgical infection is a common problem for many patients which causes great distress in terms of discomfort, delayed healing and significantly increased healthcare cost by creating systemic infection and complication. The aim of the study was to find out the frequency as well as antimicrobial susceptibility of gram positive and gram negative organisms isolated from pus samples. The study was conducted at the Microbiology Department of Jinnah University for Women Karachi, Pakistan during September to November 2012. For this purpose pus samples collected from infected wounds, ears and post surgical infection, from different Health care Hospitals. Out of 35 positive cultures 11(31%) of gram positive followed by Staphylococcus aureus was identified 8(22.85%) and Streptococcus pyogenes 2(5.71%), Streptococcus epidermidis 1(2%) on the basis of colony morphology, gram’s stain, catalase and DNase test. 3(8.57%) were gram negative like Pseudomonas spp 3(8.57), Klebsiella spp 4(11.42%), E.coli 9(25.71%) and Candida spp 1(2.85%) were identified on the basis of microbiological and biochemical test

Caracterização molecular e bioquímica de micróbios biodegradadores de resíduos sólidos isolados da lixeira municipal da cidade de Karachi

Solid waste dump site-based pollution is one of the colossal health concerns globally due to presence of cellulose, starch, protein, and lipids, which is a perfect nutrient waste for the development of biodegrading potential microbes. The current study aimed to determine the productive microorganisms for waste biodegradation. Ten samples were collected from different areas of Karachi waste dump sites. The identification and characterization of isolates were done by morphological and biochemical tests. The isolated microbes were qualitatively screened for the action of making industrially key bio-enzymes. The potential enzymes producing microbes were subjected to waste degradation test for 90 days. Changes of odor, color and weight loss of decomposing garbage were noted. The highest degradation ability in term of weight loss was shown by Aspergillus (SSI14) and Bacillus (SSI6). Four metals (zinc sulphate, cadmium chloride, copper sulphate and iron sulphate) were chosen for the purpose of metals tolerance test and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the isolated microbial strains. Current study reported that Zn was found to be more lethal in in comparison to  Cu and Fe. Molecular identification of the isolated microbes was done by polymerase chain reaction. The microbial strains were characterized by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by confirmation of product by agarose gel electrophoresis. The findings can be served as baseline data to develop microbial apparatus for biodegradation and management of solid waste.O presente estudo visou determinar os microrganismos produtivos para a biodegradação de resíduos. Foram recolhidas dez amostras de diferentes áreas de depósitos de resíduos de Karachi. A identificação e caracterização dos isolados foram feitas através de testes morfológicos e bioquímicos. Os micróbios isolados foram selecionados qualitativamente para a ação de fazer bio-enzimas industriais chave. Os potenciais micróbios produtores de enzimas foram submetidos a um teste de degradação de resíduos durante 90 dias. Registaram-se alterações no odor, na cor e na perda de peso do lixo em decomposição. A maior capacidade de degradação em termos de perda de peso foi demonstrada por Aspergillus (SSI14) e Bacillus (SSI6). Foram escolhidos quatro metais (sulfato de zinco, cloreto de cádmio, sulfato de cobre e sulfato de ferro) para o ensaio de tolerância dos metais e para a concentração mínima inibitória (MIC) das estirpes microbianas isoladas. O estudo atual relatou que Zn foi considerado mais letal em comparação com e Fe. A identificação molecular dos micróbios isolados foi feita por reação em cadeia de polimerase. As estirpes microbianas foram caracterizadas pela reação em cadeia de polimerase (PCR) seguida de confirmação do produto por eletroforese de gel de agarose. As descobertas podem ser servidas como dados de base para desenvolver aparelhos microbianas para a biodegradação e gestão de resíduos sólidos

Estimation of Phytochemical Composition of Guava Leaf Extracts and their Antimicrobial Activities on Different Micro-Organisms

Aim of the proposed study to determine the antimicrobial potential of Guava (Psidium guajava) leaves. Guava leaves have been utilized traditionally as medicine. Now a day’s it is frequently used as therapeutic drugs in many countries like Asia, Egypt, Hawaii, Florida, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, Malaysia, Northeast India,Mexico and South Africa. Research proved that it has antimicrobial, anti-diarrheal, anti-malarial, and antioxidant activity and also used for the controlling of life changing conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension etc. Guava leaves are used as therapeutic drugs in many countries all over the world. Different bioactive components are present in guava leaf that can fight against pathogens. In this study we detected four components known as Saponin, Tannin, Terpenoid and Glycosides by phytochemically then analyzed against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. Leaves extract Prepared in methanol, ethanol and distilled water. MHA agar is used to check the antimicrobial activity by well-diffusion method, along with antibiotic streptomycin and gentamycine are used to compare the sensitive zone. Methnolic and ethanolic extract shows greater activity as compare to distilled water. Both gram positive and negative organism are susceptible to bioactive compounds present in guava leaves

Isolation and Study of Cellular Components of Aerobacillus Polymyxa along with Its Comparison in Soil Layers

Objectives: The main objective of this research was to isolate and to study the cell morphology and biochemical reactions of Aerobacillus polymyxa and Bacillus megaterium along with its habitat either in deep soil or aerobic soil. Background: AeroBacillus is from the family of PaneBacillus polymxa and Bacillus megaterium belongs from “Bacillaceae†family. These two organisms are gram positive, non-pathogenic bacteria found in soil that helps in nitrogen fixation. They both are equally important today but the main aim of this research to isolate them from the soil due to the characteristic importance of A. polymyxa to produce antibiotic and helps to remove biofilm formation where as B. megaterium is a good a source of producing industrial proteins due to its larger size than any other organisms. Methodology: Total16 samples were collected from aerobic & anaerobic soil, water and milk. The soil samples were cultured on TGB media and NA for four days. Results: Out of 16 samples 9 samples have shown positive results for the colonies of A. polymyxa and out of 16 samples 12 samples showed positive results for B. megaterium further confirmed by biochemical reactions

Clinical profile and screening of exon 6 and 14 of ABCB4 gene in obstetric cholestasis patients at a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Objective: Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP) is a rare pregnancy specific disorder. Genetic variants of ABCB4 gene increase ICP risk. This study was conducted to determine frequency of ICP cases presented at a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan and to screen for genetic variants of exon 6 and 14 of ABCB4 gene inICP cases. Methods: This analytical study included ICP patients presented at Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi, from February 2017 to May 2017. Sanger’s sequencing was performed using genomic DNA extracted from blood samples of patients and controls. Results: Twenty pregnant women out of 1150 (1.74%) had ICP and enrolled during study period. Overall 95% patients had pruritus and among them 40%, 20% and 10% had a history of miscarriages, stillbirths and familial ICP respectively. Genetic analysis revealed an already reported variant i.e., c.504C>T in exon 6 in thirteen patients and a novel variant i.e., c.1686A>G in exon 14 in five patients. Both variants were not present in controls. In silico analysis suggested that both variants might affect pre-mRNA splicing of ABCB4 transcript. Conclusion: ICP had a frequency of 1.74% among pregnant women. Identification of a novel heterozygous variant in five patients and an already reported variant in thirteen patients reaffirms genetic heterogeneity and role of ABCB4 in ICP etiology. Keywords: intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, ABCB4 gene, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP), Continuous..