Calcifying fibrous pseudotumor in association with hyaline vascular type castleman\u27s disease.

Calcifying fibrous pseudotumor is a recently described rare entity. It is considered as sclerosing end stage of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. An association with hyaline vascular type Castleman\u27s disease has also been described. We report a case of a 13-year-old boy who presented with pain in epigastrium. Computed tomography scan of abdomen revealed a circumscribed mass arising from the gastric wall along the greater curvature. Histology revealed a tumor composed of spindle cells present within the dense hyalinized collagenous tissue. Lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate was seen along with lymphoid follicles, dystrophic and ossifying calcification. Tumor cells were focally positive for alpha smooth muscle actin and negative for anaplastic lymphoma kinase protein

A Contribution to the Previous Study for Genus Agaricus in and around Ayubia National Park, Pakistan

Agaricus is among the most valuable and familiar genera belonging to Basidiomycota. These are known to have a partial veil on their stipe, which helps to protect the gills when they are immature. Escalating human activity and distribution pattern of the species has introduced some new one in the territory while pushing the previously reported one to extinction. Ayubia Nationa Park always remains a suitable place for mushroom hunters and number of species of plants and fungi has already been reported. The present survey was aimed at improving the previous collection and also to check the certain characters of the genus Agaricus. Keywords: Genus Agaricus, Ayubia National Par

BRCA1 status in Pakistani breast cancer patients with moderate family history

OBJECTIVE: To determine BRCA1 status in breast carcinoma patients of Pakistani origin. STUDY DESIGN: Observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Oncology Clinics of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, between May 2005 and December 2009. METHODOLOGY: Fifty three breast cancer patients based on clinical and laboratory diagnosis were recruited for this study. Moderate family history was defined as having a close relative (mother, daughter, sister) diagnosed with breast cancer under 45 years. Peripheral blood samples were collected from each patient in a 5 ml tube containing EDTA as anticoagulant. Subsequent to DNA extraction, mutational analysis of BRCA1 exons 2, 5, 6, 16, 20 and 22 was carried out using single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) assay while protein truncation test (PTT) was used to examine mutations in exon 11. All BRCA1 sequence variants were confirmed by DNA sequencing. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were diagnosed with early onset breast cancer, 30 patients had moderate family history. At the time of diagnosis, the median age of enrolled patients was 39 years (range 24-65 years). Out of 53 patients, analyzed by SSCP assay, mobility shift was detected in exon 6, 16 and 20 of three patients, whereas one patient was tested positive for mutation in exon 11 by PTT assays. All patients with BRCA1 mutations were further confirmed by DNA sequencing analysis. In exon 16 c.4837A \u3e G was confirmed, which is a common polymorphism reported in several populations including Asians. Moreover, mutations in exon 6 (c.271T \u3e G), exon 20 (c.5231 delG) and exon 11 (c.1123 T \u3e G) were reported first time in the Pakistani population. CONCLUSION: Several BRCA1 mutations were observed in Pakistani breast cancer patients with moderate family history. Therefore, mutation-based genetic counselling for patients with moderate family history can facilitate management, if one first or second degree relative or early onset disease is apparent

South asian contributions to the international rehabilitation literature: an online literature survey of 10 years

Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM & R) deals with management, rehabilitation and community reintegration persons with disabilities. It is an emerging medical specialty in the South-Asian region (Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Srilanka ,Afghanistan, Bhutan and Maldives,). The region comprises 24% of the world population with a huge burden of disability. The contributions of South Asian authors to the international rehabilitation medicine literature are unknown. The aim of this study was to document the contributions of south Asian authors in the international rehabilitation literature in the last decade

Mandibular Deformity Correction by Distraction Osteogenesis

Distraction osteogenesis (DO) is a biological process of new bone formation. It could be used as an alternative treatment method for the correction of mandibular hypoplastic deformity. Modern distraction osteogenesis evolved primarily from the work of Gavriel llizarov. DO has been first applied to craniofacial region since McCarthy et al. In this case report, the patient was 17 years old male with bird face deformity due to hypoplasia of mandible resulted from bilateral TMJ ankylosis due to the fracture of both condyle at the age of 4 years. Patient’s intraincisal opening was absent 1 year back. He underwent condylectomy in both sides to release the ankylosis and to increase intraincisal opening. His mandibular length was markedly short. To increase his mandibular antero-posterior length, mandibular body distraction was done in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department, BSMMU. Through this procedure length of the body of mandibule was increased by 10 mm, occlusion was edge to edge and his lower facial appearance increased markedly. Mandibular body distraction osteogenesis was considerably effective when performed in a hypoplastic mandible to facilitate post-operative functional and esthetic restoration. Long term follow-up is necessary to evaluate relapse and complications. DOI: 10.3329/bsmmuj.v3i2.7061BSMMU J 2010; 3(2): 103-10

Biosafety assessment of transgenic Bt cotton on model animals

Background: To know the effects of transgenic crops on soil microorganisms, animals and other expected hazards due to the introduction of GM crops into the environment is critical both scientifically and environmentally. The work was conducted to study the effect of insecticidal Bt protein on Rats and Earthworms.  Methods: For this purpose, animals like rat and soil organisms like Earthworm were selected. Rats were selected on the basis of its 95% homology on genomic, cellular and enzymatic level with human while earthworm were preferred on the basis of their direct contact with soil to evaluate the impact of Bt (Cry1AC) crop field soil on earthworm, secreted by root exudates of Bt cotton. Several physical, molecular, biochemical and histological analyses were performed on both Rats/Earthworms fed on standard diet (control group) as well containing Bt protein (experimental group).Results: Molecular analyses such as immune Dot blot, SDS-PAGE, ELISA and PCR, confirmed the absence of Cry1Ac protein in blood and urine samples of rats, which were fed with Bt protein in their diet. Furthermore, histological studies showed that there was no difference in cellular architecture in liver, heart, kidney and intestine of Bt and non-Bt diet fed rats. To see the effect of Bt on earthworm two different groups were studied, one with transgenic plant field soil supplemented with grinded leaves of cotton and second group with non-Bt field soil.Conclusions: No lethal effects of transgenic Bt protein on the survival of earthworm and rats were observed. Bradford assay, Dipstick assay ELISA demonstrated the absence of Cry1Ac protein in the mid-gut epithelial tissue of earthworm. The results of present study will be helpful in successful deployment and commercial release of genetically modified crop in Pakistan

Assessment of Variability in Hydrological Droughts Using the Improved Innovative Trend Analysis Method

The use of hydro-climatological time series to identify patterns is essential for comprehending climate change and extreme events such as drought. Hence, in this study, hydrological drought variability based on the standard drought index (SDI) using DrinC was investigated at ten (10) hydrological stations in the Upper Indus River Basin (UIRB) of Pakistan on a monthly timescale for a period of 1961–2018. Moreover, the applicability of the improved innovative trend analysis by Sen Slope method (referred hereafter as the IITA) method was evaluated in comparison with innovative trend analysis (ITA) and Mann–Kendall (MK). The findings demonstrated a significant decreasing trend in the hydrological drought from October to March; on the other hand, from April through September, a significant increasing trend was observed. In addition to that, the consistency of the outcomes across the three trend analysis methods was also observed in most of the cases, with some discrepancies in trend direction, such as at Kharmong station. Conclusively, consistency of results in all three trend analysis methods showed that the IITA method is reliable and effective due to its capability to investigate the trends in low, median, and high values of hydrometeorological timeseries with graphical representation. A degree-day or energy-based model can be used to extend the temporal range and link the effects of hydrological droughts to temperature, precipitation, and snow cover on a sub-basin scale.Shuimu Scholar Program of Tsinghua University (Grant number 2020SM072), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant number 52250410336), and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant number 2022M721872)

Parental depressive symptoms, children’s emotional and behavioural problems, and parents’ expressed emotion - Critical and positive comments

This longitudinal study examined whether mothers' and fathers' depressive symptoms predict, independently and interactively, children's emotional and behavioural problems. It also examined bi-directional associations between parents' expressed emotion constituents (parents' child-directed positive and critical comments) and children's emotional and behavioural problems. At time 1, the sample consisted of 160 families in which 50 mothers and 40 fathers had depression according to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Children's mean age at Time 1 was 3.9 years (SD = 0.8). Families (n = 106) were followed up approximately 16 months later (Time 2). Expressed emotion constituents were assessed using the Preschool Five Minute Speech Sample. In total, 144 mothers and 158 fathers at Time 1 and 93 mothers and 105 fathers at Time 2 provided speech samples. Fathers' depressive symptoms were concurrently associated with more child emotional problems when mothers had higher levels of depressive symptoms. When controlling for important confounders (children's gender, baseline problems, mothers' depressive symptoms and parents' education and age), fathers' depressive symptoms independently predicted higher levels of emotional and behavioural problems in their children over time. There was limited evidence for a bi-directional relationship between fathers' positive comments and change in children's behavioural problems over time. Unexpectedly, there were no bi-directional associations between parents' critical comments and children's outcomes. We conclude that the study provides evidence to support a whole family approach to prevention and intervention strategies for children's mental health and parental depression

Frequency of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Infection in Infants on The Basis of Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis

Objective: To know the frequency of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection in infants on the basis of cerebrospinal fluid analysis.Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted at the LRH Neurosurgery unit, pathology department of KTH Peshawar and department of neurosurgery Gomal Medical College. D.I. Khan, from July 2016 to June 2018. All consecutive patients with suspected ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection were included in the study. The age of the patients was up to one year, irrespective of their gender. Infants with closed fontanelle and previous revision surgery for ventriculoperitoneal shunt were excluded from the study.Results: Total 204 patients. The age of the patients were under one year (infants). Infected cerebrospinal fluids were observed in 19.1% (39/204) infants. Female infants were slightly more common (51.3%) than male. Majority (64.1%) of the patients was having age less than 6 months.Conclusion: We conclude from our study that 19.1% of infants with cerebrospinal fluid shunts have infected CSF on laboratory analysis. Most of the infected shunts occur in female infants and in the first half of their age