Analysis of the association between Epstein Barr virus infection and Hodgkin lymphoma

Epstein Barr virus plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin lymphoma. However, the frequency of its association in Bangladeshi people has not been widely studied. The aim of this study was to determine the association of Epstein Barr virus association in Hodgkin Lymphoma through detection of Latent Membrane Protein 1 by immunohistochemistry and serum Epstein Barr virus viral capsid antigen IgG antibody titer by serology. This was a cross-sectional study in purposively selected 45 histologically diagnosed cases of Hodgkin lymphoma at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, during the period of March 2017 to December 2018. Latent membrane protein 1 was positive in 71.1% of cases of Hodgkin lymphoma. Among these positive cases, 96% of cases had significantly raised titer of serum Epstein Barr virus viral capsid antigen IgG antibody (P<0.0001 obtained by Fisher’s Exact test), which had a male predominance. Mixed cellularity classical Hodgkin lymphoma showed the highest positivity. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal 2022;15(4):32-3

Chromosomal abnormalities in primary and secondary amenorrhea

Background: Menstruation is an important physiological function of the female reproductive system. The absence of menstruation is called amenorrhea. Many genetic and nongenetic causes are responsible for primary or secondary amenorrhea. This study aimed to determine the types chromosomal abnormalities among patients with primary or secondary amenorrhea. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Pathology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, from September 2019 to August 2021. A total of 115 women who had come for a karyotype test with complaints of pathological amenorrhea were purposively selected. One hundred five cases presented with primary amenorrhea, and 10 cases presented with secondary amenorrhea. Karyotype analysis in peripheral blood by G-banding was carried out using the standard method. Results: Among the 105 patients with primary amenorrhea, 53.3% of patients had a normal karyotype (46, XX), and 46.6% had chromosomal abnormalities (numerical or structural). Turner syndrome classic, 45, XO (16.2%) and 46, XY DSD (Disorders of Sexual Development) (11.4%) were the two most frequent chromosomal abnormalities found in the patients with primary amenorrhea. Among the 10 cases with secondary amenorrhea, seven patients had normal karyotype, and three patients had chromosomal abnormalities (2 had sex chromosomal abnormalities, and 1 had a structural abnormality of autosome). Conclusion: The study of chromosomal abnormalities will help in the early and accurate diagnosis of the underlying aetiology of primary or secondary amenorrhea. It will also help in the management and proper counselling of cases.

Clinical Presentation of COVID-19 and Antibody Responses in Bangladeshi Patients Infected with the Delta or Omicron Variants of SARS-CoV-2

The clinical presentation of COVID-19 and the specific antibody responses associated with SARS-CoV-2 variants have not been investigated during the emergence of Omicron variants in Bangladesh. The Delta and Omicron variants were identified by post-PCR melting curve analysis of the spike (S) protein receptor binding domain amplicons. Anti-S-protein immunoglobulin-G anti-nucleocapsid (N)-protein immunoglobulin-G and immunoglobulin-A levels were measured by ELISA. The Delta variant was found in 40 out of 40 (100%) SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positive COVID-19 patients between 13 September and 23 October 2021 and Omicron variants in 90 out of 90 (100%) RT-PCR positive COVID-19 patients between 9 January and 10 February 2022. The Delta variant associated with hospitalization (74%, 80%, and 40%) and oxygen support (60%, 57%, and 40%) in the no vaccine, dose-1, and dose-2 vaccinated cases, respectively, whereas the Omicron COVID-19 required neither hospitalization nor oxygen support (0%, p p p < 0.02). Anti-spike protein immunoglobulin-G and anti-N-protein immunoglobulin-G within 1 week post onset of Delta variant COVID-19 symptoms indicate prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. The Delta variant and Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 breakthrough infections in the Dhaka region, at 240 days post onset of COVID-19 symptoms, negatively correlated with the time interval between the second vaccine dose and serum sampling. The findings of lower anti-spike protein immunoglobulin-G reactivity after booster vaccination than after the second vaccine dose suggest that the booster vaccine is not necessarily beneficial in young Bangladeshi adults having a history of repeated SARS-CoV-2 infections

An in vivo and in silico evaluation of the hepatoprotective potential of Gynura procumbens: A promising agent for combating hepatotoxicity.

IntroductionThe liver, the most important metabolic organ of the body, performs a wide variety of vital functions. Hepatic cell injury occurs by the activation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are generated by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), xenobiotics, and other toxic substances through cytochrome P450-dependent steps resulting from the covalent bond formation with lipoproteins and nucleic acids. Observing the urgent state of hepatotoxic patients worldwide, different medicinal plants and their properties can be explored to combat such free radical damage to the liver. In vivo and in silico studies were designed and conducted to evaluate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties of Gynura procumbens in rats.Materials and methodsGynura procumbens leaves were collected and extracted using 70% ethanol. The required chemicals CCl4, standard drug (silymarin), and blood serum analysis kits were stocked. The in vivo tests were performed in 140 healthy Wister albino rats of either sex under well-controlled parameters divided into 14 groups, strictly maintaining Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IEAC) protocols. For the histopathology study, 10% buffered neutral formalin was used for organ preservation. Later the specimens were studied under a fluorescence microscope. In silico molecular docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) studies were performed, and the results were analyzed statistically.Results and discussionGynura procumbens partially negate the deleterious effect of carbon tetrachloride on normal weight gain in rats. The elevated level of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine, LDH, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation ranges, gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) in CCl4 treated groups were decreased by both standard drug silymarin and G. procumbens leaf extract. We have found significant & highly significant changes statistically for different doses, here p<0.05 & p<0.01, respectively. On the other hand, G. procumbens and silymarin displayed Statistically significant (p<0.05) and high significant(p<0.01) increased levels of HDL, CAT SOD (here p<0.05 & p<0.01 for different doses) when the treatment groups were compared with the disease control group. Because the therapeutic activity imparted by plants and drugs accelerates the movement of the disturbed pathophysiological state toward the healthy state. In the molecular docking analysis, G. procumbens phytoconstituents performed poorly against transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) compared to the control drug silymarin. In contrast, 26 phytoconstituents scored better than the control bezafibrate against peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α). The top scoring compounds for both macromolecules were observed to form stable complexes in the molecular dynamics simulations. Flavonoids and phenolic compounds performed better than other constituents in providing hepatoprotective activity. It can, thus, be inferred that the extract of G. procumbens showed good hepatoprotective properties in rats

Toxicity profile of the phytoconstituents of interest (Toxicity class I: Fatal if swallowed, class II: Fatal if swallowed, class III: Toxic if swallowed, class IV: Harmful if swallowed, class V: May be harmful if swallowed, class VI: Non-toxic).

Toxicity profile of the phytoconstituents of interest (Toxicity class I: Fatal if swallowed, class II: Fatal if swallowed, class III: Toxic if swallowed, class IV: Harmful if swallowed, class V: May be harmful if swallowed, class VI: Non-toxic).</p

Effect of various treatment specimens on the total cholesterol level of CCl4- treated rats.

Comparison of total cholesterol (mg/dl) level of rats, belonged to 14 groups just before sacrifice. Each group consist of 10 rodents each with equal body mass index. The data were expressed as mean±standard deviation. X-axis represents the group distribution and y-axis represents total cholesterol level of different groups. All abbreviation of different groups has been mentioned in Table 1. (*indicates statistically significant change where p<0.05, correlation is significant at a 95% confidence interval and **indicates highly significant change where p<0.01, correlation is significant at a 99% confidence interval).</p

ADME properties of the phytoconstituents of interest.

ADME properties of the phytoconstituents of interest.</p

Interactions of the top 10 binding affinity phytoconstituents with PPAR-α.

Interactions of the top 10 binding affinity phytoconstituents with PPAR-α.</p

Effect of various treatment specimens on the Triglyceride level of CCl4- treated rats.

Comparison of triglyceride (mg/dl) of rats, belonged to 14 groups just before sacrifice. Each group consist of 10 rodents each with equal body mass index. The data were expressed as mean±standard deviation. X-axis represents the group distribution and y-axis represents triglyceride level of different groups. All abbreviation of different groups has been mentioned in Table 1. (*indicates statistically significant change where p<0.05, correlation is significant at a 95% confidence interval and **indicates highly significant change where p<0.01, correlation is significant at a 99% confidence interval).</p

Interactions of compounds 44, 48, 50, and 51 with TGF-β type I receptor.

Interactions of compounds 44, 48, 50, and 51 with TGF-β type I receptor.</p