Seasonal variation and Seroprevalence of Dengue fever in Karachi, Pakistan

Introduction: Dengue fever is a rapidly emerging arthropod born viral disease becoming an international public health problem. Approximately 500,000 people suffer from dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome with 20,000 deaths annually. Objective: To identify seasonal variation and seroprevalence of dengue fever for primary and secondary dengue infections. Methodology: The study was conducted on 4900 plus subjects with mean age of 30 years, admitted to Dow University Hospital, Karachi. Reported cases were diagnosed by immuno-chromatography kit, used to measure the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies against dengue virus. Results:  Seasonal variation of seropositive dengue patient from 2010 to 2013 showed most prominent dengue fever disease onset found in the month of October whereas least seen in the months from Jan to April. Age wise younger subjects were more prone to the infection with mean age of 21 to 30 years. 64% of the total febrile seropositive cases were male as compare to female patients noted 36%. Conclusion: Dengue disease is a threat to Pakistani population, being a developing country there should be more focus in eradicating this debilitating disease, to reduce the economic burden. Through adapting vaccination strategies, proper sanitation and awareness programs. Special campaign for sprays and dengue control measures prior to month of October and fall season should be adopted essentially on regular basis. Keywords:  Dengue fever, haemorrhagic fever, dengue virus, dengue Prevalence, Ig

Anatomical transition of trilaminar cerebellar cortex between reptiles and Aves

Background: Motor coordination in vertebrates is primarily regulated by cerebellum. Divergence of aves from reptilian ancestors results in noticeable improvement in the motor coordination. This study aims to explore anatomical innovations in the cerebellar cortex during the course of evolution of reptiles and aves.Methods: Three representative species each from reptilian and avian lineages were selected to represent both vertebrate classes. Complete brain was dissected out from the cranial cavity of each specimen after radiological assessment of its extent. After gross examination, the brains were subjected to detailed histological investigation using conventional and special strains. Micrometry of layer and cellular architecture of cerebellar cortex were undertaken digitally using ImageJ and statistically compared using GraphPad Prism.Results: Grossly, significant increase (p<0.0001) in brain mass, brain volume and cerebellar volume was observed in aves compared to reptiles. Histo-morphometric analyses of granular and molecular layers of cerebellum showed statistically significant decrease (p<0.0001) in the thickness of avian representatives compared to reptilian counterparts. Similarly significant decrease (p<0.0001) in the interpurkinje neuronal distance was observed in aves compared to reptiles. Conversely, increase cellular and neuronal count (p=0.0332 to <0.0001) count was observed in all three layers of avian cerebellum in comparison to reptiles. This suggests increased cellular packaging and/or density in the avian cerebellum compared to reptiles. Conclusion: In summary, significant increase in the cellular density and differentiation in the cerebellum of avian representatives may provide anatomical basis of increased motor coordination in aves compared to reptiles.  Keywords: Cerebellum; Evolution; Granular Layer; Molecular Layer; Purkinje Laye

SEASONAL VARIATION AND RECENT STATUS OF TYPHOID FEVER IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

ABSTRACT In many developing countries, typhoid fever is endemic. Early diagnosis is important for appropriate treatment on time

ثقلین جعفری کی اردو غزل گوئی کا جائزہ

In the tradition of Urdu Ghazal, the name of Saqlain Jafri is known as an important and reliable reference. Your Ghazal is very strong both artistically and intellectually. You have beautifully incorporated many of the themes scattered around you in to your poetry. Your topic not only love and romance but also political, social and economic topics you have describe with interest. Your book how to be perfect in love is very good example of Urdu Ghazals. Apart from Ghazal, he also wrote poems, Naats, Hamd, Salam and Qataas which are his own example in Urdu literature. His Ghazals are adorned with rare and rare smiles. Your stile is common sense and simple which is easily understood even by an ordinary reader. Your poetry is charming combination of classicism and innovation. Your book is beautiful addition to Urdu poetry which no less than a valuable asset.

HBV S antigen evolution in the backdrop of HDV infection affects epitope processing and presentation

Introduction: HBV can evolve under selection pressure exerted by drugs and/or host immunity, resulting in accumulation of escape mutations that can affect the drug or the immune activity. Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) coinfection is also known to exert selection pressure on HBV, which leads to selective amplification of certain mutations, especially in genes that are required for HDV pathogenesis, such as HBsAg. However, little is known about the function of these mutations on HBV or HDV life cycle. The purpose of this study is to determine mutations selectively amplified in the backdrop of HDV, and how these mutations affect processing of CD4- and CD8-T cell epitopes.Methods: HBsAg was successfully amplified from 49/50 HBV mono- and 36/50 coinfected samples. The sequences were used to identify mutations specific to each study group, followed by an in silico analysis to determine the effect of these mutations on (1) proteasomal degradation, (2) MHC-I and MHC-II biding, and (3) processing of T-cell epitopes.Results: HBV-HDV coinfected sequences exhibited certain unique mutations in HBsAg genes. Some of these mutations affected the generation of proteasomal sites, binding of HBsAg epitopes to MHC-I and -II ligands, and subsequent generation of T- cell epitopes.Conclusion: These observations suggest that HBV selectively amplifies certain mutations in the backdrop of HDV coinfection. Selective amplification of these mutations at certain strategic locations might not only enable HBV to counteract the inhibitory effects of HDV on HBV replication but also facilitate its survival by escaping the immune response