Journal of Research in Applied and Basic Medical Sciences
Volume:10 Issue: 3, Summer 2024

 Malaria disease imposes a substantial global health burden, urging the search for effective treatments amid escalating drug resistance. This study investigates the antiplasmodial potential of Azanza garckeana root bark extract in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice and evaluates its impact on hematological indices.

In this experimental research, we studied on six groups of 30 mice (Groups A to F) comprising of five mice per group. Group A was only given food and water with no inoculation and treatment, B was inoculated with Plasmodium berghei but no treatment was given, C was infected and treated with artemether while D E F were infected and treated with 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg of Azanza garckeana root-bark extract respectively for 4 days. Parasitemia levels, chemo-suppressive effect and hematological parameters were assessed on four different days following the start of the treatment. The findings were expressed as mean ± SEM. One-way analysis of variance was used to find the differences between the four groups, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Phytochemical analysis revealed diverse bioactive compounds in the extract. The 4-day suppressive test demonstrated substantial antiplasmodial activity, with the 300 mg/kg dose achieving an 88.17% chemo-suppressive effect, comparable to Artemether's efficacy. Significant (p < 0.05) increases in hemoglobin, packed cell volume, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets were seen in hematological examinations in intervention groups, especially with the 300 mg/kg dosage.

Azanza garckeana root-bark extract exhibited potent antiplasmodial effects, possibly mediated by identified phytochemicals. The dose-dependent chemosuppression and modulation of hematological parameters underscore its potential as an alternative antimalarial therapy in mammals.

The link between Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD) has long been established. Hyperuricemia and inflammatory markers such as hs-CRP are considered to be non-traditional risk factors for cardiovascular risk in CKD patients. The aim of this study was to estimate serum hs-CRP and uric acid levels in patients with chronic kidney disease along with age and sex matched healthy controls and see whether they are statistically significant or not.

In this case-control study, totally 30 cases with ages varied from 30-70 years and 30 age and sex matched controls were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Serum CRP and Uric Acid were analyzed on Beckman Coulter AU-480 fully automated analyser, by Turbidimetric end point method and Modified Trinder end point method, respectively. Qualitative data is expressed as proportion and percentage while quantitative data is expressed as mean+SD. Statistical analysis is done using Microsoft Excel sheet and Graph pad software. A p value <0.05 is considered as statistically significant.

Results show that the patients with CKD had higher levels of hs-CRP and Uric Acid than healthy controls, implying a higher risk of cardiovascular disease in this group.

The present study implies that regular monitoring of these biomarkers is required in CKD patients, to assess the progression of atherosclerosis and evaluate potential interventions, thereby preventing morbidity & mortality due to cardiovascular disease.

 Mucormycosis, commonly known as "Black Fungus," is an angio-invasive fungus and has become a significant concern during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to determine the prevalence rate of mucormycosis and related risk factors among COVID-19 patients, making an essential contribution to further understanding this opportunistic disease.

Methods & Materials:

 This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was carried out among 276 patients. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of mucormycosis. The diagnosis of mucormycosis was established through a combination of clinical symptoms, imaging findings, and microbiological confirmation. The study examined demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, including age, gender, duration of hospitalization, and laboratory results, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and blood sugar levels. The statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS Statistics software package (version 26). Statistical significance was set at a P-value of 0.05.

The mean age of patients participating in the study was 59±16 years. Among them, 158 patients (57.2%) were male, and 20 (7.2%) were diagnosed with mucormycosis. The analysis revealed a significant association between mucormycosis presence and various demographic and clinical variables, notably impacting hospitalization duration, blood sugar level, and serum CRP level.

Findings from our study indicate that elevated CRP and blood sugar levels, as well as prolonged hospitalization, are significant risk factors for mucormycosis in the patients.

A lot is being heard regarding monkeypox, which is currently an emerging disease. The sole purpose of this publication is to enlighten the world regarding epidemiology in the context of recent outbreaks, etiopathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and management, depicting an overview of this underreported disease so that the concerned microbiologists and clinicians can diagnose and manage the disease as soon as possible.

In this review study, we searched Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus databases to keywords regarding the main objective of the study, and collected the most recent and novel studies less than 10 years about the objectives of the study.

Recent outbreaks, etiopathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and management, depicting Monkeypox were collected and categorized to highlight the importance of the disease in recent communities.

Although and underreported disease, Monkeypox is a disease with important effects in today's societies, and it is needed that health officials be aware of its importance and have programs to control it. With improved knowledge, monitoring of the exposed cases, and better infrastructure, we can successfully contain this emerging and potentially re-emerging viral disease.

 The article aims to evaluate trends in occupational radiation exposure for employees in different departments at the Center for Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy (CENAR), Quetta, Pakistan.

This retrospective study examination of 9780 film dosimeter dose data was carried out from 2019 to 2023. The quantities analyzed were the highest and minimum annual effective doses, distribution of workers, and their average yearly effective doses in different effective dose intervals. The annual collective effective dose and average effective dosage were also included.

Yearly average effective doses in Radiotherapy, Nuclear Medicine, Medical Physics, and Diagnostic Radiology range from 0.5 to 3.00 mSv. Records show that 90% of workers fall within 1-3.00 mSv, with 10% between 0.5 mSv and the minimum detectable level. Minimum and maximum yearly individual doses in Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine are 0.10 mSv and 2.3 mSv. Average doses for the fields range from 1.01 to 1.14 mSv.

Employees received doses that were lower than the yearly maximum, showing successful radiation shielding. The findings imply that safety measures are followed in the researched departments, which is important for clinical practice. This research improves our understanding of occupational radiation exposure, notably at CENAR, and promotes radiation safety in medical settings.

Splenic infarcts are uncommon and may not be readily considered in the emergency department, as the clinical presentation often mimics acute abdominal pain. While atherosclerotic damage commonly occurs at the abdominal aorta and its branching parts**, it can also affect the splenic artery, potentially leading to splenic infarction. Although it is widely acknowledged that the abdominal aorta and its branches are the most common sites for atherosclerotic damage, atherosclerosis of the splenic artery can also be an etiological factor for splenic infarction, leading to impaired blood flow in the spleen. Splenic infarction represents a clinical scenario that is not frequently encountered, and its presentation can resemble other causes of acute abdominal pain. This case report describes a patient who presented to the emergency department (ED) with abdominal pain and was subsequently diagnosed with splenic infarction secondary to atherosclerosis of the splenic artery.

 Doxorubicin is a widely used antineoplastic agent for the treatment of solid tumors but its use is limited by its several severe tissue and organ toxicities. This study investigated changes in liver and spleen as a result of toxicity produced by Doxorubicin and the protective role of aqueous leaf extract of J. Tanjorensis.

In this experimental study, rats were divided into 5 groups as follows: Group 1 served as control and orally received normal saline once daily. Doxorubicin (15 mg/kg) was administered to Group 2  from day 10. Group 3 received J. Tanjorensis (300 mg/kg, orally) once daily for 12 days. Group 4 received J. Tanjorensis (300 mg/kg, orally) once daily for 12 days and Doxorubicin (15 mg/kg) from day 10. Group 5 received Vitamin C (100 mg/kg, orally) once daily for 12 days, and Doxorubicin (15 mg/kg) from day 10. Doxorubicin administration was done intraperitoneally for three consecutive days. Sera samples were collected and used to assess liver function enzymes and synthetic molecules. Liver and spleen tissues were used to examine histopathological analysis. Data were analyzed by SPSS v.20 at a significance level of P<0.05.  

 Administration of Doxorubicin caused significant increase in Alanine Transaminase (ALT), Aspartate Transaminase (AST), Acid Phosphatase (ACP), and total bilirubin (P values below 0.05), and a significant decrease in total protein and albumin compared to the control and J. Tanjorensis administered rats (P values below 0.05). The histopathological evaluation of liver tissue in the Doxorubicin injected rats revealed congestion, hemorrhagic necrosis, sinusoidal dilation, and mononuclear cell infiltration. Similarly, histology of spleen tissue in Doxorubicin administered rats showed degeneration and congestion, disintegrated peri-arteriolar lymphoid sheath, granuloma formation, and necrosis of lymphoid follicles. However, liver and spleen of rats given Doxorubicin and J. Tanjorensis showed reversal of liver function enzymes and synthetic ability towards normalcy, reduced signs of damage as well as recovering peri-arteriolar lymphoid sheath.

 Our study found that J. Tanjorensis is effective in preventing liver and spleen damage caused by Doxorubicin.

 Ovarian cancers are increasing in incidence, and an accurate ultrasonographic diagnosis, along with a complete physical examination and history taking, is essential for prompt diagnosis and early reporting.
In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasonography (USG) in identifying ovarian lesions using histopathology as the gold standard.

This was a retrospective study conducted by evaluating the reports of patients in the menopausal age group who had undergone total hysterectomy or oophorectomy. Histopathological diagnoses were retrieved from the Department of Pathology, and ultrasonographic (USG) reports were obtained from the patients' medical records.

This study included the histopathological and ultrasonographic reports of 239 women, of which 95.4% of cases were benign, while borderline lesions and malignant lesions constituted 3.3% and 1.3%, respectively. USG showed sensitivities of 93.55%, 66.7%, and 33% in identifying benign, borderline, and malignant lesions, respectively. Specificities of 91.67%, 91.84%, and 99.46% were noted in classifying ovarian lesions as benign, borderline, and malignant, respectively.

Ultrasonography (USG) remains an important imaging tool for the early diagnosis of ovarian lesions, and a standardized reporting protocol should be implemented in every institution to increase the accuracy of USG and to reduce the inter-observer variability commonly encountered in ultrasound.

 Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is typically first suspected when the results of liver function tests, measured as part of routine testing, are abnormal. Most often observed biochemical pattern in hepatic steatosis due to NAFLD is of increased levels of transaminases, with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels exceeding those of aspartate aminotransferase (AST). This classical pattern is particularly useful in differentiating between hepatic steatosis from NAFLD.The pathophysiology of non-metabolic complication like atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) depends vastly on fatty acids (lipid) transportation and Deposition. AIM Estimation of the AST: ALT, Albumin: Globulin, and TG: HDL ratios, along with their comparison among the Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patient.

A prospective observational cohort study was conducted in the department of Biochemistry at GBCM & KKBM Subharti hospital, Jhajra, Dehradun after obtaining the ethical clearance from the institutional ethical committee (IEC) with registration no GBCM/IEC/2023/07-03 dated 25/07/2023. Cases comprised of 120 Ultrasonographically confirmed fatty liver patients by Random sampling method. 5ml blood sample was collected in the serum separation test tube (SST) and results were analysed using SPSS v.20. and statistical p-value of <0.05 was considered to be significant.

Extremely significant difference in TG: HDL and A:G ratio was found between two groups with statistical p-value of <0.05 and  <0.01 respectively.

This study can significantly contribute in evaluating the lipid derangements in two groups and their management.

 Citrobacter, a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family known to be a normal intestinal flora and an opportunistic pathogen is now increasingly found to cause a variety of infections in community as well as hospital settings. It was initially considered a low virulence pathogen but is now found to cause multi-drug resistant infections with high morbidity and mortality. To determine the prevalence of infections caused by Citrobacter spp. and theirAntibiotic sensitivity pattern.

A Laboratory records-based Cross-sectional study was undertaken retrospectively wherein the laboratory data about 50 Citrobacter spp. isolates obtained from 1628 clinical samples processed over 18 months were retrieved and analyzed at Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College-Datia, Central India in January 2024.

Out of the 1628 samples processed, significant bacterial growth was reported in 770 samples out of which 50 were found to be positive for Citrobacter spp. (6.4%). Isolation rate for Citrobacter spp. was reported to be 3.1 %.The majority of isolates were obtained from Urine (49%) and pus (45%) samples with C. koseri being dominant in urine and C. freundii in pus. Amongst these isolates, 52% were C.koseri, 46% were C.freundii and 4% were other species.

The findings of the study conducted in January 2024 at Datia (Madhya Pradesh) indicate a change in susceptibility trends of emerging pathogens like Citrobacter spp. exhibiting resistance to routinely prescribed antimicrobials, stressing the need for an appropriate action plan involving periodic surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, and strict implementation of infection control practices.

Tuberculosis is one of the major health problems in developing countries like India. Among various types of presentations of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, lymphadenitis is the most common presentation.

 "To evaluate the efficacy of Modified bleach concentration method in detection of Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) over conventional Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining"

To apply modified bleach concentration method in detecting AFB and to evaluate its sensitivity over conventional ZN method in association with the CBNAAT for the diagnosis of TB lymphadenopathy.

A cross-sectional and observational study carried out for a period of six months. 146 cases of suspected clinical TB with lymphadenopathy referred for FNAC. Aspirates by FNAC were processed for direct microscopy using conventional ZN staining and routine cytology and compared with the findings of the modified bleach method, remaining material was subjected to CBNAAT assay.

Among 146 cases, 44 cases were positive for AFB stain on conventional ZN staining and 49 cases by modified bleach method were positive for AFB. Sensitivity (98%), Specificity (98%), Positive predictive value (96%), Negative predictive value (99%) were calculated for modified bleach method in comparison with CBNAAT.

 The thyroid gland, a small butterfly-shaped organ in the neck, regulates the body’s metabolism. Disruptions in its function can lead to various health issues, including fatigue, weight changes, and cardiovascular problems. In hemodialysis patients, thyroid function is even more crucial. Hemodialysis, a treatment for kidney failure, filters waste and excess fluid from the blood, potentially affecting various bodily systems, including the endocrine system. This study examines the effect of thyroid function on hemodialysis.

In this descriptive-analytical study, dialysis patients were classified into three groups: hypothyroid, hyperthyroid, and euthyroid. The levels of thyroid and parathyroid hormones, serum electrolytes, clinical symptoms, laboratory results, and blood pressure of the patients in these groups were compared.

There was no significant difference between the number of dialysis sessions and thyroid function. The serum calcium level was significantly higher in hypothyroid patients than in euthyroid and hyperthyroid patients. There were no significant differences in weight changes before and after dialysis considering the participants’ sex and age (P = 0.227 and P = 0.457). Moreover, there were no significant differences in the number of dialysis sessions (P = 0.508), systolic (P = 0.419), and diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.559), or in the serum level of parathormone in patients with different thyroid functions (P = 0.103). However, the serum level of phosphorus was significantly higher in hyperthyroid patients than in normal patients and lower than in hypothyroid patients (P = 0.049). The hemoglobin concentration was higher in hyperthyroid patients than in other groups (P = 0.021).

The changes in calcium, hemoglobin, and parathormone levels in hemodialysis patients with different thyroid function statuses showed significant differences. These differences are believed to be caused by high bone metabolism in dialysis patients. Evaluating these parameters in dialysis patients is recommended, highlighting the need for regular thyroid function screening among these patients.