Thymoquinone Inhibition of Acquisition and Expression of Alcohol‐Induced Behavioral Sensitization

Repeated low doses of alcohol have been shown to progressively enhance locomotor activity in mice, and this phenomenon is designated as behavioral sensitization. Thymoquinone, a major active component of Nigella sativa oil has been investigated in a number of studies for its neuroprotective effects against a variety of ailments. This study was conducted to explore the therapeutic potential of thymoquinone on the acquisition and expression of alcohol‐induced behavioral sensitization. Mice treated with alcohol (2.2 g/kg/day) or saline for 13 days and subsequently challenged with an acute alcohol dose (2.2 g/kg) 5 days later were orally administered acute doses of thymoquinone (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg). Thymoquinone subacute treatment with all doses throughout alcohol exposure significantly inhibited both the development and expression phases of alcohol behavioral sensitization in a dose‐dependent manner. However, acute treatment with thymoquinone (30 mg/kg) only reversed the expression phase of sensitization. These findings are explained in terms of the known GABA promoting action of thymoquinone in relation to the motive circuit within the limbic component of the basal ganglia. It is concluded that thymoquinone may be a potential therapeutic option for the treatment and prevention of alcohol induced behavioral sensitization. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nephritogenicity and α-chain composition of NC1 fractions of type IV collagen from bovine renal basement membrane

Nephritogenicity (anti-GBM-nephritis-inducing activity) and -chain composition of globular-domain (NC1) fractions of type IV collagen from bovine renal, pulmonary, and placental basement membranes (BMs) was examined by injecting these fractions with adjuvant into WKY/NCrj rats and by Western blotting using epitope-defined monoclonal antibodies to the six different chains of type IV collagen. A purified nephritogenic fraction from renal BM contained 1–6(IV)NC1, whereas a non-nephritogenic fraction contained only 1–2(IV)NC1. Renal and pulmonary NC1 had strong nephritogenic activity; placental NC1 had weak activity. The renal and pulmonary fractions contained 1–6(IV)NC1, and the placental fraction had a large amount of 1–2(IV)NC1 and a very small amount of 3–6(IV)NC1. Immunohistochemical study of bovine renal BM with the monoclonal antibodies revealed that bovine glomerular BM contained 1–5(IV) chains, but not the 6(IV) chain. The absence of 6(IV) chain in glomerular BM in bovine and in humans indicates that 6(IV) chain is not a target antigen of anti-GBM nephritis. Nephritogenicity is apparently a property of 3–5(IV)NC1.     

Operative laparoscopy; is it a safe option in pregnancy?

We report a case of an ovarian cyst in pregnancy complicated by torsion of the cyst requiring urgent surgical intervention at 13 weeks of gestation. The case was successfully managed by laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy without any maternal or fetal complications. Thus proving that operative laparoscopy in pregnancy is a safe and feasible option. Approximately 0.2% of pregnant women require intra-abdominal general surgery during pregnancy. Benefits of laparoscopic surgery compared to the traditional open surgery are well recognised; notably, a shorter hospital stay and a reduced rate of post-operative complications. Pregnancy poses unique surgical and anaesthetic problems due to altered physiology and anatomy in pregnancy. The effect of the pneumoperitoneum on the maternal haemodynamic status, risk of uterine/fetal damage by trocar entry, risk of miscarriage and preterm labour are some serious concerns that may limit the feasibility and safety of operative laparoscopy in pregnancy. In the past few decades, there has been increasing evidence emerging in the medical literature supporting the safety of operative laparoscopy in pregnancy. The second trimester is considered to be the safest period in terms of least risk to the fetus and also seems more favourable for the technical aspect of the laparoscopic procedures. Hasson’s method of laparoscopic entry technique is prudent to avoid possible uterine injury. Although absolute safety of laparoscopic surgery during pregnancy in humans is yet to be established, presently, operative laparoscopy by an experienced laparoscopist is considered a safe and effective alternative to traditional laparotomy. Prospective randomised controlled studies in this clinical territory are lacking.     

Ultrasonography of non-endocrine neck masses

Though clinical examination is usually adequate for making a probable diagnosis in neck swellings, yet in a good number of situations this doesn’t happen. The useful modality of ultrasonography was applied in thirty such cases. The use of this investigative techneque helped n;ot only to determine the true nature of the swellings and its relation to vital adjacent structures, but also aided in making decision regarding early surgical treatment of inflammatory swelling.     

Frequencies of Beta Thalassemia Mutations Show Different Pattern in Bannu Region than Other Parts of Pashtun Population in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province Pakistan

Purpose: β-Thalassemia arises as result of mutations in HBB gene, influencing the globin production which results in hypochromic and microcytic anaemia. The present study was aimed to investigate the occurrence of six common β-thal mutations, its inheritance pattern, frequency, and consanguinity in parents of Bannu region Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Pakistan. Conducting such studies may impart important information about thalassemia prevention like prenatal diagnosis (PND), carrier screening and genetic counselling which may be helpful in controlling the suspected births. Methods: During the study, 250 blood samples were retrieved from different families comprising of one transfusion dependent child and sporadic patients from different areas of Bannu region. The collected blood samples were investigated to see if there is any common mutations which may trigger β-Thalassemia employing amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) approach. Results: Amongst the studied mutation in District Bannu, frame shift codons (FSC) 8/9 (+ G) (HBB: c.27_28insG) was observed to be the most common mutation followed by Codons 41/42 (− TTCT), IVS-I-5(G > C) and FSC 5 (− CT) having frequencies of 42, 26, 19 and 13 respectively. The results obtained by the present study were found different from previous studies demonstrated from other Pashtun regions of KP, showing heterogeneity in frequencies of known mutations. Conclusion: These observations may help in implementing parental meetings about disease recurrence in future, large scale mutation screening, and prenatal diagnosis in the whole Pashtun ethnicity including District Bannu.     

Foreign body in the pterygo — palatine fossa

A rare case of long standing foreign body (part of a scissors blade) in the pterygo-palatine fossa producing trismus is reported for clinical interest.     

A 3′ untranslated region polymorphism rs2304277 in the DNA repair pathway gene OGG1 is a novel risk modulator for urothelial bladder carcinoma

Altered DNA repair capacity may affect an individual's susceptibility to cancers due to compromised genomic integrity. This study was designed to elucidate the association of selected polymorphisms in DNA repair genes with urothelial bladder carcinoma (UBC). OGG1 rs1052133 and rs2304277, XRCC1 rs1799782 and rs25487, XRCC3 rs861539, XPC rs2228001, and XPD rs13181 were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) in 200 UBC cases and 200 controls. We found association of OGG1 rs2304277 [odds ratio (OR)_GG = 3.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.79–7.06] and XPC rs2228001 (OR_AC = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.43–3.94) with UBC. In stratified analysis with respect to smoking status, OGG1 rs2304277 and XPC rs2228001 exhibited increased risk in smokers [(rs2304277 OR_GG = 4.96, 95% CI = 1.51–16.30) (rs2228001 OR_AC = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.02–4.72)] as well as nonsmokers [(rs2304277 OR_GG = 2.95, 95% CI = 1.26–6.90) (rs2228001 OR_AC = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.31–5.04)]. These polymorphisms were also associated with both low‐grade [(rs2304277 OR_GG = 3.73, 95% CI = 1.72–8.09) (rs2228001 OR_AC = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.21–3.92)] and high‐grade tumors [(rs2304277 OR_GG = 3.45, 95% CI = 1.52–7.80) (rs2228001 OR_AC = 2.81, 95% CI = 1.48–5.33)] as well as with non–muscle‐invasive bladder cancer [(rs2304277 OR_GG = 4.03, 95% CI = 1.87–8.67) (rs2228001 OR_AC = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.20–3.81)] and muscle‐invasive bladder cancer [(rs2304277 OR_GG = 3.06, 95%CI = 1.31–7.13) (rs2228001 OR_AC = 2.95, 95%CI = 1.51–5.75)]. This is the first study on DNA repair gene polymorphisms and UBC in the Pakistani population. It identifies OGG1 rs2304277 and replicates XPC rs2228001 as significant modulators of UBC susceptibility.