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Research training at higher education level for clinical and teaching staff is important and there are methods to introduce research culture in employees at clinical and teaching departmental level. Objectives: To recognize and quantify the research productivity status of teaching and clinical faculty of (DUHS) Dow University of Health Sciences Karachi before and after its establishment in 2003. Design: Non experimental cross sectional study. Period: 1st October 2012 to 1st February 2013. Setting: Medical college Karachi. Subjects and method: Students of third semester were applied to sort out the ten years record from 1998 to 2008 of all researches conducted by faculty of Dow University of Health Sciences, published in international and national journals by using different online search engines. Research Output was measured in terms of the increase in the number of publications and quality of publications before and after the launch of Dow University. Data was entered in Microsoft office excel version 2007 and analyzed it in statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 17; Pearson chisquare was applied to test the statistical significance at 95% confidence interval. Results: Data of total 594 researches was found out between the years 1998 to 2008, 175(29.5%) researches were published before the foundation of Dow university of Health sciences Karachi (2003) while 419(70.5) researches were produced after 173(45.6%) research papers were published in indexed journals before, "whereas" 206(54.4%) were published in indexed journal after 2003. Original research articles were 152 (31%) before 2003, which rose to 339 (69%). Publications of article types such as case reports, case series, and short communication, editorials and review articles also increased to 80 from 23 after establishment of Dow University. Conclusions: From a total of 594 faculty researches o published in indexed and non indexed journals between the years 1998 and 2008; there was a significant increase in production after establishment of Dow university of Health Sciences Hence it is confidently reported that due to establishment of research committees after the founding, there is a promotion and facilitation of research activities among faculty members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of orally disintegrating pellets (ODPs) as an approach for taste masking of bitter drugs, namely, Ambroxol hydrochloride (A-HCl) and Cetirizine dihydrochloride (C-DHCl). Pellets were prepared by extrusion/spheronization with Eudragit EPO, kyron T-134, Kyron T-314, mannitol, sorbitol, MCC (Avicel PH-101), sucralose, chocolate flavor, and 5% xanthum gum. The prepared pellets were characterized for percentage yield, drug content, particle size, in vitro drug release, and in vivo evaluation on humans for taste, mouth feel, and in vivo disintegration time. The results revealed that the average size of pellets was influenced greatly by the percentage of binder and extrusion speed. The optimized ODPs disintegrated in less than 20 s and showed more than 98% of drugs in ODPs dissolved within 15 min. Taste perception study was carried out on human volunteers to evaluate the taste masking ability of ODPs for taste, mouth feel, and in vivo disintegration time. Crystalline state evaluation of drugs in the optimized ODPs was conducted for X-ray powder diffraction. In conclusion, the study confirmed that ODPs can be utilized as an alternative approach for effective taste masking and rapid disintegration in the oral cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to observe the formation of biofilm, an important virulence factor, by isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in Pakistan by different conventional methods and through electron microscopy. Methodology: We screened 115 strains of S. aureus isolated from different clinical specimens by tube method (TM), air-liquid interface coverslip assay method, Congo red agar (CRA) method, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: Out of 115 S. aureus isolates, 63 (54.78%) showed biofilm formation by tube method. Biofilm forming bacteria were further categorized as high producers (n = 23, 20%) and moderate producers (n = 40, 34.78%). TM coordinated well with the coverslip assay for strong biofilm-producing strains in 19 (16.5%) isolates. By coverslip method, weak producers were difficult to differentiate from biofilm negative isolates. Screening on CRA showed biofilm formation only in four (3.47%) strains. Scanning electron micrographs showed the biofilm-forming strains of S. aureus arranged in a matrix on the propylene surface and correlated well with the TM. Conclusion: Biofilm production is a marker of virulence for clinically relevant staphylococcal infections. It can be studied by various methods but screening on CRA is not recommended for investigation of biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus. Electron micrograph images correlate well with the biofilm production as observed by TM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To test the hypothesis that Staphylococcus aureus genome has regulatory genes which coordinate the expression of extracellular products, and particular genes not expressed in vitro conditions may be turned on in a vivo environment., Methods: The study was conducted at the Immunology and Infectious Disease Research Laboratory (IIDRL), Microbiology Department, Husein Ebrahim Jamal Research Institute (HEJ), Animal House, Karachi University, from July to December 2009. Micro pore Teflon cages using a mouse cage model were fixed into the subcutaneous tissue in Albino mice (BALB/c) on their dorsal surface. After 15 days, the holes closed down with healthy tissue. Three staphylococcal isolates from clinical samples confirmed by DNA sequencing of 16s ribosomal RNA were tested for expression of extracellular protein in vitro and were later injected into the cages. After the institution of infection, the fluid aspirated from the cages was analysed by Sodium dodecyl polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). This was done to test for possible induction of additional extracellular proteins in vivo., Results: The appearance of enhanced extracellular products was observed in the fluid recovered from the cages of two mice on days 5 and 7 subsequent to the institution of infection, suggesting a turn-on of particular genes which were not expressed in vitro conditions., Conclusions: In-vivo host and environmental signals contribute to the induction of genes for the production of extracellular proteins.

Warm antibody autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, a rare disease (0.2-1 per 100,000 populations), is due to the presence of warm agglutinins that react with protein antigens on the surface of red blood cells causing their premature destruction. Here, we present a case report of a 10 year old girl who came with features of haemolytic anaemia and history of blood transfusion since 3 years. On admission. laboratory test revealed that she had autoimmune hepatitis type 1 and was also an asymptomatic carrier of hepatitis B virus with positive HBs Ag. Steroid therapy resulted in clinical and laboratory remission. Direct antiglobulin test was negative after anaemia resolution, hepatitis B virus antigenemia persisted. To our knowledge, warm antibody autoimmune hemolytic anaemia has not previously been described in association with autoimmune hepatitis and asymptomatic carrier state of hepatitis B virus.

Objective: This study was conducted to detect the sensitivity and specificity of various diagnostic tests on biopsy specimens obtained from patients undergoing elective endoscopy, by culture, histopathology (special stain), urease (biochemical test) and the presence of specific antibodies by serology for the detection of Helicobacter pylori., Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Civil Hospital, Karachi, in collaboration with Dr. Essa Laboratories and IIDRL (Immunology and Infectious Disease Research Laboratory), Karachi University, from June 99-to July 2000., Subjects and Methods: Biopsy material was taken from 50 patients referred for elective endoscopy with symptoms of various upper gastrointestinal diseases. Non-endoscopic methods serology and endoscopic biopsy specimens using urease test, by culture and histopathology using special stain, detected presence of H. pylori. Sensitivity and specificity was calculated using the standard formula, only those cases were taken as true positive which were positive by either culture test and/or special stain. Those cases giving positive results only by serology or urease test not supported by either of the direct tests were taken as false positive, Results: The percentage of positive cases detected was 81% by serology, 80% by histopathology, 9% by culture and 56% by urease test. Sensitivity and specificity was by serology 84% and 60%, histopathology (special stain) 83% and 100%, culture 64% and 100% and by urease test 67% and 85% respectively., Conclusion: H. pylori infection can be detected by a variety of methods. The simplest and least expensive method is serology. Positive serology does not distinguish between active and chronic infection and is less specific as compared to other methods. Histopathology (special stain) allows simultaneous evaluation of tissue injury and has a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. Culture can be used to detect antibiotic resistant organisms.