Pathology Commons^™

Genotyping And Drug Resistance Patterns Of M. Tuberculosis Strains In Pakistan., Mahnaz Tanveer, Zahra Hasan, Amna R Siddiqui, Asho Ali, Akbar Kanji, Solomon Ghebremicheal, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background:The incidence of tuberculosis in Pakistan is 181/100,000 population. However, information about transmission and geographical prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains and their evolutionary genetics as well as drug resistance remains limited. Our objective was to determine the clonal composition, evolutionary genetics and drug resistance of M. tuberculosis isolates from different regions of the country.

Methods:

M. tuberculosis strains isolated (2003-2005) from specimens submitted to the laboratory through collection units nationwide were included. Drug susceptibility was performed and strains were spoligotyped.

Results:

Of 926 M. tuberculosis strains studied, 721(78%) were grouped into 59 "shared types", while 205 (22%) were identified …

Response Of Imitanib Meysylate In Patients With Gastrointestinal Stromal Cell Tumour, Abdullah Ladha, Mohammad Usman Shaikh

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

In this study, the response of Imitanib Mesylate in patients with Gastro-intestinal stromal cell tumour (GIST) was assessed. GIST results from a mutation in one of the receptor protein tyrosine kinases. Imitanib Mesylate, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has emerged as a promising new treatment for GISTs. Total 16 cases were reviewed. Diagnosis was based on biopsy and immunohistochemistry. Response assessment was done using CT scans, at a median duration of 4 months. The median age of the patients was 52 years, Majority were male (n=14). Most common presenting complaint was abdominal pain (n=7). Commonest primary site was stomach (n=7), Liver …

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Intestinal Parasitic Infection Among Children In An Urban Slum Of Karachi., Vikram Mehraj, Juanita Hatcher, Saeed Akhtar, Ghazala Rafique, Mohammad Asim Beg

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background:Intestinal parasitic infections are endemic worldwide and have been described as constituting the greatest single worldwide cause of illness and disease. Poverty, illiteracy, poor hygiene, lack of access to potable water and hot and humid tropical climate are the factors associated with intestinal parasitic infections. The study aimed to estimate prevalence and identify factors associated with intestinal parasitic infections among 1 to 5 years old children residing in an urban slum of Karachi Pakistan. Methods And Principal
Findings:A cross sectional survey was conducted from February to June 2006 in Ghosia Colony Gulshan Town Karachi, Pakistan. A simple random …

Minimally Invasive Papillary Carcinoma Of The Extrahepatic Bile Ducts, Samia Fatima, Zubair Ahmad, Asim Qureshi, Khurram Minhas, Inam Pal

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Invasive papillary carcinomas of the Extrahepatic Bile Ducts (EBD) are uncommon (4-5%). The course is less aggressive than conventional adenocarcinomas of the extrahepatic bile ducts. Non-invasive and minimally invasive papillary carcinomas are even rarer, behave as in-situ carcinomas and are associated with excellent long-term prognosis. A variety of lesions of the EBD that show papillary architecture should be distinguished from papillary carcinoma. Here, we report a case of papillary carcinoma of the common bile duct showing minimal invasion. Separation of invasive from non-invasive or minimally invasive papillary carcinoma is critical in estimating the patient outcome.

Spot Urine Protein: Creatinine Ratio Versus 24 Hour Urine Protein At Various Levels Of Gfr Patients Referred To A Tertiary Care Hospital Of Pakistan, Absar Ali, Naila Asif, Sonia Yaqub, Waqar Kashif, Diamond Merchant, Iffat Yazdant

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation of "random single voided urine protein: creatinine ratio" to "twenty four hour urine protein" at different levels of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Pakistani population.

METHODS: A total of 107 patients were included in this cross section study. Patients were divided into five groups according to the GFR. Spot urine protein: creatinine ratio and 24 hour urine protein was measured by the standard methods. The correlation coefficient ( r) between the two was calculated in each group separately.

RESULTS: The GFR in groups 1 to 5 was > or =90, 60-89, 30-59, 15-29, and /minute/1.73 m2 …

Frequency And Clinical Spectrum Of Rare Inherited Coagulopathies--A Tricenter Study, Safoorah Khalid, Fareena Bilwani, Salman Naseem Adil, Mohammad Khurshid

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of rare inherited coagulopathies at three centers of haematology in Karachi and to study the clinical spectrum and laboratory data of these coagulopathies.

METHODS: This was a descriptive study conducted from September 2003 to December 2004 on subjects from Aga Khan University Hospital, Husaini Blood Bank and Fatimid Blood Transfusion Centre. All the subjects with bleeding tendency without any acquired causes of bleeding were selected for further investigation, and were asked relevant questions as present in the questionnaire. Screening tests including platelet count, PT, APTT and bleeding time were performed on all patients and subsequently, …

A Case Of Histoplasmosis Mimicking Tuberculosis, Asim Qureshi

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Drug resistance to Tuberculosis is an emerging problem but proper exhaustive workup needs to be done before confirming the diagnosis. The case of a 5 year old male child who presented with low grade fever and lymphadenopathy and was being treated with anti TB drugs with no satisfactory response is presented. A detail workup including a biopsy gave the diagnosis of histoplasmosis.

Time Trends In The Incidence Of Cancer Cervix In Karachi South, 1995-2002, Yasmin Bhurgri, Shahid Pervez, Naila Kayani, Muneeza Afif, Imran Tahir, Kauser Nazir, Ahmed Usman, Naveen Faridi, Hadi Bhurgri, Jawaid Malik, Imtiaz Bashir, Asif Bhurgri, Rashida Ahmed, Sheema H Hasan, Mohammad Khurshid, S. M. H. Zaidi

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Introduction:The objective of the study was to determine the trends of cancer cervix in Karachi South during an eight (1995-2002) year period. Methododology: Cancer cervix cases recorded at Karachi Cancer Registry during 1st January 1995 to 31st December 2002 were analyzed. Trends were studied by analyzing the age standardized incidence rates (ASR)s in 2 time periods, 1995-97 and 1998-2002.

Results:

Cancer cervix ranked sixth in the 1995-97 period the age standardized incidence rate (ASR) world and crude incidence rate (CIR) per 100,000 were 6.81 and 3.22. It reached the fifth ranking in the 1998-2002 period with an ASR and …

Emergence Of Carbapenem Resistant Gram Negative And Vancomycin Resistant Gram Positive Organisms In Bacteremic Isolates Of Febrile Neutropenic Patients: A Descriptive Study., Seema Irfan, Faiza Idrees, Vikram Mehraj, Faizah Habib, Salman Adil, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background:This study was conducted to evaluate drug resistance amongst bacteremic isolates of febrile neutropenic Patients with particular emphasis on emergence of carbapenem resistant Gram negative bacteria and vancomycin resistant Enterococcus species.

Methods:

A descriptive study was performed by reviewing the blood culture reports from febrile neutropenic Patients during the two study periods i.e., 1999-00 and 2001-06. Blood cultures were performed using BACTEC 9240 automated system. Isolates were identified and antibiotic sensitivities were done using standard microbiological procedures.

Results:

Seven twenty six febrile neutropenic Patients were admitted during the study period. A total of 5840 blood cultures were received, off …

Rhinosporidiosis Presenting As An Urethral Polyp, Najamul Sahar Azad, Zubairali Ahmad, Naila Kayani

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Rhinosporidiosis is an inflammatory disease caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi, a protoctistan mesomycetozoa, member of a group of novel aquatic parasites, characterized by hyperplastic polypoid lesions of the nasal cavity and rarely other mucous membranes. We report an unusual presentation of rhinosporidiosis as an urethral polyp, which is only the second case of rhinosporidiosis reported from Pakistan.

Clear Cell Papillary Cystadenoma Of Epididymis, A Mimic Of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma, Nausheen Yaqoob, Aamir Ahsan, Zubair Ahmad, Ambreen Nasir Khan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

We discuss a case of 25 year old male who was evaluated for primary infertility following marriage. He had no previous history of urogenital complaints or abnormalities. In fact, his past medical history was unremarkable. On examination epididymal masses were found. Semen analysis showed azoospermia. Right epididymal mass was surgically excised. Histopathology showed an epididymal neoplasm composed of simple and complex papillary processes lining and filling the ducts. The tumor cells were clear and positive for cytoplasmic glycogen. Immunohistochemistry was also supportive. Diagnosis of clear cell papillary cystedenoma was made based on histopathological and immunohistochemical features.

Dubin-Johnson Syndrome, Aziz-Un Nisa, Zubair Ahmad

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

A young man presented with recurrent episodes of mild jaundice. Apart from conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, other liver function tests were always normal. Clinical suspicion of Dubin-Johnson syndrome was raised. Liver biopsy showed diffuse deposition of coarse granular dark brown pigment in hepatocytes. Dubin-Johnson syndrome is a benign condition, which results from a hereditary defect in biliary secretion of bilirubin pigments, and manifests as recurrent jaundice with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. The defect is due to the absence of the canalicular protein MRP2 located on chromosomes 10q 24, which is responsible for the transport of biliary glucuronides and related organic anions into bile. No …

Metachronous Primary Cancers Of Colon And Stomac, Zubair Ahmad, Ayesha Memon, Khurram Minhas

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Synchronous or metachronous occurrence of esophageal, gastric and colonic cancers is a very rare occurrence, although there are several case reports in literature. A case of a 41 years old man with metachronous cancers of colon and stomach is reported.

Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices Of Health Care Workers Regarding Needle Stick Injuries At A Tertiary Care Hospital In Pakistan, Afia Zafar, Naveen Aslam, Nosheen Nasir, Riffat Meraj, Vikram Mehraj

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of HCWs regarding needle stick injuries at the Aga Khan University Hospital.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on medical personnel. A structured pre-tested questionnaire was administered during June-July 2003. The data was analysed by SPSS 13.0. Percentages of the categorical variables were computed and compared by Chi square test at a 5% level of significance. Odds ratios and their 95% CIs were also computed.

RESULTS: Of 80 participants, 29 were doctors and 51 were registered nurses. About 45% reported having a needle stick injury in the past. Frequency of injury was …

A Fatal Case Of Gram Negative Bacterial Sepsis Associated With Disseminated Strongyloidiasis In An Immunocompromised Patient, Naima Fasih, Seema Irfan, Usman Sheikh, M. Sim Beg

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

We report a fatal case of disseminated strongyloidiasis in a patient with multiple myeloma receiving chemrotherapy. A fifty-seven years old man presented with severe diarrhoea and vomiting, fever, weight loss and dysphagia,due to mouth ulcers. Despite broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics, albendazole (anti protozoal) and supportive treatment, the patient died of Gram-negative sepsis.

Diagnostic Tool For Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia Clinicopathologic Spectrum, Natasha Bahadur Ali, Bushra Moiz, Mohammad Usman Shaikh, Salman Adil, Bushra Rizvi, Yasmeen Rahman

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective: To platelet aggregometry and describe the clinical spectrum of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia diagnosed by platelet aggregometry.
Study design: A case-series.
Place and duration of study: This study was carried out at the clinical laboratories at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi from January 2003 to January 2006.
Patients and methods: All patients irrespective of age and gender presenting with bleeding symptoms and having normal platelet count were evaluated. Demographic details, relevant clinical history along with results of complete blood count, bleeding time and platelet aggregation studies were retrieved through computerized data base and evaluated for the diagnosis of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. …

Antibiotic Susceptibility Of Pathogens Isolated From Patients With Community-Acquired Respiratory Tract Infections In Pakistan--The Active Study, Afia Zafar, Zahid Hussain, Eale Lomama, Sophie Sibille, Seema Irfan, Erum Khan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

BACKGROUND: Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are amongst the most wide spread and serious infections, accounting for over 50 million deaths globally each year. In developing countries, infants under 4 years of age are at greatest risk of lower RTIs, whereas in developed countries the severity of infection and rate of mortality are greater in elderly. The objective of the survey was to determine the in vitro susceptibility of antibiotics commonly prescribed RTIs against Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP), Haemophilus influenzae (HI) and Streptococcus pyogenes, isolated from patients with community-acquired RTIs globally. This survey involved 9 countries. In this study we present the …

Primary Drug Resistance To Anti-Tuberculous Drugs In Karachi, Arshad Javaid, Nadim Rizvi, Mosavir Ansari, Ashraf Sadiq, Iqbal Sher Burki, Nadeem Ur Rehman, Rumina Hasan, Afia Zafar

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective: To assess the frequency of primary drug resistance among newly diagnosed tuberculosis cases in Karachi.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Multicentric study involving various TB clinics and treatment centres of Karachi between April to December 2005.
Methodology: The frequency of drug resistance among new TB patients was evaluated using a non-probability convenient sampling methodology. Sputum sample was obtained from 140 newly diagnosed sputum smear-positive patients of pulmonary tuberculosis from various centres of Karachi. Sensitivities were performed by proportion method.
Results: Fifteen (11.5%) samples in 130 eligible patients showed primary resistance to one …

Primary Drug Resistance To Antituberculous Drugs In Nwfp Pakistan, Arshad Javaid, Abdul Ghafoor, Abdul Rab, Anila Basit, Zia Ullah, Shaukat Ali, Afia Zafar, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective: To assess the prevalence of Primary drug resistance to Antituberculous drugs in NWFP
Method: A cross-sectional prevalence study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of drug resistance among new TB patients, using a non-probability convenience sampling methodology. Sample size was calculated according to the population and WHO's estimated incidence of smear positive tuberculosis in the province/country. Sputum samples were obtained from 122 newly diagnosed patients of pulmonary tuberculosis from centres in Peshawar and Abbotabad in NWFP.
Results: Sensitivities were performed by proportion method which showed the following resistance values in 118 eligible patients: 15 (12.7 %) …

Hepatic Angiosarcoma With Metastasis To Small Intestine, Zubair Ahmad, Azizun Nisa, Romana Idrees, Khurram Minhas, Shahid Pervez, Khalid Mumtaz

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Hepatic angiosarcomas are rare tumours with poor prognosis, with patients usually dying within 6 months. Metastases mainly occur in lymph nodes, spleen, lungs, bones and adrenals. Metastasis to small intestine is even rarer. Similarly, primary or metastatic angiosarcomas in small intestine are extremely rare, often present with recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia, and have an extremely poor prognosis. Both primary or metastatic intestinal angiosarcomas may exhibit epithelioid morphology. It may be very difficult to differentiate between primary and secondary cases in intestine and especially when the tumour exhibits epithelioid morphology.