Decrease in pain of propofol injection after oral clonidine

To assess the potential of oral Clonidine premedication in decreasing patient discomfort during the injection of Propofol. This was a comparative study of 80 ASA class 1 and II. Place and Duration of study: This study was carried out at Combined Military Hospital, Kharian. This was a study of 80 ASA class 1 and 2 patients of similar age group. Patients selected were from amongst those undergoing elective gynaecological surgery, specifically Diagnostic Dilatation and Curettage. These patients were selected by non-probability convenience sampling. The patients were randomly assigned, by means of a random table, to one of the two groups of 40 patients each. Group [A] patients were given oral Clonidine, 300 mg two hours before induction of anaesthesia by Propofol injection. Group [B] patients were given 0.01 to 0.02 mg/kg plain Lidocaine just before Propofol induced anaesthesia. Non-invasive systolic arterial blood pressure [ni-SBP], non-invasive diastolic arterial blood pressure, [ni-DBP] and heart rate were recorded in the ward about 120 min [before administration of oral Clonidine in group -A] in both groups. Measurements were repeated in the operating theatre before induction of anaesthesia. Patients in group-B were not premedicated with Clonidine. They were injected 0.01 to 0.02 mg/kg injection plain lidocaine, through the injection port of an 18-gauge cannula, as premedication just before propofol monitoring was done as for group -A. Before administration of propofol, the patient was requested to rate immediately any sensation of pain during injection as non [0], mild [1] moderate[2] or severe [3], also called the Verbal Rating Scale [VRS]. The results showed both groups to have similar pain score, and differences were deemed statistically not significant by the analysis. Our results imply that Clonidine makes an excellent premedication with Propofol for short gynaecological procedures

Xeroderma pigmentosum

Xeroderma pigmentosum comprises of a heterogeneous group of autosomal recessive hereditary diseases, which are characterized by a number of clinical characteristics and abnormal DNA repair mechanism. These patients are prone to multiple cutaneous malignancies at an early stage in life. We present 2 cases of xeoderma pigmentosum with malignant melanoma and conclude that such cases must be identified at an early stage and properly educated to protect themselves from malignancies

Prevalence of chronic complications and associated factors in type 2 diabetes

To determine the prevalence of chronic complications and associated factors in type 2 diabetes in 500 diabetic patients, age >/= 25 years, attending the clinic of Diabetic Association of Pakistan [DAP], Karachi. Every 5th registered diabetic patient >/= 25 years age, was examined for the presence/absence of micro and macro vascular complications and associated factors. Blood samples were collected for HbA1c, lipid profile and serum creatinine. Urine was examined for albumin and microalbumin. Of the 500 diabetic patients examined [160 males, 340 females, mean age 55.2 10.6 years], retinopathy was seen in 43%, neuropathy in 39.6% and foot ulcers in 4%. Nephropathy was found in 20.2%, and was significantly associated with hypertension. The prevalence of microvascular complications was higher in the group of patients with HbA 1 c >8% and was significantly related to duration of diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Hypertension was manifest in 64.6% patients, 61% had raised Body Mass Index and Waist Hip Ratio was more than normal in 88% subjects. Macrovascular complications were encountered in 102 diabetic patients, with angina in 85 [17%], heart attack in 25 [5%] and stroke in 13 [2.6%]. The prevalence of diabetic microvascular complications was higher in people with poor glycaemic control, longer duration of diabetes and associated hypertension and obesity