ABSTRACT
Background H. Pylori or Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium of gram negative origin, found in the stomach and has been attributed to peptic ulcers, chronic gastritis, and cancer of the stomach [ailments that formerly were not thought to occur due to microbes] ever since it was identified nearly three decades ago. Objective: Nearly half of the global population harbors H. pylori in its upper gastrointestinal tract. However, a major proportion [i.e. eighty percent] of the victims remain asymptomatic. This research aims to determine the incidence and extent of Helicobacter Pylori infestation among symptomatic population of Shaheed Benazirabad and provide the basis for future studies investigating the extent of infestation and its relationship with symptoms
Methodology this cross-sectional analysis of incidence and extent of H. Pylori infestation was done on the basis of ELISA test results from a mainstream laboratory [Arif Diagnostics] the only laboratory, equipped with the technology to carry out this test. The data of 100 symptomatic patients visiting the laboratory in the month of June, 2014 was collected and test result was analyzed on SPSS v.16.0
Results the Mean H. Pylori levels were higher in females [12.54ug/dl] than in males [8.61ug/dl]. The maximum level of infestation reported in symptomatic females [58.63ug/dl] was also considerably higher than that of symptomatic males [27.54ug/dl]. H. Pylori infestation was most common [37%] among individuals aged between eighteen to twenty-eight years. Individuals aged between twenty-nine to thirty-nine years immediately followed and 30% of the symptomatic patients fell within this age bracket, majority of the sufferers were males as compared to females
Conclusion on the basis of our result, we conclude that males are more prone to suffer from symptoms even at lower levels of infestation than females and the incidence and extent of peptic ulcer infestation decreased with decreasing age in our sample
ABSTRACT
Background the interest of the scientific community regarding depression in students is rather new. However, case reports dating back to the seventeenth century do exist. In that era, the belief prevailed that depression rarely existed [if at all] among students but the belief is now being challenged. Our research takes the belief one step further and hypothesizes that depression is most often high during tests and exams and the highest when they are preparing for and about to appear in entrance tests
Objective entrance tests are, without doubt, the most crucial career defining periods of a student's life. This study aims to test this hypothesis and figure out whether the belief, that depressive symptoms are intensified during the period of entrance tests, holds truth
Methodology a cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in Mirpurkhas district. A data sample of 222 entrance test students was chosen via purposive sampling. Data was collected through a self-administered structured questionnaire [which included the Hamilton stress scale] from May to July 2014. The data was analyzed using SPSS v.16.0
Results the mean stress score of the entrance test applicants was 21.56, which indicate moderate severity. The mean stress score of females [22.43] was higher than that of males [20.82] showing that females are more severely affected. A significant proportion of applicants admitted that they consciously experienced depressive mood. The applicants also complained of other general depressive symptoms like loss of appetite, general aches, weight loss, anxiety and agitation. Health worries were also common among the entrance test applicants
Conclusions on the basis of our data we conclude that depression is common and wide array of general depressive symptoms are aggravated in entrance test applicants. This issue needs immediate attention and steps must be taken to pre-empt the future adverse health problems that can stem from this condition