Various methods to detect Helicobacter pylori and their respective yield

This is a prospective study carried out in 100 cases with the aim to see various methods available to detect H. pylori and their respective yield. Further to select which of the two methods if combined together give the best/highest yield. Department of Medicine Dow University of Health Sciences [DUHS] and Civil Hospital, Karachi. In this study 100 patients were selected coming to Gastrointestinal Clinic of Medical Unit - 5, Civil Hospital and DUHS, Karachi, for various dyspeptic symptoms and were suspected to be suffering from acid peptic disease. Multiple biopsy specimens [six] were taken for the study:-First two samples were directly inoculated into culture media. The third specimen was immerse directly into the helicourease gel for detection of H.pylori. The three biopsy specimens were preserved in the formalin for histological examination and for special staining to detect H.pylori. Finally l0cc blood was drawn to detect both quantitative and qualitative antibody titer for H.pylori. All the tests for detection of H.pylori were performed on these 100 patients and it was found that Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA] 82% [Quantitative], H. Flex 72% [Qualitative], Histology 66%, Helicourease test 52%, Culture 46% and ELISA and Histology combine74% positivity. Serological detection on IgG antibodies to H.pylori is found to be highly reliable for the diagnosis of H.pylori infection, because of its non-invasiveness, easy and quick to perform its reliability had made it to replace the invasive procedure as a primary diagnostic test. It is observed that if ELISA and histology are combined together give the highest yield, as histology is the most confirmative procedure to identify the active invasion of the organism into the substance of tissue

Evaluation of academic performance by dental graduates of Karachi medical and dental college: In lieu of their selection criteria for professional education

Creditable selection of candidates in the professional colleges is of crucial importance in producing capable and talented doctors to deliver good service to the people. KMDC selects its candidates on the bases of an admission test conducted by Institute of Business Administration [I BA] with weightage given to Intermediate [HSC] and Matric [SSC]. Evidence shows that academic achievements of professional graduates can not be predicted on the basis of their preprofessional records hence it has been suggested that innovative methods should be evolved for selecting the most suitable professionals. Aims: The purpose of this study is to look at the ability of the pre-professional records and the admission test to predict the academic performance of dental graduates. Results of professional exams of first four dental batches [n=80] of Karachi Medical and Dental College were retrieved and their academic records in Higher secondary, Secondary school and IBA test were also taken. The descriptive statistics show that average score of first BDS batch for IBA is 59.0 while for batch 4th it is 71.04. Whereas the average professional marks of batch 1 is 356.9 to that of 346.81 of batch 4. There is negative correlation between IBA and final prof results with R=-.048 [P<.510], -.340 [P<.152],.163 [P<.079] and -.198 [P<.033] respectively for each batch. There is no significant difference in final professional marks between the four batches with F=1.991 [P<.193] for higher IBA scores. It was concluded that there is no significant positive correlation between IBA Test score and the final professional results in all four batches of dental graduates of Karachi Medical and Dental College. The IBA score was improved in the subsequent batches without influencing the professional scores

Response of mono- therapy with interferon in hepatitis C patients and its comparison with combination therapy in the non-responders

The study was conducted to observe the response of mono-therapy with Interferon g in Hepatitis C patients. A second objective was to determine the efficacy of the combination therapy with INF u and Ribavarin in the non-responders. Thirty patients having Hepatitis C [HCV] infection were included in the study during the year 1998 and 1999. All the patients were initially started on INF u alone for 24 weeks and then those who did not respond to this mono-therapy, were treated upon with combination therapy. Finally the two groups were analyzed to prove efficacy of the treatment modalities. After 24 weeks of mono-therapy with INF u, three out of 30 patients[10%] could be normalized biochemically while the rest 27 were shifted onto combination therapy with INF u and Ribovarin. Seventeen patients [56.7%] showed normal ALT after 24 weeks of combination therapy. Whereas 9 patients [30.33%] were identified as non-responders and placed on Induction therapy, out of which only 2 patients had sustained virological and biochemical response after 48 weeks of therapy. The combination of INF a and Ribovarin for hepatitis C shows a 5 times more sustained biological [SBR] and virological response [SVR] as compared to monotherapy. This combination should be further evaluated for patients in the developing countries where cost effectiveness is of dire importance