Association of serum P1NP [N-terminal propeptide of type1 collagen] and bone mineral density [BMD] in osteoporosis

Objective: To access the variation of P1NP levels in normal, osteopenic and osteoporotic females and to study its correlation of with BMD in pre and post-menopausal women at hip and spine. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Ziauddin Hospital, Clifton Campus, Karachi during Jan to Dec 2017

Material and Methods: A sample of 267 randomly selected females that fulfilled the exclusion and inclusion criteria were included in the study. BMD was assessed by DEXA Scan while P1NP levels were measured using electrochemilluminescnet technique using Roche Cobas analyzer at Ziauddin hospital Karachi. Elecsys 2010, Modular analytics E170 Cobas e immunoassay analyzer. Data was collected using a self-designed Questionnaire. ANOVA was applied to compare mean differences of P1NP levels in pre and post-menopausal women in normal, osteopenic and osteoporotic groups. Regression analysis was used to determine association between P1NP level and BMD levels at spine and hip

Results: A significant negative correlation was found between P1NP and BMD at both the sites, while a strong association was established in P1NP and BMD spine, while for hip bone this association was non significant

Conclusions: Our study concludes that P1NP is a reliable biomarker for prediction of bone density of spine and is negatively correlated with the density

Injuries and fatalities resulting from the 2005 south Asia earthquake. A hospital experience

The South Asia quake struck South Asia with its epicentre in Pakistan on 8[th] October 2005, originating from a previously recognized fault line but of unsuspecting magnitude of death and destruction. The Earthquake measured 7.6 on the Richter scale and caused massive loss of life and extensive damage to property never seen before in the history of Pakistan. Earthquake related admissions and deaths to one of the two major tertiary care hospitals receiving casualties from the quake zone from 8[th] October 2005 through 1[st] November 2005 were analysed. All medical data from the hospital records was reviewed for quake related injuries and information about pattern of injuries received and treatment administered. A total of 3128 earthquake related admissions were recorded in the hospital with 39 in-hospital deaths. Admission rates were approximately 2:1 by gender, males affected more. Earthquake related injuries are varied and multifactorial. Comprehensive surveillance and a well developed plan for all Medicare setups need to be in place and when actively rehearsed, can help lead to better management preparedness