Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among adult asthmatic patients in Karachi

Vitamin D deficiency has assumed pandemic proportions all over the world. It has been documented as a frequent problem in studies of young adults, elderly person and children in other countries, but there is no reliable data on vitamin D status of adult asthmatic patients in Pakistan. To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in adult asthmatic patients with moderate to severe asthma using a cross-sectional study design in Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.311 adult asthmatic patients with moderate to severe asthma were recruited from JPMC, tertiary care hospital in Karachi. Questionnaires were administered together demographics, height, weight, nutritional and physical activity assessment. Blood samples for vitamin D measurement were also taken. Results show high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency [88.10%] in adult patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was more frequently observed in female than in male patients.67.66% of the female patients had serum vitamin D level less than 20 ng/ml as compare to 56.1% of the male patients [p=0.01]

Pitavastatin is a potent anti-inflammatory agent in the rat paw model of acute inflammation

Statins are used extensively as anti-hyperlipidemic agents. In addition to curtailing cholesterol synthesis they have been found to have multiple actions unrelated to cholesterol lowering" the pleiotropic effects," which includes inhibition of inflammation. We aimed at investigating the effect of pitavastatin a 3[rd] generation statin, in suppressing acute inflammation in rat paw edema model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of five groups [n=8]: Control, indomethacin and pitavastatin [0.2mg/kg, 0.4mg/kg, 0.8mg/kg] treated. 1hour following treatment, inflammation was induced by sub-planter injection of egg albumin into the hind paw. Anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by measurement of edema formation every half hour for three hours, assessment of polymorphonuclear leukocyte [PMNL] infiltration and measurement of tissue damage in skin biopsies. Ascending doses of pitavastatin were found to attenuate these parameters. The lowest dose of pitavastatin [0.2mg/kg] was found to significantly reduce edema volume, PMNL infiltration and tissue damage. The efficacy of the smallest dose was found comparable to indomethacin

Fatal road traffic accidents in Karachi

Fatalities due to road traffic accidents are a major cause of mortality all over the world. The aim of our study is to look at socio-demographic profile of such cases in order to find some remedial measures to minimize the brunt. Retrospective / observational study. This study was conducted at the Emergency Department, Sir Syed Hospital, Qayyumabad, Karachi from January to June, 2013. Study was based upon 56 victims of RTA. It includes all those who died during treatment or found dead on arrival in the emergency department. The demographic data of these cases was recorded. Males victims were 71% and maximum number of victims [37.5%] was in age group 30-39 years. Most of the accidents [38%] took place between 1200hrs and 1800hrs. Most of the injuries were found on the head [66%] and then chest 14%, lower extremities 21%, upper extremities 19%. The most common external injuries were abrasions, bruises and lacerations. Skull was the most common bone to be fractured [44%]. The head injury constituted major cause of death [53%] followed by hemorrhagic shock [35%]. Pedestrians and two wheeler riders were mostly affected individuals followed by cyclists, drivers of three wheeler, light and heavy motor vehicles. The incidence of traffic accidents is at rampant. The accidents risks can be minimized by enhancement of road visibility, good traffic control with properly working road traffic signals. Fatalities of Traffic accidents victims can be reduced by providing good pre-hospital care, establishment of well equipped emergency trauma centres in all big hospitals

epidemiologic profile of homicidal deaths in Karachi

The study was planned to review the epidemiologic profile of homicidal deaths in Karachi. Observational study. Since Jan. 2009 to June 2009 and place of study was the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre [JPMC], Karachi. 1'wo hundred and ninety seven cases were included in the study. The data was collected by reviewing the police papers and autopsy repons. The parameters recorded were age, sex, manner of death, type of weapon used, part of the body involved, time of death and location of fatal wound. During the study period there were 297 cases of homicides, out of which 259 [87.2%] were firearms related homicides and majority of victims were males [75.4%] and most of them were between 21 to 30 years of age [39.5%] Most of the crimes occurred during night hours [59, 5%] and head injuries were most common [49.8%]. The firearms related homicides are highest in number, the reason being easy access to firearm weapons. Further studies and effective intervention strategies are needed to be employed to reduce the occurrence of homicides. The situation demands a strict control on firearms by government

Relationship between Gleason's score and immunohistochemical staining intensity of tissue PSA in prostatic carcinoma

To evaluate the usefulness of Immunohistochemical Staining of Tissue PSA in determining the severity of Prostatic Carcinoma. Material and An explanatory study carried out at the Department of Histopathology of a Tertiary Care Hospital Lahore, from January 1999 to July 2002. Sixty-two [62]- cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma were graded with Gleason's score and stained with immunohistochemical stain for tissue PSA. Intensity of staining was correlated with Gleason's score and relationship was evaluated by ANOVA and simple regression. Specificity and sensitivity of staining intensity was estimated for specific Gleason's scores. Age of the 62 cases ranged between 50 ' 90 years and no significant difference was found between age groups regarding tumor cell differentiation. Staining intensity was found to be positively related to cellular differentiation [->2 51]. 'Relationship between staining intensity and Gleason's score showed an inverse relationship with ANOVA / linear regression; F statistic of 209.72 [p.0001] and R 0.882. Our study confirmed the findings of other international studies exploring relationships between Gleason's score and staining intensity of tissue PSA. Staining of tissue PSA with immunohistochemical stains is helpful in diagnosing the severity of the tumor grade as a complimentary tool along with Gleason's scoring

Fine needle aspiration cytology of enlarged lymph nodes and gender differences

To observe patterns in the pathological findings of lymph-node FNAC. Exploratory and Cross-sectional examination of medical records. Department of Histopathology of Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, from 1992 to 1995 [four years]. A total of 548 fine needle aspiration cytologies were performed on patients presenting with enlarged lymph nodes. Two histopathologists evaluated each slide to confirm the findings. Descriptive analysis of the FNAC results was conducted and efficacy of the procedure was estimated. Male to female ratios were calculated and chi-square test was applied. Eighty-eight percent of the FNACs yielded a positive result on the first attempt. Infectious and cancerous FNACs averaged 42.36% and 32.09%, respectively. Granulomatous lesions were most frequently due to tuberculosis. Men were twice as likely as women to have cancer detected by an FNAC, chi[2] 24, [p 0.05]. Poorly differentiated cancer was three times as likely to be found in males than females, chi[2] 8.02. Male: female ratio for metastatic lesions was 2:1, chi[2] 11.12 [p 0.05]. In this study, infectious diseases appeared to present more frequently than cancerous lesions, as is observed in underdeveloped countries. This study complements other studies and opens new research questions, regarding gender differences in the prevalence of cancer found in enlarged lymph nodes, as cancers including the metastatic, detected on FNAC were more common in males than females