ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] in blood donors in a tertiary care hospital blood bank and then compared with prevalence in other reported studies in Pakistan between 1988 and 2016. Study Design: Prospective single centre study with systematic review. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Blood Bank, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, PIMS Hospital Islamabad, from Jan 2015 to Dec 2016
Material and Methods: Blood donors were screened for the prevalence of HIV, from Jan 2015 to Dec 2016. Metaanalyses were gathered from the reported HIV incidence in blood donors from across Pakistan during 1988-2016 by searching through Google, Pub Med, and Pak Medi Net [for Pakistani non-indexed journals]
Results: A total of 54,877 blood donors were screened for HIV by Chemiluminescent immunoassay [CLIA], of which 75 [0.13%] male donors were found reactive for HIV. The mean prevalence of HIV from 2006-2016 was 0.06% while 0.13% in 47 studies conducted during the period 1988-2016
Conclusion: The prevalence of HIV in apparently healthy blood donors is steadily increasing in Pakistan. Concerted efforts need to be made to ensure that blood is adequately screened for HIV in every blood bank in the country
ABSTRACT
The pathophysiological mechanism of hypertensive retinopathy is not fully established. It is thought that increased platelet activation may play a role in its pathogenesis. As mean platelet volume is a marker of platelet activation, so this study was designed to answer the question: does mean platelet volume increase in hypertensive retinopathy. To determine frequency of increased mean platelet volume in hypertensive retinopathy. Cross-sectional study. Six months. Outpatient department of Medical. unit III, Allied Hospital, Faisalabad. 138 patients of essential hypertension with hypertensive retinopathy of all ages and both sexes were included. For grading of hypertensive retinopathy according to the Keith Wagener classification, direct ophthalmoscopy was performed in all the subjects and mean platelet volume was measured after taking the blood sample. The mean platelet volume was found to be normal [10 fl] were found in 41 patients [29.7%], of these 19 were males while 22 were females. In patients of grade 1 hypertensive retinopathy, the mean platelet volume was 9.1 +/- 0.6 fl. In grade 2, 3 and 4 hypertensive retinopathy the values of mean platelet volume were 9.6 +/- 0.5 fl, 10.1 +/- 0.3 fl and 10.7 +/- 0.6 fl respectively. This study concluded that frequency of mean platelet volume is increased in patients of hypertensive retinopathy and frequency increases with increasing the severity of hypertensive retinopathy
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Blood Platelets/pathology , Epidemiology , Retinal Diseases/blood , Platelet Count , Hypertensive Retinopathy/pathology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Cell Size , Blood Pressure , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
To look into the feasibility of using cobra snake venom in suppressing breast cancer tissue through inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis. Samples of breast cancerous tissue, obtained from Atomic Energy Medical Center, LMCH, Jamshoro, incubated with varying concentrations of venom and without venom [as controls] were assayed for macro-molecular [RNA and DNA] levels No. change in the control samples while a prominent and significant fall in nucleic acid contents has been noted in venom treated tissues. Also, maximum effect was observed with 25ug/ml dose. Snake venom strongly inhibited the formation of nucleic acids in the breast cancerous tissues. It may bring a fall in cell proliferation, thus there is hope that venom could be used as an anti-cancerous drug in the future
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Animals , Elapidae , Breast Neoplasms/prevention & control , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Cytotoxins/pharmacology , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Nucleic Acids/drug effectsABSTRACT
Behavioural problems commonly occur in association with epilepsy and it has been generally observed that behaviour disturbances are the most frequent cause of psychiatric referral for epileptic children. This paper described the nature and extent of such disorders in a sample of 50 epileptic children. The data about behaviour disturbances were collected by using Rutter's questionnaire. The results are discussed with special reference to the practical implications of these findings in the assessment and management as well as in relation to some of the common factors associated with the aetiology of these disorders