Effect of energy drink on reaction time, haemodynamic and electrocardiographic parameters

Objectives: To evaluate the cardiovascular effects and reaction time associated with energy drink in healthy medical students

Methods: In this randomized control design, a total of 30 healthy volunteers, 19-21 years of age of either sex were divided at random into three groups namely A, B and C. At the time of study, subjects were fasting overnight and were abstaining from caffeine for 48 hours. Baseline pulse and blood pressure were taken whereas heart rate, QTc interval and mean reaction time of each of three groups were measured by using power laboratory. The subjects of group A had consumed nothing while those belonging to group B and C were asked to consume 250 ml [1 can] and 500 ml [2 cans] of energy drink respectively and measurements were retaken after 1 and 2 hours interval. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS-19, and p

Results: The pulse rate, heart rate, blood pressure and QTc interval increased significantly in group C at 2 hour as compare to group A and B. In group C, at 2 hours, pulse rate increased by 16.1% [p=0.001], systolic blood pressure increased by 9.5% [p=<0.001], diastolic blood pressure increased by 10.1% [p=0.002], heart rate significantly increased by 17.3% [p=0.015] and QTc interval prolonged by 12.4% [p=0.002]. A decrease in mean reaction time was noticed by 20.0% [p=<0.001]

Conclusion: Energy drink consumption increases the HR. HP, QT interval as well as performance. The more the energy drink consumed, the higher the changes are likely to be

Seroprevalence and Spatial Distribution of Toxoplasmosis in Sheep and Goats in North-Eastern Region of Pakistan

Toxoplasmosis is a protozoan disease that is caused by Toxoplasma gondii in livestock and humans. Due to its medical and veterinary importance, it is essential to study the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among humans and animals in various parts of the world. The major objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and spatial distribution of toxoplasmosis in small ruminants (sheep and goats) of north-eastern region, Pakistan. A total of 1,000 animals comprising of sheep (n=470) and goats (n=530) were examined for T. gondii infection by using ELISA. An epidemiological data was collected in the form of questionnaire. A surface has been generated by using method of interpolation in Arc GIS with the help of IDW (inverse distance weight). The results showed higher seroprevalence of T. gondii in goats (42.8%) as compared to sheep (26.2%). The seroprevalence was higher in females as compared to males in all examined ruminants. Similarly, there is a wide variation in the seroprevalence of T. gondii in different breeds of sheep and goats showing higher seroprevalence in Teddy (52.8%) and Damani breed (34.5%) of goat and sheep's, respectively. The geographical and spatial distribution of T. gondii shows that it is widely distributed in different parts of the north-eastern region of Pakistan. Our results suggest widespread environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts. It suggests us that small ruminants could be a potentially important source of T. gondii infection if their infected meat is consumed undercooked.

Prevalence and therapy of chronic obstructive disease in Karachi

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] has boon one of the main causes of mortality worldwide. The impact of COPD has been increasing socio-economically over time to make COPD an alarming condition for health associated professionals due to the severity of prevalence and its expensive treatment. Due to COPD, patients not only suffer from the illness as the financial costs associated with it

Objective: To determine the prevalence and the medication of COPD

Methods: The medical records of patients suffering from COPD were collected from different tertiary care hospitals in Karachi from June 2011 to May 2012 comprising of middle adulthood to mature aged patients

Results: Out of 1260 patients 174 [13.60 %] were suffered from COPD. Nearly all the patients of COPD were associated with co-morbidity like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, urinary tract infections, renal failure, pneumonia, cardiovascular diseases, and other diseases. Ant-allergy, oxygen supply, intravenous and oral montilukast, atrovent and other nebulizers, cough syrups, inhalers, antibiotics, and other treatment were used for the treatment of COPD as directed by the world renowned guidelines for COPD

Conclusion: The prevalence of COPD is high and is detected through a standalone pulmonary function test [PFT] e.g Spirometry, or in conjugation with a clinical examination. In most oases the guidelines provide by the British Thoracic Society, Americans Thoracic Society, and European Respiratory Society are used to treat COPD

Rising caesarean section rate; making sense of it is it unavoidable?

Compare indications for caesarean section in Military Hospital Rawalpindi in the year 1999 with the year 2005, six years apart, with an aim to identify areas where caesarean section rates could be decreased. Prospective Survey of caesarean section using information provided by doctors/midwives entering data in labour ward /theater registers. The study was designed as a process evaluation. Indication for caesarean section, parity, previous caesarean section, emergency / elective, labour / pre labour, presence of previous caesarean section scar, induced or spontaneous labour were noted. Data was plotted into 2 separate classifications and indications compared across the 2 years 1999 versus 2005. Statistical significance was calculated and value of <0.05 was considered significant. Overall section rates rose from 16.9% to 34.6% which showed almost doubling of rates in a span of 6 years. The chief contributors to rising rates were as follows. Caesarean section rate rose from 132 [2.2%] to 355 [4.6%] for previous one Caesarean section [p<0.001], from 172 [2.9%] to 383 [5%] for previous >1 caesarean [p<0.001], that for nullipara increased from 203 [3.3%] to 632 [8.3%], prelabour or induced labour [p<0.001] and for dystocia from 150 [2.5%] to 490 [6.4%] which was again significant [p<0.001]. Increase in section rate for antepartum haemorrhage, diabetes, previous infertility and intrauterine growth restriction was insignificant. A decrease in the number of caesarean sections may be achieved by reducing the number of primary caesarean section and/or encouraging more patients to take a trial of scar. A decrease in induction rates may also lead to lowering of caesarean section rates

Adolescent ovarian tumors: a clinicopathlogical review of 15 cases

To prospectively review the clinicopathologic pattern and out come in 15 patients with adolescent ovarian tumours in Military Hospital Rawalpindi between Jan 2004 to Sep 2007. All cases of adolescent ovarian tumours reporting to the gynaecology department of Military Hospital Rawalpindi during the period of enrolment. Out of 15 cases 12 were managed surgically. Data was recorded regarding clinical presentation, patient's age, size of tumour, bilaterality, histopathology, staging if tumour was malignant and sites of extra ovarian involvement. All patients were followed up for one year. Majority of patients fell in the subgroup 14-16 year age. Majority harboring ovarian malignancy belonged to subgroup 17-19 years. Clinical presentation in the majority was mass abdomen and abdominal distension. Approach was transcutaneous in 3 [20%], laparoscopic in 2[20%], and open laparotomy in 10 [60%]. Frozen section was performed in 3 cases. Histopathology was benign in 11 cases and malignant in 4. In 3 cases cyst fluid was negative for malignancy. In 2 cyst wall biopsy and one patient where entire cyst was removed histopathology revealed benign serous cyst adenoma/luteal cyst [26%]. There were 5 cases of dermoid cysts [33.3%], one patient had bilateral dermoids, one malignant and one benign. All 4 malignancies were found to be to non-epithelial on histopathology. One case had surgery twice. Unilateral oopherectomy followed by recurrence and total abdominal hysterectomy and contralateral salpingo-oopherectomy after 2 years. This study shows the preponderance of non-epithelial tumours and high percentages of malignant germ cell tumours in adolescents. The incidence of malignant tumours in adolescents is higher than in adults. Early correct diagnosis could be reached by careful physical examination, imaging and tumour markers Surgery should as much as is safely possible be fertility preserving