Correlation of services of ischemic stroke with body temperature

Objective: to correlate severity of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score with body temperature

Methods: a descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in General Hospital, Lahore. This study is conducted from 1st July 2014 to 30th December 2014. 220 patients with diagnosed ischemic stroke were included in the study after informed consent. Rectal temperature of all patients was measured and recorded with rectal thermometer. NIHSS scoring was done at presentation. Pearson correlation coefficient was determined for correlation between rectal temperature and severity of stroke using SPSS 17

Results: 220 patients with mean age of 55 +/- 3.424 years were included. Age ranged from 39 to 60 years. 141 [64.1 %] were male patients and 79 [35.9%] were females. Body temperature ranged from 95-1020F while mean temperature was 98.18 +/- 2.014 of NIHSS Score of sampled population was 14 to 30 with mean score 23.90 +/- 4.139. There was a statistically significant correlation between body temperature and severity of stroke [p < 0.001, correlation coefficient r=- 0.528]

Conclusions: body temperature as determined by rectal thermometer at time of presentation with stroke is moderately correlated with stroke severity as measured by NIHSS [r=-0.528]

Frequency of hyperthermia and poor outcome in patients with ischemic stroke

Objective: to determine the frequency of hyperthermia in patients with ischemic stroke and compare the frequency of poor outcome in patients with and without hyperthermia along with ischemic stroke

Methods: this descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Medical Unit Ill, Postgraduate Medical Institute/Lahore General Hospital, Lahore over six months period six month from March 18, 2015 to September 17, 2015.Two hundred patients of both gender, aged 18-60 years, reaching within 24 hours of onset of symptoms and signs of ischemic stroke with Glasgow Coma scale [GCS]

Results: in this study a total of 200 cases were enrolled, of which 143 [71.5%] were male. Mean age of the patients was 43.11+/-6.97. it was noted that in 71 [35.5%] cases hyperthermia was present while in 129 [64.5%] cases hyperthermia was not present. Poor outcome in 92 [46%] of cases and was absent in 108 [54%] p-value<0.05

Conclusions: hyperthermia can result in poor outcome in ischemic stroke patients

To determine the efficacy of intravenous l-ornithine l-aspartate in combination with current treatment in patients with hepatic encephalopathy

Hepatic encephalopathy [HE] is the syndrome of disordered consciousness and altered neuromuscular activity that is seen in patients with acute or chronic hepatocellular failure or porto systemic shunting

Objective: To determine the efficacy of intravenous L-ornithine L-aspartate [LOLA] in combination with current treatment in patients with hepatic encephalopathy

Study Design: Quasi experimental

Setting: Study was conducted in medical unit I, Services Hospital, Lahore

Duration of Study: The study was carried out over a period of one and a half years

Subjects: Patients of chronic liver disease presenting with hepatic encephalopathy fulfilling inclusion criteria were enrolled in study

Methods: Sixty patients of hepatic encephalopathy were taken. They were divided into two groups of thirty each. Thirty patients labeled as group A were given the conventional treatment of hepatic encephalopathy; second group of thirty patients was labeled as group B and was given intravenous LOLA in addition to conventional treatment

Results: Group B patients showed statistically significant improvement in encephalopathy and reduction in serum ammonia levels after seventy two hours of treatment. However, there was statistically insignificant reduction in duration of hospital stay

Conclusion: Addition of LOLA in conventional treatment improves recovery from hepatic encephalopathy; but it needs further studies to document role of L-ornithine L-aspartate as regular part of treatment of hepatic encephalopathy

Association of ischemic heart disease with ABO blood groups

Objective: to study the association between various ABO blood groups and ischemic heart disease

Material and Method: in these study three hundred subjects with IHD and an equal number of healthy subjects as a control group were selected and their respective blood groups were identified

Results: it showed predominance of blood group A [47%] followed by blood group O [21%], AB [19%] and B [13%].This result was highly statistically significant

Conclusion: a greater prevalence of ischemic heart disease was observed in patients with blood group A

To study the risk factors for hepatitis C in cirrhotic patients

The purpose of the study was to evaluate predisposing risk factors for the development of Hepatitis C in cirrhotic patients who tested positive for Hepatitis C. Twenty three cirrhotic patients who tested positive for hepatitis C were included in the study. All were questions about possible risk factors resulting in infection with Hepatitis C. 4 patients [17.3%] gave a history of previous blood transfusion, 5 [20.8%] had a previous history of jaundice, 5 [20.8%] had a history of needle stick injury in the past. No patient gave a history of surgery and no history of contact with a jaundiced patient was available. 1 patients [4.35%] who also gave history previous blood transfusion, gave a history of contact with multiple partners. In 9 cases [39.1%] no cause could be established. This shows that in a significant number of cases the mode of transmission of Hepatitis C still remains a grey area