ABSTRACT
COVID-19 virus is a causative agent of viral pandemic in human beings which specifically targets respiratory system of humans and causes viral pneumonia. This unusual viral pneumonia is rapidly spreading to all parts of the world, currently affecting about 105 million people with 2.3 million deaths. Current review described history, genomic characteristics, replication, and pathogenesis of COVID-19 with special emphasis on Nigella sativum (N. sativum) as a treatment option. N. sativum seeds are historically and religiously used over the centuries, both for prevention and treatment of different diseases. This review summarizes the potential role of N. sativum seeds against COVID-19 infection at levels of in silico, cell lines and animal models.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , COVID-19 , Nigella , Pandemics , Pathology, Molecular , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency and types of joint deformities in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and their association with clinical parameters and rheumatoid factor
Study Design: Cross-sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, the Children's Hospital and the Institute of Child Health, Lahore, from September 2014 to February 2015
Methodology: All patients of both genders of less than 16 years of age, who fulfilled the International League of Association for Rheumatology [ILAR] criteria for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis [JIA], were enrolled in this study. Their demographic data, duration of disease at the time of presentation, types of JIA, various joint deformities and rheumatoid factor [RF] were documented. Statistical analysis of data was done on SPSS version 16. Chi-square test was applied to determine the association of clinical deformity with age of patients, disease duration at presentation, types of JIA and RF
Results: Out of 70 patients enrolled during the study period, 51.4% were boys with mean age at presentation being 9.44 +/-3.89 years [2-7 years] and median duration of disease being 24 months [interquartile range 42 months]. Forty patients [57.1%] had joint deformities. Most common joints involved were hand [50%], wrist [50%], and knee [35.7%]. The common types of joint deformities were boutonniere deformity [28.6%], ulnar deviation of wrist [28.6%], fixed flexion deformity of wrist [22.9%], and knee [31.4%]. The most common type of JIA was polyarthritis RF negative with or without deformity. There was a strong association of deformities with older age of patients at presentation [p=0.036], longer duration of disease at presentation [p=0.028], polyarthritis [RF seronegative / seropositive] [p=0.013], and seropositivity [p=0.04]
Conclusion: More than 50% patients with JIA have joint deformities. Joint deformities are more likely to be seen in children with long-standing disease, those with polyarthritis JIA and seropositive patients
ABSTRACT
Psittacosis is a rare disease particularly in children with usual presentation of respiratory and constitutional symptoms. The cases may remain undiagnosed or diagnosis may be delayed because of lack of awareness among the paediatricians and physicians. Early diagnosis is very important as this is potentially curable and preventable disease. An interesting case of psittacosis is being reported here, which has been treated successfully with azithromycin
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Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of nebulized mucolytic therapy [N-acetylcysteine] in treatment of children with acute bronchiolitis. Study Design: Prospective randomized, controlled study. Place and Duration of Study: Paediatric Medical Unit of the Children's Hospital and the Institute of Child Health, Lahore, from November 2011 to April 2012
Methodology: All the patients aged 2 months to 24 months, with the diagnosis of acute viral bronchiolitis were enrolled in the study. A predesigned proforma was completed after taking parental consent. All eligible patients were randomly assigned to one of the two groups: group-1 received N-acetylcysteine in nebulized form, and group-2 received salbutamol as a nebulized aerosol. Both groups were then compared regarding their clinical improvement and duration of stay in the hospital. The data obtained was analyzed on the statistical software SPSS version 16. Descriptive statistics were obtained by frequencies and percentages. Chi-square test was applied to find p-value
Results: A total of 100 patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 3 months. On the first day of treatment, the mean clinical severity score at baseline were 5.38 +/- 2.62 in group-1 and 4.68 +/- 2.2 in group-2. At day 3 and 5, it was 2.9 +/- 1.48 and 3.30 +/- 1.77 in group-1 and 0.88 +/- 1.08 and 1.90 +/- 1.32 in group-2 respectively. The clinical severity score after N-acetylcysteine inhalation therapy was better in group-1 on the third but more so on fifth day after hospital admission. The mean duration of hospitalization was 4.67 +/- 2.2 days for the whole population and it differed between the 2 groups: 4.36 +/- 1.66 days in group-1 versus 4.98 +/- 2.6 days in group-2
Conclusion: On the basis of improvement in clinical severity score and early discharge from the hospital, N-acetylcysteine was found to be an effective therapy in acute bronchiolitis
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Objective: To see the frequency of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose levels in hypertensive patients
Design: Descriptive study
Place of Study: OPD / Filter clinic. Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. Islamabad
Patients and Methods: This study was carried out on 116 hypertensive patients during the period from August to September 2008. Out of 116 patients, 64 were females and 52 were males with age group between 20 to 70 years. Secondary causes are ruled out on the basis of history and physical examination. Blood samples were sent to PIMS laboratory for fasting glucose. Data and results were analyzed in SPSS
Results: According to this study, out of 116 patients, there were 18 patients who had diabetes mellitus while 33 had hypertension with impaired fasting glucose tolerance which is statistically significant. The females as compared to males were increased in number who had both diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose. According to age diabetes mellitus increased in age groups between 41-50 and 61-70 years while impaired fasting glucose were increased in age group between 31-60 yrs. The results indicate that impaired fasting glucose is present in significant number of hypertensive patients
Conclusions: Hypertension is associated with diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose
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To compare frequency of ischemic stroke with that of hemorrhagic stroke in hypertensive patients presenting with stroke at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. A cross-sectional study. Department of Neurology, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad from 17th July to 17th October 2010. One hundred consecutive hypertensive patients with stroke were analysed for this study. Total of 100 cases, 52 cases were of ischemic stroke. Out of this, 50% had left middle cerebral artery, 42.30% right middle cerebral artery, 3.85% anterior cerebral artery and 3.85% posterior cerebral artery involved. 48 cases had haemorrhagic stroke. The cerebellum was involved in 2.08%, 2.08% had left anterior lobe involved. Pons and right parietal lobe was involved in 2.08% respectively. SAH in 12.50%, left basal ganglia in 29.17% and right basal ganglia was involved in 43.76%. The reported results suggest that in hypertensive patients the frequency of ischemic stroke is greater than hemorrhagic stroke
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Intracranial Hemorrhages , Hypertension , Cross-Sectional StudiesABSTRACT
To evaluate association of hypertension with central obesity in low to middle socioeconomic population. Descriptive study. OPD, Filter Clinic. Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. Islamabad. June to September 2008. This study was carried out on 85 patients with history of hypertension. Out of total patients, 27 were males and 58 were females. The ages of the all patients were between 20 to 70 years. Parameters recorded included history, blood pressure, weight, height, waist circumference and hip circumference. The secondary causes were ruled out on the basis of history and physical examination. Data and results were analyzed in SPSS. Out of 85 patients, 74 including 21 males and 53 females had increased Waist Hip Ratio [WHR], 66 including 14 males and 61 females had increased Waist Circumference [WC], while the Body Mass Index [BMI] of 33 including 6 males and 27 females were found obese. It also showed that the females are more prone to obesity. The age group between 41-60 years was most effected. The results indicates that waist hip ratio is the most common indicator of obesity in patients with essential hypertension as compare to waist circumference and body mass index. Hypertension is associated with central obesity in low to middle socioeconomic status
ABSTRACT
Caffey's disease is a self limited disorder of infantile age group. It is synonymous with 'infantile cortical hyperostosis' and 'Caffey's-Silver syndrome'.It is characterized by fever, irritability, bone pain and characteristic bony changes. It has no definite etiology. This report describes a 4 months old infant presenting with fever, irritability and soft tissue swellings. Investigations led to the diagnosis of Caffey's disease. Symptomatic treatment was given to good clinical response
ABSTRACT
1] To determine the frequency of top five diseases among children presenting in pediatric medical unit. 2] To find out the association of maternal education with Feeding practices, immunization and nutritional status in children with these diseases
Materials and Methods: It was a prospective observational study conducted in medical unit of the Children's hospital and the institute of child health Lahore from February 2009 to April 2009. Total 175 patients age betweenl month to 5 years were enrolled in the study. Data was collected after an informed consent from the mother. A predesigned Performa was filled for every patient, which included history and examination
Results: Among 175 patients, there were 64% male and 36% female. Regarding age distribution 92 patients were between 1 month-2 years and 83 were in the age group of 2 - 5 years. The most common cause for hospitalization was acute lower respiratory tract infections like bronchopneumonia/lobar pneumonia and bronchiolitis [30.8%], acute watery diarrhea [18.85%], meningoencephalitis [bacterial/viral/tuberculous] 12%, tuberculosis [pulmonary/Skeletal] [9%] and malaria [4.5%]. Other less common diseases were enteric fever [4%], febrile seizures [4%], urinary tract infections [3.4%], metabolic seizures [3%] and measles [2.28%]. Amongst patients, 18.3% did not receive any vaccination, 39.3% were partially immunized while 74% were fully immunized according to EPI. After inquiry it was found that only 2% of the mothers fulfill the criteria for clean feeding practices and rest of 98% were otherwise. Only 15% of patients were adequately weaned and 28.3% were exclusively breast fed. It was found that 107 patient [61.2%] belonged to low socio-economic class while 65 [37.1%] came from low middle class income group while only 3 patients [1.7%] belonged to upper middle class family
Conclusion: Great emphasis is needed for improvement of primary health care, immunization, and promotion of breast feeding as well as hygienic practices. In resource compromised country like Pakistan strengthening of primary health facilities and education of women appears to be the only way forward if reduction in disease burden and morbidity has to be achieved
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To describe the clinical manifestations of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in children. Case series. This study was conducted in the Department of Neurology at The Children's Hospital and the Institute of Child Health, Lahore, from April 2005 to April 2007. Fifty patients were diagnosed as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis during the study period. Their diagnosis was based on a detailed history, clinical examination, presence of antimeasles antibodies in Cerebrospinal Fluid [CSF] and typical electroencephalogram [EEG]. The findings were described as average, mean and percentages. Fifty patients were included in this study. The average age of the patients was 8 years. Thirty-eight [76%] were males and 12 [24%] were females. The average duration of symptoms before presentation was 66.72 days. History of measles infection was present in 31 patients [62%] and measles vaccination in 43 patients [86%]. Motor regression was present in all [100%] patients and cognition decline in 43 patients [86%]. Seizures were focal [10%], generalized tonic-clonic [16%] and myoclonic [74%]. Burst-suppression pattern Electroencephalogram [EEG] and the antimeasles antibody in CSF were positive in 100% of patients. SSPE is an indicator of high incidence of measles infection among the paediatric population even among vaccinated children. Males are more common sufferers. SSPE can present with different types of seizures, cognition decline and motor regression being supported by suggestive EEG and presence of anti-measles antibodies in CSF
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child , Measles/immunology , Cerebrospinal Fluid/immunology , Antibodies/cerebrospinal fluid , Electroencephalography , Measles Vaccine , Seizures , Cross-Sectional Studies , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Case control, Hospital based. Site: Epilepsy Centre, The Children's Hospital, Lahore-Pakistan. From 1st Sept 05 to 30th Nov 06 Knowing the prognosis of epilepsy in children would undoubtly influence the treatment strategy. All the children, age 1 year to 16 years receiving anti-epileptic drugs for their idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy were the study population. After six months of commencement of treatment various factors associated with well control the ["controls"] and intractability the ["cases"] were analyzed and a univariate comparison was done between various factors for these two groups. Over a period of 14 months, 520 children, 33% the "control" and 67% the "cases" among these patients were enrolled for this study. Statistically, male gender history of birth asphyxia, initial seizure type, past head trauma, previous CNS infection and family history of epilepsy are not the risk factors, whereas seizures starting in infancy, seizures episodes >10 before commencing treatment, neonatal seizures and neurological deficit present at presentation were the risk factors for intractable epilepsy. Myoclonic seizures, status epilepticus before starting treatment and infantile spasm were seen in the "case" group only. We conclude children having risk factors for intractable epilepsy have poor prognosis and recommend that such children should be referred to epilepsy centre as soon as possible