Prevalence of stress among female medical students at al-maarefa colleges

Background: Stress is a state of mental tension and worry. A study was conducted in Al Maarefa Colleges, College of Medicine in a sample of 130 female medical students to assess the prevalence of stress

Objectives: This study aimed at determining the prevalence and levels of stress in female medical students. Association of stress with some factors was determined

Method: This was an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study in which a sample of randomly collected female medical students between 3rd and 8th level completed a self-administrated questionnaire. SPPS was used to analyze data and Chi-square test to investigate the association of the proposed variables

Results: students in level 7-8, 78% who were single, 82% of students who studied 2-4 hours/day, 77% of students who chosed their specialty based on their own desire, and 79% of students who had a relationship with their family had low stress. There was a significant association between the adaptation to frequent exams and the levels of stress. [p=0.048]. Otherwise, there was no statistical association between any of the other factors such as hours/day spent on studying, the method of tuition payment or choice of specialty and stress

Conclusion: It was found that the majority of the students had low levels of stress. The highest proportion of low stress was in those who were in level 7-8 and those who were not adapted to frequent examination. It was found that those who had good relations with their family, teachers and colleagues had a low level of stress

Temporomandibular joint disorders and gender differences among habitants of Karachi

Background: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of TMDs among the sample of Karachi and to observe the most frequent TMJ sound in this population

Methodology: It was a cross sectional study conducted from Sep 2017 to Nov 2017. Three hundred patients were selected through cluster sample technique from the public/private dental institutes and private dental clinics of Karachi. The data was collected with the help of questionnaire and intraoral examination was performed by the PI. All those patients with complain of TMDs and between 20-75 years were included in this study. The frequency and association between gender and TMDs were assessed through the application of Chi square

Results: There were more males [n=162, 54%] and [n=138, 46%] females in this study. Majority of participants fall under the age group of 20-30 years of age. Most common TMDs symptom among male was pain during mastication [n=104, 64%] and most common symptoms among female was pain on neck/cervical area which was [n=92, 66%]. Headache and earache was the least common symptom among both genders and p-value was 0.003 and 0.024 respectively. Clicking was the most common TMJ sound found among both genders, in male it was [n=58, 35.8%] and in female it was [n=48, 34.7%] followed by crepitation. Regarding parafunctional habits; majority of females [n=95, 68.8%] were in habit of clenching than male [n=60, 37%] and p-value was 0.0001 followed by tooth grinding which was also found mostly in female [n=64, 46.3%] then male [n=10, 6.1%] and p-value was 0.0001. Regarding the risk factors of TMDs; while examination majority of females were found with disturbed articulation,[n= 37,26.8%] and in male it was [n=10, 6.1%], significance difference was found between both genders and p-value was 0.0001. Stress was found to be most common risk factor and aggravating factor of TMDs among both genders. Missing teeth were found in both gender; [n=100, 61.7%] male and [n=71, 51.4%] female and calculated p-value was 0.047

Conclusion: It was inferred from this study that greater prevalence of TMDs was mostly found in female gender. The statistically significant difference was found among stress as an aggravating factor of TMDs and gender. Clicking was the most prevalent TMJ sound and clenching was the most frequently observed parafunctional habit among both gender, followed by tooth grinding and statistically significant difference found among both gender

Accuracy of echocardiography in diagnosing total anomalous pulmonary venous return

Objective: Total anomalous pulmonary venous return is an uncommon cyanotic congenital heart defect. Echocardiography is the initial diagnostic tool. Complimentary non-invasive modalities like cardiac computerized tomographic angiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging have replaced the need for cardiac catheterization in difficult cases. This study aimed to determine the accuracy of echocardiography in diagnosing total anomalous pulmonary venous return, and to determine the factors that may decrease its sensitivity

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan from January 2010 to August 2016. All patients who were diagnosed with Total anomalous pulmonary venous return on echocardiography and had subsequent confirmation either on cardiac CT angiography or surgery were included. The diagnostic accuracy of echocardiography was expressed as sensitivity. Previously described taxonomy was used to define diagnostic error. Univariate and multivariate analysis were done by logistic regression OR [95 percent CI] were reported to identify factors causing the diagnostic error

Results: High diagnostic sensitivity [81 percent] was found in isolated total anomalous pulmonary venous return and low [27 percent] in heterotaxy and mixed [20 percent] varieties. Poor acoustic windows and right isomerism were found to be significant factors responsible for the diagnostic error on multivariate analysis

Conclusion: Echocardiography can diagnose isolated total anomalous pulmonary venous return with high accuracy. Use of additional modalities may be required for a complete diagnosis in cases with mixed variety, heterotaxy and poor acoustic windows

Improvement in therapeutic ability of wharton's jelly derived mesenchymal stem cells with vitamin E in breast cancer

Objective: To assess the role of Vitamin E to improve the survival of Wharton's jelly derived mesenchymal stem cells [WJMSCs] in breast cancer conditions

Study Design: An experimental study

Place and Duration of Study: Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine, University of Lahore, from November 2016 to March 2017

Methodology: WJMSCs were obtained from umbilical cord tissue with enzyme digestion method. Isolated cells were characterized for CD90 and CD45 by immunocytochemistry. Pretreatment and conjugation therapies of vitamin E in 50mM and 100mM concentration were used on WJMSCs and breast cancer plasma was provided to mimic the cancer conditions, while WJMSCs provided with normal plasma were considered control. Cells' viability, proliferation and death were evaluated by crystal violet staining, MTT assay and LDH assay, respectively. Oxidative stress was observed by activity of anti-oxidant enzymes [GSH, catalase, SOD] and reactive oxygen species [MDA]

Results: The isolated cells expressed mesenchymal stem cells marker CD90 and lacked hematopoietic marker CD45. Vitamin E improved the viability and proliferation of WJMSCs in normal plasma, in conjugation with breast cancer plasma and in pretreatment groups but conjugation group showed even better results with concentration of 100mM as compared to the pretreatment group and opposite was observed for LDH assay for cells death analysis. Vitamin E also reduced the oxidative stress in 100mM more pronounced in conjugation group as compared to pretreatment group while left no harmful effects on WJMSCs in normal plasma

Conclusion: Vitamin E conjugation with breast cancer conditions significantly improved growth of WJMSCs. Thus vitamin E treated WJMSCs are better therapeutic options for breast cancer

survey of self-reported food allergy and food-related anaphylaxis among young adult students at Kuwait University, Kuwait

Objectives: Jo conduct a survey on self-reported food allergy to milk, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, and sesame, as well as reported food-related anaphylaxis and epinephrine prescription practices among Kuwaiti students attending Kuwait University

Subjects and Methods: One thousand questionnaires that included data on age, gender, presence of food allergies, and associated details were distributed. All participants reporting an allergy were categorized as having a perceived food allergy. Those with a convincing clinical history and history of undergoing diagnostic food allergy testing were further categorized as having a probable food allergy

Results: Of the 1,000 questionnaires, 865 [86.5%] were completed. Of the 865 students, 104 [12.02%] reported food allergy [perceived], and 47 of these [45.19%] were probable food allergies. For milk [46.7%] peanut [35.7%], fish [60%], and sesame [50%], probable food allergy occurred in early childhood [<5 years] while those of egg [44.4%] and wheat [57.1%] occurred in late childhood [6-10 years], and shellfish [40%] occurred in early adolescence [11-15 years]. Of the 47 students with a probable food allergy, 28 [59.6%] were moderate to severe: 20 [71%] of these moderate-to-severe allergy cases reported at least 1 food-related anaphylactic episode while 8 [29%] denied such episodes. Equally important, of the 28 students, 6 [21%] received an autoinjectable epinephrine prescription, while 22 [79%] did not receive any

Conclusions: In this study the reported occurrence of perceived food allergy was low and probable food allergy occurred mostly in early childhood. Milk, egg, and nut allergies were the most commonly reported in both groups

Chronic myeloid leukemia blood inflicted injury in cord derived Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells

Objective: To determine the effects of blood from CML patients on human umbilical cord derived Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells [WJMSCs] for evaluation of their therapeutic potential

Study Design: An experimental study

Place and Duration of Study: Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine, University of Lahore, from September 2013 to December 2014

Methodology: Possible behavior of WJMSCs in CML patients was assessed by culturing these cells in their plasma. WJMSCs at passage 3 were cultured in plasma isolated from 9 CML patients as well as 9 normal subjects. Effects on cell viability, proliferation, LDH release, paracrine factors [p38 and p53] and oxidative stress were evaluated

Results: WJMSCs cultured in plasma of CML patients showed decreased viability, slow proliferation, high LDH release, high expression of p38 and p53 and a high oxidative stress compared to normal subjects

Conclusion: Stressed environment of CML patients' blood/plasma induced injury to WJMSCs as well as reduced their viability. Effectiveness of these cells for therapeutics of CML is, therefore, likely to be reduced

Dysmenorrhea among female medical students in King Abdulaziz University: prevalence, predictors and outcome

Objective: To determine the prevalence, predictors and outcome of dysmenorrhea among female medical students in King Abdulaziz University [KAU], Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 435 medical students at KAU, Jeddah selected through stratified random sample method. A pre-constructed, validated, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect personal and socio-demographic information. Data about menstrual history, stress, smoking were also collected. The severity of dysmenorrhea was scored by the "Visual Analogue Scale [VAS]". Descriptive and analytical statistics were conducted

Results: The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 60.9%. Logistic regression showed that heavy period was the first predictor of dysmenorrhea [aOR=1.94; 95% CI: 1.29- 2.91], followed by stress [aOR=1.90; 95% C.I.: 1.19-3.07]. The prevalence of severe dysmenorrhea among the sufferers was 38.6%. Depressed mood was the commonest [80.8%] symptom accompanying dysmenorrhea. Regarding the outcome of dysmenorrhea, 67.5% of the sufferes reported emotional instability, while 28.3% reported absenteeism from the university

Conclusions: A high prevalence of dysmenorrhea was prevalent among medical students in King Abdulaziz University [KAU], Health promotion, screening programs, and stress management courses are recommended

Ocular complications in head and facial injuries: a retrospective study

To assess the prevalence of ocular injury and its severity among the trauma patients admitted with head and facial injuries [which may be missed as the priority is given to save the life of the patient]; and to develop guidelines for the optimum ophthalmology referral in such cases. The medical records of 134 patients who were admitted to the trauma intensive care unit of Hamad General Hospital with head and facial injury, during a one year period from 1/1/2005 to 31/12/2005, were reviewed. Presence of ocular trauma, its severity and the ophthalmology referral were noted. Visual outcome, periocular signs and relevant radiological findings were also recorded. Among the 134 charts reviewed, 94% were males. Head injury was the commonest [69.4%], followed by combined head and facial injury [27.6%]. Fifty-two [38.8%] cases were found to have either ocular or periocular signs. Twenty [14.9%] were found to have both. Among the 52, four patients [7.7%] lost vision completely in one eye and in one case [1.9%] visual acuity was reduced to hand movements in one eye. Fifteen [28.8%] patients had serious ocular complications and 32 [61.5%] patients had transient ocular or periocular signs. Among the 52 patients only 22 [42.3%] received ophthalmology referral. In all patients with head and facial injury, visual acuity, colour vision and ocular motility should be assessed as soon as the general condition permits. Patients with ocular or periocular signs and those with radiological evidence of orbital or periorbital fractures should be referred to an ophthalmologist without delay

Preparation and kinetic studies of allopurinol derivatives to improve the physicochemical Properties of the drug

Allopurinol delivery problems were attributed to the low water and lipid solubilities of the drug. A promising approach to improve the physicochemical properties of allopurinol, is the chemical transformation of the drug into reversible derivatives [prodrugs] which are converted to the parent compound by virtue of enzymatic or chemical lability within the body system. In the present study, derivatives of allopurinol with ibuprofen were tried. By adjusting the synthesis conditions, the derivatives were linked to the O-atom or the N[1]-atom of allopurinol. The stability of the derivatives and the hydrolysis kinetics in aqueous buffers and in human plasma were studied. The effects of buffer concentration, ionic strength and temperature on the hydrolysis race were determined. Water and lipid solubilities were measured. The results indicated that O-ibuprofenyl allopurinol was more stable, more water-soluble than N-ibuprofenyloxymethyl allopurinol, but the lipophilicites of both were comparable. Compared to allopurinol, O-ibuprofenyl allopurinol had more water - solubility and lipophilicity. Buffer concentration and ionic strength had no effect on the rate of hydrolysis of both derivatives. From the results obtained, it is apparent that 0-ibuprofenyl allopurinol satisfies the prodrug requirements in being stable enough in aqueous buffers and susceptible for enzymatic cleavage. In addition, the attaching moiety is non-toxic and is usually given as a supplement therapy with allopurinoi. In fact, this new derivative had improved the solubility of allopurinol, at the same time it had masked the carboxyl group of ibuprofen, thus reducing its gastric irritation upon oral administration.