Prevalence of pan, gutka, betalnut, naswar and cigarette smoking in university students of Karachi

To evaluate prevalence of pan, gutka. betal nut, niswar and cigarette addiction among students of different universities and to be familiar with perception of people about addiction and smoking free public places. Cross-sectional study This study was carried out at three different universities of Karach, i.e. Karachi University, NED University and Sindh Medical University, Karachi from 10.08.2012 to 05.01.2013. A cross-sectional study conducted with a total of 537 students aged between 18-28 years from three different universities of Karachi. A questionnaire was given to them containing 28 close ended questions about addiction of pan, gutka, betel nut, naswar and tobacco. The data obtained was analysed by using SPSS version 17. The results showed 67.5% [361] were males and 32% [171] were females.The prevalence of addiction of pan, gutka, betal nut, Naswar and cigarette smoking is higher among males than in female university students. Addiction of betal nut is found 41.55% in males and 12.86% in females. There were 71.1% males and 72.5% females in complete favor of smoke free public places. The perception about addiction was 5.62% of the males and 0.585% of the females feel that it's good About 56.5% of the males and 84.79% of the females note that it's deleterious to health. Most popular addiction is of betal nut. Many people think that public places should be smoked free. Most of them are aware of the deleterious effect of addiction to health and tried to quit but failed. Hence, it is suggested that some awareness program about quitting modalities should be introduced

Frequency of stressful activities amongst doctors, engineers and teachers

Background: Different professions are under a great deal of stress related to a variety of occupational stress factors. These factors contribute to decreased job satisfaction, decreased work output, mental and physical exhaustion and absenteeism due to sickness. It often occurs when individuals' cannot cope with their job demands, physically or emotionally

Objective: To determine the frequency of stress among three highly challenged occupations which are doctors, engineers and teachers

Methods: The cross sectional study was conducted in the District South of Karachi using separate questionnaires for doctors, engineers and teachers. In this research the total of 600 individuals were included, 200 from each profession. Only those individuals were surveyed who are currently working in government institutions of this district. The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS v.20

Results: The results showed that engineers are under a higher level of stress as compared to doctors and teachers. Workload, lack of power and influence, office politics, inadequate or poor quality of training/management development and lack of encouragement are the major factors that are contributing to build stress in engineers

Conclusion: As the frequency of stressful activities found higher in engineer, their workload should be minimized and divided among the relevant posts rather than putting the entire burden on an individual. Office politics must be discouraged as this has proved to have detrimental effects on individual's life. Lack of knowledge, power, influence, training and encouragement has led to increased stress. Stress management programs will improve management, and good intrapersonal relationships

Bacterial analysis and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria found in different water sources in Karachi

Background: In Pakistan, the bacteriological quality of drinking water is not closely monitored and prevalence of waterborne diseases due to the contamination of drinking water is among the most common problems faced in urban and rural areas of Pakistan. The bacteria inhabiting these water sources carry genes which render them resistant to many antimicrobials. These genes can be transmitted to other non-resistant bacteria as well making the diseases caused by them hard to treat

Objective: To test the isolated bacteria from collected drinking water samples for their antibiotic susceptibility profile for 14 commonly used antimicrobials

Methods: The study involves collection of 100 samples of drinking water from four water sources, namely boring water, tap water, filtered water and boiled water, randomly collected from different parts of Karachi using a sterile method. They were tested to determine the bacterial isolates present in them using the analytical profile indexing [API]. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile of these bacteria was done using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method

Results: It was estimated that Klebsiella is the most commonly found organism in the drinking water samples, followed by Pseudomonas and E.Coli, Staphylococcus Aureus being the least common. The isolates were found to be most resistant to Ampicillin [99%] and least resistant to Amikacin [1%] while they were found to be most sensitive to Amikacin [96%] and Imipenem [96%]

Conclusion: Better quality and standards of drinking water are necessary for healthy human life. Filtration and boiling of tap and boring water decreases the number of pathogens present in it making it better and healthier for human consumption

Frequency of pityriasis versicolor in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes attending a tertiary care hospital

INTRODUCTION: Pityriasis versicolor is seen frequently in patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE: The study was aimed to determine frequency of Pityriasis versicolor in patients with type 2 uncontrolled diabetes in a tertiary care hospital

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study

SETTING: Department of Dermatology, Civil Hospital Karachi and Department of Dermatology, Ziauddin University, Karachi

DURATION OF STUDY: Duration of study was 6 months from 1[st] May 2010 to 31[st] October 2010

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients aged 40 to 70 years belonging to both sexes with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus of duration more than 5 years were included after an informed consent. Patients taking corticosteroid or immunosuppressive drugs or having any other co morbidity were excluded. Selected patients were examined with magnifying glass and wood's lamp. The diagnosis was confirmed by KOH smear, microscopy and Wood's lamp examination. The findings were recorded on a proforma. All the findings were compiled, tabulated and analyzed

RESULTS: 119 patients were included in the study comprising 68 males [57%] and 51 females [43%]. Patients aged 40 to 70 years, with the mean age of 51.3 years were studied in three age groups i.e. 40-50 years, 51-60 years and >60 years. Majority of patients [57%] belonged to the age group 40-50 years. The duration of diabetes was 5-10 years in maximum number of patients i.e. 72. Among these patients 5 [4.2%] had tinea versicolor comprising 3 males [60%] and 2 females [40%]. Three of these patients had diabetes for 5-10 years and 2 had the same for 11-15 years. 2 patients [40%] aged 40-50 years, 2 [40%] 51-60 years and remaining 1 patient aged between 61-70 years [20%]

CONCLUSION: It can be concluded from the above study that Pityriasis versicolor is not seen commonly in patients with diabetes mellitus

Effects L-arginine on the gastric mucosal cell count when given with ibuprofen in albino rats under light microscope

To observe the protective effects of effects of L-Arginine on the gastric mucosal cells when given simultaneously with ibuprofen in albino rats under light microscope. A prospective experimental study. This study was conducted at the Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi from 01.04.2008 to 31.5.2008. This study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical Sciences Institute Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center Karachi where 45 albino rats of either sex between 90-120 days were selected and were divided into three groups, [A], [B] and [C], containing 15 animals each and were further subdivided into three sub-groups containing 5 animals, according to time of sacrifice, i.e. 4, 6, and 8 weeks respectively. Group [A] served as control. Group [B] received ibuprofen, 70 mg/kg body weight and group [C] received ibuprofen, 70mg and L-Arginine 300 mg, per kilogram body weight per day with feed. Animals were sacrificed at their respective time. The abdomen was opened, stomach was removed and opened along the greater curvature, divided into cardiac, body and pyloric parts, which in turn were fixed in Buffered neutral formalin for 24 hours. Tissues were processed in ascending strength of alcohol, cleared in xylene and infiltrated and embedded with paraffin. Five micron thick sections were made on the rotatory microtome and were stained with Haematoxylin and eosin, Periodic Acid Schiff Orange-G and Alcian blue-Periodic Acid Schiff. No abnormality was noted in gastric mucosal cell. Mean number of surface mucosal cells were decreased and results were moderately significant [P<0.001]. Mean height of surface mucous cell was increased and results were highly significant [P< 0.0001] in Bl, moderately significant [P<0.001] in B2, and significant [P< 0.05] in B3 subgroups. The mean values of mucus neck cells count was insignificant [P >0.05] when compared to control group. The mean values of chief cell count were decreased results were highly significant [P<0.0001] in Bl and B3 and significant [P< 0.05] in B2, The mean values of the parietal cells in the body were increased all these results were moderately significant [P<0.001] to highly significant [P<0.0001], when compared to control. No difference in results was noted when compared to group A. L-Arginine protects gastric mucosal cells from damage when given with ibuprofen

Attitude towards radiology and knowledge regarding CT and M.R scans in medical students

To assess the attitude towards radiology of undergraduate medical students of DUHS and the level of knowledge of common imaging techniques [CT and MR Scans]. A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study. This study was carried at Dow University of Health Sciences [DUHS], Karachi from May 2009-October 2009. The study among 300 medical students of Dow University of Health Sciences [DUHS]. Systemic random sampling was carried on pre-tested questionnaires among the batches of students attending clinics. Statistical analysis was done on SPSS version 16. 97.3% students stated that radiology teaching is not adequate.93% students stated that radiology should be taught along with basic sciences' course. 63% and 69% of the participants knew about the indications of CT and MRI respectively. The perception of the Undergraduate medical students towards acedemic teaching of radiology during their clinical tenures in medical schools and their knowledge, indication and risk factors regarding CT and MR scans is scares which needs to incolporated in the curriculum but the knowledge regarding skills involved with them including radiation exposure was 45% and 31% respectively

Perception of euthanasia in students of public Medical University in Karachi

Euthanasia is emerging as a grave issue in medical and biomedical fields. The fate of Euthanasia however, swings like a pendulum with terms like 'merciful intervention' at one pole to 'endangering human rights' on the other. The ongoing debate has lead to many surveys with significant results showing the upward increase in acceptance of either performing or securing intentional actions resulting in termination of life. This study is carried out to know about the perception regarding Euthanasia. The aim is to perceive understanding towards Euthanasia in medical students and its usage in their future practices. Qualitative descriptive study design. This study was the Department of Community Medicine, SMC, Karachi from April 2011 to September 2011. Sample size is 400 collected from Dow University of Health sciences, Karachi and sampling design is simple random. Evaluation tool is structured questionnaire based on 3 case studies with the consideration of ethical issues. In the data analysis 48.25% endorsed the act of euthanasia in certain cases while 40.25% strongly disagreed with it. Remaining 11.5% supported the cause only when the patient is willing. 13% individuals opted for actively easing the suffering of a patient in Case-1 while 11% agreed to prescribe a lethal drug/dosage in Case-3 of voluntary euthanasia. A staggering 40% ordered removal of life saving equipment in Case-2 of a vegetative patient as passive euthanasia. The leading cause for supporting euthanasia was increased availability of equipment and resources at a 48% while 62% of the discord was due to belief in life/death being a matter for the Lord only. When faced with a choice, 39% found ethnic discrimination more abusive of a doctor's oath than 23% of those who choose Euthanasia. To conclude, significant numbers of medical students support Euthanasia especially passive euthanasia. Religious beliefs are of serious concerns while gender also plays a small part in the decision making