ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine serum neopterin levels in blood donors of local population and its association with transfusion transmitted infections
Study Design: A cross-sectional observational study
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Physiology, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College [LNHMC] in collaboration with Basic Medical Sciences Institute [BMSI] and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre [JPMC], Blood Bank, Karachi, Pakistan, from January to June 2015
Methodology: During this period, a total of 174 blood donors were selected through random sampling technique. All participants fulfilling the inclusion criteria involving apparently healthy blood donors of either gender within the age bracket of 18 - 60 years and consenting to participate were selected. The participants were screened for transfusion transmitted infections as per WHO recommendations through the standard procedures used for screening at the JPMC blood bank. The demographic profile, anthropometric measurements and vitals were recorded for every participant. Serum neopterin was measured using ELISA kits. Data was analysed on SPSS version 21. ANOVA and chi-square tests were applied as tests of significance at a p-value of <0.05
Results: The neopterin content in the sera of disease negative blood donors was 6.23 +/- 2.19 nmol/l as compared to disease positive blood donors, in whom the neopterin level was increased to 15.10 +/- 4.93 nmol/l [p =0.001]
Conclusion: The neopterin assay has the potential to detect a number of transfusion transmissible viral diseases; which may, or may not be revealed by the usually employed battery of routine tests. We conclude that the risk of transfusion transmitted pathogens in our population can be reduced significantly, using neopterin assay as a routine in blood banks
Subject(s)
Adult , Adolescent , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Biomarkers , Blood Donors , Cross-Sectional Studies , PakistanABSTRACT
Ophthalmomyiasis is a parasitic eye infection. A young male went on a picnic with his family. After sudden blow of wind, he had a feeling of something struck in the eye, which quickly became swollen with severe itching and lacrimation. A total of 19 larvae in their instar stage were removed with fine forceps under topical anesthesia and slides were prepared for their identification, which came out to be Oestrus ovis belonging to Oestridae family. Recently, cases are being reported from rural and urban areas of Sindh. Doctors in ER [Emergency Room] and ophthalmologists should be aware that whenever next time they see a patient with red eye conjunctivitis, ophthalmomyiasis should always be on their list of differentials
ABSTRACT
Background: Hypercalcemia is relatively common in patients with cancer, occurring in approximately 20 to 30 percent of cases. As ionized calcium is not routinely estimated in most of the clinical laboratories and calcium status of the patients is being assessed by estimation of total calcium. This may result in up to 30% cases to remain undetected for hypercalcemia. The diagnosis of hypercalcemia of malignancy if made early and managed properly, could reduce this debilitating complication and objective of this study was planned to find out the prevalence of hypercalcemia of malignancy in patient with solid tumors through measurement of ionized calcium
Methods: 73 patients diagnosed with solid tumors were included in the study. Informed consent was obtained and a proposed Performa included demographic data, Type, size, stage of tumor, duration of disease. Ionized calcium levels were performed for detection of hypercalcemia. All the patients included in the study were adult of more than 18 years and no one was suffering from hematological malignancy or with acid base disorders
Results: A total of 73 patients, 36 females and 37 males, with mean age of 54.47 +/- 15.98 were included [range 39-90 yrs in females, 19-83 yrs in males]. 16 patients were suffering from Hypercalcemia of malignancy while 57 had normal ionized calcium levels
Conclusion: Hypercalcemia of malignancy has been detected in 21.92% cases of solid tumors in our study. Further larger studies are needed to validate our data and also it is also required to find out which type of tumor is more prone to Hypercalcemia
ABSTRACT
Objective: to determine the frequency and type of pathogens in vaginal discharge
Material and Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study. The out-patient department of Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Unit at Services Hospital, Lahore. After taking informed consent a total of 120 women of reproductive age [ 13 to 49 years] were included in the study by convenient sampling. After detailed history and clinical examination, two high vaginal swabs were taken and data was recorded in proforma. One swab was used immediately to prepare a wet mount with one to two drops of normal saline on a glass slide and was examined by light microscopy for motility of Trichomonas vaginalis. The pus cells, budding yeast cells, pseudohyphal and clue cells were also looked for in the same wet mount. Second swab was immediately sent to the microbiology laboratory for Gram's staining and Culture and Sensitivity. The swab was also inoculated on Sabouraud's agar and incubated at 35 degreeC+/-2 degreeC aerobically for 48 hours for the growth of Candida saprophytes. Data was analyzed through computers software SPSS
Results: among 120 patients who had vaginal discharge, 5.8% [n=7] were 13-20 years old, 24.2% [n=29] were 21-30 years old, 55.8% [n=67] were 31-40 years old while 14.2% [n=17] were 41-49 years old. On clinical examination, 54.2% [n=65] patients had fungal infection, 18.3% [n=22] had trichomonas and 15.8% [n=19] had bacterial vaginosis while 11.7% [n=14] patients had mixed infection. HVS microscopy/ culture sensitivity, results showed, 48.3% [n=58] had fungal infection, 12.5% [n=15] had trichomonas and 25.0% [n=30] had bacterial vaginosis and 14.2% [n=17] had mixed infection
Conclusion: vulvovaginal candidiasis was a frequent finding in outpatient departments of tertiary care hospitals of our country
ABSTRACT
Background: Chronic kidney disease [CKD] is now a public health problem with a high prevalence in Pakistan. However, there has been very little research on the profile of chronic kidney disease-related bone mineral disorders [CKD-MBD] in Pakistan. We thus aimed to assess the bone-mineral metabolism parameters in patients with CKD who are being followed at the Ziauddin University Hospital [a tertiary care hospital] in the southern city of Karachi, Pakistan
Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted on 101 patients. The following clinical and biochemical data was collected: age, gender, serum creatinine and stage of CKD, serum PTH, calcium, albumin, phosphorus and Vitamin D levels- all at the same point in time
Results: The percentages of patients with serum levels within the recommended KDOQI guidelines for stages 3, 4 and 5 were as follows: serum PTH: 11.1, 31.8, 25.8, serum corrected calcium: 88.8,31.8, 42.9, phosphate 66.6, 50.0, 57.1, respectively. A significant number of patients were found to have secondary hyperparathyroidism as per the KDOQI criteria. 25-OH Vitamin D deficiency was also noted, as was hypocalcemia especially in CKD stage 5. However, our study demonstrated optimal control of serum phosphate levels for the majority of patients
Conclusion: This study highlights the difficulty of achieving KDOQI recommended serum PTH levels, and the need for raising awareness for more aggressive management of bone mineral metabolism parameters in order to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with this disorder
Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted on 101 patients. The following clinical and biochemical data was collected: age, gender, serum creatinine and stage of CKD, serum PTH, calcium, albumin, phosphorus and Vitamin D levels- all at the same point in time
Results: The percentages of patients with serum levels within the recommended KDOQI guidelines for stages 3, 4 and 5 were as follows: serum PTH: 11.1, 31.8, 25.8, serum corrected calcium: 88.8,31.8, 42.9, phosphate 66.6, 50.0, 57.1, respectively. A significant number of patients were found to have secondary hyperparathyroidism as per the KDOQI criteria. 25-OH Vitamin D deficiency was also noted, as was hypocalcemia especially in CKD stage 5. However, our study demonstrated optimal control of serum phosphate levels for the majority of patients
Conclusion: This study highlights the difficulty of achieving KDOQI recommended serum PTH levels, and the need for raising awareness for more aggressive management of bone mineral metabolism parameters in order to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with this disorder
ABSTRACT
To find out the frequency of microalbuminuria in patients with diabetes mellitus both type 1 and 2 with reference to glycemic control and duration of disease. Study was conducted at Dr. Ziauddin University Hospital North Nazimabad Campus, Karachi. Fifty seven diabetic patients of either sex were included in the study. Patient taking Angiotensin Converting Enzyme [ACE] inhibitors were excluded from the study. Out of 57 diabetic patients, 22 [38.6%] patients had HbA1c less than 7.0% and 35 [61.4%] patients had HbA1c more than 7.0%. Out of 22 patients with optimal glycemic control 8 [36.4%] had microalbuminuria, 3 [13.6%] had clinical albuminuria and 11 [50.0%] had no microalbuminuria. While out of 35 patients with poor glycemic control 10 [28.6%] had microalbuminuria, 9 [25.7%] had clinical albuminuria and 16 [45.7%] had no microalbuminuria. Out of 57 patients; 14 [24.6%] were having disease up to 5 years. Out of them 10 [71.4%] had no microalbuminuria and 4 [28.6%] had micro and clinical albuminuria. Patients with disease duration between 6-10 years were 18 [31.6%], out of which 10 [55.6%] had no microalbuminuria and 8 [44.4%] had micro and clinical albuminuria and 25 [44%] patients were having disease duration more than 10 years, out of these, 7 [28%] had no microalbuminuria and 18 [72%] had micro and clinical albuminuria. Diabetic patients with increased duration of disease are more prone to renal complication irrespective of glycemic control at the time of study. Therefore besides monitoring for their glycemic control, these patients should be monitored for development of nephropathy especially more frequently as the disease duration progresses.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Blood Glucose , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2ABSTRACT
To correlate the total area of Acanthosis Nigricans with total cystic area of ovaries in women with polycystic ovaries. Thirty young females with polycystic ovaries were selected and in them total cystic area and total area of Acanthosis Nigricans was measured. Mean total cystic area was 92.0 [SD 35.12] and mean total area of Acanthosis Nigricans was 224.46 [SD 234.90]. The relationship between total cystic area [TCA] and total area of Acanthosis Nigricans [TAAN] was statistically significant with p of 0.007. There is a significant correlation between total cystic area and total area of Acanthosis Nigricans in subjects with PCOS. So Acanthosis Nigricans could be a useful cutaneous marker for PCOS and the extensiveness of the cysts presents