Effect of pioglitazone on lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients

To determine the effect of pioglitazone on lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients treated and followed up for three months after initiation of therapy. This hospital based quasi-experimental study was conducted in the medical B unit, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from July 2008 to June 2009. A total of 161 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in this study using convenient [non-probability] sampling. Clinical and laboratory evaluation of all the patients were done to note the change in lipid profile after the use of 30 mg pioglitazone. Continuous variables such as age and lipid profile [triglycerides; Low Density Lipoprotien [LDL]; High Density Lipoprotien [HDL]; cholesterol] at baseline and after 3 months time were expressed as mean +/- S.D. Paired sample t-test was used to analyze the mean difference in pre-post lab investigation by SPSS version15. Out of the 161 patients, 79 [49.1%] were males and 82 [50.9%] were females. The mean age of the sample was 51.2 +/- 11.33 years. Triglycerides decreased from 219.2 +/- 34.4 to 189.2 +/- 33.7 mg/dl with a mean difference of 29.9 mg/dl [p<0.001]. Total cholesterol changed from 201.4 +/- 29.8 to 203.2 +/- 28.9 mg/dl with a mean difference of 1.8mg/dl [p<0.001]. LDL changed from 153.7 +/- 21.1 to 154.7 +/- 20.7 mg/dl with a mean difference of 0.9 mg/dl [p<0.001]. HDL increased from 37.2 +/- 2.9 to 41.5 +/- 3.1 mg/dl with a mean difference of 4.3 mg/dl [p<0.001]. Pioglitazone was found to have beneficial effects on lipid profile. It significantly reduced the levels of triglycerides and increased levels of HDL cholesterol in patients with Type 2 diabetes

Efficacy and cost effectiveness of combined conventional interferon alpha 2A and ribavirin therapy in patients of chronic hepatitis C

To determine end treatment and sustained virological response to conventional interferon's and ribavirin. This descriptive study was conducted from January 2009 to September 2011 at DHQ hospital Dir, KPK, Pakistan. Three hundred and forty-seven patients of chronic hepatitis C aged 18 to 60 years were given conventional Interferons alpha 2a and Ribavirin for six months under Prime Minister Program for control of hepatitis. Out of three hundred and forty seven patients three hundred and thirty nine patients completed the therapy. End treatment response was achieved in 229[67.5%] patients and sustained virological response was seen in 210[61.94%] patients. Combination of conventional interferon and ribavirin has a high sustained virological response with fewer side effects in our study. In resource depleted countries like Pakistan, conventional interferon alpha 2a and ribavirin combination therapy can be used as the first line treatment for non affording chronic hepatitis C patients

Otorhinolaryngological manifestations of tuberculosis

Tuberculosis, one of the oldest disease in man, is even today, a leading cause of human suffering and loss of life. TB has the potential to infect any organ in the body due to lympho-haematogenous dissemination. Therefore, this study was conducted to know the manifestations of the disease in various regions of Otolaryngology. The study was conducted in the ENT department, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. Duration of study was two years from January, 2005 to December, 2006. A total of 100 patients presented with primary head and neck TB during the study period. Most of these [97%] had tubercules cervical lymphadenpthy. Age ranged from 8 to 55 years. The mean age was 31.5 years. Thirty six were male and 64 were female. Sixty five patients were diagnosed by FNAC examination and 32 required biopsy and histopathological confirmation. One patient each of laryngeal TB, cervical spine TB and retropharyngeal abscess [TB] were diagnosed by MRI. TB is a challenging disease, its diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. FNAC is a reliable and easy way to diagnose, however, gold standard is biopsy for histopathology