Correlation of serum YKL-40 with anthropometric measurements and spirometric indices between healthy individuals and asthamatics in a tertiary care hospital

Objective: To correlate serum levels of YKL-40 with anthropometric measurements and spirometric indices between normal individuals and asthmatics

Methodology: The case control study was conducted in Department of Chest Medicine, JPMC, Karachi from the month of August 2015 till March 2016. The study recruited sixty participants after satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria; among those 30 were normal healthy individuals [PEF > 80% and pulse rate of 60 – 80 beats per minutes]; while equal were cases of mild to moderate asthma [PEF more than 50% and pulse rate of 100 – 120 beats per minutes] matched for age and gender. Vitallograph compacta and peak flow meter was used for spirometric indices. Moreover, anthropometric measurements were age, gender, weight [kg], height [m] and body mass index [kg/m2]. Ykl-40 Elisa kit was used for serum YKL 40 levels. The data was entered and analysed using SPSS version 21 [IBM, Chicago, IL]

Result: In comparison of Spirometric Evaluation [FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC% and PEFR] between control and patients with mild to moderate asthma. significant difference was found in the mean values of FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC and PEFR between cases and controls. Significant inverse correlation was found between YKL-40 with FEV1, FVC, FEVI/FVC% and PEFR among Controls. YKL-40 was found to be significantly correlated with only FEV1/ FVC [%] among cases with correlation co-efficient as – 0.510 [p-value < 0.004]

Conclusion: There is an inverse correlation between serum YKL-40 levels and spirometric evaluation thus as the inflammation in asthma increases, YKL-40 level upsurges and causes decrease in lung function tests

Beneficial effect and safety of 5% permethrin cream in scabies patients

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 5% permethrin in scabies patients. Scabies is a contagious, itchy ectoparasitic infection. It is a common public health problem with an estimated global prevalence of 300 to 400 million cases. They increases day by day.5%permethrin is one of the effective treatment of scabies, it is highly effective, well tolerated, poorly absorbed and rapidly metabolized by skin. Open label clinical trial. This study conducted in Basic Medical Sciences Institute with collaboration of Dermatology Department from . This study sample involved 65 clinically diagnosed scabies patients one was lost from follow up, the duration of study was 90 days. They were treated with 5% permethrin cream, clinical data was collected by using questionnaire. Patients were divided into three age groups and given two applications of permethrin cream on first and 15 day. Follow up was done on Day 3, Day 15, Day 30 and Day 90. It was found that efficacy and safety of permethrin cream in scabies patients was highly significant which clinically improved the symptoms of patients. Scabies patients should advised 5% Permethrin cream with conventional therapy which improves symptoms significantly following proper local

Early oral feeding, no nasogastric suction and no peritoneal drainage; compared to conventional post operative protocol in cases of gastric and small bowel anastamoses

To know the out come of a randomized controlled trial of early oral feeding, no nasogastric [NG] suction and no peritoneal cavity drainage after gastric and small bowel anastamoses. Patients admitted for anastomosis involving stomach and small bowel were randomized into two groups [50 patients each] by lottery methods of prewritten cards. In group A [control], patients were managed by conventional postoperative protocol [N/G decompression, peritoneal drain and nil per oral for 5 days]. In group "B" [under trial] patients were managed without NG decompression and peritoneal drain and were allowed oral feeds on third postoperative day. Surgery was done by various grades of surgeons from consultants to Senior Trainees. In group A, 39/50 patients were male and average age was 47.5 years. Morbidity recorded in this group was 14% including postoperative chest infection, wound dehiscence, vomiting and hypovolumia in one patient [2%] each. Three patients [6%] had anastamotic failure resulting into fistula. Three [6%] patients died of the procedure. In group B; 34/50 were males and average age was 42.5 years. Postoperative abdominal distension was recorded in 3 [6%] patients and vomiting in 2 [4%] patients. No anastamotic failure occurred in this group. Mortality was nil. Patients of gastric and small bowel anastamoses/ repair can be managed without N/G tube and peritoneal drain. These patients can be allowed home on fourth postoperative day

Bilateral simultaneous fractures neck of femur: a case report and review of literature

We report a case in an elderly lady who had an epileptic convulsion and sustained bilateral simultaneous fracture neck of femur. This lady was deaf and dumb and the diagnosis was therefore delayed. The patient was initially diagnosed as flaccid paralysis and was kept under observation. After 36 hours, x-rays of hip and dorsolumber spine was done that showed bilateral simultaneous fractures of hip. Both fractures were treated with bilateral modular hip hemiarthroplasties within 24 hours of diagnosis. She made uneventful recovery