ABSTRACT
Objective: to evaluate the serum calcium levels in the patients suffering from tuberculosis of various bones and joints
Design: observational case series
Place and duration of the study: the Department of Orthopedics Unit-I Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro from December 2006 to November 2007
Patients and methods: forty-one patients, age 06-75 years, of either gender suffering from tuberculosis of various bones and joints were evaluated for the serum calcium levels. There were 14 males and 27 females with male-female ratio of 2:3. The involved bones and joints included knee [19.51%], dorsal spine [17%], elbow [14.63%], ankle [14.63%], wrist [12.19%], hip [9.75%], shoulder [7.31%] and ilium [4.87%]
Results: serum calcium level range was 1.7-mg/dl, minimum 5.50 mg/dl and maximum was 7.20 mg/dl. Mean +/- SD calcium level was 7.50 +/- 0.92 mg/dl, median 7.50 mg/dl and mode was 7.40 mg/dl
Conclusion: the serum calcium levels in patients suffering from skeletal tuberculosis appear to be low
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency of night blindness among cirrhotic patients and evaluate the restoration of vision with vitamin A therapy. Design: - Case-control observational study. Setting: Medical ward of Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad / Jamshoro, Sindh - Pakistan; from January 2006 to December 2007
Methods: Two hundred cirrhotic patients admitted at medical unit IV were enrolled in the study. The non-cirrhotic patients were excluded. Fifty healthy volunteers took part as the control subjects
Results: Out of 200 patient, 116[58%] were males and 84[42%] females. The mean age of the cirrhotic patients was 48.46 + 11.97 years. The cause of cirrhosis was hepatitis C virus in 146 [73%] cases, hepatitis B virus in 19[9.5%] cases, hepatitis C and B virus in 7[3.5%] cases, non B and C virus in 24[12%] cases and alcohol in 4[2%] cases. When cirrhotic patients were grouped into Child-Pugh's score, 44[22%] were in class A, 106 [53%] in class B and 50[25%] in class C. Among 200 patients, 122 [61%] had history of night blindness and 25[12.5%] had the colour blindness. Restoration of vision was observed in 105[86%] patients with vitamin A therapy [tablet Vitamin A 50,000 IU, Wilson Pharma], twice daily, for 6 weeks time
Conclusion: The history of night blindness and its restoration of vision with vitamin A therapy is a rough indicator of vitamin A deficiency in cirrhotic patients. The larger studies are required especially RBP [plasma retinol binding protein] and serum vitamin A concentration before recommendation of vitamin A replacement. The Ophthalmic changes in cirrhotic patients are preventable and treatable
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency of various risk factors for stroke and its sub-types among males and females. Design: Cross sectional /Observational study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Medical Department of Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad/Jamshoro from January 2006 to March 2007
Material and Methods: Patients with features of stroke confirmed by CT scan brain were enrolled. Brain imaging showing abnormality e.g. brain tumour, meningitis, multiple sclerosis and metabolic derangements that could explain focal neurologic deficit were the exclusion parameters. The frequency of various risk factors for stroke and its types among males and females were evaluated
Results: Out of total 100 patients, 78[78%] presented with infarction stroke and 22[22%] with hemorrhagic stroke. Their mean age at presentation was 56.89 with SD=8.92 years. Hypertension 35[59.3%] and smoking 18[94.7%] were the most important risk factors among males, while the presence of diabetes mellitus 16[55.2%] and IHD 10[62.5%] were found to be more common among females. Forty-two [42%] and 11[11%] males, while 36[36.3%] and 11[11%] females suffering from cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage respectively. In-hospital mortality was 09[09%]
Conclusion: Frequency of various risk factors was high in this study which is similar to that observed in developed countries. Hypertension and smoking were the major risk factors for males, while diabetes mellitus and IHD were more common in females. We did not find any significant gender difference between the two stroke types. Category: Internal Medicine