Audit of hepatitis b and c viruses in patients attending dental clinics

This study was carried out to audit hepatitis B and C viruses, detected in the department of pathology, on the patients who visited the dental clinics of Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore. This was a retrospective study conducted between March 2006 and January 2008. A total of 575 patients visited the clinic during this period, [250 males and 325 females], of these 80[13.91%] were positive for heaptitis B or C viruses. HCV was positive in 49 and HBV in 31 patients. Majority of infected patients were females i.e., 45 [7.8%]. Maximum number of patients were seen in the age groups between 50 and 60 years and 10-20 years respectively

Serological immune status of hepatitis-B in vaccinated healthy individuals

This study was planned to assess the Hepatitis-B serological immune response in previously vaccinated students and staff members of various faculties of Lahore Medical and, Dental College Lahore. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccination in prevention of hepatitis infection, chronic liver disease and recommendation of booster dose after primary course of vaccination. The study group comprised of 276 volunteers including MBBS/BDS students and 16 staff members of different faculties. Age range among students was 17-25 years whereas staff members were 30-50 years in age. Among 276 volunteers 46% were males and 54% were females. The levels of hepatitis B surface antibodies were assessed in blood/ serum by enzyme linked immunosorbant assay [ELISA] technique. Among 276 volunteers 230 SIGMA had detectable antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen [aHBs] while 46 [18%] showed no detectable level of antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen [aHBs] in their serum. The titer of antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen [aHBs] was low among staff members who were in age group of 30-50 years [n4, 0.25%] A decline in titer was observed during adolescence

Phsicians'perception of evidence based medicine: a survey in Lahore, Pakistan

EBM is a growing worldwide movement in health care, that aims to bring the best evidence from medical research to the bedside, clinic and community. EBM appeared early in 1990 and since then it has developed and expanded worldwide. It has met a considerable success over the past three decades in promoting critical scientific and practical awareness of the status of different after research claims to therapeutic knowledge. This subject of EBM is only theoreticcally known to only some of our physicians. We assessed physician's attitude towards EBM in a cross-sectional study conducted in the district of Lahore, Pakistan; from March 2005 to August 2006, by a self-administered questionnaire [proforma], which included questions on whether the physicians were in favour of EBM, and at what level EBM should be taught. A fairly reasonable response [63.6%] was received from the physicians and among these, most had a fair idea about EBM. They believed that EBM, if practiced, will improve patient care [68.8%], can reduce health care cost [59.1%] and will update the knowledge of the physicians [92.7%]. A large majority [91%] believed that EBM and its usefulness should be taught only at postgraduate level

Relation of cholesterol and triglycerides levels in smokers and obese individuals with Ischaemic heart disease

Plasma cholesterol and triglycerides levels were measured in healthy non obese smokers, non smokers obese and non obese, non smokers control subjects independent of sex and age. Significantly higher levels of cholesterol [p 0.05] and triglycerides [p 0.05] were found in obese subjects. Similarly higher levels of cholesterol [p 0.05] and triglycerides [p 0.05] were seen in smokers. Our results showed strong positive correlation of obesity and smoking with levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. It has already been suggested that increased cholesterol and triglycerides levels observed in cigarette smokers and obese individuals are associated with higher incidence of coronary heart disease