ABSTRACT
To assess the outcome of percutanious Angioplasty in patients with osteal lesions in Coronary artery Diseases. This is a retrospective analysis of all coronary angiograms performed at the catheterization laboratory of Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases [KIHD], a tertiary referral center in Karachi, Pakistan, between the periods August 2006 to August 2008. Fifty patients were enrolled which included thirty-five men and fifteen women and all were >40 years of age. Each patient had a single target osteal lesion: twenty nine patients underwent PCI for ostial LAD lesion [among them twenty males and nine females], six had ostial LCX [five males and one female], and fifteen patients had osteal RCA stenosis [10-male patients and 5- female patients]. After high-pressure balloon dilatation residual stenosis was reduced. Twelve patients were treated with bare metal stents [BMS] while thirty eight with drug eluting stents [DES]. In all cases the procedure was successful without any pre and post procedural complications. A key issue in the treatment of an osteal lesion is to assure that the stent is inserted proximal enough to fully cover the osteal junction. Improvements in technique, equipment, adjunctive drug therapy and better understanding of the procedure have remarkably changed the practice of interventional cardiology
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Treatment Outcome , Retrospective Studies , Coronary Artery DiseaseABSTRACT
To analyze the deficiencies in original articles accepted for publication in Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences [PJMS]. All the original articles submitted to PJMS during April 2005 to March 2008 which were finally accepted for publication after peer review, were retrospectively analyzed for deficiencies. Main outcome measures were number and type of deficiencies with mean assessment score. The assessment score was based on the overall impression about the quality of the paper keeping in view the quantum of deficiencies. Manuscripts which had just problems with references or latest references were missing got six or seven points out of ten white those manuscripts with more deficiencies were considered average and got five points. The results were expressed as the mean score of deficiencies. This analysis did not include the manuscripts rejected during in-house review or after peer review and thus were not accepted for publication. Three hundred and forty two original articles accepted for publication were analyzed. Out of these 156 [45.6%] were primary acceptance, 67 [19.6%] were accepted after one revision and 119 [34.8%] after more than one revision. Mean number of authors was 2.99 +/- 1.62. Mean acceptance time was 4.88 +/- 2.21 months and mean publication time was 9.29 +/- 2.82 months. Mean score of deficiencies was 6.62 +/- 3.73. Most common deficiencies were: inappropriate Vancouver format of references in 259 [75.7%], extensive grammatical mistakes in 248 [72.5%], lack of recent references in 231 [67.5%] and un-necessary tables and figures in 152 [44.4%]. The mean assessment score was 6.58 +/- 1.08 [Range 1-10] one=worse, 10= excellent. Major deficiencies in the manuscripts accepted for publication in PJMS were inappropriate references, extensive grammar mistakes, lack of recent references besides un-necessary tables and figures. These can be rectified by the authors themselves provided they critically review their manuscripts and they may also require specific training for preparation of final manuscript before submission for publication
Subject(s)
Peer Review , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
To study the characteristics, evaluate the performance of reviewers and quality of their reviews as being helpful for the authors and the editors to make a final decision on the manuscripts. Information was retrieved from 404 peer review proformas filled in by the Reviewers involving 377 manuscripts from July 2003 to November 2005.The information collected included age, sex, academic affiliation, number of publications, training local or overseas, punctuality, hand written notes or typed, participation in peer review workshops etc. Rating scale of 1-5 [1 meant casual and 5 detailed comments] was used to evaluate their comments regarding originality of manuscripts, comments regarding strong and weak points, tables, usefulness of the manuscript and interpretation of results. A total of sixty eight reviewers were evaluated. Majority of the reviewers 46[67.7%] were between the age of 40-60 years. Only three were female. Four [5.9%] reviewers had more than hundred publications to their credit while twelve [17.6%] had 51-100, thirty two [47%] had between 25-50 and twenty [29.4%] had less than twenty five publications. Fifty one [75%] were affiliated with academic institutions. Those who attended peer review workshops [38 out of 68] did a better review. Eleven [16.2%] did not wish to disclose their identity for various reasons. Based on their consistency and quality of reviews, fifteen reviewers were rated excellent by the Editors which included eight retired medical teachers, thirty three good and twenty as average reviewers. Performance of reviewers and quality of their reviews was mostly dependent on their interest in academics. Best reviewers were retired medical teachers personally known to the editors, those in private sector over 60 years of age and those who were exposed to any training programme in peer review system. There is a general tendency among the Editors to overuse efficient, punctual reviewers which must be checked to avoid burn out syndrome which ultimately affects the quality of their reviews. Editors should be consistently on the look out for good quality reviewers to expand their Reviewers Database which will eventually help improve the overall quality of the manuscripts and standard of the journal
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Manuscript , Periodical , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences [Pak J Med Sci] formerly known as 'Specialist', is a quarterly journal, published since 1984. It is indexed by EMBASE/Excerpta Medica and WHO Extra MED but not by Medline. Even though the journal is being published regularly for the last 22 years, its online full-text edition was introduced only in late 2002. We have assessed the impact of online edition of PJMS on the number of manuscripts received internationally, along with the improvement in the visibility of the journal during the last three years. The findings are presented here along with the proposals for the potential cooperation between the countries of the region. We started receiving increased number of manuscripts internationally in 2003 and this gratifying trend continues even today. In 2003, we received 37 manuscripts which increased to 62 in 2004 and 133 in 2005 [an increase of + 300% vs. 2003]. Initially, the authors from 10 countries were involved. Now this number has increased to 22. The geographical spread is as wide as four continents. Online submission of articles has also increased from within the country during this period. Taking Iran as an example of the contributing countries [as the authors from Iran have been our major contributors], we received 13 manuscripts in 2003, increasing to 21 in 2004 and 74 in 2005.The acceptance rate for the publication of articles from Iran has varied from 30 - 47% each year. Positive attitude of editorial staff and the helpful approach on the part of reviewers has facilitated the increase in the acceptance rate.This shows regional co-operation. Manuscripts from any country can have deficiencies. Those received from Iran have had their share of discrepancies. These discrepancies have ranged from problems with poor English, to inconsistency of format and quality of references and disregard for the 'instruction to authors'. Significant delays occur in the processing of articles due to too much time taken by the authors to give the feedback to the queries of reviewers and the return of proof- read articles, amongst many other elements. We feel that online edition of a journal not only helps to increase the visibility of the journal but also proves to be a great source of manuscripts, even without indexing by Medline, provided the regularity and standard of the journal is maintained. In addition, it is an important potential source of coordination between the regional countries to work together for the training of writers, reviewers and editors to improve the standard of medical journalism, and thus improve the standards of medical journals in the region
Subject(s)
Periodical , ManuscriptABSTRACT
It can be concluded that atherosclerosis is an insidious disease and it takes years to develop, through vessel wall injury and lipid accumulation. Early detection of CHD and certain risk factors like hypertension and insulin resistance are highly important and thus an early treatment of risk factors may alter prognosis significantly. RAS plays a central role in atherosclerosis, end-organ damage and thus cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. RAS blockade significantly reduces the risk of end-organ damage. ACE-Is and ARBs have a positive impact on cardiovascular morbidity, mortality and renal dysfunction. Newer application of ARBs like prehypertension and prediabetes are under investigations, with interesting new possibilities in the near future