comparison of safety and efficacy between sodium cromoglycate 2% and fluorometholone 0.1% in management of vernal keratoconjunctivitis

To compare the safety and efficacy of sodium cromoglycate 2% eye drops with fluorometholone 0.1% eye drops in patients with bilateral vernal keratoconjunctivitis [limbal and conjunctival palpebral or mixed]. Quasi Experimental Study This study was carried out in Department of Ophthalmology, Combined Military Hospital, Multan from 20[th] May 2009 to 20[th] June 2009. This was hospital based study conducted on 60 diagnosed cases of vernal keratoconjunctivitis attending the OPD of Eye Department Combined Military Hospital, Multan in year 2009. Cases were divided in to two groups of 30 patients each. Group 2 was treated with sodium Cromoglycate while Group 1 was given Fluoro metholone 0.1%. Ocular complaints were noted and graded. Slit lamp examination was done at the start of treatment and at the end of the treatment. After first week of treatment in group 2 [sodium cromoglycate 2%] 22 patients had mucoidal discharge with photophobia, redness and itching while in group 1 [Fluorometholone 0.1%] none of the patient had mucoidal discharge. At the end of study 24 patients had itching, redness and photophobia in group 2 but in group 1 only 16 patients had these symptoms. It was also revealed that 6 patients in group 2 had watering and mucoid discharge but none of the patient in group 1 had watering and mucoid discharge at the end of study. [p < 0.001]. Patients treated with fluorometholone 0.1% got better results than patients treated with sodium cromoglycate 2% in the management of vernal Keratoconjunctivitis

Experience of early childhood caries [ECC] in children at Fatima Jinnah dental college hospital, Karachi and its relationship with feeding practices

The aim of the study was to find the experience of early childhood caries [ECC] in children at Fatima Jinnah dental college hospital, Karachi in the period of six months and its relationship with feeding practices. A total of 521 children 2- 6 years of age were screened for the present study who came to Fatima Jinnah dental college hospital Karachi in the period of Sept-Dec 2008 and June- July 2009. Examination and detection of the caries was solely based on visualization. A parent or a caregiver was asked to complete a questionnaire regarding information about the child, their oral hygiene, social class and feeding practices. The modification of Kuppuswami scale was used to classify the socioeconomic status. The rate and pattern of caries were analyzed and each child was classified as mild, moderate or severe ECC. There is a strong and significant relationship between the presence of early childhood caries and the degree of feeding abuse. Children from low socioeconomic status have increased early childhood caries. The experience of early childhood caries was 50.1% in the children attending dental opd of Fatima Jinnah Dental College Hospital in the period of six months. Early childhood caries were more in children who were always taking a feeding bottle especially to bed at night and those who consume cariogenic snacks and were increasingly seen in lower socioeconomic groups

Is oral health status of children with beta-Thalassemia worse than that of their normal counterparts?

To determine the association, if any, of patients suffering from beta-Thalassema with dental caries, gingival condition and oral health status and compare it to their normal counterparts. A. total of 90 children suffering from beta-Thalassemia and 60 healthy controls [age range 6-15 years] were selected from similar socio-economic and parental education background. Oral hygiene status and gingival condition were examined using Oral hygiene Index-Simplified and Modified Gingival Index respectively. Dental caries was recorded using DMFT /dmft Index according to the criteria described by the World health Organisation. Dental caries status in both primary and permanent dentition was found similar in both the groups of children [p>0.5]. GI score of thalassemic children was 0.73 +/- 1.08 and of the healthy subjects was 0.85 +/- 0.95 [p>0.5], however oral health status of the two groups was found to be different [p<0.005] with a larger number of healthy group having [good] oral hygiene as compared to their thalassemic counterparts. There was no significant difference in the dental caries status and gingival condition of children with beta-Thalassemia as compared to their normal counterparts; however, oral hygiene status of the healthy children was significantly better than children suffering from beta-Thalassemia

Mechanical versus chemical retention in complex restoration

The aims of this study were: [a] to investigate, by questionnaires, the selection and use of materials and techniques to restore complex restorations in vital teeth. [b] Can adhesive resin liners provide retention that is the same as dentinal pins and slots when restoring complex restorations in vital teeth? A self administered questionnaire was developed. Four hundred questionnaires were distributed to senior and junior general dental practitioners employed in hospitals and private sectors of Karachi city. A total of 359 questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 89.75%. Amalgam was the most popular material used by general dental practitioners to restore complex restorations in vital teeth followed by glass ionomer plus composite. In vital teeth retentive slots were used the most and retentive pins were the least popular. ways of mechanical retention. The results also showed respondents were using adhesive resin liners exclusively when restoring complex restorations. This study showed that adhesive resin liners may he used as an alternative or adjunct to mechanical retention. Because of the improvements of bonding strength of adhesive resin liners, dentinal pins and slots should not be the only methods considered to restore complex restorations

comparison of thermomechanical compaction and cold lateral condensation obturation techniques on the basis of density measurements, using digital radiographs

To compare the cold lateral condensation and the thermomechnical condensation obturation techniques by measuring the radiographic density of the obturation. Digital radiographs were used as an aid for the comparison. A total of 100 single rooted teeth mainly central incisors were divided into two groups. Group A comprised of teeth that were obturated using cold lateral condensation and Group B comprised of teeth that were obturated using thermomechanical technique. The canals of all the teeth were prepared with rotary endodontics [Protaper System] with a working distance of 21mm. During the sample preparations irrigation with EDTA was used to remove the smear layer. One group of teeth was obturated with ISO standardized gutta percha points using cold lateral condensation and the other group was obturated using thermomechanical technique [Gutta Condensors-Dentsply]. Digital radiographs were taken processed in Digora System for both the techniques. The apical area was zoomed to 4x and density measurement readings for both the techniques were recorded and compared using Digora Optime. The mean for Group A was found to be 140 while for Group B the value was 136. The difference was statistically significant [p < 0.005]. The study concluded that both the techniques are acceptable clinically. However the cold lateral condensation technique was found to be superior to thermomechanical compaction in terms of radiographic density

Tropical 0.2% glyceryl trinitrate ointment versus lateral sphincterotomy in the treatment of acute anal fissure

To compare the effectiveness of 0.2%GTN with lateral sphincterotomy in the treatment of acute anal fissure and to asses the complications in the two groups. A Quasi experimental study. The study was conducted at Surgical Unit II, Services Hospital Services Institute of Medical Sciences Lahore during Jan 2002 to Dec. 2004. Eighty patients with acute anal fissure confirmed on history and clinical examination were included in the study. Forty patients were randomized in each group using simple random tables. Group A patients were prescribed 0.2% glyceryl trinitrate ointment to apply intra-anally four times a day for eight weeks and group B patients were admitted in ward and underwent lateral internal sphincterotomy by open technique. Comparison of the two treatments to determine the efficacy and to assess the complications was done. Patients were followed up at one week, two weeks, one month, and final follow was done after two months. In group A [0.2%GTN ointment], thirty eight patients completed treatment for eight weeks. Of these 31[81.6%] patients had healed fissures. Two [5%] patients could not complete the treatment because of severe headache and were excluded. In group B, 37 [92.5%] patients had healed fissures after eight weeks following sphincterotomy. At one week after sphincterotomy 20% had some degree of incontinence to flatus that settled in the majority after eight weeks. One patient developed perianal hematoma that also settled conservatively. On the basis of good clinical results and few adverse effects, glyceryl trinitrate ointment can be employed as first line of treatment in the management of patients with acute anal fissure

Correlation between hyperprolactinaemia and semen parameters

Background: A cross sectional study held in infertility clinics of Multan under supervision of Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore. The aim of the study was to look for any correlation between serum prolactin levels and semen parameters in oligospermic or azoospermic infertile males. Where hyperprolactinaemia was the only hormonal abnormality

Methods: We investigated 120 subjects [20 control and 100 infertile males]. The semen analysis was done according to WHO standard methods. The serum prolactin, FSH and testosterone were estimated by radioimmunoassay

Results: Percent motility [p<0.001] and motile density [p<0.01] of sperms had a strong negative correlation with the serum prolactin levels. The sperm count and percentage of normal morphology were not correlated [p>0.05] to serum prolactin levels in such males

Conclusion: Hyperprolactinaemia has a significant role in decreasing the sperm motility even without inducing hypo or hypergonadotropic hypogonadism

Effect of parity on iron stores in pregnant women

Serum ferritin and other hematological parameters were measured to assess iron stores in 80 pregnant and 20 non-pregnant women. Half of the pregnant women were primigravidae while the other half were multiparae. This study revealed that increasing parity had no significant effect on iron stores in pregnant women