Hypothyridism in patients with chronic hepatitis-C

To determine the frequency of clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism in patients with chronic hepatitis-C. Case-series study. Department of Medicine, outpatient department of Internal Medicine at Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi. From April 25th till October 25th 2008. A total of 73 patients were enrolled in the study. Data was entered and then analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences [SPSS] Version 14. Results are given for quantitative variables such as age are presented as means +/- Standard deviation and percentages are presented for hypo and hyperthyroidism. Stratification on age, gender, ALT levels and gender is undertaken to control for effect modification. Out of total of 73 patients 8 patients [11% of total patients] were found to be suffering from hypothyroidism. Out of these 8 patients 2 patients were males [6.9% of total male patients] and 6 patients were females [13.6% of total female patients]. Known duration of chronic hepatitis C infection in most of the patients suffering from hypothyroidism was 6-12 months [6 patients], however rest of 2 patients had known duration of chronic hepatitis C greater than 13 months. Looking at the ages of the patients in the study group with hypothyroidism showed that half [4 out of 8] patients were in the age group 35-43 years, however 2 patients were younger to the former group and were in the 25-34 age group, and remaining 2 patients were over the age of 44 years

Ideal treatment of symptomatic gall stone

During the past 25 years, various new treatment modalities for symptomatic gallstone disease have been evaluated as an alternative to open cholecystectomy. The quest for an ideal method was finished with the introduction of Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This paper describes the personal experience of 108 cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Benefits, difficulties, complications and results of this minimal invasive approach are discussed