Sickle cell anemia; 3 years clinical experience in Bisha, Saudi Arabia [2010-2013]

Objective Three-year clinical experience of patients diagnosed with Sickle cell disease in Bisha, South Western region of Saudi Arabia is analyzed

Methodology A retrospective analysis was done on data recruited from 2011 to 2013 of all the patients presented with sickle cell anemia. The demographic data, clinical presentation, course of disease, complications and chronic conditions were collected. The descriptive percentage of data with years of presentation and its incidence rate per 100 person-years were also taken with the cause mortality

Results Total 386 patients were analyzed, among them 45.2% were females and 54.8% were males. According to our study, the sickle cell crises included as acute chest syndrome [26%], pulmonary hypertension [21%], Splenomegaly [7%], septicemia [11%], acute Vaso-occlusive crisis [10%], and other sickle cell crisis [2-10%] of patients. It was also found that about 48% of patients suffered from 1 or more irreversible organ damage. The survival rate of male and female are not significant, however total 82 patients died of sickle cell anemia

Conclusions Sickle cell disease represents high mortality in Saudi Arabia, comprising distinctive diseases characteristic in different regions. The qualitative and quantitative study of genetic and environmental factors in relation to disease complications need to be done

Asymptomatic urinary tract infection among diabetic patients admitted at a tertiary care hospital of Karachi

Objective To determine frequency of urinary tract infection among asymptomatic diabetics, the etiological agents, antibiotic sensitivity and the pattern of antibiotic resistance to that organism

Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted at Taj Medical Complex, Hamdard University Hospital, and Karachi. A total of 395 patients with Diabetes Mellitus were enrolled in our study. All data were transformed in a structured Performa. All lab analysis plus Urine C/S were done with written consent from the patients. Data was maintained and analyzed on SPSS version 20

Result Among the 395 included patients, 44 % [174] were females and 56 % [221] were males. 362 were taking oral hypoglycemic agents [OHA], 9 were under insulin and 24 were taking both insulin and OHA. The mean HbA1c was 8.08 +/- 1.29. Out of 395 samples of urine C/S of asymptomatic diabetic patients, 242 samples showed growth of organisms more than 105 CFU [colony forming units]. The most common organism in 160 [66.11%] cases was E.coli. The other organisms isolated were klebsiella in 37 [15.28%] cases, staph aureus in 30 [12.4%], proteus in 7 [2.3%], enterococcus in 8 [3.3%] case. UTI was found more common in those patients who were taking oral hypoglycemic agents as compared to those who were taking insulin. E-coli- was sensitive to ciprofloxacin in 88.75%, ceftriaxone in 67.9% and imipenum in 100%. Klebsiella was 100% sensitive to ciprofloxacin. It was also 100% sensitive to imipenum. Staph aureus was sensitive to ciprofloxacin in 70%cases and 77% sensitive to ampicillin. E.coli was resistant to ampicillin, cefixime and gentamycin. Klebsiella was resistant to ceftriaxone and pimpedic acid. Staph aureus was resistant to co-trimoxazole. Proteus was resistant to imipenum in 100% cases and enterococci were resistant to amikacin in 100% cases

Conclusion The study concluded that the prevalence of UTI is higher in females as compared to males in asymptomatic diabetic patients. E.coli was the foremost etiological agent of UTI. It was also observed that the diseases incidence increases with increasing age and vice versa. Because of the frequency and severity of UTI in diabetes, prompt diagnosis and early treatment is compulsory to prevent consequent complications

Student abuse in medical colleges of Karachi, a descriptive cross-sectional study

Background: Medical students are suspected to be the most compassionate, warm hearted and devoted students to their profession. In the process of cultivating future doctors any bad impact to their personalization may lead to a decrease in self-esteem, spirits and positive mood

Objective: The following study is conducted to make an estimation of different types of abuse that medical students are facing in Medical universities of Karachi. Furthermore, this study also intends to analyze which type of abuse is more prevalent and if the universities have a complaint department for taking a proper action against abuse or not

Material and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in private and government medical colleges of Karachi, Sindh Pakistan, in the months of June and July 2014. Data collection was based on random data sampling comprising of 250 subjects, which included male and female students between the ages of 20-25 years

Results: According to our study's findings, about 47.47% of abuse is seen in medical colleges of Karachi. Among those who had faced bullying or harassment, 38.44% reported that they had experienced verbal abuse, 54.76% reported academic abuse, 6.9% faced physical abuse, and 18.56% faced sexual abuse. There was no reported harassment cell found in medical colleges of Karachi and hence, no one has ever taken authority

Conclusion: Therefore, it has been concluded that mistreatment and abuse are common occurrences in our medical colleges. This has found to be very adverse for learning, determination and the self-confidence of our medical students and for a futuristic personality of a doctor as well