Outcomes of fibrinolytics in patients of acute myocardial infarction

Objective: The aim of our study was to determine outcomes of fibrinolytics in patients of acute MI in a setup where streptokinase is the sole fibrinolytic used and where the facility of primary PCI is not available

Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Cardiology, Mardan Medical Complex Teaching Hospital, Mardan from January 2011 to December 2014

Materials and Methods: This study included 3,000 patients using non probability purposive sampling technique. The study was approved by the Hospital Ethical Committee. An informed written consent was obtained. Out of these, 2100 [70%] were non diabetic and 900 [30%]diabetics

Results: Those who presented within 6 hours of the index chest pain, streptokinase therapy was successful in 1709 [57%] patients and unsuccessful in 197 [6.6%] patients. Streptokinase was successful only in 771 [25.7%] patients and unsuccessful in 323 [10.8%] patients who presented in 6-12 hours of the index pain. Reinfarction occurred in 193 [6.4%] patients whereas 2807 [93.6%] were free of reinfarction. Hemorrhagic Stroke occurred 50 [1.7%] patients whereas 2 [0.1%] developed ischemic stroke

Conclusion: Our study convincingly showed that intra cranial hemorrhage was relatively low with this fibrinolytic

Demonstration of malaria situation analysis, stratification and planning in Minab District, southern Iran

OBJECTIVE@#To demonstrate malaria situation analysis, stratification and planning for an endemic area in southern Iran.@*METHODS@#Data on health system, population, meteorological parameters, malaria cases, anopheline vectors, and control activities during 2005-2007 was obtained from Minab Health Center, Minab Meteorological Station and published documents about malaria elements in the study area. A datasheet was created in excel 2003 for analysis.@*RESULTS@#There were 644 health staff working in Minab District including 99 health staff in malaria control program. The health facilities are distributed as follow: 1 hospital with 96 beds, 23 health centers including private centers (10 in Minab city and 13 in rural area of Minab District) and 119 health houses in rural areas of Minab District. A nopheles stephensi was the dominant species in Minab District, however, Anopheles dthali, Anopheles superpictus, Anopheles fluviatilis, Anopheles multicolor, Anopheles pulcherrimus and Anopheles turkhudi can also be found in the area. Anopheles stephensi was reported susceptible to malathion, propoxur, primphos-methyl, lambda-cyhalothrin permethrin and deltamethrin, and resistant to DDT and dieldrin in the area. During the study period a total of 10 665 positive cases were reported, mainly due to local transmission (99.6%). Plasmodium vivax was the main causative agent followed by Plasmodium falciparum. There were reports about drug resistance of Plasmodium falciparum in the area.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Using different parameters, Minab was classified into 3 strata. A plan was designed based on described goal, objectives and targets. The approaches of this plan were categorized into: health education, early detection and correct treatment, and vector control. Main constraints of these approaches are population movement between Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan; vector control challenges at district, inadequate skilled medical staff in malaria case management and weak inter-sectorial coordination for malaria control, especially in urban areas.

Pesticide poisoning: preliminary findings in Balqa, Jordan

To examine the magnitude of the health problem posed by manipulation of pesticides a study was undertaken at Balqa, Jordan. The methodology comprised two approaches. First, the collection of all records of pesticide poisoning among residents of the Governorate seen at medical and health facilities, and second, an estimation of cases treated by the injection of atropine as an antidote. Results of the study showed 51 clinically diagnosed cases, including six deaths, or an incidence rate and a death rate of 33.8 and 4.0 per 100,000 population, respectively, in 1979. Estimation through atropine injections could be obtained only for South Shuna where the total of estimated and clinically diagnosed cases was 60. This new total yields an incidence rate of 11.32 per 1,000 population in South Shuna. Pesticides are a diverse family of chemical compounds used both at home and in agriculture. Besides their effects on plant pathogens, insects, weeds, and rodents, these compounds can be toxic and sometimes fatal to human beings. Modernization of agriculture in Jordan brought in the widespread use of pesticides. The purpose of this paper is to examine the magnitude of health problem posed by the manipulation of these chemicals