D - dimers assay as an adjunct to diagnosis of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

To determine the frequency of raised D-dimer in patients of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis [CVST] at Neurology Department, Military Hospital Rawalpindi. Descriptive study. One year duration conducted in the Department of Neurology at Military Hospital Rawalpindi from 1[st] May 2010 to 1[st] May 2011. Thirty patients were selected randomly from Neurology Department, who were recently diagnosed cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis [CVST] on the basis of magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and magnetic resonance venography [MRV]. D-dimer test samples were drawn and subjected to latex agglutination test. There were 22[73.33%] males and 8[26.67%] females in our study. D dimmer assay analyses revealed 90% [27 patients] as positive and 10% [3 patients] as negative. Raised D-dimer levels are highly suggestive of CVST provided other conditions are clinically excluded and they can be used as an adjunct in the diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis

comparison of pioglitazone with metformin in management of type 2 diabetes mellitus

To compare hypoglycemic effect of Pioglitazone and Metformin in type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Quasi experimental study. Department of Medicine, Military Hospital Rawalpindi Cantt from 11-01-2007 to 12-08-2007. Sixty patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus from outdoor department were selected. On arrival at OPD each patient was examined thoroughly. Therapeutic option was allocated to the patients simply by using a table of random numbers and dividing them in two equal groups. Informed written consent was obtained. Each patient was followed on monthly subsequent visits [six in total] and his HbA1c, fasting and random blood glucose were recorded carefully. All the data thus obtained was processed and analyzed using SPSS version 10.0. Mean and SD were calculated for age, BMI, fasting blood glucose, random blood glucose and HbA1c levels. Mean drop of all three parameters were compared among two groups. At the end of six months, it was revealed that fasting and random [2 hours postprandial] blood glucose dropped more in Pioglitazone group; P=0.000 and 0.02 respectively. While almost comparable effect was observed in HbA1c [P=0.2]. Pioglitazone has significantly better hypoglycemic effect than Metformin in type 2 diabetes mellitus at the end of six months therapy

Comparison of 0.2 % glyceryl trinitrate and open lateral internal anal sphincterotomy in treatment of chronic anal fissures

To compare lateral internal sphincterotomy with 0.2 percent glyceryl trinitrate in the treatment of chronic anal fissure in terms of fissure healing and complications. Randomised Controlled Trials [RCT] Place and duration of the study: The study was of 6 months duration conducted at surgical unit Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi from August 2006 to February 2007. Subjects and Seventy Patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. Group 1 was assigned to apply glyceryl trinitrate 0.2 percent paste while, in group 2 lateral internal sphincterotomy was done. Response to the treatment was assessed in terms of fissure healing and occurrence of complications. Follow up of the patients was carried out at the end of 2nd, 4th, and 6th week of treatment. In this study overall healing rate after 6 weeks with GTN was 71.4% and 100% with LIS [p< 0.001]. Conclusions: lateral internal sphincterotomy is better than GTN in fissure healing