ABSTRACT
A multi-centred study was designed to collect dengue epidemiologic data from government and registered private hospitals/clinics and maintained archive of frozen specimens in bio-bank to be used for future dengue epidemic control program, and assess the epidemiology of dengue fever (DF) by evaluating biochemical and oxidative status of patients. ELISA IgM antibodies test was done to confirm DF. From August 2010 to December 2011, 101 confirmed blood samples of DF patients referred to pathology lab of Jinnah Hospital Lahore were subjected to the epidemiologic assessment by evaluating the biochemical and physiological indices and alterations of circulating antioxidants. Clinical features of DF patients and effect of fever on blood components and serum proteins of liver were recorded. The hospital stay in DF, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS) showed significant difference. Significant increases in serum alanine amino transferase (ALT) (P=0.000), aspartate amino transferase (AST) (P=0.000), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P=0.000), malondialdehyde (MDA) along with significant decreases in total protein (TP) (P=0.000), reduced glutathione (GSH) (P=0.000), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) (P=0.000), and sialic acid contents (P=0.016) were observed. A positive correlation existed between bound sialic acid levels, liver enzymes and circulating antioxidants (r=0.656, P=0.016). In the present study, alterations of circulating antioxidants in DF suggest that DF might be a metabolic response to an acute, self-limiting tropical viral infection, and a consequence of the viral inflammatory process.
ABSTRACT
Background: The undergraduate medical students have been reported to experience stress during their years in college and this stress has been shown to vary between clinical years and different ethnicities. As stress can lead to deterioration of performance and loss of self-esteem therefore the present study was conducted to evaluate the perceived level of stress in the first year medical students to identify psychological issues in the beginning of the year
Methods: Self administered General Health Questionnaire with 12 items [GHQ-12] was circulated after informed consent among the students present on the day of the study. The data was coded and entered in SPSS version 16. GHQ score was reported as frequencies and mean+ SD. Independent sample t-test was applied to compute relationship between gender and GHQ scores
Results: Total number of questionnaires completed was 101. The mean average GHQ- 12 score of all the students was 11.52+5.36, with a range of 01 to 28. Twelve students were found to be distressed while 7 students were experiencing psychological distress. The mean score of female students was significantly [p=0.02] higher than males
Conclusion: The first year medical students at UCMD perceive their mental health to be good. However there are some students who need special attention to perform well in their studies