Effect of serum estrogen levels on sleep habits of females

Objectives: To evaluate the sleep habits in pre and postmenopausal females and to find out the relationship between sex hormones and sleep habits

Study design: Cross sectional study

Place and duration: The study was conducted in Islamic International Medical College Rawalpindi and was completed in 1 year [1[st] March 2010 to 28[th] February 2011]

Methodology: A total of 60 females were randomly selected out of which 30 were premenopausal [Group] and 30 were postmenopausal [Group B] females. The sleep habits were assessed by sleep questionnaire and blood sample was taken for serum estrogen levels and were analyzed by enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay [ELFA] technique

Results: The comparison between pre and postmenopausal females was done on the basis of their sleep habits and statistically significant results were found which showed that postmenopausal females had lesser sleep duration than premenopausal females [p=0.011]. Postmenopausal females had more frequency of nocturnal arousals than premenopausal females [p<0.01], postmenopausal females awoke in morning without an alarm while most of the premenopausal females needed an alarm to woke up [p= 0.000] and postmenopausal females woke up earlier in the morning than premenopausal females [p=0.000]. Serum estrogen levels of postmenopausal females were lower than premenopausal females [p= 0.000]

Conclusions: The study revealed that the serum estrogen levels affect the sleep pattern of females across the menstrual cycle and menopause. As the serum estrogen levels decline after menopause; the sleep habits of females get affected and have relatively poor sleep quality as compared to premenopausal females

Identifying and Comparing the Different Learning Styles of Health Professional Students

To compare the learning styles of first year MBBS, BDS and DPT students. This study was carried out at Islamic International Medical College Rawalpindi [IIMC], Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences [RCRS], Islamic International Dental College Islamabad [IDC], Pakistan between February 2013 and June 2013. It was a descriptive cross sectional study. A sample of 83 first year MBBS, 81 first year DPT and 36 BDS were recruited. Kolb's inventory [1985] was used for collection of data. It was analyzed by using SPSS 20.p value of <0.05 was considered significant. A confidence interval of 95 was maintained. Frequency of learning style showed that 38.2% of MBBS students are assimilators, 59.7% of DPT students are Accommodators and 15.2% of BDS are Converger. It is concluded that the majority of students of the different disciplines have different learning style. So teacher must be aware of this fact and plan according to the learning styles of the students

Short head-up tilt test. Evaluation of time to syncope in nitroglycerine potentiated

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the time to syncope in Nitroglycerine potentiated short Head-up tilt test. This was a descriptive cross sectional study conducted in Armed Forces Institute of cardiology from May 2006 to May, 2007. A total number of 90 patients with orthostatic intolerance both male and female were studied. Head-up tilt test protocol consisted of a Stabilization phase which lasted for five minutes Passive tilt phase: Patients were tilted at 70 [degree sign] for orthostatic stress for 15 minutes. In case of no symptoms the test continued with the drug provocation phase which lasted for 15 minutes. The patients were administered 400 micro g of nitroglycerine sublingually in aerosol preparation. Development of symptoms were noted at 5, 10 and 15 minutes. A total number of 90 patients were examined during the study period. The tilt table test was classified as positive in 58.9% of patients and was negative in 41.1%. The test was positive in five patients without the drug provocation [9.4%]. The responses were classified as positive vasodepressor in 35.8%, 15.09% as mixed and cardioinhibitory 15.09% in patients of neurally mediated syncope. The total time to display of symptoms to positivity in HUTT was 17.89 +/- 6.99. The mean time to syncope after the administration of nitroglycerine was 5.61 +/- 4.17 minutes. Our study concludes that the drug administered phase can be reduced to 12 +/- 3 minutes

Effects of lead toxicity on serum testosterone and lh levels in adult male rats

To find out lead toxicity affects all levels of reproductive axis including both testosterone and Luteinizing Hormone production in adult male rats. An experimental study on animals The study was carried out at Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi from January 2010toNovember2010. Thirty adult male Sprawgue Dawley rats, purchased from NIH, Islamabad were divided into two groups A and B each containing 15 rats. Group A served as normal control receiving plain tap water. Group B received 0.3% lead acetate in drinking water. Five rats from each group were sacrificed at the end of 2nd, 4th and 6th weeks. Serum testosterone and LH levels were analyzed using ELISA technique. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 13. Serum testosterone level was significantly decreased in lead treated group as compared to control group whereas LH levels showed no significant change. Lead toxicity in male rats suppressed serum testosterone levels at all duration whereas LH levels at all durations manifested no significant change. This might be a result of direct testicular toxicity acting at testicular enzyme level alone or involving the hypothalamic-pituitary axis as well