Comparative efficacy of H[1] blocker, H[2] blocker, and corticosteroid individually and in combination in resolution of sign and symptoms of acute Urticaria

To compare the efficacy of H[1] blocker, H[2] blocker, corticosteroid in combination or individually in resolution of the sign and symptoms of acute urticaria. Randomized control trial. This study was carried out at Medical Department, Naseer Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [KPK] for the period of six months [July 2012 through December 2012]. In this study 140 adult patients of both gender with acute urticaria were treated with either H[1] blocker [group A], H[2] blocker [group B] or in combinations of H[1] blocker + H[2] blocker [group C], H[1] blocker + H[2] blocker + dexamethasone [group D], H[1] blocker + dexamethasone [Group E], H[2] blocker + dexamethasone [Group F] or Dexamethasone [group G] alone. The end points were resolution of sign and symptoms in each group of patients [minimum 3 hours after treatment]. Pregnant females, anemic and Patients with cardiac disease were excluded. H[1]+ H[2] blockers + dexamethasone found to be most effective therapeutic combination [95% of patients] in resolution of sign and symptoms of acute urticaria, followed by H[1] blocker + dexamethasone [90%] and H[1]+ H[2] blockers [85%]. This study concludes that the combination of H[1]+H[2] blockers + dexamethasone is more effective in relieving the patient from the sign and symptom of acute urticaria as compared to H[1] blocker or H[2] blocker or dexamethasone given alone or in combination of any two

Cord blood leptin levels in pakistani newborns: Relationship with birth weight, Length and occipitofrontal circumference

To determine the serum leptin levels in cord blood of Pakistani newborns and to ascertain the relationship between serum leptin and anthropometric parameters i.e. birth weight, length and OFC. A cross-sectional study. Place and Duration: Lady Dufferin Hospital and Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi from 1999 to 2000. Leptin concentration was measured in 110 newborns of mothers of normal antenatal history from venous cord blood, using Active Elisa Kit [DSL-10-23100]. Samples were selected according to availability. Mean birth weight, length and occipitofrontal circumference [OFC] were 3.0 +/- 0.4 kg, 48.7 +/- 2.3cms and 33.1 +/- 0.8 cms, respectively. Mean serum leptin levels was 10.0 +/- 7.5 ng/ml. Serum leptin levels were found to be positively correlated with birth weight [r = 0.16, p = 0.04], and OFC [r = 0.33, p < 0.01], whereas no significant relationship was found with length of the babies. The reported results suggest that leptin may play role in newborns body weight and energy expenditure as in adults and children

Relationship between maternal and cord blood leptin levels in Pakistani subjects

To ascertain the relationship between maternal serum leptin levels and cord blood leptin levels of Pakistani subjects at delivery, and to determine the relationship of parity with maternal and cord blood leptin levels. Lady Dufferin Hospital and Ziauddin Hospital Karachi. leptin concentration was measured in 110 normal full term pregnant subjects between 18 and 35 years of age, using Active Elisa Kit [DSL-10-23100]. Samples were selected according to availability. Mean maternal serum leptin levels were 27.9 +/- 18.1 ng/ml. Mean cord blood leptin levels were 10.0 +/- 7.5 kg/m[2], Maternal serum leptin was found to be positively correlated with cord blood leptin [r = 0.67, p < 0.01]. The average maternal and cord blood leptin levels of multigravida [n = 75] subjects were higher than primigravida [n = 35]. Cord blood leptin levels increases with increase in maternal level. High leptin level gradient exist between maternal and cord leptin. The increase in maternal and cord blood leptin in multigravida mothers is accounted possibly by the difference in fat cells between primigarvida and multigravida subjects