Spectrum of firearm fatalities in Larkana region

Objective: To determine frequency of firearm fatalities in Larkana region

Study Design: Descriptive study

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at causality and department of forensic medicine and toxicology Chandka Medical College @ SMBBMU Larkana from 1[st] June 2013 to 31[st] May 2015

Materials and Methods: Out of 1870 dead bodies brought for autopsy at causality Chandka Medical College Hospital Larkana and those 357 [19%] cases were selected in whom death occurred due to firearm as mentioned in police inquest report and autopsy record conducted, with the permission of authorities data was collected and analyzed and cause of death was determined by external and internal examination of body

Results: Autopsy record shows that among 357 cases males with 309 [87%] were dominated on females with 48 [13%] with Male/Female ratio of 6:1. The victim ages range from 11 years to 70 years and with location of injuries as 127 [35.57%] on Chest, 92 [25.77%] on Head and Neck, 59 [16.52%] on Abdomen, 38 [10.64%] on Head and Chest, chest and abdomen 31 [8.68%] and 10 [2.82%] on limbs and other parts, with manner of homicide in majority [78.15%] of cases

Conclusion: The majority of victims were young males belonging to rural areas with rifled firearm injuries on Chest, and Head and Neck as a cause of death

Knowledge, attitude and practices of barbers about hepatitis B and C and its transmission in Larkana city, Pakistan

Blood borne diseases impose heavy burdens on national economies and individual families due to costs arising from acute and chronic morbidity and mortality. Globally, 2 billion people are infected with hepatitis B virus [HBV]. An estimated 170 million persons are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus [HCV] and 3-4 million persons are newly infected each year. Transmission of hepatitis B and C through infected needles, blades, etc. is well known. Barbers are the important parts of community, as almost every man needs at least monthly visit to barber for hair dressing or shaving. In Pakistan the prevalence of shaving by barbers is reported to be as high as 34%-49% of the male population and it is important to know how barbers perceive the risks in relation to prevention of transmission of hepatitis B and C. To assess the knowledge and attitude of barbers regarding HBV and HCV and find out practices among barbers which may be responsible for transmission of HBV and HCV. Cross-Sectional Study. This study was carried out in the Larkana city during the months of March 2010 to April 2012. A list of the barbers was obtained from the union of barbers and sample was drawn from that sampling frame. There were 422 barbers shops in the city. For sampling purpose Larkana city was arbitrarily divided into five zones [East, West, Central, South and North] and then 10 shops randomly selected from each zone. There were 156 barbers available and eligible for interview. After informed verbal consent, 132 barbers agreed to participate in the study. Data was entered, analyzed by Statistical Program for Social Sciences [SPSS] version 13. A total 132 barbers were interviewed. The mean age of respondents was 28 +/- 10 years, mean years of experience in barbering was 12.7 +/- 10. More than half [63.6%] respondents were married. Majority of the respondents [84.8%] were resident of urban areas. 64% barbers have had knowledge that hepatitis B and C can be transmitted through blood transfusion and sexual contact. Only 6.1% had been vaccinated against the hepatitis B. 70% of the barbers disposed of used blades in regular garbage. 82% washed hands before and after shaving each client, 92.4% cleaned their instruments with disinfectant after shaving the, 99.2% barbers change the blade for each client. The knowledge of barbers regarding the transmission of hepatitis B and C was fairly good but majority of the barbers were not vaccinated against Hepatitis B though they were knew that vaccine is available against the hepatitis B

Pattern of haemotological disorders diagnosed by bone marrow examination at a paediatric hospital in Larkana Pakistan

Bone marrow examination is an integral part for establishing the diagnosis of haematological disorders in association with clinical and other routine laboratory tests. To evaluate the frequency and pattern of haematological disorders in children at a tertiary care hospital in Larkana. Descriptive study. The study was conducted at children hospital and pathology department of Chandka Medical College Larkana from Jan: 2008 to Dec: 2010. Marrow aspirates were collected from children under the age of 15 years as per guidelines recommended by international council for standardization in haematology [ICSH]. Smears obtained were stained with Romanowsky stains and examined under light microscope. Bone marrow examination reports of 271 patients ranged from 2 months to 15 years, with male /female ratio of 1.6:1 were analyzed. Malignant disorders were seen in 36.5% and non malignant disorders in 59.8% of ratio 1.6:1 were analyzed. Malignant disorders were seen in 36.5% and non malignant disorders in 59.8% of children. Amongst the malignant haematological disorders, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia [ALL] cases were 64 [23.65] and was found to be most common disorder, followed by lymphoma 7 [2.6%] cases and acute myeloid leukaemia [AML] 6 cases [2.2%]. In non malignant disorder, aplastic anaemia was the most common 40 [14.8%] cases, followed by iron deficiency anaemia 30 [11%] cases. The megaloblastic anaemia was least common seen only in 8 [3.0%] cases. Other non malignant disorders were idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura [ITP] 71 [26.2%] cases and malaria 4 [1.5%] cases. Appropriate diagnosis can not be made in haemotological disorders of childhood without bone marrow examination

Role of azithromycin in acute sinusitis and acute otitis media

To investigate the efficacy of Azithromycin 250 mg in acute sinusitis and acute otitis media. It is an observational study carried out on sixty patients, 30 each from acute sinusitis and acute otitis media were selected from E.NT OPD department of Karachi Meddical and Dental College and Abasi Shaheed Hospital. These all patients were treated with azithromycin 250 mg b.i.d for 3-7 day according to the severity of disease and response of the patients. Out of 30 patients with acute otitis media, 08 were having ear discharge at the time of presentation. All patients were followed for a period of 02 months to evaluate the efficacy, failure and complication of treatment. Out of 60 patients pain and fever subsided within 03 days in 40 patients[67%] and within 05 days in further 12 patients[20%]. The remaining 08 patients i.e. 13% [2 with acute sinusitis and 06 with acute otitis media] did not responded to the treatment at the end of 07 days, requiring surgical intervention. Nasal discharge and obstruction was improved on 4th day in 28 patients with acute sinusitis. Ear discharge disappeared in all 08 patients with discharging ears and hearing improved on 10th day in 24 patients. No serious complication was observed in any patient regarding the disease or antibiotic therapy. Azithromycin 250 mg b.i.d for 3-7 days was found highly effective in patients with acute sinusitis and acute otitis media. It has excellent antimicrobial activity against H.Influenza, Strep.Pneumonia and M.Catarrhalis. The overall clinical success rate was 87% within 05 days with failure rate of 13%

Antagonism of levcromakalim by glibenclamide [glyburide] in the uterus of rat in vitro

This study was conducted in the department of Pharmacology, Shaikh Zayed, Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore. In the present study the Antagonistic [Inhibitory] effect of Glibenclamide [Glyburide] an oral anti-hyperglycemic agent, on relaxant effect of Levcromakalim [a Potassium Channel Opener] on the non Pregnant isolated rat uterus was studied. Twenty Five albino rats [Sprague Dawley Strain] were sacrificed. The rats were injected with diethyl stilbestrol [estrogen] intra muscularly, 24 hours before the experiments to facilitate the contractile effect of oxytocin on isolated rat uterus. The dose of oxytocin [Mean +/- SEM] 4.360 +/- 0.644ng was required to produce sub-maximial contraction of the uterus. The dose of Levcromakalim [Mean +/- SEM] 3.041 +/- 0.364ug was required to decrease / inhibit 50% contraction of uterus induced by oxytocin. In the presence of Glibenclamide, the dose of Levcromakalim was required [Mean +/- SEM] 7.41 +/- 0.834ug [<0.05] to reduce 50% contraction of the uterus produced by oxytocin

Evaluation of relaxant effect of Levcromakalim on oxytocin induced contraction of isolated Rat uterus

To observe the relaxant effect of Levcromakalim [a Potassium Channel Opener] on the Oxytocin induced contractions of the non-pregnant, isolated rat uterus. This study was carried out in the Department of Pharmacology, Shaikh Zayed, Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore. The Female non-pregnant albino rats [Sprague dawley strain], weighing approximately 150 to 200g were included in the study. The living animals were injected with Diethylstilbestrol [0.1 mg/kg], intramuscularly, 24 hrs before the experiments to make the uterus more sensitive to the effect of Oxytocin. The animals were then sacrificed, the uterus of each animal was dissected out and the isolated uterus was placed in the tissue organ bath, containing Dejalon`s solution which was aerated with 100% oxygen and the temperature of the system was maintained at 32[degree sign]C. First, the normal activity of the isolated uterus was recorded and then the effect of Oxytocin [contractions] was observed. The dose of Oxytocin [1-5micro g] was required to produce sub-maximal contractions of the uterus. Later on Levcromakalim [a potassium channel opener] relaxant effect was observed. The dose of Levcromakalim [1-5 micro g] was required to reduce 50% uterine contractions produced by Oxytocin. The concentration [dose] of Oxytocin required to produced the sub-maximal contractions of the rat uterus was [Mean +/- SEM] 4.360 +/- 0.644ng. The dose of Levcromakalim required to decrease 50% contractions of the uterus induced by Oxytocin was [Mean +/- SEM] 3.041 +/- 0.364micro g. The study proved that Levcromakalim [a Potassium Channel Opener] is a relaxant of the rat uterus and it can be clinically used in Dysmenorrhea and Pre-mature labour in humans