Pattern of cigarette smoking among college students of Quetta

Cigarette smoking habit is developed more at the young age, hazardous to health and causes premature mortality. To determine the pattern of cigarette smoking and factors contributing to the said habit among college students of Quetta. Randomized study. This study was conducted at the Bolan Medical College, Quetta during the academic year 2010-2011. a total of 850 students from different colleges of Quetta were randomly selected during the academic year 2010-2011. Prevalence and influence of factors associated with the cigarette smoking were recorded on a predesigned questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed with the help of statistical procedures. Out of the total, 122 students were smokers, 23 ex-smokers and 705 non-smokers. Smokers had the habit for charm and relaxation. While non-smokers and ex-smokers avoided cigarettes use due to family blame, religion and its adverse effect on health. Besides, the habit was found more common among students whose fathers and brothers were smokers. Majority of them knew the hazards and very little number was smoking in the public places. Young age and transition period from school to college is a critical time to adopt the habit of cigarette smoking, hence needs an immense attention of the authority designing tobacco control policies. Healthy recreational activities, awareness programs related to its hazards, non-smoking home environment, increased tax and ban on its advertisements are the essential measures, which can minimize the habit. In addition, the present basic work would serve as a template to conduct further advanced studies on this line

Diurnal variations in the levels of progesterone during late pregnancy

Progesterone is a C-21 steroid hormone, plays a major role in the occurrence, maintenance and termination of pregnancy. To study the diurnal variations in the levels of progesterone at the start and end of the day during late pregnancy in women having different life set ups. Experimental and Observational Study. This study was conducted at the Department of Gynae and Obs., Khyber Medical College, Peshawar. Blood samples of 50 women between 26-40 weeks of gestation were collected at two different intervals with a gap of 12 hours. Progesterone level was estimated by Serozyme EIA method. The concentration of progesterone was found low in the early morning and high in the late evening in our population. Besides, the magnitude of fluctuations in the samples of two different intervals declined with progress of age and weeks of gestation. Our findings support the recommendation of restricting progesterone measurements to morning hours at all ages particularly during late pregnancy which is important information for clinicians at the time of interpretation of results

Diabetic foot

To evaluate the precipitating causes, severity, and complications of diabetic foot. Material and This study carried out a study in Medical C Unit of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. It was a longitudinal study done from June 2000 to December 2001. A total of 68 patients were studied having diabetic foot. Swabs for culture and sensitivity were taken. Other complications of Diabetes were recorded. Based on the observed commonest organism involved, appropriate antibiotic therapy was started promptly, besides doing surgical management of the wound. Out of 68 patients, 19 were Type-1 diabetic and 49 were Type- 2 diabetic. Forty patients [58.8%] were male and 28[[41.2%] were female. Thirty four patients [50%] had more than 11 years of duration of diabetes. Ill fitting shoes [19 patients] was the commonest precipitating cause. Three patients [15.8%] of Type-1 DM and 5[10.2%] of type-2 DM had grade 3 ulcer and 59[26.3%] and 6[12.2%] of Type-1 DM and Type-2 DM respectively had grade 4 foot ulcer. Staph. aureus was the commonest organism involved. Diabetic foot is still common and requires proper management and counseling of the patients