Diabetic ketoacidosis; the precipitating entities in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

To determine the frequency of various precipitating factors for Diabetic Ketoacidosis [DKA] in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Study Design, This was a prospective study carried out at Department of Medicine, Muhammad Medical College and Hospital Mirpurkhas, from February 2007 to February 2009. 100 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis [DKA] were analyzed to determine the precipitating factors. Out of 100 patients 47 were males and their average age was 47 years [range=17-65] while 53 were females with an average age of 43 [range=14-58], among them 54 had various systemic infections, 18 were non-compliant to the treatments, 24 had other co-morbidities like chronic liver disease [n=8], stroke [n=7], chronic renal failure [n=5], sub-endocardial infarct [n=2] and acute pancreatitis [n=2] as precipitating factors while 4 had their first presentation of diabetes mellitus as diabetic ketoacidosis. A mortality of 14% was recorded in the study. Systemic infections, non-compliance to treatments and co-morbid conditions were the major precipitating factors for diabetic ketoacidosis

Visiting holy shrines; a survey to assess the common reasons by devotees in Karachi, Pakistan

There are frequent visits of the devotees to the holy shrines mainly for the purpose of mental healing. The people with various beliefs and religions attribute divine powers to the graves of their saints. This study surveyed the purpose of the visits to shrines, their beneficial effects, and also the sanctity violated by drug addicts and others. 1] To assess the common reasons of visiting holy shrines. 2] To determine the use / misuse of these visits. Cross-sectional. One most commonly visited shrine in Karachi. 01-06-2008 to 30-07-2008. 120 visitors. Visitors of 20 years age or older, who consented to participate. Visitors of less than 20 years age and who did not agree to participate. Total number of study subjects was 120, with male to female ratio of 58: 42. Their age varied from 20 to 80 years. They belonged to various socioeconomic and ethnic groups with varying educational level. Majority of the visitors come frequently. The purpose of visits included reward [swab], poverty, domestic problems, infertility, ill health, in addition to see lovers to have an access to commercial sex workers and narcotics. Some devotees had a mishap during the visit. Most of the visitors come for mental healing and relaxation with the hope of getting solutions for their problems, and a few use these sacred places for their wrong doings