Serum androgen levels and their relationship to pattern and severity of hair growth in hirsute women presenting at private centre in Hyderabad

To determine the frequency of raised serum androgen levels in hirsute women and their relationship to the pattern and severity of hair growth in patients presenting at private cosmetic center at Hyderabad. In this cross-sectional study, conducted in a private cosmetic and aesthetic centre, Hyderabad, from January, 2007 to December, 2007, 65 consecutive patients of hirsutism attending the centre were enrolled. Twenty normal women of similar ages [mean age 23.60 +/- 2.90 years] without signs of hirsutism and with normal menstrual cycle were also included as control group. Informed consent was obtained from all patients. Duration, pattern, and severity of hair growth [Ferriman-Gallwey score], weight, body mass index, acne and sebhorrhea were also evaluated. Serum testosterone, serum androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels were assessed in all patients and controls. Correlation between serum androgen levels and pattern and severity of hair growth was determined. Chisquare test was applied to determine p value. A total of 65 patients were enrolled in study. Their ages ranged from 16 to 45 years [mean age 24.49 +/- 6.44 years]. Thirty nine [60%] patients had normal androgen levels without evidence of significant endocrine abnormality. These were assigned idiopathic category. 26 [40%] patients had modest elevations of serum androgens. Among them, 21 had polycystic ovaries. Patients having modest to greatly elevated androgen levels [serum testosterone] had severe hirsutism with Ferriman-Gallwey scores [F-G score] >/= 8. [p

therapeutic efficacy of pharmacological versus non-pharmacological measures in the management of post burn itch

To standardize the management protocol of post burn itch by comparing therapeutic efficacy of pharmacological with non-pharmacological measures. A prospective, clinical investigative and quasi-experimental study. This study was conducted at Burn emergency Unit, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro for the period of 18 months from January 2006 to June 2007. A total of 80 patients were included in the study, and equally divided into 2 groups. Group A received an oral antihistamine with topical Ibuprofen while Group B received olive oil massage followed by wearing of compressive garments. The demographic data and initial assessment of the severity of itch on linear descriptive scale was made by the research team; while subsequent data for the entire study period was obtained by the attending burn clinician who was blind to the allocated regimen. Results were analyzed using computer statistical software SPSS Group A included 40 patients with 23 males and 17 females having mean age of 28.13 [SD +/- 13.03] and mean body surface area affected 15.387% [SD +/- 5.408] and mean itch scale of 5.500 [SD +/- 2.219]. Group B comprised of 40 patients with 21 males and 19 females with a mean age of 29.38 [SD +/- 14.35] with mean affected body surface area of 16.150% [SD +/- 5.555] and mean itch scale of 5.350 [SD +/- 1.762]. The main outcome measure was the improvement in burn itch. The results after 12 weeks of treatment for both groups showed a remarkable improvement in Group B when compared to Group A [p-value 0.000 and 0.365 respectively]. The non-pharmacological measures are superior to the pharmacologic measure with respect to their clinical efficacy and their improvement is highly significant after 4 weeks of treatment