Stem cells therapy as a treatment for spinal cord injury

Stem cells therapy holds a great promise to treat several degenerative diseases and repair damaged tissues that are otherwise very difficult to treat by conventional therapies. In future, stem cells therapy will treat spinal cord injury [SCI] which is a major problem associated with demyelination of neurons caused by trauma resulting in cell death that is irreplaceable. Patients usually survive with spinal cord injury but this trauma remains uncure. After SCI, endogenous neuroprogenitor cells migrate towards the affected tissue but many messenger cascades suppress their proliferative activity. Different exogenous stem cells sources are another option to treat SCI patients. Although there is no permanent cure of SCI patients but due to excitable development in the field of stem cells transplantation, promises a hope for its cure in future. Due to intricacy of factors involved after SCI, there is a need for combinatorial therapies

Chest wall defects and their reconstruction

Chest wall reconstruction remains one of the most challenging areas of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The purpose of this study is to report our 4 year experience with chest wall reconstruction. A review of 62 patients who had chest wall reconstruction from 2001 to 2004, is included in the paper. Indications include, defects secondary to congenital deformity correction, post neoplastic reconstructions, post burn defects and sternotomy wounds. Procedures performed included direct closure after debridement, vacuum assisted closure with and without skin grafting, pectoralis major flap, rectus abdominis flap, omental flap and free flaps including latissmus dorsi flap. The average hospital stay was 13 days. The uneventful recovery was seen in 50 patients. Minor complications were seen in 12 patients whereas major complications were not seen in any patient. Chest wall reconstruction can be performed with satisfactory outcome provided that reconstruction ladder is followed

Prevalence of cleft lip and palate in cousin marriages

Birth defects are one of the leading causes of paediatric disability and mortality in developing as well as developed countries. The purpose of this study is to report our 3 months experience regarding the prevalence of cleft lip and palate in cousin marriages. A retrospective review of 50 patients who presented with cleft lip or cleft lip/palate during 3 months, from 9th March to 8th June, 2005 was carried out. Among the risk factors cousin marriages is a most frequent risk factor. Cleft lip is more common than cleft lip/palate and cleft lip alone is a different entity than cleft lip and palate combined

Coronary artery bypass surgery with minimal use of homologous blood using a cardiotomy reservoir

This study was conducted to evaluate a simple and inexpensive blood conservation program using a hard shell cardiotomy reservoir. Design: It was conducted involving 60 patients who had coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG]. Setting: Cardiac Surgery Unit, PIC [Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore]. 60 consecutive cases of IHD between the ages of 30-60 years admitted for CABG in Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore. Main outcome measures: To conserve shed autologous blood and observe advantages/disadvantages of its re-transfusion and its comparison with control patients who received homologous blood. Patients characteristics were similar in both groups, the intra-operative blood loss was similar in both groups. The post-operative blood loss was significantly less in the group where re-transfusion of shed blood was performed than in the control group. The total requirement of homologous blood product was significantly less in patients where auto-transfusion was used. Use of auto-transfusion is cheaper and safer way to replenish blood during open heart surgery

Prevalence and type of renal stone in Multan region

Detailed clinical evaluation regarding the formation of renal calculi was done in 505 in patients Nishtar Hospital Multan. Renal stones were common in three age groups; under 10 years, 21-30 years and 50 years and above. The highest prevalence was found in low socioeconomic group. Most of the stone formers gave history of urinary tract infection and haematuria. Chemical analysis of stones revealed that the majority of the stones [56%] contained uric acid mixed with calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate and ammonium, whereas pure calcium oxalate stones were 23%. Dehydrations, urinary tract infection or unbalanced diet may be the contributory factors towards the formation of renal calculi

Prevalence of goitre in schools and colleges of Multan

A survey was done from November 1979 to early 1982 in a closed community of 20074 school, college and university students in Multan District, to detect endemic goiter. Of individuals examined, 4.43% had goiter. There was a female preponderance, with maximum number of cases being in 11 to 15 year age group. Twenty eight percent had a positive family history for goiter. The prevention of endemic goiter by adding potassium Iodide to common salt or intramuscular injections of iodinated oil to women of childbearing age and an adequate nutrition for growing children along with health education has been suggested

Mental retardation in children

One hundred and eighty three children suffering from mental retardation were studied over a period of 17 months [December 80 - April 82]. Mental retardation in 101 cases [55.2%] was due to preventable causes i.e. tubercular meningitis, birth trauma, encephalitis, cretinism and kernicterus. Majority of them belonged to lower socio-economic group and had no access to medical facilities, therefore could not be treated in time to avert or arrest the process leading to mental retardation. Eighty two cases [44.8%] were due to encephalitis of unknown origin, microcephaly, mongolism, degenerative brain disease and other congential disorders