Needle stick injuries among dental health care providers: a survey done at Hyderabad and Karachi

The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of needle stick injury [NSI] among dental health care providers including dental technicians. A cross sectional survey was conducted among dental health care providers running independent dental clinics at Hyderabad and Karachi during the month of April 2013 and a total of 166 qualified dentists and 88 dental technicians were interviewed. Ninety [54.2%] out of 166 qualified dentists and 45 [51.1%] out of 88 dental technicians had been the victims of NSI at least once in preceding 12 months. 104 [62.6%] dentists knew about universal guidelines for prevention of needle stick injury, whereas only 7 [8%] technicians knew about safety guidelines. Only 67 [40.4%] dentists out of 166 and 7 [8.0%] technicians out of 88 reported about the needle stick injury to health authorities [or seniors]. Common reasons for non-reporting among qualified dentists were: 55 [33.1%] believed that there was no benefit to report, 45 [27.1%] did not know where to report and 32 [19.3%] assumed that needle was new. In the category of technicians, 52[59.1%] did not want to report. 03[3.4%] believed needles were used for first time and 5 [5.7%] believed nothing will happen. The risk of blood borne viral infections due to needle stick injury among dental health care providers, especially dental technicians is very high. Based on local studies and international guidelines, national guidelines for Pakistan should be developed by experts to minimize the chances of needle stick injury

Hazards of multiple magnet ingestion in children; a case report

Foreign body ingestion is relatively common in the paediatric population and most object pass through the gastrointestinal tract spontaneously. With the popularity of small magnetic toys, there have been numerous reports of magnet ingestion with morbidity and even mortality. We report a case of 3-years old boy who presented with clinical features of subacute intestinal obstruction with no history of foreign body ingestion. On exploratory laparotomy, he was found to have multiple small bowel perforations due to two small magnets. Magnets were removed and perforations repaired. The aim of this report is to aware paediatricians of the importance of early surgical referral in case of magnet ingestion, to prevent severe complications

Trend of fertility potentials with increasing age in Pakistani males

The objective being to examine the magnitude and the shape of the relationships between age and semen volume, sperm concentration and sperm motility by keeping the other factors affecting fertility directly constant among patients undergoing infertility evaluation at National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan. This experimental study with non-probability sampling was conducted in Reproductive Physiology/Health, Public Health Laboratories Division, National Institute of Health, Islamabad during 2006-2009. A total 350 patients [21-50 years] were divided age wise into three groups [21-30, 31-40 and 41-50 years] to compare alteration in sperm count and motility. Semen profile was evaluated according to WHO reference value for normal semen characteristics. The result of Sperm concentration showed a non significant [p>0.05] decreasing trend with increasing age that was 0.047million/ml for every year where as sperm motility declined significantly with increasing age at p>0.05. Age-related decreases in semen qualities particularly decline in sperm motility revealed that men may become progressively less fertile as they age. However, unlike women, there appears to be no evidence of an age threshold for men

Comparison of intravenous ketorolac with diclofenac for postoperative analgesia

To compare analgesic effect and complications of non - steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NASIDs], ketorolac versus diclofenic in prevention of pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Quasi-experimental study. The Department of Anesthesiology and Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Dow Medical College, Karachi from March 2003 to March 2004. Sixty patients, ASA physical status I and II were selected to received either ketorolac 30 mg intravenous [group A] or diclofenic 75 mg intravenous [group B], after general anesthesia induction and before surgical incision. In ketorolac group same dose repeated three times daily for 24 hours. The diclofenic group received diclofenic 75mg 12 hourly for 24 hours. Analgesic effect assessed by intensity of pain postoperatively using visual analogue scale, 0 mean no pain and 10 most severe pain. Rescue analgesic nalbuphine was administered if needed. Both groups required rescue analgesic 0.1mg/kg nalbuphine boluses postoperatively. Higher nalbuphine consumption was noted compared to diclofenic group until 12 hours, which is statistically significant [P value < 0.05]. Side effects were almost similar in both groups. Ketorolac and diclofenic are insufficient alone for analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy; the total nalbuphine consumption was less in ketorolac group

To determine the efficacy and safety of caudal bupivacaine in combination with rectal diclofenac for postoperative analgesia in paediatric patients

To assess the efficacy and safety of combination of caudal bupivacaine anesthesia and diclofenac sodium suppository for postoperative analgesia in pediatric patients. Interventional study. Imam Clinic [a private hospital] North Nazimabad Karachi. from May 2004 to March 2007. All pediatric patient ASA physical one and two between the ages 6 months to 12years of either sex undergoing infra umbilical surgery received caudal block with bupivacaine 0.25% in a dose of 0.5ml/Kg and diclofenac sodium suppository 1mg/Kg rectally. Patients in whom caudal analgesia was contra indicated or failed were excluded from the study. Postoperative pain was assessed using observers' pain scale and self report of pain by child when he was greater than 2 years age. Postoperative complications were also recorded. During the study period, 99 patients undergoing different infra umbilical procedures [hernia, hypospadias repair, PPV ligation, circumcision, orchidopexy etc] received combination of caudal bupivacaine analgesia and rectally administered diclofenac sodium for post- operative analgesia. There were 94 male patients. In all patients caudal block remained successful. All patients were pain free and none of them required additional/rescue analgesia. Postoperative nausea and vomiting were reported in 3 patients. No other side effects like retention of urine, respiratory depression etc was observed postoperatively. Combination of single shot caudal block with bupivacine 0.25% in a dose of 0.5 ml/Kg and rectal diclofenac sodium for postoperative analgesia in pediatric patient is a simple, safe and effective procedure

Review on prunus amygdalus batsch

Prunus amygdalus is a plant of family Rosaceae renders valuable dry fruit called Almonds. It is used in Unani Medicine since long as demulcent, nutritive and slightly laxative. The present paper deals with its phytochemical constituents and pharmacological actions

Evaluation of the gonadotropic ratios among men with varying sperm quality

This study was designed to determine the levels of serum LH and FSH, along with their ratios, among men with varying sperm quality. One hundred fifty married men, presenting with a complaint of infertility, which had been evaluated for their seminal profile, and had been classified as azoospermic [50], oligozoospermic [50], asthenozoospermic [20] and normozoospermic [30] were studied for the analysis of serum LH, FSH, levels using Enzyme Immuno Assay [EIA]. Data were compared using student "t-test. The FSH and LH level indicated inverse/negative correlation to sperm concentration. The mean FSH and LH levels for the groups were 22.92 +/- 4.15 and 13.85 +/- 2.33 [Azoospermia], 16.82 +/- 3.79 and 10.92 +/- 3.79 [Oligozoospermia], 3.22 +/- 0.61 and 3.92 +/- 1.17 [Asthenozoospermia] while the levels in normozoospermic men were 5.53 +/- 0.52 and 7.40 +/- 0.60. Similarly, the LH/FSH and FSH/LH ratios in the four groups were 0.77 +/- 0.08 and 1.84 +/- 0.22 [Azoospermia], 1.78 +/- 0.41 and 1.47 +/- 0.18 [Oligozoospermia], 1.51 +/- 0.46 and 1.28 +/- 0.28 [Asthenozoospermia] and the respective ratios in normozoospermic men were 1.55 +/- 0.16 and 0.85 +/- 0.10. The present data indicate that disturbance in gonadotropin ratios also causes infertility, since these hormones act synergistically.