Salvadora persica; anti-inflammatory activity in rats

To evaluate anti-inflammatory activity of Salvadora persicain rats. The anti-inflammatory activity of Salvadora persica was assessed in 63 albino rats of both sexes, weighing 400 gm. They were divided into three groups, A [control], B [crude drug], C [standard drug] with twenty one animals. Each group was divided into three subgroups with seven animals. Groups B and C were given crude drug and aspirin diluted in one ml of distilled water once daily orally, in doses of 300, 500, and 700 mg/kg body weight respectively, prior to induction of edema and Group A was given same volume of saline. Inflammation was induced in hind paw of rat by sub-planter injection of 0.1ml of 1% carrageenan. Paw volume was measured in terms of milliliters using plethysmometer, immediately before injection and then hourly up to 5 hours and mean was calculated. The inhibition of edema was calculated for each subgroup with respect to control group. After carrageenan injection mean paw volume of control group was 5.43 ml, while that of drug treated subgroup was 4.32 ml and standard group was 4.49 ml at the dose of 700 mg/kg body weight. Comparison of crude drug with the control was found to be statistically significant only at 700 mg/kg and was comparable with the standard drug aspirin. Salvadora persica has shown anti-inflammatory activity by decreasing the paw volume of carageenan induced edema

audit of informed consent in surgical patients at a university hospital

To obtain informed consent is considered an integral part of modern clinical practice. It works as a safeguard of patient's rights and minimizes the chances of legal action against the physician in case of any complication arising from the proposed therapy. Objective was to evaluate the practice of informed consent in patients undergoing surgery in a University hospital. A survey was conducted at different surgical departments of a university hospital during December 2007 to March 2008. Participants were selected from patients over the age of 18 years who had undergone elective or emergency surgery. All interviews were based on structured questionnaire. The patients were asked if an informed consent was taken or not before the surgery. They were also inquired if they were given information about the diagnosis, the surgical procedure planned and risks associated with it. The patients were also asked if they were informed about the types of anaesthesia proposed. A total of 106 patients were randomly selected for this study. In 8.5% cases, no consent was taken. Only 38% of the surveyed patients acknowledged that they actually understood the information imparted to them. 66% patients were informed about the type of anaesthesia proposed but none was given any hint about complications of anaesthesia. 11% patients actually signed the consent forms themselves. The quality of existing informed consent process in a university hospital is less than ideal. There is a great need to educate the doctors and healthcare regarding the importance of patient's autonomy and their right to the information about their medical condition and the proposed surgical procedures to ensure their participation in the decision making regarding their treatment

Ischiopagus tripus conjoined twins: a case report

Conjoined twins are one of the rarest congenital anomalies. We present a case of Ischiopagus tripus conjoined twins. The twins were fused at abdomen and pelvis, having two well formed lower limbs and one abnormal lower limb. There was only a single fused pelvis and only one set of well formed male external genitalia and absent anal opening. Anoplasty was done for imperforate anus and later on surgical separation attempted

Hypospadias repair: a five year experience

Ninety cases of hypospadias were operated in the Department of Paediatric Surgery, Chandka Medical College, Larkana, from January 1993 to December 1997. The most common age group was between 1-5 years [63.3%] and the most common variety of hypospadias was penile [68.8%]. Chordee was present in 76 patients [84.5%] and other associated anomalies were present in 8 patients [9%]. Family history of hypospadias was present in 3 patients [3.3%]. Patients without chordee were selected for single stage repair and those with chordee were selected for two stage Byar's method of repair. Chordee was corrected in 76 cases, out of which 37 patients are waiting for urethroplasty. Urethroplasty has been done in 53 patients; single stage urethroplasty in 16 patients and two stage Byar's urethroplasty in 37 patients. Overall complication rate of urethroplasty was 36%. Fistula was the most common complication [28.3%]. Byar's method of hypospadias repair was found most satisfactory and adaptable to all degrees of hypospadias