Progression pattern of rheumatoid arthritis: a study of 500 Pakistani patients

To estimate the most prevalent age of patients and disease status and progression in terms of severity at different age groups in the Pakistani Rheumatoid Arthritis [RA] patients. A total of five hundred [500] RA patients were enrolled during October, 2009 to October, 2013. A screening questionnaire was filled for each patient satisfying America College of Rheumatology [ACR] criteria under the supervision of certified rheumatologists. Epidemiological and demographic variables were statistically analyzed for correlation with progression of the disease using SPSS ver 17.0.1 software. In general, rheumatoid arthritis preferentially affects women with female to male ratio of about 3:1; however, patients with above 60 years of age have equal female to male ratio. The most prevalent age is 45-60 years. The disease severity increases with increase in the age and reaches to its peak in above 60 years of age [p=0.001]. The pattern of progression of RA in the Pakistani patients is almost consistent with other relevant studies conducted on European and European derived populations

Comparison of local and imported osteosynthetic mandibular bone plates in terms of micro hardness in modified simulated body fluid at periodic intervals

To determine the micro hardness of novel Pakistani manufactured osteosynthetic titanium bone mini plates [MPP] and imported osteosynthetic titanium bone mini plates [MPG] in body like conditions. Descriptive study. This study was carried out at School of Chemical and Material Engineering, NUST from March to May 2013. Microvicker hardness tester was used for assessment of micro hardness of two types of plates. The hardness was checked before conditioning and after conditioning at [six different places] on interval of 1, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 40 days in modified simulated body fluid with ph 7.4 and temperature 37[degree]C. Result showed that hardness of MPG was higher than MPP and after conditioning in simulated body fluid at all time periods, hardness of both types of plates was increased. It can be concluded from this study that micro hardness of imported plates is more than local plates so recommendations should be sent to manufacturers of local industry of Pakistan to improve the hardness of local plates so that they can meet international standards