Determine the prevalence and pattern of killings in Quetta, Balochistan

Homicide is defined as Human life slaughter of a human being by the conduct of another human being. This study was conducted to determine the pattern of killing in Quetta. Observational study. All medico-legal autopsy reports conducted in Civil Hospital Quetta, by Department of Forensic Medicine, Bolan Medical College, Quetta, from 1[st] January, 2009 to 31[st] December, 2010 and police in quest reports of the respective cases were studied. All police inquest reports of the respective medico-legal autopsies were also made part of this study. Preformed were used to record Medico-legal case number, date, day and time of arrival of dead body and autopsy, brought by police or relatives cause of death, type of weapon used, type and site of injuries, place of occurrence, mode, manner and cause of death. A total of 200 cases of medico-legal autopsies were studied, out of which 113 were declared as homicidal deaths. The most common weapons used for homicide were Automatic firearm weapons. The most affected age group was 31 to 40 years followed by 21 to 30 years and 11 to 20 years. The cases of homicide in district Quetta are mostly by firearm weapons. Male are affected more than females. The most common age group affected is 31 to 40 years

Incidence of deaths due to gunshot injuries at district Barkhan, Balochistan

Objective: to determine the incidence of deaths due to gunshot injuries in the District Barkhan, Balochistan

Study design: a retrospective study

Place and duration: district Head Quarter Hospital Barkhan, Balouchistan from January 2007 to December 2010

Method: case records of deaths were selected on the basis of history of fire arm injury, cloth examination and general physical examination of the dead body. The injuries were numbered, chartered and their size, shape and exact site of gunshot injury and its diagnostic characteristic were noted

Results: the total number of patients was 268; 264 [98.51%] males and 4 [1.49%] females. The most common age group of victims was 31 to 40 years [166, 61.94%]. Most common time for gunshot crimes were at morning [114, 42.54%]. Among all the cases 97.1% were due to old hostility, homicidal 2.24% were accidental and only 0.75% was suicidal. The most common site of bullets' entry was chest and abdomen 56%. Automatic guns [AK47] were most frequently used i.e. in 254 [95%] cases

Conclusion: males of young age are very frequently assaulted by automatic weapons, most of the time due to long-term hostility. Chest and abdomen most frequently sustained bullets as compared to other parts of the body

Thyroid abnormalites in patients with chronic hepatitis-C

To determine the frequency of thyroid dysfunction in patients with chronic hepatitis-C. Case-series study. Department of Medicine, outpatient department of Internal Medicine at Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi. From April 25[th] till October 25[th] 2008

Hypothyridism in patients with chronic hepatitis-C

To determine the frequency of clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism in patients with chronic hepatitis-C. Case-series study. Department of Medicine, outpatient department of Internal Medicine at Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi. From April 25th till October 25th 2008. A total of 73 patients were enrolled in the study. Data was entered and then analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences [SPSS] Version 14. Results are given for quantitative variables such as age are presented as means +/- Standard deviation and percentages are presented for hypo and hyperthyroidism. Stratification on age, gender, ALT levels and gender is undertaken to control for effect modification. Out of total of 73 patients 8 patients [11% of total patients] were found to be suffering from hypothyroidism. Out of these 8 patients 2 patients were males [6.9% of total male patients] and 6 patients were females [13.6% of total female patients]. Known duration of chronic hepatitis C infection in most of the patients suffering from hypothyroidism was 6-12 months [6 patients], however rest of 2 patients had known duration of chronic hepatitis C greater than 13 months. Looking at the ages of the patients in the study group with hypothyroidism showed that half [4 out of 8] patients were in the age group 35-43 years, however 2 patients were younger to the former group and were in the 25-34 age group, and remaining 2 patients were over the age of 44 years

Addictive drugs; effect on haematological and hormonal profiles in men

The phenomenon of drug abuse and its sequalae affect health of the abuser in multiple ways, e.g. changes in body weight, changes in nutrient metabolism due to the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of the drugs, changes in the endocrine system, etc. There is a paucity of research in this area, in Pakistan. To study the effects of drugs of abuse on the physiological and biochemical processes of the body, in a Pakistani population of drug addicts; and then to compare these findings with an age and gender matched control group. This research study was carried out at the District Headquarters Hospital Faisalabad, at the Model Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre located in the hospital. It was a cross-sectional, non-interventional, comparative study. Subjects were recruited by a consecutive sampling method. The study group consisted of 100 subjects, consisting of 80 drug addicts and 20 age and sex matched controls. The following measurements were made: Physical parameters, Plasma biochemistry, Liver function tests, Thyroid hormone levels , Plasma electrolytes and trace element levels Statistical analysis was carried out by two way analysis of variance and Student's t test. The threshold for statistical significance was set at a p value equal to or less than 0.05. Mean age of drug addicts was 31 years. Most of them were poly-drug addicts and mean duration of addiction was 8 years. The drug addicts had low body weight and high blood pressure and temperature, as compared to the control group. The laboratory tests revealed that the addicts as a group had decreased albumin, globulin and total protein levels; while plasma glucose, SGOT, SGPT, T3 and T4 levels were generally higher in the drug addicts, as compared to the control group. Besides the problem of addiction, the effects of drugs of abuse on the physiology and biochemistry of the human body are harmful in their own right. These results are significant because they highlight the importance of holistic assessment and management of drug abusers beyond just managing their addiction