Effectiveness of Lumbar Stabilization Exercise on Pain, Disability and Functional Performance among Older People with Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review

@#Introduction: Lumbar stabilization exercises may improve core stability and reduce low back pain among older persons. However, the evidence is scarce. The objective of this study was to update evidence on the effectiveness of lumbar stabilization exercises on pain, disability, and functional performance among older persons with low back pain. Methods: This systematic review retrieved articles from PubMed, MEDLINE (via EBSCO), PEDro, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect published from 2005 to 2020. The selected articles were scored using the McMaster Critical Review Form for Quantitative Studies for quality assessment. The data was extracted based on the study design, sample size, inclusion criteria, intervention, outcome, and conclusion. Results: A total of 2349 articles were found but only two articles met the inclusion criteria with both showing excellent scores on the McMaster Critical Review Form for Quantitative Studies. The findings showed lumbar stabilization exercises alone or combined with other interventions were effective in reducing pain intensity, and improving disability, and gait functional performance among older persons with low back pain. Conclusion: The current study suggests lumbar stabilization exercise is effective for pain, disability, and functional performance among older persons. However, further investigation is needed to gain more conclusive evidence for clinical practice.

Frequency of etiologies of acute kidney injury in Faisalabad and surrounding districts

Background: To find out the causes of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in population.Methods: A total of 150 patients were enrolled from medical, surgical, gynecology and obstetrics units of Allied Hospital and Madinah Teaching Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan. History, physical examination and investigations were recorded on specially designed proforma. Patients were evaluated to find out the etiologies of AKI. All patients were subjected to urine analysis, complete blood count, blood biochemistry (urea, creatinine, electrolytes, uric acid, calcium and phosphorus) and ultrasound scan of the abdomen and pelvis. Renal biopsy, immunological assays, such as hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-hepatitis C virus antibody, complements level, antinuclear antibody, anti-double-stranded DNA, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody and anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody were performed in selected cases.Results: Male (36%) and female (64%). Pre-renal AKI was most common and was reported in 80 patients (53.33%). Intrinsic Renal azotemia in 56 patients (37.33%). Post renal azotemia in 14 patients (9.33%). Among 80 patients of prerenal AKI, hemorrhage in 45(56.25%), gastroenteritis in 16(20%), sepsis in 8(10%), cardiac diseases in 4(5%), hepatorenal syndrome in 3 (3.75%), peritonitis in 2 (2.50%) and burns in 2(2.50%) were the main causes of Pre-renal AKI. Among 56 patients of intrinsic renal AKI, 40(71.4%) had acute tubular necrosis (ATN), 12(21.4%) with multifactorial causes and 4(7.14%) were found to have glomerulonephritis. Among 14 patients of post renal AKI, 6(42.9%) were having calculi, 6(42.9%) were to have enlarged prostate and 2(4.3%) were having stricture urethra. In this study, contribution of obstetrical, medical and surgical etiologies were recorded as 40%, 36% and 20% respectively.Conclusions: In contrast to study reported from neighbouring country, this study shows rather increase in pregnancy related AKI.

Wound Closure By Using Ty-Raps: An Innovative Top-Closure.

Different surgical techniques and devices have been utilized for the closure of wounds but they are very expensive. We developed a new, easy and inexpensive dermatotraction technique based on the simple use of Ty-Raps by using biomechanical properties of the skin. In this article, we evaluated its feasibility, the costs, outcomes and the mean time to closure of wound. We concluded that the Top-Closure by Ty-Raps is an innovative technique for wound closure of medium to large skin defects. Complications and donor site morbidities were nil. We appreciate its low cost, general availability and effectiveness.

Tissue distribution and antileishmanial activity of liposomised Amphotericin-B in Balb/c mice§.

Antileishmanial activity and organ distribution of the antifungal drug Amphotericin-B in free and liposomised form have been studied in Balb/c mice infected with Leishmania donovani. Results indicate that Amphotericin-B in the liposomised form is significantly more active than the free form. This increase in the activity is perhaps related to the reduced drug toxicity rather than the altered drug distribution at the site of infection.