Impact of vitamin d on development of early childhood caries

Objective: To compare the levels of vitamin D in children with early childhood caries and children with healthy sound dentition

Study Design: Cross sectional study

Place and Duration of study: The study was conducted at Islamic International Medical College from September 2015 to March 2016

Material and Methods: Eighty children, between 2-8 years of age, were recruited after fulfilling a questionnaire from their parents or care giver. The sample population was divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of children suffering from dental caries and was comprised of 60 patients. Group 2 consisted of children with sound healthy teeth and was comprised of 20 children. Questions assessing children s socioeconomic background, dietary habits particularly frequency of sweet and milk intake, outdoor activity and dental hygiene related behavior were included. The diagnosis of childhood caries was based on oral health diagnostic criteria defined by World Health Organization [WHO] Overall total caries score [decayed missing filled teeth index] was obtained

Levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25[OH] D] was measured from serum samples of the children participating in this study using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. Correlation analysis was done with Pearson correlation and t-test was applied

Results: Results have established association of Vitamin D levels in children with early childhood caries. Pearson correlation and t-test have revealed that total decayed, missing, filled primary teeth [dmft] caries score was also associated with 25[OH] D concentrations less than 30ng/ml, decreased oral hygiene, lower monthly income, increased sugar consumption, decreased milk intake and decrease outdoor activities. This cross-sectional study showed that carries and lower serum vitamin D are closely related with each other

Conclusion: Data from this cross-sectional study showed that dental caries and lower serum vitamin D were closely related. Improving children's vitamin D status may be an additional preventive consideration to lower the risk for caries

Comparison of scalp hair changes on the first and fifth day of normal menstrual cycle in young females

Objectives: To compare scalp hair changes on the first and fifth day of normal menstrual cycle in young females

Study Design: A Cross sectional study

Place and Duration: Islamic International Medical College over duration of nine months from 1[st] Jan 2013 -30[th] September 2013

Methodology: First and second year female medical students were involved in study. The first year 100 students were included in group A and100 second year students were included in group B. Only females with regular cycles were included in study i.e. 5/30. In the group A the associated changes in hair were also noticed on the 5[th] day of the cycle and a pull test was performed on the same day. In the group B the associated changes in hair were noticed on the first day of the cycle and a pull test was performed on the same day. Percentages were calculated for different parameters

Results: Pull test was negative in 76% of the group A students. The hair were rough in 85% of students and 54% had splits in hair.10% of students felt that hair were discolored and 60% of student noticed thinning of hair. In group B Pull test was negative in 86% of the students and the hair were rough in 45% of students.50% had splits in hair, 5% of students felt that hair were discolored and 40% of student noticed thinning of hair

Conclusion: The scalp hair show changes in color and texture on the first as well as fifth day of the menstrual cycle

Preventive effects of sesame seeds on hyperglycemia and serum lipids in fructose fed mice

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of sesame seeds on anthropometric measurements [height, weight and body mass index], blood glucose, lipid profile and liver function tests In high fructose diet [HFD] fed mice. Arandomized experimental laboratory trial. The study was conducted at National Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad from 1[st] February 2013 till 31st January 2014. We allocated 30 female Balb/c mice into three groups. Control Group I [n=10] mice who were fed with standard laboratory diet were compared with Experimental groups; Group Ha [n=10] mice were fed on high fructose diet [HFD] for 08 weeks, Group Mb: [n=10] mice were fed with HFD plus sesame meal for 08 weeks. Anthropometric measurements [Weight, Height and BMI] and serum lipid profile, liver function tests and blood glucose were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks. The mean weight of the Balb/c mice was 23.33 +/- 1.44 grams, the mean height was 8.4510.314 cm and the mean BMI was 3.27 +/- 0.33. The anthropometric measurement of the three groups of mice was similar at the baseline. After 8 weeks there was significant weight gain in the HFD group [Ma] 35.914.5 and HFD plus Sesame diet group [lib] 3014.5 as compared to control group 29.112.84. However the weight gain in HFD plus Sesame diet group [Mb] was significantly lesser as compared to the HFD alone group, signifying that perhaps sesame seeds prevented the significant weight. The mice that were fed on HFD [Ma] had significant derangement of their liver function tests, lipid profile and blood glucose as compared to control and HFD plus Sesame diet group [Mb]. High fructose diet results in significant weight gain, elevation of liver function tests, derangement of lipid profile and hyperglycemia. Sesame diet was effective in preventing these anthropometric and biochemical derangements. Hence it is likely that sesame diet has a hepato-protective role which needs to be confirmed by studies on a larger scale to demonstrate this hepatoprotective effect of sesame seeds beyond doubt

Effect of Cinnamon Bark on Streptozotocin induced Diabetic Male Mice

To determine the effect of cinnamon bark on glucose metabolism in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice. Interventional experimental study. This study was carried out in the animal house of National Institute of Health, Islamabad in collaboration with Department of Biochemistry, Islamic International Medical College from 7[th] November 2013 till 21[th] January 2014. Fifty albino Balb/C male mice were included in study. Among them, ten mice were used for cardiac puncture for baseline biochemical analysis. While in rest of the forty mice, Type 2 diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal administration of low dose [40 mg/kg] streptozotocin [streptozotocin] injections for four consecutive days. Diabetes induction was confirmed on day 21. Two groups with twenty mice each were made. Group I was control group that was left untreated while group II received cinnamon bark diet at a dose of 5mg/day for 8 weeks. At baseline the mean BGR was 135.9 +/- 29.67 mg/dl and day 21; BGR of 336.85 +/- 46.4 mg/dl. In the experimental group the mean BGR after 08 weeks of cinnamon therapy was 184.1 +/- 24.56 mg/dl; The BGR significantly decreased after 08 weeks of cinnamon therapy as compared to Day 21 BGR; p=0.00. The mean BGR at 08 weeks was significantly decreased between the control and experimental groups; p= 0.000. At baseline the HbA1c ranged from 5.5 to 6.2% with a mean of 5.93 +/- 0.20. In the Control group after 08 weeks the mean HbA1c was 11.27 +/- 1.28%. While in the experimental group the mean HbA1c after 08 weeks of cinnamon therapy was 7.7 +/- 0.68%. The mean HbA1c at 08 weeks was significantly decreased between the control and experimental groups; p= 0.000. Cinnamon therapy was effective in improving BGR and HbA1c levels in a diabetes type 2 induced male mice

Available choices for studying anatomy and factors affecting uniform learning in dissection

Objective: To compare the use of available choices for studying anatomy and factors affecting uniform learning in dissection

Study design: An observational study

Place and duration: Islamic International Medical College Rawalpindi. The study was conducted during 1[st] March 2011-31[st] March 2012

Methodology: Questionnaires were completed by one of the authors. 90 students from first year MBBS of medical college 2011 were included in the study. They were labeled as group 1 and 2 respectively. Each group comprised 45 students

Results: When group - II was compared with group - I; 28 students of group - II were involved in dissection as compared to group1 in which 32 students performed dissection. 10 students of group - II were interested in prosecuted materials and 03 spent their time in studying models. There was no statistically significant difference among the two groups. Individual variability in dissection activity was very high: time devoted to active dissection ranged from 0% to 82% of daily course time within the same group. Only one teacher and one body were available for dissection. The teachers of group - I were more involved in learning of students as compared to group - II

Conclusion: The available choices for studying anatomy are dissection, prosection and models. The attitude of teachers as well as students is important in order to produce a uniform learning in dissection

Factors affecting competencies of local medical students using english for effective learning

Objectives: This study was done to access the factors affecting the competencies of local medical students regarding use of English in medical colleges

Study Design: Descriptive study

Place And Duration: Islamic International medical college .Attheend of foundation module February 2012

Methodology: Questionnaire was distributed in students of first year after first module. They were asked to answer the questions given in questionnaire

Results: Parents of 20% of students are doctors .20% of students had done A-levels or O-levels.80% of students have done F.S.C. No formal exam is taken for local students before admission in medical college. 6% of students passed IELTS for going to abroad. 65% are unaware of importance of English in Medical field

Conclusion: Steps should be taken to assess as well as improve competency of local students in English

Pioglitazone vs glimepiride to evaluate the effect of on renal function tests in type 2 diabetes in patients

To compare the improvement in renal function tests [RFTs] of type 2 diabetic patients who were taking glimeperide alone and this drug in combination with piogliatzone and pioglitazone alone. Data was analyzed using ANOVA. P < 0.05 was taken as significant. Randomized prospective study. This study was conducted in the diabetic clinic of Fauji Foundation hospital Rawalpindi and the tests were analyzed in the Biochemistry Lab of Islamic International Medical College Rawalpindi. 12 weeks. Blood glucose levels were determined by glucose oxidase method [globe marketing GD Italy], HbA1c by Microlab 200, urea/creatinine /uric acid by Selectra E and micro albumin by Spin colour. No significant differences were observed for the variables of hemoglobin A1c, uric acid and urinary albumin P >0.05. Significant decreases were observed in the levels of fasting plasma glucose, urea and creatinine P< 0.05. In patients with type 2 diabetes pioglitazone and the combinations of glimepiride with pioglitazone produced significant improvements in measures of glycemic control and RFTs

Effect of passive smoking on the levels of pregnancy associated plasma protein -a in normal rats

To measure the levels of pregnancy associated plasma protein- A [PAPPA-A] in normal rats exposed to cigarette smoke. Experimental interventional study. Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, in collaboration with national institute of health [NIH], Islamabad. Total duration was of 4 weeks. Sixty albino rats of Sprague- Dawley strain weighing 200-250 gm, divided into two groups. Both the groups were kept in identical chambers. One group of 30 rats was further exposed to passive cigarette smoke for 4 weeks. No increase was observed in the levels of serum PAPP-A of both the groups: Passive smokers and not exposed to passive smoking i.e. P > 0.05. Smoking does not increase the levels of PAPP-A

Association of c-reactive protein as an inflammatory marker with the glycaemic status of the alloxan treated diabetic rats

To measure the level of C-reactive protein and find its association with the glycaemic status [fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin] of metabolically normal and diabetic albino rats. Total 60 Albino rats were included into [metabolically normal rats n=30; diabetic rats n =30]. Plasma glucose levels were determined by using glucose oxidase method while determination of total Hb and glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA[1]c] was done by diagnostic kit that uses weak cation-exchange resin to bind Hb. The% HbA[1]c was determined by measuring the absorbance at 415 nm of the glycosylated hemoglobin fraction and the total hemoglobin fraction. The ratio of the two absorbances gave the% of HbA[1]c. C-reactive protein was measured by the ELISA kit. Significant difference was found in the values of fasting glucose, of the normal and diabetic groups [p<0.05] but no significant difference was present in the values of HbA[1]c of both groups. There was no significant difference in the values of C-reactive protein of the normal and diabetic groups. Short duration hyperglycemia has no role in producing inflammation and raising the levels of bioinflammatory marker C-reactive protein