Frequency of neck and shoulder pain and use of adjustable computer workstation among bankers

Background and Objective: Neck and shoulder are the most susceptible areas for developing musculoskeletal symptoms among computer users. The modifiable risk factors for these work related musculoskeletal disorders include physical office environment and psychosocial work related factors. Computer workstation layout had been shown to be an important physical aspect of work environment that influences the upper quadrant symptoms. Our objective was to find the frequency of neck and shoulder pain and use of adjustable computer workstation among bankers of Islamabad/Rawalpindi/Multan

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted and 120 participants were questioned. Purposive sampling technique was used in this study. Maastricht Upper Extremity Questionnaire [MUEQ] was remodeled and important questions were extracted from its detailed version. The tool was then validated by taking expert opinion. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for categorical variables

Results: Pain in the neck during working hours was experienced by 71.67% of the respondents and 48.33% of the participants had experienced shoulder pain during working hours. Adjustable keyboards were used by 16.67% of respondents. Back care material was used by 40% bankers. Adjustable chairs were used by 95.83% of the participants. Only 3% of the bankers did not have chairs with adjustable heights. Chairs with adjustable armrests were used by 25% bankers

Conclusion: Neck and shoulder pain are common occurrences among bankers. Most of the components of workstations of bankers were adjustable but some of them still need attention

Phytochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of flowers of phlox drummondii

The extracts and fractions of flowers of Phloxdrum mondii were evaluated for antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Their purification resulted in the isolation of four known constituents of which uracil and 2-methyl-1,2,3,4- butantetrol have not been obtained previously from any specie of the genus Phlox, while isolation of the flavonoid glycosides [1] and [2] have been reported from the flowers of the plant. Among all the samples PhFC and its fraction PhFCM showed significant activity against both bacteria and fungi. Flavonoid glycoside O-rhamnosyl-6-C-xylosylapigenin 1 and O-rhamnosyl- 6- C-xylosylluteolin 2 demonstrated antioxidant activity which were of same magnitude [IC50 42.67 +/- 4.99 micro g/ml and 46.33 +/- 6.65 micro g/ml, respectively]. Thereby, suggesting that the presence or absence of hydroxyl group at position C-3' does not play a significant role in said activity in this case. Interestingly, the mixture of 1 and 2 apparently showed synergism as reflected by 45% improvement in antioxidant activity as compared to the individual values obtained for either 1 or 2

Midterm results of coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with endstage renal disease and on maintenance hemodialysis

Background: cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in patients with end-stage renal disease [ESRD]. This underlying ischemic heart disease must be addressed to allow uncomplicated symptom free dialysis or before Renal transplant to assure successful results without myocardial infarction

Objective: to study the outcome of coronary artery bypass grafting in terms of morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease

Methods: this prospective study has been conducted at the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore between March 2005 to April, 2009. Sixty four patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery with end stage renal disease were included. We admitted our patients five days before surgery and carefully managed preoperatively with the renal replacement therapy to optimize the patients for surgery. Peroperatively we used hemofiltration to reduce the preload. Postoperatively we restricted fluid management only to urine out put, blood loss and insensible losses. Intravenous fluids are carefully given according to metabolic needs of the patient [500-700 ml/24 hours + volume to urine output if any]. Haemodialysis on 2nd postoperative day in intensive care unit and on 4th post-operative day in main dialysis department to keep serum creatinine

Results: there were 55 males and 9 females with mean age of 54.7+/-10.8 years. Fifty five patients were diabetics and hypertension was present in 62 patients. Mean preoperative ejection fraction was 39.4+/-6.4%. Triple vessel disease was present in 40 patients and 8 patients had severe left main stem coronary artery disease. The average number of grafts were 3.8 and bypass time was 142.3+/-17.8 minutes, Extubation time was 15-18 hours and length of stay in intensive care unit [ICU] was 4.03+/-0.7 days. Similarly length of hospital stay was 10.47+/-0.87 days. Overall mortality was 12.7% in these patients

Conclusion: midterm outcome of coronary artery bypass grafting in dialysis patients is although associated with a higher incidence of complications but can be performed with an acceptable operative mortality and gives good symptomatic relief of angina. It is excellent bridge for renal transplant surgery

seven years audit of nerve injuries related to third molar extraction in hospital setting

To investigate incidence of nerve injuries after surgical removal of lower third molars in hospital setting. To assess the usage of different anesthetic modality and intravenous sedation for oral surgery. Total 1353 lower 3rd molars were removed in 687 patients during February 2000 to July 2007. Records of these patients were evaluated for neurological disturbance. Out of 687 patients one had permanent anesthesia of long buccal nerve [0.14%], five had temporary and one permanent anesthesia of inferior dental nerve [0.87%] and three had temporary and one permanent anesthesia of lingual nerve [0.58%]. There was no injury to mylohyoid nerve in our study sample. In our observation frequency of lingual nerve damage was consistent with reported literature. Injury of inferior dental nerve in our patients was found to be less than one percent. Local anesthesia and intravenous sedation is underused in oral surgery

Superoxide dismutase, an immunodominant antigen in mycobacteria

Tuberculosis is an ancient human scourge that continues to be an important public health problem worldwide. To control increasing incidence of tuberculosis and development of multidrug resistant strains, there is an immense need for developing new diagnostic tests and vaccines etc, by understanding pathological mechanisms. Superoxide dismutase [SOD] is a 23kDa secreted antigen of M. tuberculosis which may play an important role in intracellular survival of pathogen. Therefore, SOD was targetted to study its importance in mycobacterial infection. To achieve this goal, mice were infected with live and killed BCG. These mice were then tested for humoral and cellular response to mycobacterial SOD. Antibody level was determined by ELISA and T-cell response was noted by 3H-thymidine incorporation method. Mycobacterial SOD was found to be highly immunogenic in mice. A high antibody response was noted in mice injected with live BCG. Similarly, a good T-cell proliferation response was noted in mice that were primed with live BCG. T-cells isolated from mice were also challenged with SOD or BCG infected J774 murine macrophages. J774 cells were found to process and present mycobacterial SOD that are only recognised by T-cells of mice previously infected with live BCG. Interferon-y [IFN-y] activated J774 cells were found to be better antigen presenting cells than IFN-y+LPS or LIPS-activated cells

Fibronectin binding protein and rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis autoimmune disease, is thought to be caused by an interaction between constitutional and environmental [possibly microbial] factors. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is considered one of causative agent of Rheumatoid arthritis. The Fibronectin - binding protein [FnBp] antigens [30/31] kDa antigen] of M. tuberculosis is one of the major secretory molecules and is probably routinely recognized by the host immune system in the early stage of tuberculosis in infection serum immune complexes, prepared from Rheumatoid arthritis [RA], Tuberculosis [TB] patients and normals, were analyzed for the presence of FnBp by ELISA using CF8 [anti - FnBp monoclonal antibody] and by western blotting using Fibronectin - HRP. Significant differences were noted between normal and patient sera by using the monoclonal antibody XF8 [p < 0.001]. We have detected a 37 kDa Fibronectin - binding protein in RA patients' serum immune complexes, which are reported to play an important role in bacterial diseases. We have shown that the 30/31kDa FnBp is a characteristic feature of tuberculosis. This was a quite interesting finding that suggests there are different forms of Fibronectin - binding protein antigens probably involved in pathogenesis of RA

Fibronectin binding protein and rheumatiod arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis autoimmune disease, is thought to be caused by an interaction between constitutional and environmental [possibly microbial] factors. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is considered one of the causative agent of Rheumatoid arthritis. The Fibronectin - binding protein [FnBp] antigens [30/31] kDa antigen] of M tuberculosis is one of the major secretory molecules and is probably routinely recognized by the host immune system in the early stage of tuberculosis infection. Serum immune complexes, prepared from Rheumatoid arthritis [RA], Tuberculosis [TB] patients and normals, were analyzed for the presence of FnBp by ELISA using CF8 [anti-FnBp monoclonal antibody] and by western blotting using Fibronectin - HRP. Significant differences were noted between normal and patient sera by using the monoclonal antibody CF8 p < 0.001]. We have detected a 37 kDa Fibronectin - binding protein in RA patients' serum immune complexes, which are reported to play an important role in bacterial disease. We have shown that the 30/31 kDa FaBp is a characteristic feature of tuberculosis. This was a quite interesting finding that suggests there are different forms of Fibronectin - binding protein antigens probably involved in pathogenesis of RA

Study on Pharmacokinetics of juliflorine in rabbits and chick embryonated eggs

Juliflorine, an antimicrobial and main alkaloid of Prosopis juliflora, has been studied for its pharmacokinetics and bioavailability in a single dose experiment conducted in rabbits and chick embryonated eggs. Bioactive juliflorine could not be detected in rabbit sera and also in various organs, such as heart, liver, brain, kidney, lungs and body tissues of the 12-14 days old chick embryonated eggs. On the contrary bentonite particles, coated with juliflorine, were detected mainly in heart and a few in kidney tissues of chick embryo. This shows that juliflorine has some affanity with heart tissue and little with the kidney tissue. This alkaloid probably reacts firmly with tissue and/or metabolizes quickly and looses its biological activity. On the other hand in vitro study shows that it precipitates at slightly alkaline pH or reacts with some serum component but retains some of its antibacterial activity

Juliflorine susceptibility of animal and human isolates of campylobacter

Juliflorine, the main alkaloid isolated from Prosopis juliflora was tested for its antibacterial activity against both the Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Filter paper disks impregnated with juliflorine were placed on streaked agar medium. Zones of growth inhibition for Campy lobacter spp occurred at 10 jig per disk. Other enteropathogens [including the species of Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio, Escherichia, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella and Yersinia] were resistant to at least 30 micro g per disk, with the exception of a strain of Aeromonas hydrophilia, Urhich showed some inhibition at 30 micro g per disk. Most of the 25 Campylobacter strains, which were isolated from human clinical and animal sources, showed zones of inhibition greater than 10 mm with 10 micro g of juliflorine