Tensile and transverse strength of novel copolymers for denture base

Objectives: Compare tensile and transverse strength of new copolymers for denture base. Materials and methods: The specimens were prepared from heat cured acrylic resin with three types of additives: Acryester B, Ethoxycarbonylethylene, and Propenoic acid at a percentage of 5% and 10%. The tensile and transverse strains were tested, recorded and compared. Results: The analysis of variance display statistically significant difference. The p-value was 0.001 for each of tensile and transverse strain tests. Conclusions: The tensile strength of the novel copolymers increased. The transverse strength of some of the novel copolymers increased.

Do we use antibiotics judiciously enough? a study in accident and emergency department of tertiary care hospital in pakistan

Objective: To determine whether antibiotics are necessary for all minor wounds presenting to the Accident and Emergency Department at a tertiary care Centre in Pakistan

Methods: One hundred and five patients presenting to the Accident and Emergency Department, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, with open wounds were included in the study and divided into two: Groups A [study] and B [control], with Group-A receiving conservative therapy. Eighty-four patients were included in the final analysis as the rest were lost to follow up. Follow up was done after one week to see how many patients had developed infection

Results: The average age of patients was 27.3 +/-9.7 years with similar baseline characteristics. From these, 51% had superficial wounds; average number of wounds was 1.63 +/-0.99, with an average length of 2.7 +/-1.6 cm. A total of 10 out of 84 patients developed infection at 7-10 days after presentation to the A and E. From these, 3 patients receiving conservative treatment [A, 10%, OR=0.107], and seven patients receiving prophylactic antibiotics [B, 12.96%, OR=0.149] developed an infection. Calculated odds ratio for increased risk of infection in Group-A = 0.72

Conclusion: A conservative approach to antibiotic prescription for minor trauma may be appropriate despite absence of strict asepsis during emergency wound care

Significance of invitro isolation of Alternaria alternate from Onychomycotic patients

Objectives: To determine the isolation rate of Alternaria alternata in patients with clinical Onychomycosis

Study Design: Descriptive [cross sectional] study

Place and Period of Study: Department of Microbiology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Rawalpindi, from August 2011-April 2012

Material and Methods: Sample size; 200 nail samples, Sampling Technique; Non probability convenience sampling. Nail clippings and nail scrapings were obtained from affected nails of patients clinically having onychomycosis. Direct microscopic examination with 30% potassium hydroxide mounts and culture on Sabouraud's dextrose agar [SDA], SDA containing Chloramphenicol, and SDA containing actidione and chloramphenicol were used for species identification

Results: Out of 200 nail specimens, 94 [47%] yielded positive fungal growth, while 106 [53%] nail specimens were found negative on culture. Non-dermatophyte moulds [NDMs] accounted for 62 [66%] of total culture positive cases, out of which Alternaria alternata was the commonest species [29%]. Dermatophytes were isolated from 20 [21%] all belonging to genus Trichophyton spp. and 12 [13%] were yeast

Conclusion: Study has yielded high number of NDMs especially Alternaria alternata, hence large scale multicenter clinical studies are required to ascertain the clinical significance of Alternaria alternata as pathogen particularly in patients with immunosuppression, as a causative agent of onychomycosis. Moreover, clinical trials to see the treatment outcome of NDMs isolated from these patients, will further help to unfold the clinical significance of this study

Frequency of stressful activities amongst doctors, engineers and teachers

Background: Different professions are under a great deal of stress related to a variety of occupational stress factors. These factors contribute to decreased job satisfaction, decreased work output, mental and physical exhaustion and absenteeism due to sickness. It often occurs when individuals' cannot cope with their job demands, physically or emotionally

Objective: To determine the frequency of stress among three highly challenged occupations which are doctors, engineers and teachers

Methods: The cross sectional study was conducted in the District South of Karachi using separate questionnaires for doctors, engineers and teachers. In this research the total of 600 individuals were included, 200 from each profession. Only those individuals were surveyed who are currently working in government institutions of this district. The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS v.20

Results: The results showed that engineers are under a higher level of stress as compared to doctors and teachers. Workload, lack of power and influence, office politics, inadequate or poor quality of training/management development and lack of encouragement are the major factors that are contributing to build stress in engineers

Conclusion: As the frequency of stressful activities found higher in engineer, their workload should be minimized and divided among the relevant posts rather than putting the entire burden on an individual. Office politics must be discouraged as this has proved to have detrimental effects on individual's life. Lack of knowledge, power, influence, training and encouragement has led to increased stress. Stress management programs will improve management, and good intrapersonal relationships

Evaluation of AST/ALT ratio in patients with liver disease

To assess AST/ALT ratio in patients with liver disease, i.e. hepatitis and cirrhosis and to evaluate its significance as predictor of cirrhosis in our population. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Department of Medicine and Gastroentero logy Medical Unit-I Post Graduate Medical Institute/Services Hospital, Lahore and Department of Pathology PGMI Lahore Pakistan. The period of study was from July 1999 to July 2000. Subject and This study comprised 75 patients suffering from liver disease. All the patients were thoroughly examined clinically and ultrasound was performed. They were divided into two groups; Group I: It included 50 [35 male, 15 female] patients with cirrhosis of the liver confirmed clinically and by ultrasonography. Group II: It comprised of 25 [18 male, 7 female] patients with acute hepatitis confirmed by serology. The blood sample were sent to department of pathology Postgraduate Medical Institutes Lahore. HBs Ag and anti-HCV were performed using the commercially available kits based on ELISA techniques. AST and ALT were determined using the kits based on photometric methods in which the Oxo-acids are assayed by coupling with 2-4 dinitrophenyl hydrazine. The mean AST and ALT concentrations of the patients with hepatitis [Group II] were elevated significantly [P<0.001] as compared to those of the cirrhotic patients [Group I]. In contrast, the mean AST/ALT ratios of the cirrhotic patients [Group I] were elevated significantly [P<0.001] than the patients with hepatitis. Conclusions: The present study shows that the mean AST/ALT ratios of the cirrhotic patients were significantly higher [P < 0.001] as compared to those with hepatitis. Hence, the AST/ALT ratio can be considered as a dependable marker of fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease in Pakistan, even though liver biopsy remains the most definitive diagnostic measure for cirrhosis