Correlation of age with central corneal thickness and corneal endthelial cell density in Pakistani population

Objective: Correlation of age with central corneal thickness [CCT] and corneal endothelial cell density [ECD] in Pakistani population

Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology Rawalpindi from Apr 2016 to Oct 2016

Material and Methods: CCT and ECD was measured in 330 eyes of 165 patients, aged between 21-70 years of age. Patients were further divided into five age groups. Three readings were taken for each eye, and mean of three readings was used for the analysis. Pearson correlation was calculated between CCT, ECD and age

Results: A total of 330 eyes of 165 patients were studied. Out of study population, 81 [49.09 percent] were males and 84 [50.90 percent] were females. Mean ECD [cell/mm2] was 3063.85 +/- 234.65 cells/mm2 and 256.42 +/- 475.06 cells/mm2 in patients aged 21-30 years, and 61-70 years respectively. Mean CCT [micrometer] was 544 +/- 18 micrometer and 528 +/-21 micrometer in patients aged 21-30 years, and 61-70 years respectively. A statistically significant inverse correlation was observed between age and corneal ECD [r=?0.718, p<0.01] and age and CCT [r=?0.230, p<0.01]

Conclusion: Both CCT and corneal ECD decrease significantly with age in Pakistani population, with statistically more decrease in ECD with age, than CCT

Correlation of anterior chamber depth with peripapillary nerve fiber layer thickness

Objective: To determine correlation of anterior chamber depth with peripapillary nerve fiber layer thickness. Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study. Place and Duration of study: Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology Rawalpindi, from Apr 2016 to Oct 2016

Patients and Methods: Anterior chamber depth and peripapillary nerve fiber layer thickness was measured in 200 eyes of 110 patients, between 10-40 years of age. Anterior chamber depth was measured in mm, by taking average of 3 readings, measured by optical biometry [IOL Master, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin whereas average peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer pRNFL thickness was obtained by taking average of 12 segments RNFL thickness measurement, calculated by Spectral domain optical coherence tomography [SD OCT] [3D OCT-1000 Markll, Topcon Co, Tokyo, Japan] after dilating pupils with one drop of 1% Tropicamide, instilled three times, 10 minutes apart. Three readings were taken for each eye. The mean of the three readings was used for the analysis. Pearson correlation [+1/-1] was calculated between anterior chamber depth, peripapillary nerve fiber layer thickness and age

Results: Two hundred eyes of 110 patients were included in the study. Both eyes were considered in 90% of the patient, however only Right eye was considered in 6.3% of the patients while left eye in 3.7% of the patients. Mean age of the patients was 26.58 +/- 8.88 years. Mean visual acuity of patients measured by log MAR was 0.52 +/- 0.12. Mean Anterior chamber depth [ACD] of patients was 3.41 +/- 0.35 while mean RNFL appeared to be 103.26 +/- 8.89 um

Conclusion: It was concluded that anterior chamber depth was neither related significantly with peripapillary nerve fiber layer nor with age

Pattern of cigarette smoking among college students of Mardan

Cigarette smoking habit is mostly acquired during college and later it becomes an addiction leading to high morbidity and premature death. To determine the pattern of cigarette smoking among college students of Mardan and factors that encourages its use. Cross-sectional study, done in 2014 in seven colleges of Mardan over 3 months period. All students were encouraged to participate and fill the questionnaire. The data on smoking pattern, contributing factors to the habit, peak time/ places of smoking, sources of hazards awareness, and number of cigarettes smoked per day, reasons for smoking, not smoking and quitting were collected through a pre-tested questionnaire. The data were entered in the computer and analyzed using means and percentages. A total of 954 students returned the filled questionnaire. Their ages ranged between 17 and 24 years with male to female ratio of 5:1. Out of the total, 31.2% were smokers, 2.2% ex-smokers and 66.6% non-smokers. The habit was found more common in students whose fathers or brothers were smokers and many students acquired this habit for charm and relaxation. Most smokers consumed less than 10 cigarettes per day. No female student was a smoker or ex- smoker. Significantly less smoking [p < 0.05] was observed in one institute as compared to other six institutes because of strict discipline. Most of the smokers started smoking after entry in the college life. Smoking was more in boarding students, those whose mothers were working and those living in the urban areas. Non-smokers and ex-smokers avoided cigarettes either due to family pressure, religion or its adverse effects on health. Females had significantly [p < 0.05] more knowledge about tobacco hazards as compared to males and most students mentioned that doctors were their main source of awareness. Ahnost 31.2% students in various colleges of Mardan were smokers. Smoking was not seen in female students. Most boys [68%] started smoking when they entered the college [first year]. Health awareness, family support, religious knowledge and strict discipline in the colleges were the main reasons to not to smoke or quit smoking

Immunological study of type 2 diabetic patients with periodontal disease

To evaluate the IgA, IgG and IgM levels in the serum samples of type 2 diabetic and Periodontal patients of the Peshawar area having different life style set up. Case control study. This study was carried out on subjects who fulfilled our criteria and agreed to participate in the study were included. They were residents of Peshawar area and visited OPDs of Khyber College of dentistry, Peshawar during July, 2012 to June, 2013. Among 120 participants, 30 were healthy, 30 were with periodontitis, 30 had diabetes and the remaining 30 had both diabetes and periodontitis. All of them had at least 20 natural teeth. Diabetic patients had the disease history minimum of five years while the periodontal patients had clinically confirmed the disease. Blood samples were collected from each of the participant and immunoglobulins A, G and M were measured. The observed data were analyzed accordingly through standard statistical methods. Male patients were found more as compared to females [ratio 1: 0.87] in the two diseases. The age range was 35 to 54 years with the mean 44 +/- 5. As per HBA1C results; 40% had good control of diabetes, 26% moderate while in 34% control was poor. Immunoglobulin A and G levels were found significantly higher [p < 0.05] in the three disease groups as compared to control group. Whereas the concentration of IgM was not changed by the said diseases. Besides, the gender has no influence on the levels of the three immunoglobulins. The IgG levels increased with the increase in severity of the Periodontitis disease. While IgA showed slight decrease with the increase in clinical grades of the Diabetes disease. The result of the current study indicates the role of humoral immune response in the two mentioned diseases. The higher levels of immunoglobins particularly IgA and IgG might be due to protective mechanism against the weak immune response and the increased bacterial challenge in diabetes and periodontitis