Ameliorative effect of hydro-methanolic extract from roots of Rauwolfia serpentina on some biochemical parameters of type 1 diabetic mice

Present work seeks to investigate the biochemical parameters in terms of hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of hydro-methanolic roots extract [HyMREt] of Rauwolfia serpentina in type 1 [alloxan induced] diabetic mice. Animals were divided into seven groups, four control groups, and three were test groups [HyMREt at 50, 100, and 150mg/kg]. Each treatment was repeated for 14 days regularly in all seven respective groups and afterwards the body weights, fasting blood glucose [FBG], insulin, and serum lipid levels were determined. Total body weights of diabetic mice treated with HyMREt extract were dose dependently [p

Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in non-diabetic heart failure patients: a case-control investigation at tertiary care Hospitals of Karachi

Heart failure is a progressive, chronic disorder. Insulin resistance [IR] has been more and more involved as a preliminary metabolic perturbance predisposing to hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis with others heart diseases. To investigate the relation of insulin resistance [IR] in non-diabetic heart failure patients this case-control study was carried out to ascertain the presence of IR with the aid of Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance [HOMA-IR] in non-diabetic heart failure patients [NDHF patients] compared with healthy controls. The sample size was calculated for both, cases [NDHF patients] and control [healthy subjects], which was initially consisted of 113 respondents each. The study consisted of two phase duration. In Phase I, NDHF patients were approached initially; only 80 patients with NDHF completed the study procedure. In Phase II, 80 healthy subjects were targeted and matched. Fasting blood glucose level [FBGL] and serum insulin was estimated. Mathematical model to quantify beta-cell function and insulin resistance was also computed through Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance [HOMA-IR] in both groups. Data was analyzed on SPSS version 16. Mean values with +/- standard deviation [SD] of insulin [10.2+/-4.36] and HOMA-IR [2.52+/-1.15] were significantly [p <0.05] higher in NDHF patients as compared to control subject [6.4+/-3.39, 1.45+/-0.80]. Average insulin to glucose ratio was 0.10+/-0.044 in NDHF patients which was significantly [p <0.0001] lowered in controls i.e., 0.073+/-0.039. Marginal and matrix plot analysis revealed that a higher patients count have had the HOMA-IR values <1.5 units while opposite scenario was observed in control group. Regression analyses of HOMA-IR with FBGL [as independent indicator] also authenticate the similar pattern. The present study concludes that insulin resistance [decreased insulin sensitivity] is a characteristic finding in Pakistani population of heart failure as compared to matched healthy controls

Knowledge of nursing students regarding housing characteristics and its evaluation

Objective The purpose of this research study is to assess the knowledge of housing characteristics and associated health problems in nursing students of Dow University of Health Sciences [DUHS]. Moreover, nursing students' knowledge about housing condition and public health risks were also analyzed

Methodology The study was conducted at Institute of Nursing, DUHS, Karachi. In 2012, 90 nursing students were asked to participate in this study with their consents. A teaching session was conducted as a part of this study that lasted for two hours. At the end of teaching session students were requested to fill out the questionnaire about their housing condition and health related problems along with a feedback of the session

Results The study highlighted that on average, participants had been living in the same housing for the last one year, with median and inter-quartile range of 12 and 16 months respectively. Twelve participants [13%] mentioned that they had suffered from diarrhea or vomiting during last three months, and 7.6% participants reported that their housing conditions were affecting their respiratory health. A large number of participants [89.1%] and [87.2%] did not find any visible mold in their house/hostel or kitchen respectively. Almost 61% and 80% participants reported about the mechanical ventilation and window in the bathroom respectively

Conclusion Reduction in dampness results in improvement of various health symptoms. House dust mite can be controlled through constant mechanical ventilation. The majority of the participants showed willingness towards such seminars and discussions for their future classes

Impact of media on social behavior of individuals living in Karachi

Today the world is known as a global village where information is easily accessible. Media plays a vital role in providing information, education and entertainment to the population. Media updates people about the current situations through their news channels which are providing the most up to date news within no time through live evidences and substantiations. Several studies have proved the impact of media directly on the acute stress response to collective trauma. Media coverage of collective traumas may trigger sociological distress in individuals outside the directly affected community

Objective: To determine the effect of media on Social behavior of the population of Karachi

Methodology: It's a cross sectional questionnaire based study conducted in different areas of Karachi during, November 2014 to Feb 2015. The questionnaire includes demographic information, the type of media used for obtaining information and the impact of news on the social life of individuals

Results: Among the participants 46.6% were males and 53.4% were females. Television is the type of media that was used by most [442] of the population. Results showed that 31.9% showed no effect on their social life whereas 24.4% avoided the place/public transport for a few days, 18.6% didn't go out at night, 17.3 avoided travelling alone and 7.8% of participants were afraid to go out

Conclusion: Television is the source of information for most people, beside the exaggeration in telecasting the news people continues their work. Their social life is not affected anymore which causes them to become immune to the environment they are facing

Antisperms antibodies in infertile males attending a tertiary care hospital in Karachi

To estimate the levels of anti-sperm antibodies in infertile males attending a tertiary care hospital in Karachi. Out of 160 males studied, 132 met the criteria and were included in the study. Semen analysis was done by proper standardized procedures as mentioned in WHO manual for examination of human semen and sperm cervical mucus interaction. A blood sample was drawn to detect the presence of anti-sperm antibodies. Antisperm antibodies were found positive in 8 males suggesting that antisperm antibodies are the etiologic factor causing infertility in 6% infertile male subjects. A positive correlation was found between the ages of patients and antisperm antibodies greater than 70 IU/ml. Direct correlation of circulating antisperm antibodies with male infertility suggests the role of immunologic infertility as an etiologic cause of infertility in idiopathic infertile males of Pakistan

Current criteria for selection of abdominal versus vaginal hysterectomy at civil hospital, Karachi

To determine the frequency of abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies and to evaluate the categorization of hysterectomy cases for abdominal or vaginal route at Civil Hospital Karachi. A cross-sectional, 12-month [2008] prospective comparative study was designed at Civil Hospital Karachi involving abdominal hysterectomy [AH] and vaginal hysterectomy [VH]. Data were extracted on a specially designed proforma including fields for age, parity, menopausal status, indication and route for hysterectomy, uterine size, and previous history of caesarean section, puerperal sepsis, tubal ligation, and laparotomy for gynecological indications. In this study, 107 [18.3%] abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies were done for benign gynecological causes. There was no case of laparoscopically assisted VH [LAVH]. Mean age [57.61 years] and parity [8] for VH were greater than those of AH [48.11 years] and 5, respectively. VH was predominantly done on atrophic uteri [25 [75.76%]]. AH was performed on 20 [27.02%] bulky uteri; in 53 [71.63%], the uterus was larger. Uterovaginal prolapse was the sole [100%] indication for VH with concomitant dysfunctional uterine bleeding [DUB] in 4 [12.13%] cases. The main indications for AH were fibroids in 28 [37.84%], DUB in 30 [40.54%], followed by adenomyosis and endometriosis in 10 cases [31.51%] each. Factors predisposing to pelvic adhesion and uterine immobility were present in 16 patients [18.85%] who underwent AH and 3 [9.09%] with VH. AH was commonly performed on less parous and perimenopausal women with larger uteri while VH was chosen for elderly, more parous women with atrophic and prolapsed uterus

Importance of thyroid profile in fertility

Present study was conducted to see the effect of thyroid profile in different menstrual problems and their effects on fertility. Prospective study. A total of eighteen hundred and seventy eight patients reported during the year 2006-8, for the present study to see the role of thyroid hormone in fertility. Out of them, 580[30.9%] males and 1298[69.1%] were females with mean age 35 +/- 5 yr and 32 +/- 5 yr respectively. All data analysis were performed using statistical package SPSS version 12.0 [SPSS, Inc.. Chicago IL, USA]. Mean T3, T4 and TSH levels were found to be 0.85, 0.94 and 0.56. However, significant correlation was found between the thyroid profile and fertility [r=0.535 at p<0.01 with 99% CI]. The contribution of thyroid profile in fertility and menstrual disturbances are substantial. Therefore, it is recommended to know the thyroid status in these cases to minimize the problem

Effects of alpha-tocopherol on lipid profile in primary hyperlipidemia

To determine the antihyperlipidemic effects of alpha-tocopherol in primary hyperlipidemia. An analytical cohort study. This study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Basic Medical Sciences Institute of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi, from February to April 2001. Newly diagnosed and un-treated primary hyperlipidemic persons of either gender between the ages 17 to 70 years were initially enrolled in the study for a 12 weeks [90 day] trial with fortnightly follow up visits. The selected patients were divided into 2 groups. The first group [Group-I] was treated with diet restriction and exercise only. The second group [Group-II] was treated with diet restriction, exercise and alpha -tocopherol. Results were compared using paired t-test. There were 35 patients in all. After treatment with alpha-tocopherol, cholesterol reduction was highly significant [p<0.01]. Triglyceride reduction was significant [p<0.05]. Increase in HDL-c level was highly significant [p<0.001]. The LDL-c reduction was statistically highly significant [p<0.001]. VLDL reduction was also significant [p<0.01]. When compared between the Groups I and II, the reduction in cholesterol was moderately significant [p<0.01], LDL-c reduction was found to be markedly significant [p<0.01]. HDL and VLDL reduction was also found to be significant [p<0.05]. In comparison there was no significant change in triglyceride level. Diet restriction and exercise had significant beneficial effects on lipid profile. When supplemented with alpha -tocopherol, there was a highly significant beneficial effect on lipid profile

Role of tutors' training in delivering effective medical education

To determine the effectiveness of training of the tutors to conduct small group tutorial sessions. A descriptive study one hundred and thirty nine students of first till fourth year of MBBS course, were introduced to the subject/topic and the learning objectives. In the following week, they attended small group sessions arranged for their respective subjects. Trained tutors were identified on the basis of having taken the tutor training course/workshops arranged by College of Physician and Surgeons, Pakistan. The tutors conducted the small group tutorial sessions as per their assignment. At the end of tutorial sessions the students were asked to complete a questionnaire encompassing the learning outcomes of the students and behaviors of the tutor during the tutorial classes. Learning outcomes were compared using Pearson test. The motivation of the students and their clarification of concepts increased significantly by attending the tutorial sessions with trained tutors [trained 77.7% vs. un-trained 21.58% p<0.005 and trained 80.58% vs. un-trained 19.42% p<0.005 respectively]. Trained tutors facilitated the sessions in such a way that students discussed themselves and found their own queries help in the clarification of the concepts more efficiently. Effective faculty development program should be designed and implemented to enhance the learning process of the students by trained facilitators

Frequency of transitional cell carcinoma in local suburban population of Karachi

To determine the clinicopathological characteristics and frequency of different pathological lesions, particularly Transitional Cell Carcinoma in urinary bladder biopsies, this study was conducted in histopathology section of tertiary care hospitals [Jinnah and Civil hospital] filtering the suburban population of Karachi during August 2001 to July 2005. All patients who visited the Urology. Out Patient Department and presented with haematuria, dysuria etc. were included. Cystoscopy and bladder biopsies were performed. The biopsies were preserved in 10% formalin. Gross examination was done and embedded in paraffin. Light microscopy technique was used for diagnosis. Out of 43 patients, 31 [72.09%] were males and 12 [27.90%] were females. The spectrum of pathological lesions included inflammations, dysplasia and tumours. Transitional cell carcinoma was the most common tumour seen in this study; [93.33%] cases. The peak age of incidence was between 41-68 years

Monitoring of HBe antigen and alanine aminotransferase levels in hepatitis B virus DNA positive patients

A retrospective study was conducted on specimens collected during 2002-2004, in which the data obtained from 413 individuals were analyzed for HBV-DNA, ALT and HBe antigen. Two hundred patients were found negative for HBV-DNA and were not included in the study. The remaining 213 patients were selected on the basis of their HBV-DNA detection. HBe antigen was assayed using micro particle enzyme immunoassay [MEIA] technique, manufactured by [Abbott, USA]. Out of 213 patients, 167 [78%] were male. The mean age of the sample population was 25.4 years [range 2-80 years]. Highest ALT value observed was 1192 IU/L whereas mean ALT was 47. 6 IU/L. HBe antigen was reactive in 193 [91%] cases. The absence of HBe antigen in HBV-DNA positive patients may have been due to the presence of precore mutations because HBV exhibits a higher mutational frequency than most DNA viruses. Patients with HBe antigen positive disease were younger than the HBe antigen negative patients [p < 0.05] and their mean ALT was also higher. However, it did not reach upto significant level but a direct significant association was observed between ALT levels and HBe antigen titres at p<0.05

Significance of PAP Smear in diagnosing Endometrial Carcinoma

To explore the role of cervical cytology in the diagnosis of endometrial disease in postmenopausal women in our set up. Study was conducted at Department of Pathology and Microbiology of The Aga Khan University, Karachi Pakistan during 2004. To assess the correlation between endometrial cells on routine cervical cytology and endometrial carcinoma, 57 Pap smears were taken from postmenopausal women with and without abnormal bleeding. The mean age was 54 +/- 7 years. The results of cervical cytology were compared and further confirmed with the endometrial histology. We found a positive association between endometrial cells in Pap smear and carcinoma of the endometrium in six out of 57 patients [11.02%] while remaining 51 patients [88.98%] were benign. However, the presence of atypical endometrial cells in Pap smear and the abnormal vaginal bleeding confirmed the diagnosis. The data indicate the importance of further diagnostic evaluation with endometrial sampling in postmenopausal women with endometrial cells seen in Pap smear, especially in abnormal vaginal bleeding