Parasitosis through the food-handlers and food samples of Lahore city

Parasitosis' means infection or infestation with parasites. Parasites are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Various epidemiological studies indicate that the prevalence of intestinal parasites is high especially in developing countries. To identify possible positive cases of intestinal parasitic infection among food handlers and also to determine the presence of intestinal parasitic cysts and ova in vegetables and meat. A co-relational descriptive study design. Study was conducted in two randomly selected markets of Lahore from January 2009 to June 2009. This study was designed to determine the association between various risk factors and the occurrence of intestinal parasites. Random sampling was done. Stool parasitological profile was done by direct smear and formaline-ethyl acetate sedimentation method. Both vegetables and meat samples were examined for the presence of intestinal parasitic cysts and ova by using centrifugal-flotation technique. 58% vegetables, 71.1% meat and 34.5% stool samples were found to be positive for intestinal parasites. Of the parasites detected, the most common parsites infecting the food handlers were Entamoeba histolytica and Ascaris lumbricoids. Whereas parasites were more in the meat samples that were not properly stored than those that were kept in refrigerator. This study revealed that risk of intestinal parasites is in direct proportion to the poor sanitary conditions

Weapon of offense used in bodily medico legal injuries in a rural area

The primary objective was to study about different weapon of offense, used in inflicting bodily medico legal injuries in a rural of Khyber Pakhtoonkhuwa. The study is a record based research, 55 cases were selected, which were consecutively recorded from the previously registered MLC cases in a rural area, data of types of weapon used in offences along with preliminaries data was recorded from the record and analyzed. In 55 cases the weapon of offense used were blunt weapon, sharp heavy edged, sharp light edged, Fire arm and road traffic accidents' there were total 37 [67.3%] cases of blunt weapon, of which 31 [64.6%] were of male and 6 [85.7%] of female, only 1 [2.1%] of male were injured with sharp heavy edged weapon, while non of female was hurted with such weapon, 3 [6.25%] of male and 1 [14.3%] of female were injured by sharp light edged weapon, total of 5.5% were hit by fire arm, and 18.2% cases were of RTA. Our study reflect the true picture of rural society where the female population suffered less as compared to male, due to their conservativeness, weapon was used 48 [87.3] times against male population and 7 [12.7] time against female which prove that it is true that, in the society of pathans in KPK province female and children are spared in the enmity disputes

Exhumation -a key to provide justice to victims of homicide: situation in Larkana and Sukkur divisions

Foul play in cases of hurt and homicide is an established fact. People on basis of enmity falsely charge their enemies; this practice is carried out globally. The purpose of present study was to know the situation in the study area and also to know the risk factors which make hindrance in providing justice in exhumed cases. The present study was conducted over a period of 3 and half years from Jul 2006 to Dec 2009. During the said period total 21 exhumations were carried out in Sukkur and Larkana Divisions by the team of Chandka Medical College, Larkana. Cases were studied in Forensic Medicine Department of Chandka Medical College, Larkana. Out of 21 cases, only 9 cases were positive [autopsy]. In rest of 12 cases, autopsy reports remained undetermined due to advanced decomposition/putrefaction of corpses. During the study period, total 21 exhumations [autopsies] were carried out in different districts of Larkana and Sukkur divisions. There were 17 male cases and 4 female cases. Cases were divided in to 4 groups on age basis. Group-1 from 0-5 years, Group-2 from 16-30 years, Group-3 from 31-45 years, Group-4 from 46-65 years. The maximum number of cases fall in group-2 which are 15 [71.42%] and minimum in group-1 which is 1 [4.76%]. Out of 21 cases, only in 9 cases cause of death was ascertained and majority of these were firearm injuries [5, 55.55%], two [22.22%] cases of drowning, one [11.11%] strangulation and one blunt trauma. The success rate remained 42.85%. Nineteen cases were of primary autopsy [First time] on exhumation and 2 cases were secondary [re-examination]. The success rate in challenge cases depends mostly on the duration of exhumation and soil of cemetery. If a foul play is suspected then there should be no unnecessary delay in conduction of exhumation. If exhumation is carried out within days after burial, 90% results can be achieved

Road traffic accidents fatality and disability in D.I. Khan N.W.F.P

Road traffic accidents are important cause of death and disability in the world. More than 3000 people die on road everyday and 10 million are disabled or injured every year. The present study is an attempt to visualize the menace in D.I. Khan. The study is based upon the data of autopsies and medico legal cases examined at DHQ Hospital, D.I. Khan and Forensic Medicine Department of Gomal Medical College, D.I. Khan during year 2007 and 2008. The data was analysed for assessment of traffic accident victims. During period of study 341 cases of unnatural deaths were subjected to autopsy examination. Out of these 59 cases [22.7%] were of accidental deaths and all were male. A total of 225 injuries were recorded. The head and face sustained the highest number of injuries [42.6%] followed by the lower extremities [21.8%]. The total no. of Medico legal cases was 2153 and out of which 495 [23%] were injured due to accidents. Majority were males [99.4]. A total of 1208 injuries were found in various body areas. The maximum number of injuries [39.4%] was on head and face and next were lower extremities sustaining 28.4% injuries. The situation is alarming one and it requires immediate measures to be taken for ensuring safe traveling. Accidental death and disability can be minimized by improving roads condition, making separate pathways for cyclists and motor cyclists and adopting precautionary measures during driving

Homicidal deaths and injuries by bomb blasts in Dera Ismail Khan

Bombs are explosive devices used for homicidal purposes. The present study was conducted to know about the death and injuries due to bomb blasts in Dera Ismail Khan. This descriptive study was conducted from January 2007 to December 2008. The data was collected from autopsy and medico-legal records of all dead and injured persons at DHQ Teaching Hospital and Department of Forensic Medicine Gomal Medical College, D. I. Khan. Three hundred and forty-one un-natural deaths were reported and subjected to autopsy examination during the study period. Homicidal deaths constituted 256 [75%] of all autopsies. Out of homicidal deaths 82 [32.96%] were caused by blast injuries. Similarly 2153 injured persons were examined and recorded in the medico-legal register. Out of whom 253 [11.75%] were due to bomb blasts. In death cases, 461 injuries were found in various body regions giving an average of 5.62 injuries per person, and in injured person the number of injuries was 659, with average of 2.6 injuries per person. Lower extremities sustained the highest number of injuries both in dead and injured ones, followed by the head and neck injuries in dead and upper extremity injuries in the injured ones. Death due to bomb blasts are the second major cause of homicidal deaths after firearm in Dera Ismail Khan. Lower extremity injuries are the commonest in both dead and injured persons, followed by the head and neck injuries in dead and upper extremity injuries in the injured ones

Recent biochemical updates on chromium

Chromium is an essential trace element which is required for carbohydrate metabolism as it potentiates the action of insulin. A low dietary chromium level has been associated with disorders like impaired glucose tolerance, glycosuria, diabetes mellitus, fasting hypoglycemia, elevated serum cholesterol and triglycerides. Chromium deficiency should be considered in all clinical situations where unexplained insulin resistance develops in patients. Chromium deficiency should also be considered as one of the several nutritional factors that influence three recognized risk factors for public health problems of cardiovascular disease, i.e. impaired glucose tolerance, elevated circulating insulin levels and elevated serum cholesterol. In addition, inadequate maternal chromium intake is known to cause premature birth and intrauterine growth retardation and in males it has been linked with infertility

Evaluation of serum Chromium levels in non diabetics and type-II diabetic patients

Aims and Objectives: To determine serum chromium levels in patients with diabetes mellitus type- II and compare it with normal healthy population

Study Design: Cross sectional and comparative

Sample Size: Fifty diagnosed diabetic type II patients compared with fifty non diabetic healthy controls

Place of Study: Study was conducted at Diabetes Management Centre, Services Hospital Lahore and Diabetic Clinic, Mayo Hospital Lahore over a period of three months i.e. from April to June, 2007

Methodology: Serum glucose level was estimated by enzymatic photometric method. HbA1C was estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometer

Results: The fasting Glucose levels and the serum glycosylated hemoglobin levels were significantly higher in type- II diabetic patients as compared to healthy controls, while serum chromium levels were significantly lower in type-II diabetic patients as compared to normal healthy controls

Conclusion: The serum chromium levels were statistically low in type-II diabetic patients

Transcanalicular holmium laser dacryocystorhinostomy

Laser dacryocystorhinostomy is gaining popularity among the ophthalmic surgeons. We employed THC: YAG [thulium-and holmium-doped and chromium-senitized YAG] laser operating in the near infrared [2.1 micro m] for this procedure, and have outlined our technique and its adventages. The laser is equipped with a helium-neon aiming beam. A quartz fiberoptic probe is passed through the dilated canaliculus and rested against the bony wall of the lacrimal fossa. Aiming beam is turned on to transilluminate the sac, and THC: YAG laser applications made to create a 3 to 4 mm wide bony opening. A silicone tube is threaded through the canalicular system, and kept in place for about six months. The success rate, though not higher than, compares favorably with the conventional surgical techniques. Out of a total of 12 patients we performed this procedure on, ten [83%] had satisfactory outcome at one-year follow-up. [Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology, 10:45-46, April and July, 1994]

Phthiriasis palpebrarum in Pakistan

A 14-year-old girl from Sindh Pakistan had phthiriasis paplpebraum, infestation with Phthirus pubis, of her right upper eyelid. This case in a Pakistani patient is most unusual in that the Muslim cleanliness practices include regular shaving of the pubic and axillary hair and the sociosexual mores do not permit sexual promiscuity, eliminating the two likely sources of phthiriasis. Pediculosis capitis and pediculosis coporis on the other hand are common due to widespread poverty in rural areas of Pakistan. [Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology 9: 6, 20, January, 1993]

Toy suction cup subconjunctival hemorrhage in the mentally retarded

A 13-year-old mentally retarded girl was playing with a fellow resident of her mental institution with a toy that had rubber suction cups to stiks it on smooth surfaces. The complication of the patient removed one of these suction cups, sized 5.5 inch in diameter, from the toy and stuck it on the left side of the face of the patient, completely covering her left orbit. It took nearly two minutes to pry the suction cup loose from the face of the terrified patient. Both left eyelids were heavily bruised and a large subconjuctival hemorrhage also developed. Fortunately, no intraocular bleeding occurred. We strongly advise that the toys with suction cups or any other parts with potential risk should be kept away from all children with mental retardation. [Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology 9:31, 46, April, 1993.]

Total recovery from central retinal artery occlusion

A 73-year-old man suffered sudden right central retinal artery occlusion from embolism with total loss of sight. Immediate management included breathing in an airtight paper bag, intravenous acetazolamide, and aggressive bulbar message at considerable discomfort to the patient for one hour. [Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology 9:86, 100, October, 1993]

Bilateral upper eyelid coloboma and median groove of the nose

Colobomata of the eyelid are well-recognized and are usually unilateral. Bilateral eyelid coloboma is relatively rare. A six-months old male baby had large colobomata of both upper eyelids and a deep furrow at the tip of nose. The patient had no other facial or systemic abnormalities. Although coloboma was of the same size on both sides, only the right cornea showed xerosis and opacification secondary to exposure. The symmetrical eyelid colobomata and the central furrow in the tip of nose suggest that deformity developed due to a mechanical factor, probably from pressure caused by amniotic bands. [Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology 8: 87-97, 1992]

Multi-stage loss of retinal arterial circulation

A 63-year-old hypertensive woman developed embolic occlusion of the superior temporal retinal artery. Her visual acuity returned to normal, but the inferior field defect remained. Nearly 18 months later, inferior temporal artery of the same eye became occluded due to the same cause, and eye became permanently blind. This interesting case emphasizes the need for a full [central retinal artery occlusion workup] in patients with branch retinal artery obstruction, and also raises the question of a more aggressive therapeutic approach in at least systemically more at risk patients

Isolated fornix involvement in varicella

A 7-year-old girl with varicella developed redness in her right eye. No varicella lesion was present on the eyelid margins or the conjunctiva. When the right upper eyelid was everted a discrete pustule of the fornix was noted. The red eyes without apparent ocular lesions in varicella patients may be due to hidden involvement of fornices

Traumatic endothelial corneal pigment ring

A 12-year-old boy developed an unusual annular deposit of iris pigment on the endothelial surface of the right cornea in the area of a BB shot impact. Interestingly, there was no other corneal injury or Vossius ring on the anterior lens capsule. Although accompanying iridocyclitis cleared with return of normal vision within a week, the pigment deposits on the corneal endothelium persisted for many weeks

Ankyloblepharon filiforme adantum

The rare anomaly of ankyloblepharon filiforme adnatum was present in the left eye of a three-day-old infant girl. No other abnormalities were present. Simple excision of the strand between the upper and lower eyelids cured the condition with normal eyelid margins. Histologically the excised band had a central vascular core covered with pavement epithelium

Primary lymphoma of the conjunctiva

A 59-year-old man had a histopathologically studied small cell lymphocytic lymphoma of the conjunctiva in both eyes. The lesion was surgically excised and the patient followed for 12 years. No local recurrence or systemic changes appeared during the foliowup period. It appears that a pebbly, smooth, multilobulated, and pinkish appearance of a lesion in the bulbar conjunctiva is characteristic of lymphoma. A good systemic evaluation and a regular followup of the patient till definite indications for treatment become apparent is the best approach to the management of the lymphoma of the ocular adnexa

Unilateral purtscher's retinopathy

A 32-year-old man developed rare unilateral Purtscher's retinopathy two days following a car accident in which he had fractures of right acromion, talus, and a metatarsal. It has been reported that in unilateral Purtscher's retinopathy with initial vision of 20/200 and afferent pupillary defect the outcome usually is incomplete visual recovery with optic atrophy. It is interesting that despite the initial drop of the vision to 20/200 [6/60], extensive cotton-wool and hemorrhagic areas and a medium-sized preretinal hemorrhage, full recovery ensued in this patient in 10 weeks