Relationship of emotional intelligence and health locus of control among female breast cancer patients in Pakistan

Objective: To investigate relationship between emotional intelligence and health locus of control in married women with breast cancer disease

Study Design: Cross sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: The data was collected from Nuclear Oncology and Radiology Institute [NORI Hospital] Islamabad [n=210] and from Combined Military Hospital [CMH] Rawalpindi [n=101]. Data collection was completed between the period from Oct 2013 to Feb 2014

Patients and Methods: The sample was selected using non- probability sampling technique. Collected breast cancer patients sample was n= 311 whose age range was from 18-80 years. A biographical sheet that contain personal and disease information of patient, and two scales were used: Self Report Measure of Emotional Intelligence [Khan and Kamal, 2010], and Multidimensional Health Locus of Control [Wallston, Stein, and Smith, 1994] were used to assess the constructs explored in this study

Results: Results depict that there was significant positive correlation between emotional intelligence [EI], including its sub scales Emotional Self-Regulation Skills [ESRS], Emotional Self Awareness Skills [ESAS], and Interpersonal Skills Scale [ISS] with the Internal Health Locus of Control [IHLOC]. Doctors Health Locus of Control [DHLOC] also have significant relationship to emotional intelligence's all sub divisions, whereas external health locus of control including Chance Health Locus of Control [CHLOC] and Powerful Other people Health Locus of Control [PHLOC] both are related to psychological distresses but it was observed in breast cancer population that chance was significantly correlated to ESAS, and ISS and powerful other people locus. Further on group comparison One Way Analysis of Variance [ANOVA] depicted no significant difference on disease stage groups

Conclusion: The strength factors of EI and HLOC are highlighted in current study. It was concluded that Emotional Intelligence [EI] and health locus of control [IHLOC, and DHLOC] have positive direction of relationship, both skills leads to positive adaptation and greater coping strengths

Diagnostic yield of D-dimer in pulmonary embolism

To determine the diagnostic yield of D-dimer in combination with multi-detector computed tomography [MDCT] in patients with clinical symptoms and signs of acute pulmonary embolism. Cross sectional observational study. This study was carried out in Radiology Department Rashid Hospital Dubai UAE, from October 2011 to September 2012. In patients with clinical symptoms and signs of acute pulmonary embolism, D-dimer and MDCT were performed. Pulmonary angiography was performed to compare the results. For descriptive purpose the patients were divided into four groups. The sensitivity, specificity, false positive rate, false negative rate, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated. There were total of 151 patients of whom 97 [64.2%] were males and 54 [35.8%] females. The mean age of the patients was 47.26 +/- 16.16 year. Shortness of breath was noted in 104 [68.9%, p = 0.000], chest pain in 88 [58.3%, p = 0.042] and cyanosis in 57 [37.7%, p= 0.061] patients. The D-dimer test was positive in 80 [53.0%] patients while CT angiogram in 56 [37.1%] patients. In 52 patients both D-dimer and MDCT angiogram were positive, while 65 patients had normal D-dimer and CT angiogram. The sensitivity of D-dimer in combination with CT angiogram was 92.85%, specificity 68.42%, false positive rate 31.57%, false negative rate 7.14%, positive predictive value 63.41%, negative predictive value 94.20% and accuracy 77.48%. D-dimer is an easy, non-invasive, safe, efficient and cost effective method of diagnosis in clinically suspected cases of pulmonary embolism

Hyperglycemic/diabetic condition in school children of Dera Ismail Khan

Hyperglycemia/Type-2 diabetes mellitus is becoming more common at a younger age because of obesity and inactivity in children. Hyperglycemia/Diabetes is more common in those with family history of diabetes mellitus. All overweight and obese individuals have insulin resistance but those with an inability to increase beta cell secretion of insulin, develop hyperglycemia/Type-2 diabetes mellitus. Total of 107 school children [6-11 years] were included in this study with 60 [56.07%] boys and 47 [43.93%] girls. 77 [77.96%] children were obese and 30 [28.04%] were normal weights. Thorough clinical examination excluded those with chronic health problems. Height and weight of each school child was taken. Body mass index was calculated according to Quatelet's Index BMI number of each child was plotted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's [CDC] gender specific growth charts for 2-20 years to get BMI for-age percentile. Body mass index [underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese] was determined according to World Health Organization. Casual plasma glucose level was determined instantly after getting venous blood using Trendier-Reaction Casual plasma glucose level >200 mg/dl was taken as normal. Hyperglycemia/Type-2 diabetes mellitus is diagnosed when symptoms of diabetes mellitus and casual plasma glucose concentration is >200 mg/dl. 150 mg/dl was the maximum concentration of casual plasma glucose without any associated symptoms [polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia] of diabetes mellitus. None of the child was suffering from hyperglycemia/ Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Early detection of hyperglycemia/Type-2 diabetes mellitus may reduce the micro and macro-vascular complications in undiagnosed cases especially in children with obesity and family history of Type-2 diabetes mellitus

Comparison of unfractionated heparin vs low molecular weight heparin in the treatment of acute deep vein thrombosis

To compare the results of unfractionated heparin [UFH] with low molecular weight heparin in the treatment of acute deep vein thrombosis of lower limb. Randomized control trial. Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta from January 2002 to July 2003. Thirty patients who presented with acute deep vein thrombosis of lower limb, confirmed by either Doppler ultrasonography or venography, were selected for the study. Patients were divided randomly into two groups for treatment. Group 1 was started with unfractionated heparin while group 2 with low molecular weight heparin. Comparison of two treatments to determine the efficacy was done by certain criteria like pain improvement, reduction in swelling, alteration in bleeding profile, complications of therapy, recurrence, morbidity and mortality. The age of the patients ranged from 16-82 years. There were 15 females [50.00%] and 15 males [50.00%]. Pain and swelling were present in all patients [100%], while temperature and superficial vein dilation in 43.3% and 30% respectively. The distribution of DVT in left lower limb was in 13 patients [43.33%], right lower limb involvement in 12 patients [40.00%] and both limbs involvement in 5 patients [16.67%]. In group 1 improvement in pain occurred after 4th day in 13 patients, while in group 2 before 4th day in 8 patients [p-value=0.068]. Improvement in swelling was observed after 6th day in 11 patients [group 1], while before 6th day in 8 patients [group 2] [p-value=0.171]. Bleeding time was prolonged in 5 patients in group1and statistically found significant [p-value=0.014], while in group 2 it was normal. Thromboembolism in 3 patients and major bleeding was observed in 2 patients in group 1, while in group 2 it was normal. Recurrence was reported in 2 patients in group 1 and 1 patient in group 2 [p-value 0.0815]. The hospital stay was more than 10 days in group1 [12 patients], and less than 10 days in group 2 [13 patients]. It was found statistically significant [p-value=0.001]. Three patients died in group 1, while no mortality was observed in group 2. Treatment with low melecular weight heparin [LMWH] has good patient compliance and is easy to administer. LMWH has an advantage over UFH due to its normal bleeding profile and significantly less hospital stay

Diagnostic yield of color doppler ultrasonography in deep vein thrombosis

To see the diagnostic yield of color Doppler ultrasonography in patients who presented with clinical symptoms and signs of acute deep vein thrombosis of lower limb. Descriptive study. The study was carried out in Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta from January 2002 to December 2002. Twenty five patients, who presented with clinical symptoms and signs of acute deep venous thrombosis of lower limb, were selected. In all patients color Doppler ultrasound and venography was performed to compare the results. The age of the patients ranged from 16-82 +/- 20.33 years. The mean was 49.16, median 50.00 and mode 60.00 There were 15 females [60.00%] and 10 males [40.00%]. Left lower limb involvement was seen in 12 patients [48.00% +/- 0.51], right lower limb involvement in 10 patients [40.00% +/- 0.50] and both limbs involvement in 3.0 patients [12.00% +/- 0.33]. Color Doppler ultrasound was positive in 16 patients [64.00% +/- 0.48] while venography was positive in 21 patients [84.00% +/- 0.37%]. Doppler ultrasonography and venography showed that 11 patients [52.38%] had distal DVT, while 10 patients [47.62%] had distal as well as proximal DVT. Ten patients [100.00%] of proximal as well as distal DVT were diagnosed by CDU and later confirmed by venography. Eleven patients [100.00%] of distal DVT only in whom 6 patients [54.54%] were diagnosed by CDU, while 5 patients [45.46%] had inconclusive findings, which were confirmed by venography. Doppler ultrasonography compared venography showed sensitivity 76.1%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, negative predictive value 44.45% and accuracy 80.00%. Color Doppler ultrasonography is a non-invasive, safe, efficient and cost-effective method in diagnosing acute deep venous thrombosis of lower limb but still it has not 100% accuracy. It is better for diagnosing proximal DVT than distal DVT. 7