Delayed onset chloroquine retinopathy presenting 10 years after long-term usage of chloroquine

Chloroquine retinopathy is a known complication of long-term use of chloroquine. This retinopathy can appear even after usage of chloroquine has stopped. The present case report describes the history and clinical features of chloroquine retinopathy developing a decade after discontinuing the drug

Changing trends in deliberate self-poisoning at Hyderabad

Objective: to document changing trends in deliberate self-poisoning in patients admitted in intensive care unit of Accident and Emergency [A and E] Department of Liquate University Hospital Hyderabad

Design: descriptive Retrospective

Setting: intensive care unit of A and E Department at Liquate University Hospital Hyderabad from January to December 2008

Methods: medical records of 236 patients of poisoning admitted in intensive care unit of A and E Department at Liquate University Hospital Hyderabad from January to December 2008 were reviewed; relevant data like history and clinical finding were collected and analyzed

Results: during study period, 236 patients of poisoning were admitted in intensive care unit of AandE Department at Liquate University Hospital Hyderabad. The mean age was31.24+/-10.72, females were 130[55.08%] and males were 106[44.91%], poisoning observed was common [44.49%] in age group 20-30 years. The changing trend was more towards suicidal 160[67.79%] than accidental 76[32.20%]. The drugs used for poisoning were organophosphate [73.30%], benzodiazepines [14.40%], powders [rat killer/ anti lice] [7.62%] and oil [phenyl, kerosene] [4.66%]. The fatal outcome was [9.32%] and the survival rate was [60.67%]. The route / exposure of cases by ingestion was 160[67.79%], by inhalation 50[21.18%] and topical 26[11.01%]

Conclusion: this study shows marked decline in the use of benzodiazepines and other agents as compared to organophosphate poisoning which shows increase in their usage resulting in changing trends of poisonous agents. The reasons of this change were due to easy availability of the toxic agents over the counter. Preventive measures are to be taken to stop the easy availability of these toxins by appropriate legislation. Awareness and education to the people is recommended to avoid such mishaps

Hepatoprotective role of zinc sulphate in acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity

Objective: To determine the role of zinc sulphate as a hepatoprotective agent in acetaminophen-induced histopathological changes in animal model

Design:Experimental observational study

Setting: Department of Pharmacology and Pathology, ISRA University, Hyderabad and Department of Pathology, Peoples Medical College, Nawabshah

Duration: 1 st December 2009 to 31 st March 2010

Methodology: Ninety healthy albino rats [weight 18-32 g] were divided into three main groups [n=30]. Group A, which served as control, was maintained on 0.9% normal saline; Group B was given acetaminophen 250 mg/kg as a single dose; Group C was maintained on 1-5 mg/kg zinc sulphate for 1-7 days, before a single dose of acetaminophen 250 mg/kg. Biochemical studies were done 6 hours after acetaminophen administration. At the end of the treatment, all animals were weighed and sacrificed, the liver excised for gross and histopathological examination. Data were statistically evaluated using the Chi- square test

Results: The protective effect of zinc was demonstrated with the reduction in the levels of serum concentration of liver enzymes [aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and serum sorbitol dehydrogenase], with histopathological changes of centrilobular congestion, and hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis. Histopathological assessment showed typical pathological changes of centrizonal necrosis, steatosis, leukocyte infiltration, portal triaditis, and edema in those animals that received acetaminophen only. Pretreatment of the animals with zinc sulphate led to dose- dependent avoidance of these changes

Conclusion: Zinc produces a hepatoprotective effect by preventing the ultrastructural injury of hepatic tissue and the disturbance of free amino acid metabolism caused by a toxic dose of acetaminophen

Musculoskeletal problems and recommended remedies to computer users at Isra University

Objective: To determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal complications and recommend remedies to computer users at ISRA University, Hyderabad

Design:Descriptive cross-sectional study

Place and Duration: This study was conducted from October 2009 to March 2010 at ISRA University, Hyderabad

Methodology: One hundred computer users [54 males and 46 females] of Isra University were enrolled in this study. Through a questionnaire, data were collected and statistically evaluated using the Chi-square test. Furthermore, remedies [rest, physiotherapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDS] and muscle relaxant] were prescribed for relief, according to the grading of complications

Results: The frequency of musculoskeletal complications in either group [male or female] was 52.63% in those who had been in contact with computers for less than or equal to 2 hrs, 68.18% between 2-4 hrs, 81.48% between 4-6 hrs, and 93.75% more than 6 hrs, respectively. The frequency of musculoskeletal complications [neck pain, low backache, shoulder pain, and elbow and wrist pain] was graded according to a scale of pain ranging from grade I to grade V with respect to the number of hours spent with computers

Conclusion: The results of the study revealed that most subjects had complaints of musculoskeletal complications directly proportional to the extensive use of a computer. The pattern observed in evaluating pain on a grading scale suggests opportunities for remedies