Ultrasonographic findings of liver in chronic liver disease and its complications and their association with the duration of the disease

Objective: To evaluate the ultrasound abdomen findings in patients having viral chronic liver disease [CLD] and build correlation of these findings with the duration of disease

Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine, Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad and Jamshoro, Pakistan, from February to July 2016

Methodology: Known cases of CLD were inducted. Data was collected using a standardized form which included details of patients, duration of disease and their ultrasound abdomen findings, like liver size, echo pattern and echogenicity, nodularity, intrahepatic vessel [IHV] obliteration, ascites and splenomegaly. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. The association of duration of the disease on ultrasound findings was studied by means of chi-square test

Results: A total of 193 subjects [92 males, 101 females; age range 14-80 years] were taken. The average measured liver span was 13.99 +/- 3.14 cm, with most coarse echo pattern. About a quarter, i.e. 26.94% of the cases, had no complications; 17.62% only had ascites and 16.06% presented with IHV obliteration, and ascites with splenomegaly. The duration had no significant association with liver size, echo pattern and echogenicity, and nodularity of the liver [p-values of 0.182, 0.331 and 0.268], respectively or complications [p=0.164]

Conclusion: The duration of CLD had no significant association with the ultrasound findings of liver

Effects of administration of vitamin a to pregnant dams on the skin of the fetuses of albino mice

For differentiation and maintenance of epithelial cells in vitro and vivo wider the influence ofretinoic acid treatment, skin seems to be a major target organ for both the normal and patholo-gical states. The current study was conducted to evaluate the effects ofretinoic acid on fetal skin if given to albino mice during pregnancy. Twelve pregnant albino mice were divided into two groups of 6 each; the experimental group was given 60 mg/kg/day ofretinoic acid [RA] dissolved in o.iml of olive oil orally on 7, 8 and 9 day of gestation. Fetuses were delivered and dissected on 18[th] day of gestation; skin samples were removed and processed for microscopic study. Histological examination of fetal skin in RA treated group showed increased keratinocyte proliferation resulting in increased number of epidermal cell layers and increased epidermal thickness. It also inhibited the development of hair follicles which are seen in the form of rudimentary buds in the dermis. So its usage during pregnancy should be warranted. Given the essential role of retinoids in epidermal differentiation and their effectiveness in the treatment of several skin orders it is important to see its histological effects on skin

Effects of passive smoking on children health

Smoking is the single greatest avoidable cause of disease and death. According to the World Health Organization [WHO], 1.1 billion people worldwide regularly smoke tobacco products and smoking accounts for 10,000 deaths per day due to the effect of smoke on the body. Non- smokers are at risk because of inhalation of passive smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke [ETS]. Exposure to passive smoking [ETS] is harmful to the health of the general population and particularly hazardous to children. Passive smoking exposure causes disease and premature death in children and in adults who do not smoke. Researchers found significant dose-dependent associations between passive smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, ischemic heart disease, and all forms of cancer, and all respiratory and circulatory diseases[1]. The home is the place where children are most exposed to second hand smoke; where they spend much of their early in their homes. Children are especially sensitive to the effects, due to the fact that their bodies are still growing and developing and they breath faster than adults and d therefore may inhale more smoke. Children who live in homes where parents smoke have high levels [more than five times] of cotinine [a biological marker of secondhand smoke exposure] than children who have nonsmoking parents[2]. Also children with childhood ETS exposure were more likely to become smokers in adolescent or in adulthood [3,4]