Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of serology test kit for detection of h.pylori infection in patients presenting with nonulcer dyspepsia taking histopathology as gold standard

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of serological testing in detection of H. pylori infection taking histopathology as gold standard. This study was a cross sectional survey carried out at the Histopathology department of Shaikh Zayed Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute Lahore from 27[th] December 2005 to 23[rd] November2006.A total of 100 adult patients of both genders with complaints of non-ulcer dyspepsia from whom gastric biopsies were taken by endoscopy in the Gastroenterology Department were included in the study. Two tests namely, histopathological identification of H. pylori [gold standard] and serological test were carried out on each patient. The diagnostic accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of serological test were calculated. The diagnostic accuracy of serological testing in detection of H. pylori infection was 62% in the present study. The sensitivity was 88.6% and Specificity was 41.07%. Positive predictive value and negative predictive value was 54.16% and 82.1% respectively. This test is useful for detecting a newly infected patient, but it is not a good test for follow up of treated patients because the results do not indicate if this is a recent infection with H. pylori or otherwise

Frequency of depression and somatic symptoms in patients on interferon alpha/ribavirin for chronic Hepatitis C

Large numbers of patients suffering from Chronic Hepatitis C [HCV] are seeking treatment with interferon alpha [IFN] because of significant advances in overall improvement in the course of HCV and its complications. Objectives were to estimate the frequency of depression and somatic symptoms in patients on interferon alpha/ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C. It was an observational study conducted in the out-patient Department of Gastroenterology Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore during a period of three months, i.e., from September to November 2008. One hundred consecutive patients undergoing interferon alpha/ribavirin treatment for chronic HCV were included in the study. All patients, irrespective of age, sex or duration of treatment were administered with a check list of common physical complaints and DSM-IV symptoms for Major Depressive Episode. Out of a total of 100 subjects 37 were male and 63 were female. In all, 39 [39%] patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of DSMIV for Major Depressive Episode. Major Depression was more common in female 28 [44.4%] as compared to male 11 [28.7%] patients. Somatic symptoms were common in all the patients but they were reported more frequently by patients with Major Depression compared to those without Major Depression. Myalgias, headache, joint pain, nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain and palpitation were the most common physical symptoms. Major Depression and somatic complaints are a common consequence of interferon alpha/ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C. All patients receiving this treatment should be periodically assessed for the detection of these side effects to promptly address relevant treatment options

Correlation of tumor size and grade with axillary lymph node status in carcinoma breast

Objectives: to evaluate the size and grade of carcinoma breast and to correlate these with the axillary lymph node status

Design and place of study: it was a case series observational study conducted in the Department of Histopathology, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore

Subjects and methods: the study comprised convenient sampling of 30 female patients of age over thirty years undergoing modified radical mastectomy for breast carcinoma during six months from December 2004 to May 2005

Results: in all, 56.25% of cases of tumor size >5cm had >9 axillary nodes positive for metastatic breast carcinoma while 69.2% of grade 3 neoplasms had >9 positive axillary nodes. There was a significant correlation [P <0.01] of tumor size and grade with number of positive nodes

Conclusion: greater the tumor size and grade, more was the number of axillary lymph nodes positive for metastatic breast carcinoma

Frequency and distribution of different types of breast carcinoma

Background: To find out frequency and distribution of different types of breast carcinoma in mastectomy specimens

Subjects and Methods: It was an observational study conducted in the Department of Histopathology, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore. The study comprised of a convenient sample of 30 female patients above 30 years of age undergoing modified radical mastectomy for carcinoma during a period of six months from December 2004 to May 2005

Results: A total of 30 mastectomy specimens of 30 female patients of age 30-79 years were included. A slightly greater proportion of patients [56.67%] had the tumour on the right side while [43.30%] had it in upper outer quadrant. Out of these thirty carcinomas, 25 cases were ductal in type whereas 4 were lobular

Conclusion: Majority of the patients in our study were in the fifth and fourth decade of life. Slightly greater proportion of patients had the carcinoma in the upper outer quadrant of right breast. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma was the commonest type

Frequency of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in earthquake survivors

Objectives: This study was done to assess the frequency of symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in earthquake survivors

Design and place of study: It was an observational study conducted on in-patient survivors of Oct 8. 2005 earthquake, admitted in different departments of Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore affiliated with Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute

Subject and methods: The patients who had received different physical injuries and their surviving attendants were administered with a check-list of symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD] diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV

Results: A total of 124 survivors [85 patients and 39 attendants] were identified and administered with the check-list. In all 52 [41.94%] of the survivors, 38 [44.77%] of patients and 14 [35.90%] of the attendants fulfilled the entire DSM-IV symptom criteria for PTSD. Among the patients more females i.e. 27 [52.94%] as compared to males i.e. 11 [32.32%] fulfilled the symptom criteria for PTSD

Conclusion: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder symptoms are very common in the survivors of an earthquake, an evidence to sensitize health care providers to organize and implement timely psychosocial assessment and interventions

Cystic lymphangioma of the small-bowel mesentery: case report

Cystic lymphangioma of the small-bowel mesentery is a rare manifestation of an intraabdominal tumor in elderly patients. We present a case of a small-bowel mesentery lymphangioma, causing fever and chills and present clinical and pathologic features. Furthermore, etiology and differential diagnosis of this tumor are discussed