Dyslipidemia and mean lipid profile in patients with liver cirrhosis

Background: Patients with liver disorders are often found to have deranged lipid profile. Clear decline is observed in the levels of cholesterol as well as TG among individuals having severe hepatitis and liver failure as synthesis of lipoprotein is reduced. This study was done to determine the frequency of dyslipidemia and the mean lipid profile values in patients of liver cirrhosis.Methods: A cross sectional, descriptive study, done at the Department of Medicine, Medical Unit-1, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, from July to December 2019. A total of 246 patients presented with cirrhosis of liver of age 20-60 years and both genders were included. Analysis for serum total cholesterol (TC) level, serum triglycerides level, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were done and findings were noted.Results: Mean age was 51.67±6.21 years. Out of the 246 patients, 153 (62.20%) were male and 93 (37.80%) were females with male to female ratio of 1.6:1. Mean values of lipid were, LDL cholesterol 95.76±29.65 mg/dl, HDL 43.37±11.46 mg/dl, TC 147.51±42.69 mg/dl and TG 101.29±21.59 mg/dl. Dyslipidemia was found in 59 (23.98%) patients, whereas there was no dyslipidemia in 187 (76.02%) patients.Conclusions: Frequency of dyslipidemia in cirrhotic patients is high. Evaluating patients of liver cirrhosis, dyslipidemia need to be considered for early recognition and analysis.

Perceptions of cadaveric dissection in anatomy teaching

Background: Anatomy professors world over are lamenting about medical students' lack of interest in dissections and its diminishing utilisation in medical studies. The objective of our study was to find out the reasons why some of the Pakistani medical students were avoiding dissections. Method: We conducted this study in 5 medical colleges of Pakistan from Dec 2010–Oct 2011. Questionnaires were prepared and administered to more than 500 Pakistani medical students, at least 6 months after their first cadaver dissecting session. Mostly 1 st and 2 nd year medical students participated in this study. Result: Around 43% students have actually performed dissections in some form, whereas around 57% had never touched the cadaver. Further evaluation of these results revealed that out of 57% of students, 45% avoided dissection due to bad smell of formaldehyde, 37% due to moral/ethical grounds, 22% due to low motivation and respect of human body, 19.4% due to anxiety, 18.6% due to religious reason, 16% due to fear, asthma and emotional reaction, 9.4% due to toxic chemical, 8.6% due to laziness and 7% due to nightmares. Conclusion: In spite of availability of required number of cadavers in all 5 medical colleges and a clear realisation amongst the students that dissecting cadaver is an effective way of learning anatomy; majority of students were not very keen and had therefore not performed dissection even once. Keywords: Anatomy, dissection, cadaver, questionnaire, medical student, formaldehyde