Serum progesterone levels and sleep habits in premenopausal and postmenopausal females

Objectives: To evaluate the sleep habits in pre and postmenopausal femalesand to find out the relationship between serums progesterone levels and sleep habits

Study Design: Cross sectional study

Place and Duration: At Islamic International Medical College Rawalpindi from 1[st] March 2010 to 31[st] March 2011

Methodology: A total of 60 females were randomly selected out of which 30 were premenopausal [Group A] and 30 were postmenopausal [Group B] females. The sleep habits were assessed by sleep questionnaire and blood sample was taken for serum progesterone levels and were analyzed by enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay [ELFA] technique

Results: The comparison between pre and postmenopausal females was done on the basis of their sleep habits and statistically significant results were found which showed that postmenopausal females had lesser sleep duration than premenopausal females [p=0.011]. Postmenopausal females had more frequency of nocturnal arousals than premenopausal females [p<0.01], postmenopausal females awoke in morning without an alarm while most of the premenopausal females needed an alarm to wake up [p= 0.000] and postmenopausal females woke up earlier in the morning than premenopausal females [p=0.000]. Serum progesterone levels of postmenopausal females were lower than premenopausal females [p= 0.000]

Conclusions: Serum progesterone levels affect the sleep pattern of females across the menstrual cycle and menopause. As the serum progesterone levels decline after menopause; the sleep habits of females get affected and have relatively poor sleep quality, more evening tiredness and more dream remembrance as compared to premenopausal females

Effect of serum estrogen levels on sleep habits of females

Objectives: To evaluate the sleep habits in pre and postmenopausal females and to find out the relationship between sex hormones and sleep habits

Study design: Cross sectional study

Place and duration: The study was conducted in Islamic International Medical College Rawalpindi and was completed in 1 year [1[st] March 2010 to 28[th] February 2011]

Methodology: A total of 60 females were randomly selected out of which 30 were premenopausal [Group] and 30 were postmenopausal [Group B] females. The sleep habits were assessed by sleep questionnaire and blood sample was taken for serum estrogen levels and were analyzed by enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay [ELFA] technique

Results: The comparison between pre and postmenopausal females was done on the basis of their sleep habits and statistically significant results were found which showed that postmenopausal females had lesser sleep duration than premenopausal females [p=0.011]. Postmenopausal females had more frequency of nocturnal arousals than premenopausal females [p<0.01], postmenopausal females awoke in morning without an alarm while most of the premenopausal females needed an alarm to woke up [p= 0.000] and postmenopausal females woke up earlier in the morning than premenopausal females [p=0.000]. Serum estrogen levels of postmenopausal females were lower than premenopausal females [p= 0.000]

Conclusions: The study revealed that the serum estrogen levels affect the sleep pattern of females across the menstrual cycle and menopause. As the serum estrogen levels decline after menopause; the sleep habits of females get affected and have relatively poor sleep quality as compared to premenopausal females

Effect of ascorbic acid on long-term cold exposure induced changes in thyroid activity in sprague dawley rats

To determine the effect of ascorbic acid supplementation on long-term cold exposure induced changes in thyroid activity in Sprague-Dawley rats. Experimental study. Physiology Department of Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi, National Institute of Health, Islamabad and Railway Hospital, Rawalpindi, from January to December 2009. Ninety Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups of control, cold exposed and cold exposed along with ascorbic acid supplementation. After one month, their thyroid levels were analyzed by using chemiluminescent immunometric Assay on Siemens Immulite 2000 Analyzer. After 4 weeks of cold exposure to experimental animals, the thyroid activity was raised significantly in the cold exposed group as compared to the control group [p-value for T[3] difference = 0.004, T[4] difference = 0.002 and TSH difference < 0.001]. Supplementation with ascorbic acid in the third group normalized the thyroid hormone activity with p-value for difference in levels of T[3] being 0.6661, T[4] = 0.027 and TSH = 0.0028. Ascorbic acid prevented the cold induced changes in thyroid hormone levels in rodents

Effects of lead toxicity on serum testosterone and lh levels in adult male rats

To find out lead toxicity affects all levels of reproductive axis including both testosterone and Luteinizing Hormone production in adult male rats. An experimental study on animals The study was carried out at Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi from January 2010toNovember2010. Thirty adult male Sprawgue Dawley rats, purchased from NIH, Islamabad were divided into two groups A and B each containing 15 rats. Group A served as normal control receiving plain tap water. Group B received 0.3% lead acetate in drinking water. Five rats from each group were sacrificed at the end of 2nd, 4th and 6th weeks. Serum testosterone and LH levels were analyzed using ELISA technique. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 13. Serum testosterone level was significantly decreased in lead treated group as compared to control group whereas LH levels showed no significant change. Lead toxicity in male rats suppressed serum testosterone levels at all duration whereas LH levels at all durations manifested no significant change. This might be a result of direct testicular toxicity acting at testicular enzyme level alone or involving the hypothalamic-pituitary axis as well

Short duration head-up tilt test: a comparison with conventional long protocol in patients of orthostatic intolerance

Orthostatic intolerance is development of symptoms during upright standing relieved by recumbency. An individual's predisposition to orthostatic intolerance [development of symptoms during upright posture] can be identified by Head-up Tilt Test [HUT]. The aim of the present study was to compare the diagnostic yield [Percentage of patients tested positive] of short duration with conventional HUT. The study was conducted in Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi in collaboration with Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology/National Institute of Heart Diseases. A total number of 100 patients with orthostatic intolerance were studied. The conventional and short duration HUT protocols were compared. Conventional protocol had a passive tilt phase of 30 minutes and drug provocation phase of 20 minutes while the short duration protocol had both phases of 15 minutes, thereby reducing the test duration by 20 minutes. All patients underwent short duration HUT and patients with positive test were considered positive for conventional HUT as well. Patients having negative short duration HUT underwent conventional HUT after one week. Comparison was done using Chi-square statistics and p<0.05 was considered significant. Diagnostic yield of short duration and conventional HUT was 53% and 63% respectively with no statistically significant difference between the two protocols [p=0.15]. Head-up tilt test [HUT] is an effective investigative tool for orthostatic intolerance with satisfactory diagnostic yield. Short duration HUT may be substituted for conventional HUT to save time and to accommodate more patients

Impact of computer assisted instructions on learning of physics at secondary school level

This paper argues that Physics' reputation as a hard subject may be attributed to a number of variables, the most important being the method of teaching, characteristics of teachers and the learners. Keeping in view the recent changes in teaching methodology and concurrent advances in information technology [IT], the present study was designed to investigate the possible role of computer instructions in improving the learning process especially in the subject of physics at secondary school level. To achieve this objective, an experiment was performed at the university Wensam College Dera Ismail Khan. Matched group design was used. Based on scores on a pre-test in physics, the students were divided into an experimental and a control group. The control group was taught by the traditional lecture method and the experimental group by the use of computer instructions. Two achievement tests were conducted; the first one after one month teaching and the other one after three months of experiment. Findings of the study revealed that the experimental group performed much better than the control group in Physics achievement test. It was concluded that the use of educational technology has positive effect on the academic achievement and retention of the students at secondary level

Learning styles of first year medical and dental students at riphah international university, Pakistan

To Identify andcompare the learning styles of first year MBBS and BDS students at RID in order to develop teaching and learning activities matching to their learning styles [LS] and to observe the effects of age and gender on learning style. Across sectional survey. At Islamic International Medical College Riphah International University, Rawalpindi- Pakistan from January'1 to January 31, 2007. The information was collected through a Kolb's [1985] Learning Style Inventory [LSI]. It was filled by all first year MBBS and BDS students in January 2007 and was classified into one of the four main learning styles. The data was collected, scored, analyzed and interpreted by the faculty.Total number of first year medical students was N=99 [n=60 F, n=39 M] and dental students was N=49 [n=42 F, n=7M]. Among the frequencies of four Learning Styles, 33.33% and 46.93% students in medical and dental programs respectively were 'accommodators'. 22.25% and 30.61% students in medicine and dental programs respectively were 'convergers' and few had diverging and assimilating styles. The relationship of gender and Learning Style in both programs was same; 30% female and 38.46% male medical students and 42.85% female and 35.71% male dental students were 'accommodators'. This study showed that among the two programs the majority of the students were classified as 'Accommodators1 and 'Convergers', in which 'Accommodators'were in majority. However, there are students with other learning Styles as well for example, assimilators and divergers. Hence for the students at RIU, to make most of their learning opportunities in their basic and continuing education, they and faculty should be aware of their learning styles. The educators at RIU should Teach' each of the learning styles in order to 'reach' all the students

study on liver-injury of SD rats with autologous orthotopic liver transplantation by bile duct angiography using meglumine diatrizoate and omnipaque

Objective: to investigate the liver-injury of the SD rats in autologus 01-thotopic liver transplatation using Meglumine Diatrizoate and Omnipaque

Methods: the portal veins of 60 healthy SD rats were perfused to set up orthotopic liver autotransplatation models. Then the external drainages of rats' bile duct were built up by bile duct cannula. The ALT and AST in blood serum were detected 24h and 48h after the operation respectively using the recommended dose of Meglumine Dia- trizoate, Omnipaque and normal saline. The blank trial group and simlpe operation group were the control group

Results: the ALT in the SD rats with orthotopic liver autotransplatation are higher than that in the blank trial group there is no significant difference between the blank trial group with the normal saline and simple operation group. Although there is significant difference between the blank trial group with the Meglumine Diatrizoate and the Omnipaque group. The bile duct angiography were performed after 24h and 48h. The AST in the SD rats with orthotopic liver autotransplatation are higher than that in the blank trial group;there is no significant difference between the blank trial group and simple operation group. But there is significant difference between the blank trial group with the Meglumine Diatrizoate and the Omnipaque group; there is significant difference after 24h between the blank trial group and the normal saline group; however there is no significant difference after 48h- between the blank trial group and the normal saline group

Conclusion: meglumine Diatrizoate and Omnipaque can damage the liver of SD rats in autologous orthotopic liver transplantation during bile duct angiography. The damage from Meglumine Diatrizoate is much more than Omnipaque

randomized trail of ligustrazini hydrochlorioi in the treatment of viral encephalitis

Chuanxiong is a herb used in traditional Chinese medicine for the Treatment of viral encephalitis. In animal studies it has shown to inhibit the synthesis and activity of Thromboxane [TXA2] and abate the imbalance between Thromboxane [TXA2] and Prostacyclin [PGI2]. As a result, cerebral edema, ischemia and hypoxia could be improved. The aim of this study is to evaluate its effect in the treatment of viral encephalitis in children

Methodology: ninety-nine patients with viral encephalitis were randomly divided into two groups. Ligustrazini Hydrochlorioi [LH] consisting of 51 cases [males 30, females 21; age 5 years and nine month +/- 8 years and 2month] was given LH 4mg/kg per day in 100- 300mls of 10% glucose and infused intravenously over a three to four hour period, for 7 days as a course of treatment. A control groups of 48 cases [males 31, females 17; age 5 years and three month +/- 4 years and three month] received the conventional treatment of Vitamin C[2.0-3.0g], Coenzyme A[100u] and Adenosine Triphosphate [ATP] [40mg] in 100-300 mls of 10% glucose infused intravenously daily for 7 days

Results: the total response rate in the LH group and the control group were 94.12% and 68.75% respectively [u=3.271 p<0.05]. The average time to improvement was 4.29 +/- 1.41 days and 7.31 +/- 2.66 days respectively. No adverse effect was observed in both groups

Conclusion: we conclude that LH is an effective, safe and well tolerated treatment for children encephalitis

Biliary tract surgery; surgical complications

Surgical complication after biliary tract injury are serious complications of Hepatobiliary surgery. The incidence of iatrogenic bile duct injuries has increased significantly since the number of cholecystectomy operations have increased, laparoscopic cholecystectomy became the "gold standard", mini-cholecystectomy established for the treatment of cholelithiasis. Intraoperative hemorrhage can be life-threatening or may lead the death. The common uses of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and mini-cholecystectomy have made the young surgeons less familiar with open cholecystectomy procedure and the approaches to manage the biliary tract injuries. Uncommonly the patient had to undergo hepatic transplantation secondary to biliary tract surgery with several vessel injuries or biliary cirrhosis. Postoperative bile leakage can be managed by effective drainage as soon as possible. These complications uncommon with the expert surgeons, but common with comparatively inexperienced surgeons. There is no substitute of experience and caution in biliary surgery for optimization technique

Surgical treatment of iatrogenic lesions of the upper biliary tract

To study the outcome of biliary reconstruction in cases of Iatrogenic Bile duct Injury and Structures. Retrospective study conducted from Oct. 1989 to Dec. 2002. Dept. of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, People Republic of China. Ninety four patients who underwent biliary reconstruction. Amongst the 94 patients, 74 injuries resulted from Laparoscopic procedure and 28 from Open Cholecystectomy, while one was the result of Mini Cholecystecomy The patients underwent repair based on Bismuth classification. The outcome was graded as excellent, good and poor. There was no pre-operative death in this series. During the follow-up of 13-15 years, 75 [79.8%] patients had excellent results, 13 [13.8%] good results and 6 [6.4%] poor results. Four patients amongst the poor group died. To reduce the incidence of bile duct injuries it is important to recognize the cystic duct, the common hepatic and the common bile duct junction, and to be familiar with the anatomical variations and the congenital anomalies. The classification of iatrogenic bile duct injuries and strictures, and the timing and technique of biliary reconstruction influence the outcome in these cases

study of sperm morphology in a Pakistani population

The aim of this study was to determine the sperm morphology of proven fertile males and to compare the same with that of infertile males. This study was carried out at International Medical College Rawalpindi and its attached Railway hospital and Islamabad Clinic Serving Infertile Couples Islamabad, from June 2005 to July 2006. 50 healthy fertile males were selected and their semen morphology was determined according to Tygerberg's strict criteria, while another 50 infertile males were recruited as controls Proven fertile group showed significantly higher morphologically normal forms of sperms [3.04 +/- 1.63] than the infertile group. Sperm morphology assessed by strict criteria is of value in the in-vivo situation to identify a group with greater chance of having an infertility problem and strict criteria sperm morphology analysis should be used to minimize variations in intra and inter-individual and inter-laboratory sperm morphology assessment

Liver transplantation for viral hepatitis and hepatic cancer: a minireview

Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed for 43 years. One-year survival rates climbed to as high as 88% and operative mortality rates dropped to as low as zero. Liver resection should still be considered the first-line treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in non-cirrhotic and resectable livers; however liver transplantation must be the preferred approach for cirrhotic livers. Orthotopic liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma at a more advanced stage was not indicated. Combination therapy with hepatitis B immune globulin and lamivudine for hepatitis B virus patients before and after orthotopic liver transplantation increases survival rates compared to non- hepatitis B virus recipients

hospital based study of frequency of aerobic pathogens in vaginal infections

Objective: To see the frequency of aerobic organisms in the vaginal flora of our patients at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad

Materials and Methods: Females referred for vaginal swab culture sensitivity were included in the study. The swabs were sent immediately to the laboratory for microbiological examination in transport medium. Following 48 hours growth, the media was examined and morphological characteristics were observed. Thereafter staining of colonies from media was performed

Results: The percentage of Enterococcus was the highest [31%] followed by Streptococcus pyogenes [22%] and E.coli [21%]. The age group which was most prone to the infection was 15-30 years followed by 31-45 year. The Gram + ve organisms were more common [71%] in vaginal infections than Gram -ve organism [29%]

Conclusion: In our study the most common pathogens in vaginal infections were Enterococcus [31%], E.coli [21%] and Streptococcus pyogenes [22%]. The vulnerable age-group to these infections was 15-30 years of age

Response of the adult female rats to ovariectomy as determined by luteinsing hormone radioimmunoassay

This study was carried out to see the response of ovariectomy in adult female rats as determined by rat Luteinising Hormone [rLH] Radioimrnunoassy [RIA]. Animals were divided in two groups. Group I [control, n=6] were sham ovariectomised and group II [experimental, n=4] were ovariectomised. Next day at 1400 hours rats were sacrificed and their plasma was collected for rLH, RIA. It was observed that there was highly significant increase in plasma rLH [P<0.001] in experimental group as compared to controls. Also the increase in the weights of hypothalamus and anterior pituitary of experimental group was highly significant [P<0.001] as compared to controls. This shows that this rise in plasma rLH and weights of hypothalamus and anterior pituitary was due to loss of negative feed back effect of ovarian steroids