Adipokine Serum visfatin level in pregnancy induced hypertension and uncomplicated pregnancy

Background and Objectives: Hypertensive disorder in pregnancy is the significant disease that badly affects the maternal and fetal prognosis and lead to higher mortality and morbidity in the prenatal period. Visfatin, potentially a new adipokine has emerged having high contribution in pathogenesis of preeclampsia. The objective of the study was to find the level of Visfatin in pregnancy induced hypertension and normal pregnant women

Methods: This study was carried out in tertiary care hospitals, Peshawar from March-October 2014. A total of 234 pregnant women [gestational age >20 weeks] were included in the study with distribution as Preeclampsia [PE=86], Eclampsia [E=74] and control [N=74]. Blood was taken for measuring Visfatin level by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA] technique. SPSS version 19 was used for statistical analysis. Student's t test was performed to evaluate the mean differences in patients and control

Results: Serum level of visfatin was significantly higher in pregnancy induced hypertension when compared with control [P value <0.001]. Comparisons of mean value of visfatin with age group of 21-40 years, body mass index [BMI], primary parous and parity 2-4, gestational age of >36 weeks and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were highly significant in pregnancy induced hypertension when compared with control [p value <0.001]

Conclusion: Pregnancy induced hypertensive women showed increased level of serum Visfatin than normal pregnant women

Efficacy of mitomycin C in reducing recurrence of anterior urethral stricture after internal optical urethrotomy

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of mitomycin C in reducing the recurrence of anterior urethral stricture after internal optical urethrotomy (IOU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial conducted in the Department of Urology at the Institute of Kidney Diseases Peshawar from March 2011 to December 2013. A total of 151 patients who completed the study were divided into two groups by the lottery method. Group A (cases) comprised 78 patients in whom mitomycin C 0.1% was injected submucosally in the stricture after conventional IOU. Group B (controls) comprised 73 patients in whom IOU only was performed. Self-clean intermittent catheterization was not offered in either group. All patients were regularly followed up for 18 months. Recurrence was diagnosed by use of retrograde urethrogram in all patients and flexible urethroscopy in selected cases. Data were collected on a structured pro forma sheet and were analyzed by SPSS. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients in group A was 37.31+/-10.1 years and that in group B was 40.1+/-11.4 years. Recurrence of urethral stricture was recorded in 11 patients (14.1%) in group A and in 27 patients (36.9%) in group B (p=0.002). The mitomycin group also showed a delay in recurrence compared with the control group (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence of urethral stricture is high after optical urethrotomy. Mitomycin C was found to be highly effective in preventing the recurrence of urethral stricture after IOU.

Risk factors for diabetic foot ulcer

Diabetic foot is one of the common complications of diabetes mellitus. Many risk factors are involved in its causation. This study was conducted to determine risk factors responsible for foot ulcer in diabetic patients. A total of 196 consecutive patients with diabetic foot were included in the study. Detailed history, clinical findings and investigations were recorded. Lesions were graded according to Wagner's classification, and appropriate medical and/or surgical treatment was carried out. Patients who did not consent to participate in the study, had established gangrene of the foot, or had any medical co-morbidity especially chronic heart failure and chronic renal failure which could influence these risk factors were excluded from the study. Data were collected on a special proforma for analysis. Out of 196 patients 80.1% were male. One hundred and forty-six [74.48%] patients were in the range of 40-70 years. Right foot was more commonly involved [65.3%], 91.3% patients had diabetes of more than 5 years duration. No treatment had been received by 47.4% patients while 41.3% were on oral anti-diabetics; 11.2% patients were on insulin. All patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus. Neuropathy was present in 51% patients, 62.8% had absent or diminished peripheral pulses, 43.4% had poorly controlled diabetes. According to the Wagner classification 30.6% patients had grade 1, 26.5% had grade 2, and 42.9% had grade 3 diabetic foot. Evidence of infection was seen in 85.7% patients; staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 43.4% patients. Osteomyelitis was present in 42.9% patients. Surgical intervention was performed in 85.7% patients. Direct relation was found between the duration of diabetes, sugar control, peripheral neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, grade of diabetic foot, evidence of osteomyelitis, intervention and the outcome of the disease. Neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, duration of diseases and underlying osteomylitis are the major risk factors and need to addressed while educating patients

Evaluation of patients with coronary artery disease for major modifiable risk factors for ischemic heart disease

Incidence of cardiovascular diseases is on the rise in developing countries. Deaths due to ischemic heart disease can be reduced by modifying the risk factors. The present study was conducted to evaluate the patients scheduled for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for the presence of major modifiable risk factors for ischemic heart disease [IHD]. It was a descriptive study. All patients who underwent elective Coronary Artery Bypass cardiac surgery between November 1, 2008 and February 28, 2009 at Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar, were included in the study. Presence of Diabetes, Hypertension, Smoking, Dyslipidemia, Sedentary life style, and Obesity was looked for in these patients. A total of 104 patients were studied during this period. Majority [97.11%] of patients had at least one major modifiable risk factor for IHD. Sedentary life style [53.84%] was the most common risk factor present in these patients followed by hypertension and dyslipidemia [47.11% each], smoking [43.27%], diabetes [35.57%], and obesity [9.61%]. Multiple risk factors [two or more] were found in 78 [75.0%] of patients. Most of the patients with coronary artery disease, severe enough to warrant coronary artery bypass grafting, have at least one of the major modifiable risk factors for IHD. Modification of these factors may well reduce the disease burden of CAD and reduce the cardiovascular mortality.