Frequency of primary headache disorders and association with body mass index; an ambispective study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of body mass index with various primary headache disorders. METHODS: The ambispective study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Shalamar Institute of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, from January 2020 to March 2021, and comprised data of patients who presented to outpatient departments of Neurology and Medicine with complaint of recurrent or persistent headaches. Body mass index of each subject at the time of latest headache visit was recorded. A control group of 200 individuals was also raised and the body mass index of its subjects was measured. Headache disorders were classified as per International Classification of Headache Disorders-3 beta criteria. Correlation of frequency of different types of primary headaches with body mass index was explored. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. RESULTS: Of the 400 subjects, 200(50%) each were cases and controls. There were 132(33%) males and 268(67%) females. The overall mean age was 37.4 ±14.7 years and mean body mass index was 27.3 ±5.87kg/m2. Migraine was found in 183(46%) subjects compared to tension-type headache 96(24%). Migraine was more common in subjects with high body mass index (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Primary headaches constitute a significant health problem. Among various risk factors weight-gain is one that can predispose an individual to increased frequency of migraine.

Supported Bimetallic AuPd Nanoparticles as a Catalyst for the Selective Hydrogenation of Nitroarenes.

The solvent-free selective hydrogenation of nitrobenzene was carried out using a supported AuPd nanoparticles catalyst, prepared by the modified impregnation method (MIm), as efficient catalyst >99% yield of aniline (AN) was obtained after 15 h at 90 °C, 3 bar H2 that can be used without any further purification or separation, therefore reducing cost and energy input. Supported AuPd nanoparticles catalyst, prepared by MIm, was found to be active and stable even after four recycle experiments, whereas the same catalyst prepared by SIm was deactivated during the recycle experiments. The most effective catalyst was tested for the chemoselective hydrogenation of 4-chloronitrobenzene (CNB) to 4-chloroaniline (CAN). The activation energy of CNB to CAN was found to be 25 kJ mol-1, while that of CNB to AN was found to be 31 kJ mol-1. Based on this, the yield of CAN was maximized (92%) by the lowering the reaction temperature to 25 °C.

A Case Of Thrombosis Due To Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria Presenting At An Early Age.

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired, rare life-threatening disorder characterised by compliment mediated hemolytic anemia, thrombosis and impaired bone marrow function. It occasionally presents in childhood or adolescence. This is a case of a 14-year old female presented with complaints of shortness of breath, palpitation and abdominal pain whose laboratory test results were consistent with Coomb's test negative haemolytic anaemia. Contrast enhanced Computed Tomography Scan (CT scan) of abdomen revealed splanchnic circulation thrombosis as well as partially occluding thrombus in the inferior vena cava. Flow cytometry showed loss of CD59 expression on erythrocytes confirming the diagnosis of paroxysmal nocturnal hemogloubinuria. Supportive treatment was given with haematinics, blood transfusions and anticoagulants. After that, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was conducted successfully as a permanent treatment. PNH can present at an earlier age and therefore should be included in differential diagnosis of haemolytic anaemia.

Sofosbuvir Adverse Events Profile in a Subset of Pakistani Population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine frequency and pattern of adverse events reporting in a subset of Pakistani population being treated for chronic hepatitis C with sofosbuvir combination therapy. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Shalamar Hospital, Lahore, from September 2015 to May 2016. METHODOLOGY: Patients who were offered sofosbuvir therapy for treatment of chronic hepatitis C were randomly enrolled. The study subset included both treatment nave as well as retreatment groups. Patients were screened for subjective as well as objective evidence of adverse events at regular intervals. Frequency was determined. RESULTS: Among 196 patients with chronic hepatitis C, 192 patients received dual therapy consisting of ribavirin and sofosbuvir. The most frequent complaints in these subjects were fatigue, fever, myalgias and nausea accounting for 55%, 42%, 44.2% and 50%, respectively. Twenty-seven percent of patients reported with drop in hemoglobin of >2g/dl, while absolute neutropenia and moderate to severe thrombocytopenia was observed in 3% and 5% of patients, respectively. One patient died as a result of severe pancytopenia. Later derangements were all observed in patients with decompensated disease. CONCLUSION: Sofosbuvir showed less severe adverse effects in terms of symptomatology and less frequent neutropenia and thrombocytopenia as compared to previous regimens. Careful monitoring is required, especially in those with decompensated liver disease.

Analysis of association between type of amblyopia and gender at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the frequency of different types of amblyopia and its association with gender. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2014 to October 2014 at the Department of Ophthalmology of a tertiary care hospital inKarachi. The patients were classified into different types of amblyopia like anisometropic, strabismic, sensory deprivation and meridional amblyopia. Stratification was done according to age, gender and type of amblyopia by using SPSS version 21. RESULTS: Out of 130 patients, 71 were male and 59 were female. The amblyopia rate determined was anisometropic 69.23%, strabismic amblyopia 21.51% and others 9.23%. The mean age of subjects was 18.02±9 years. Type of amblyopia was independent of gender, and anisometropic amblyopia was the most common type of amblyopia found in both genders. CONCLUSIONS: This study found no significant association between gender and types of amblyopia and anisometropic amblyopia was the most common type of amblyopia in the data collected.

An investigation of the effect of carbon support on ruthenium/carbon catalysts for lactic acid and butanone hydrogenation.

A series of ruthenium catalysts supported on two different carbons were tested for the hydrogenation of lactic acid to 1,2-propanediol and butanone to 2-butanol. The properties of the carbon supports were investigated by inelastic neutron scattering and correlated with the properties of the ruthenium deposited onto the carbons by wet impregnation or sol-immobilisation. It was noted that the rate of butanone hydrogenation was highly dependent on the carbon support, while no noticeable difference in rates was observed between different catalysts for the hydrogenation of lactic acid.