MedERA (E-Journal)
Not a member yet
95 research outputs found
Sort by
Prevalence Of Hepatitis B Infection in Personnel and Patients Screened At Combined Military Hospital, Lahore
No full textObjective: This research was conducted to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B infection in personnel and patients screened at CMH, Lahore.
Study design: Descriptive study. Place and duration of the study: From August 2015 to January 2016 at Combined Military Hospital, Lahore.
Methodology: The serum samples of the patients received at Combined Military Hospital, Lahore were analyzed. The patients of all ages, sex, ranks, blood donors, new recruits and troops going on UN missions were included in the study. The samples were analyzed by ELISA (Linear Chemicals Company, Barcelona Spain).
Results: A total of 15,606 serum samples were analyzed on ELISA. Five hundred and thirty one patients were diagnosed positive of HBV. The amount of positive patients fluctuates every month. The prevalence of positive patients in the month of August 2015, 2980/93 (3.1%), September 2015, 2788/107 (3.8%), October 2015, 2814/91 (3.2%), November 2015, 2665/80 (3.0%), December 2015, 2320/ 82 (3.5%) and in January, 2016 2039/78 (3.8%). Total prevalence percentage is 3.4%.
Conclusion: Due to proper awareness campaigns, advertisements and infection control programs, the prevalence of HBV at CMH, Lahore is quite low, and could further be reduced
Robotics in Health Care
No full textThe Robot Institute of America defines a robot as "a reprogrammable multifunctional manipulator designed to move material, parts, tools or specialized devices through various programmed motion for the performance of variety of tasks”. However due to the rapid development in the science of robotics it has become difficult to define exactly what a robot is....
Comparison of Topical ketoconzole alone versus Topical Ketoconazole plus Topical Adapalene in the Treatment of Patients with Pityriasis Versicolor
No full textBackground& Objectives: Pityriasis Versicolor (PV) is a chronic cutaneous fungal infection caused by Malassezia species. A recent study showed combination therapy consisting of Ketoconazole plus Adapalene gel to be superior to Ketoconazole monotherapy. The objective of this study was to compare the frequency of patients improved with Ketoconazole alone versus Ketoconazole plus Adapalene in the treatment of Pityriasis Versicolor.
Study design: Randomized controlled trial.
Place & duration of study: Department of Dermatology, CMH Lahore from 20th May 2016 to 19th November 2016.
Methods: This study included 80 patients, both male and female, aged between 18 -70 yrs presenting with Pityriasis Versicolor. These patients were divided into two treatment groups. Randomly Patients in Group-A were given Ketoconazole cream alone while patients in GroupB were given combination therapy with Ketoconazole cream plus Adapalene gel applied separately with different timings. Outcome variable was number of patients improved after 2 weeks of treatment.
Results: The frequency of improvement at 2 weeks was significantly higher with the combination therapy (87.5% vs. 47.5%; p=0.000) as compared to Ketoconazole alone and this difference was significant across all age, gender and duration of disease groups.
Conclusion: The frequency of improvement was significantly higher with the combination therapy consisting of Ketoconazole plus Adapalene as compared to Ketoconazole alone, advocating preferred use of combination therapy in patients presenting with Pityriasis Versicolor in future practice
Myths & Barriers to Insulin Therapy in the patients of Diabetes Melitus
No full textObjective: Diabetic Patients in Pakistan are either hesitant to use Insulin or have poor compliance. There are numerous misconceptions and barriers to using insulin for the control of blood sugar leading to late adaptation often leading to complications of Diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to determine the barriers to Insulin Therapy and the myths associated with poor compliance of insulin therapy in patients with Diabetes Mellitus.
Study design: Across sectional conducted at Sakina Institute of Diabetes & Endocrine Research (SIDER), Shalamar Hospital, Lahore.
Methodology: The study was conducted using questionnaires, designed separately for patients using Insulin, and for those not using Insulin, to determine the barriers to initiation and poor compliance to Insulin therapy.
Results: Out of the 124 patients that participated in our study, 58.9% of these were those who never used Insulin, while 41.1% were on Insulin therapy. Among the patients not using Insulin, about 71.4% expressed their fear of taking Insulin because of the pain from injections; 83.4% felt that self-administration of Insulin is a discouraging factor because of the procedure; 61.9% felt that cost of Insulin therapy is a huge barrier to its use and 78.6% were reluctant in using Insulin, because they feared it would make their life less flexible. Among the patients using Insulin, about 62.7% were satisfied with their lifestyle; 84.3% said they adapted well to the route of administration and 64.7% felt an improvement in their health status after starting taking Insulin. Nearly, 80.4% of the patients currently using Insulin, were reluctant to initiate Insulin therapy; and about 66.7% said that proper information and counselling from their physicians helped them make the decision of starting Insulin and, 19.6% admitted to being motivated by their Family/Friends.
Conclusion: Numerous myths and barriers exist, resulting in reluctance among patients of Diabetes Mellitus to comply with insulin therapy. However with appropriate counselling from physicians and stimulus from the patient's family and friends helped them to start Insulin therapy with proper compliance
Correlation of Lower Back Pain with Gender and Smoking
Get PDFBackground: Lower back pain (LBP) not only remains the foremost cause of work absence and medical consultation but is also the leading cause of disability. It affects individuals from both developed and developing countries including children, adolescents, and the elderly. Aim: The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between risk factors and lower back pain among the people of Pakistan. Methodology: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted at a local medical college comprising both the students and the staff. Results: Prevalence of LBP in participants was 51%. Males reported a higher frequency of LBP as compared to females (r=.191, p=0.03). Students had a significantly higher incidence of LBP as compared to staff (r=.178, p=0.04). Smoking was also associated with LBP as smokers showed a significantly higher frequency of LBP (r=.366, p=0.006). Higher frequency of LBP was also linked with a higher grade of pain (r=0.346, p=0.005). Females reported a higher grade of pain as compared to males (r=0.292, p=0.01). Conclusion: There is a high frequency of LBP in students associated with gender, smoking and lifestyle. Proper education and planning are needed to address the situation. More prospective studies are indicated to further validate the results of this study.
Frequency of Peripheral Neuropathy among Patients of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument
Get PDFBackground: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of type II diabetes mellitus. Chronic pain is the most common characteristic of neuropathy. It has a major impact on the quality of life of a person and usually, it is not managed satisfactorily. Moreover, there is no local study found in the literature that could help us in determining the extent of the problem in the local population. So, we conducted this study to get local evidence. To assess the frequency of peripheral neuropathy in patients with type II diabetes mellitus by using Michigan clinical diabetic neuropathic scoring. Methodology: It is a cross-sectional study conducted in the medical department of Services Hospital, Lahore for 6 months duration. A total of 207 cases fulfilling selection criteria were enrolled in the study. Patients were assessed for peripheral neuropathy by using score MNSI. Questions regarding neuropathy were asked and recorded. Peripheral neuropathy was labelled if MNSI score>7. All the information was collected on proforma. Data was entered & analyzed into SPSS version-21. Results: The average age of the patient was 60.03=8.86years. There were 113 (54.59%) males and 94 (45.41%) female subjects. The mean HbAlc of patients was 12.17+3.72%. The mean MNSI score of patients was 754+4.28. In this study sample, there were 108 (52.17%) patients of peripheral neuropathy while 99 (47.83%) did not have peripheral neuropathy. Conclusion: There is a high incidence of peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients in our local community
Association of Interleukin-8 Levels with the Development of Uterine Leiomyomas
Get PDFAbstractObjective: To find out the relationship between Uterine Leiomyoma and IL-8 levels.Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted on a sample of 100 females (age ranging from25-50 years) including 50 ultrasound confirmed cases of uterine leiomyomas and 50 healthy controlsfor a duration of 6 months. Levels of plasma IL-8 were measured by ELISA technique.Results: Irregular menstrual cycle was reported in about 44% of cases and 11% of controls. Meannumber of fibroids in females was two. 54% of women were found to have small (<2cm) sized fibroidswhile 46% had large sized fibroids. Out of these 78% were intramural and 22% were sub-serosal typeof fibroids. Plasma levels of IL-8 were positively correlated (p=0.001) with Uterine Leiomyomas.Conclusion: IL-8 levels are significantly higher in patients with uterine leiomyomas depicting apositive correlation between IL-8 and the development of fibroids. However, further studies arerequired to better understand the role of IL-8 in the development of fibroids.Keywords: Uterine Leiomyoma; IL-8, Risk Factor
Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Dengue Prevention among Non-medical Employees of Aziz Fatimah Medical and Dental College
Get PDFDengue virus is transmitted via Aedes mosquito to humans, and results in various clinical signs and symptoms ranging from an asymptomatic infection to mild flu-like symptoms and fetal hemorrhagic fever. Keeping in view the current epidemic of dengue fever in Lahore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of non-medical employees of the Aziz Fatimah Medical and Dental College, FSD so that an effective awareness campaign could be started at the institutional level. Our results indicate that non-medical employees of Aziz Fatimah Medical and Dental College, FSD Aziz Fatimah Medical and Dental College, FSD showed a satisfactory level of knowledge, and high percentage of positive attitude and practices towards dengue prevention. A significant relation was established between knowledge related to dengue prevention and level of education. Future endeavors for health education related to dengue prevention should focus on people with lower level of education
Role of Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism in Psychosocial Deprivation among Females Patients
Get PDFBackground: Patients with rare diseases such as congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) are often challenged to be isolated, lack proper medical care and face negative social consequences. Furthermore, pubertal development is the period of rapid and nearly simultaneous transformation of biological, physical, social, and psychological domains of an individual. Hence, the process of personal transformation is also affected in children with pubertal delay. Due to delay in the growth process, the individual looks different from her or his peers and may have negative consequences on the psychological and social interactions. Objective: The disparities in the growth and development may cause an increase in psychosocial problems and negative peer relationship. Hence, this study was designed to observe psychosocial consequences of delayed puberty in female with CHH. Design: Cross sectional study. Place & duration of study: The data were collected from CHH patients visiting public sector hospitals over a period of 18 months. Patients & Methods: The demographic information, complete medical history, psychological and psychosocial symptoms of the 52 female CHH patients were recorded on the questionnaire. Results: The present study demonstrated that most of the patients were frustrated due to poor body image, low self-esteem, feeling themselves behind the peers, and were with complaints of depression and anxiety. The other psychological symptoms include anger, irritability, loneliness, eating and sleeping disturbances. Conclusion: It was concluded that the delayed sexual maturation has resulted in frustration, low self-esteem and increased anxiety and depression in cohort of local females with CHH
Attitude of Medical Students Towards Obese People
No full textBackground & Objectives: Obesity has emerged as a rising situation around the globe and negative attitude of society is often directed towards obese people that cause bias in all life aspects especially health care facilities. The present study was undertaken to assess the attitude of medical students towards obese people using ATOP (Attitude Towards Obese People) scale and to see if the attitude differs with respect to study year or gender.
Study Design: Cross sectional study Place and duration of study: This study was carried out in CMH Lahore Medical and Institute of Dentistry from October 19 2016 to December 1 2016.
Methods: Non-probability convenient sampling was used to collect data from 150 medical students using standardized questionnaire for ATOP. The data was entered and analyzed using SPSS 20.
Results: A total of 150 students were included in this study with a mean age of 21.53+1.42 (18-24) years with 105 (70.0%) females and 45 (30.0%) males. The overall mean ATOP score was 51.48+6.67 (range 25-60) in our study which is extremely negative. The ATOP score given by students of all classes and both genders was negative without any statistical association of any specific class or gender with ATOP scale categories (p-value=0.254 & 0.185 respectively).
Conclusion: Our study concluded that students have a very negative attitude towards obesity in general as well as for obese persons. This negative attitude is same among both genders and for students of all study years