Showing papers by "Chandka Medical College published in 2008"

Evaluation of Toxic Metals in Blood and Urine Samples of Chronic Renal Failure Patients, before and after Dialysis

Abstract: The determination of toxic elements in the biological samples of human beings is an important clinical screening procedure. The aim of this work was to determine total content of toxic elements—alu...

Drug-prescribing patterns during pregnancy in the tertiary care hospitals of Pakistan: a cross sectional study.

Abstract: The rationale for use of drugs during pregnancy requires a careful assessment as in addition to the mother, the health and life of her unborn child is also at stake. Information on the use of drugs during pregnancy is not available in Pakistan. The aim of this study was to evaluate the patterns of drug prescriptions to pregnant women in tertiary care hospitals of Pakistan. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at five tertiary care hospitals of Pakistan. Copies of outpatient medicinal prescriptions given to pregnant patients attending the antenatal clinics were collected. The drugs were classified according to the pharmacological class and their teratogenic potential. All the pregnant women attending the antenatal clinics received a prescription containing at least one drug. A total of 3769 distinct prescriptions given to different women were collected. Majority of the women who received the prescriptions belonged to third trimester (55.4%) followed by second (33.6%) and first trimester (11.0%). On an average, each prescription contained 1.66 ± 0.14 drugs. The obstetricians at Civil Hospital, Karachi and Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana showed a tendency of prescribing lesser number of drugs compared to those in other hospitals. Anti-anemic drugs including iron preparations and vitamin and mineral supplements (79.4%) were the most frequently prescribed drugs followed by analgesics (6.2%) and anti-bacterials (2.2%). 739 women (19.6%) received prescriptions containing drugs other than vitamin or mineral supplements. Only 1275 (21.6%) of all the prescribed drugs (n = 6100) were outside this vitamin/mineral supplement class. Out of these 1275 drugs, 29 (2.3%) drugs were prescribed which are considered to be teratogenic. Misoprostol was the most frequently prescribed (n = 6) among the teratogenic drugs followed by carbimazole (n = 5) and methotrexate (n = 5). Twenty nine pregnant women (0.8% of all the women studied) were prescribed these teratogenic drugs. Less than one percent of the pregnant women attending tertiary care hospitals in Pakistan are prescribed teratogenic drugs. The prescribing practices of Pakistani physicians are similar to those in western countries.

Polymorphisms of cytochrome b gene in Leishmania parasites and their relation to types of cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions in Pakistan.

Abstract: The exact species and/or strains of Leishmania parasites involved strongly influence the clinical and epidemiological features of leishmaniasis, and current knowledge of those influences and relationships is inadequate. We report that cytochrome b (cyt b) gene sequencing identified causal Leishmania parasites of 69 cutaneous leishmaniasis cases in Pakistan over a 3-year period. Of 21 cases in highland areas (Quetta city, Balochistan province), 16 (76.2%) were identified as Leishmania (L.) tropica and five (23.8%) as Leishmania (L.) major. Of 48 cases from lowland areas, cities/villages in Indus valley in Sindh and Balochistan provinces, 47 (97.9%) were identified as L. (L.) major and one (2.1%) as L. (L.) tropica. Statistical analysis (Fisher's exact test) revealed a significant difference (P < 0.0001) in the distribution of the two species by altitude; L. (L.) major is predominant in lowland and L. (L.) tropica at highland areas. The present result enriched our earlier finding, based on the first year's cultured parasite data, that only L. (L.) tropica was found in highland areas and only L. (L.) major in lowland areas. Among Leishmania samples analyzed, three types of cyt b polymorphism of L. (L.) major were found, including 45 (86.5%) cases of type I, six (11.5%) of type II and one (2%) of type III. We report for the first time on the presence of polymorphisms in L. (L.) major (types I, II and III) based on species identification using cyt b gene sequencing from clinical samples. Moreover, we found no correlation between clinical presentation (wet-, dry- and/or mixed-types of cutaneous lesions) and causal Leishmania parasites.

Perineal ectopic testis - a rare encounter in paediatric surgical practice.

Abstract: Perineal ectopic testis is a rare form of testicular maldescent. We report 2 patients with perineal ectopic testes, in one of them, the condition was bilateral (only the 6th case of this variety). Surgery was performed in both cases and testicles were mobilized and fixed in the scrotum. Gubernaculum testis was found to be fixed in the perineum. Examination of patient with empty scrotum (maldescent testes) should include examination of sites like perineum to look for ectopic testis.

Population distribution of xeroderma pigmentosum.

Abstract: Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease caused by defects in the normal repair of DNA of various cutaneous and ocular cell types damaged by exposure to sunlight.1, 2, 3 Hebra and Kaposi reported the disease initially in 1874.4 It generally shows early onset of symptoms, hence mostly affecting children and is characterized by cutaneous and ocular pigmentary changes such as freckles, photophobia, conjunctivitis, corneal keratitis and ulcers. If the disease is not controlled at this level, there is a risk of developing malignancy in the future, the major cause of death amongst patients.