Perforated appendicitis: accuracy of ct diagnosis and correlation of ct findings with the length of hospital stay

Objective: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of CT findings in the differentiation of perforated from nonperforated appendicitis and correlate CT diagnosis with the length of hospital stay.STUDY Design: An analytical study.PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: This study was conducted at Radiology Department of Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2004 to June 2005.PATIENTS AND Methods: The study included 70 patients who presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain and underwent pre-operative CT scan followed by appendectomy. Patients were divided into two groups of having perforated and nonperforated appendicitis on the basis of CT scan findings. The surgical and pathological reports combined were considered the reference standard for the diagnosis of perforated appendicitis. Various CT scan findings and average duration of hospital stay in days was compared by t-test.Results: Twenty-six (37%) of 70 patients had perforated appendicitis. It was correctly identified on pre-operative CT scan in 18 patients. There were 18 true positive diagnoses, 43 true negative diagnoses, 1 false positive diagnosis and 8 false negative diagnoses which yielded a sensitivity of 69%, specificity of 97%, positive predictive value of 94% and negative predictive value of 84%. Mean length of hospital stay in perforated group was 6.3 days and 2.9 days in nonperforated group. Severe periappendiceal inflammation, periappendiceal and or abdominopelvic fluid and abscess were significantly associated with perforated appendicitis and with a significant longer hospital stay (p \u3c .001).CONCLUSION: CT scan is 69% sensitive and 97% specific for the diagnosis of perforated appendicitis and constellation of CT findings can be used to select patients with perforated appendicitis for initial non-operative management. Presence of CT signs of significant appendiceal inflammation is independent predictor of longer hospital stay

Effects of Emotional intelligence on Students Academic Performance

This study is to investigate the significant relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Academic Performance. This investigate was done employing a quantitative strategy additionally an essential information was collected from understudies. In other to be in line with the quantitative approach chosen for this proposition, the medium through which information will be collected from respondent. only empathy and self-motivation has stronger influence (as in seen in the mean figures, correlation and regression analysis) on the academic performance of the students of economic department. It is found that while self-awareness, emotional management and interpersonal skill has a weak influence (as seen only in the mean and correlation figures) on the academic performance of students. Thus, this study recommends that students who want to succeed in their academic pursuit should take notes of their emotions intelligence (empathy and self-motivation skills). It is important for the University of Karachi to organize seminars either semester or yearly to enable students have a better understanding to their emotions or how it influences their education and academic performance

Effect of Oral intake of Stevia Leaf Powder on Body Weight – An Experimental study

Introduction: The steviol glycosides are found  in the stevia leaf. These glycosides possess sweetening properties as well as they have antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, and anti-hypertensive effects. This study was conducted to  find out the effect of Stevia leaf on body weight in obese Sprague Dawley male rats. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was carried out on 90 Sprague Dawley male rats. Group1(normal control) was given a standard diet for the entire study period, while the remaining sixty rats were given a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks to induce obesity. The obese rats were randomly assigned to group 2 (Obese Control) and Group 3 (obese + Stevia) and given HFD for another 6 weeks. The stevia leaf powder was added to the diet of group 3. Diet intake was noted for all the groups. Rats were weighed on the first day of every week, for six weeks, and then at the end of the study period.      Results: Body weights of rats in each group, at the start and end of the 6-week intervention period, when compared, showed a significant increase in group 1 (p=0.001), and group 2 (p = 0.001), while group 3 showed a non-significant increase (p = 0.248). The percentage increase in body weight for groups 1, 2, and 3 was 4.8, 9.3, and 1.1, respectively. Graphically, the weekly increase in average body weights of the three experimental groups showed maximum values for group 2. Conclusions: Stevia leaf possesses weight-reducing effects which may be due to inhibition of appetite, reduction in food intake, and consequent weight loss. Keywords: Obesity, weight loss, Natural non-nutritive sweeteners, Stevi

Comparison of the WHO Retreatment Regimen with the Six Drugs Regimen in Patients of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Objective: To compare the frequency of early response of WHO retreatment regimen with the six drugs regimen in pulmonary tuberculosis retreatment Category patients.Study design: Randomized control trial (RCT)Place and Duration: Chest Department, Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi from 22nd May 2016 to 22nd November 2016.Methodology: Patients who had previously been treated for pulmonary tuberculosis for at least 1 month duration and is a failure, relapse or defaulter case presenting in Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi, both indoor and outdoor were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomized by lottery method to either of the two treatment arms; WHO retreatment regimen or six drug formulations. Clinical features were documented, baseline investigations, AFB smear, Gene Xpert and AFB Culture were sent. Drugs were given on once daily dosage. AFB smear and AFB culture were repeated at 3rd month of treatment. They had a regular follow up in Chest OPD and had monthly visits to the ophthalmology department for visual acuity, fundoscopy and to ENT department for audiometry. Their chest X-ray was done baseline then 3 months. Blood complete picture and liver function tests, serum uric acid, renal function tests were performed baseline, at 2 weeks then 3 months. After their treatment was completed they were followed to look for relapse.Results: Total 490 patients were included according to the inclusion criteria of the study. Patients were divided into two equal groups. Mean age (years) in the study was 40.00+21.10. There were 33 (6.7) male and 457 (93.3) female patients whereas the frequency of early response of WHO retreatment regimen with the six drugs regimen in pulmonary tuberculosis retreatment category patients was 187 (76.3) and 211 (86.1) respectively which was statistically significant (p-value 0.000).Conclusion: The study concludes that six drug regimen was superior to WHO standard regimen in the success rate of pulmonary tuberculosis retreatment category patients which useful in bringing new facts regarding management of retreatment category patient in our country as well as worldwide because of the limited research was done on this category of tuberculosis

Synthesis, characterization and pharmacological evaluation of palmitic acid derivatives of salicylic acid and anthranilic acid

In the present study, salicylic acid and anthranilic acid were modified as lipids palmitoylsalicylic acid (PSA) and N-​palmitoylanthranilic acid (N-​PAA) by a simple esterification​/amidation reaction of the resp. acid with palmitoyl chloride. On screening for the pharmacol. activity, PSA exhibited potent and persistent analgesic and antiinflammatory effects, while N-​PAA, demonstrated novel analgesic and antipyretic effects

Infodemics and its Effect on Mental Health of Medical Students of IMDC during COVID-19 Pandemic

IntroductionGlobally rising the number of daily COVID-19 cases has triggered the incredible surge in the information (and misinformation) regarding COVID-19. This misinformation was about numbers of cases, inaccurate guidelines, advertisement of unapproved treatments, and remedies as cures. The increasing prevalence of depression and anxiety was found to be linked directly to the misinformation catered from social media. The study aims to explore the mental health of medical students due to a surge in information and misinformation regarding Covid-19.Materials and MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted online from August 2020 to January, 2021. 227 MBBS students of IMDC (1st year to final year with age range 19-25 years) were invited to participate in an online survey through Google docs. Those who were on medication for anxiety and depression were excluded from the study. The use of the data for research purposes was explained and written consent in the first section of the online survey was given to all participants before filling the questionnaire which was divided into 3 sections. The first part was about Demographic information. The second part consisted of 5 questions about info-media use and the third part consisting of 12 questions about mental health including stress-related and behavioral changes, somatic symptoms, emotional disturbance, and cognitive functioning during the covid-19 pandemic. Ethical Approval was taken from the ethical committee of IMDC. A Chi-square test was applied to calculate the significance of qualitative variables and determine the prevalence of mental health.ResultsThe total number of students who participated in this survey were 227 (28.2% males and 71.8% females). Among types of info-media, Whats-app was used most frequently by MBBS students. Different questions were asked regarding Info-media usage and mental health. A significant association was found between gender (Both males and females) and feelings of fear and worry (p-value 0.004**), feeling socially isolated(p= 0.005**), difficulty in communicating with people (p = 0.021*), feeling confused in decision making as time progressed( 0.008**), lack of interest in studying or difficulty in concentration during this time (p 0.037*) and effect on memorizing ability (0.000)**.MBBS students who were regularly using Info-media showed a significant disturbance in mental health problems including stress-related and behavioral changes and somatic symptoms. They were found to be significantly fearful and worried (p-value 0.010*), had difficulty in communicating with people regarding covid-19(p-value 0.021*), and also felt a change in appetite-valuable 0.030*). No serious mental health problem was found related to cognitive functioning. ConclusionIn conclusion, our findings show that there is a high prevalence of mental health problems, which were positively associated with frequent use of info-media during the COVID-19 outbreak