Epidemiological Analysis of COVID-19 Patients detected by Real-Time Reverse Transcription - Polymerase Chain reaction in a Tertiary Care Biosafety Level III Laboratory, Rawalpindi

Introduction: Unexpected eruption and global dissemination of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has tested the healthcare systems of both developed and developing countries.Objective: To analyze the spectrum of novel coronavirus infection in a tertiary care setup.Materials and Methods: All oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal samples (n=7057) were collected in a viral transport medium (VTM) for qualitative analysis by a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machine. Positive and negative controls were applied with each batch. Positive cases were stratified into mild, moderate, severe, and asymptomatic, according to the guidelines of the National Institute of Health, Pakistan. Descriptive statistical tests were applied including percentage, chi-square tests, mean, median, and mode. P < 0.05 was counted as statistically significant.Results: Average positive test rate was 18.97% (n=1339). The maximum positivity rate (26%) of COVID-19 infection was observed in June 2020. Most of the cases (60%) belonged to Rawalpindi District, were male (n=844, 63.03%), and belonged to age group (20-40 years) and mean of 36 and age range from 2-85 years. Forty-nine percent of COVID-19 infected patients were asymptomatic and only 9.8% progressed to severe disease. Overall, the mortality rate was 159(11.87%) in RT-PCR confirmed cases.Conclusion: Average positive test rate was 18.97%. The majority of the participants belonged to the young age group (20-40 yrs.) with a range from 2 to 85 years. Forty-nine percent positive COVID-19 infected patients were asymptomatic while 9.8% had severe disease

Alleviation of cadmium toxicity and growth enhancement of helianthusannuus and triticum aestivum seedlings through bacterial inoculation

Two Cd-resistant bacterial growth strains MA-9 (Aeromonas) and MA19 (affinities uncertain), which were isolated from ICI effluents, were used to inoculate seeds ifTriticum aestivum (wheat) and Helianthus annuus (sunflower). Both inoculated and non-inoculated seeds were germinated and grown under different concentrations (0, 1, 2 and 3 mM) of CdCl2 for 10 days. Under Cd-stress conditions, bacteria-inoculated plants had better germination and growth than non-inoculated treatments. Bacterial growth enhancement if seedlings was associated with reduced Cd uptake

Frequency of erectile dysfunction in COPD patients

Objective: Objective of study was to investigate the frequency of erectile dysfunction in COPD patients. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in pulmonology department of Nishtar Hospital Multan. 336 outpatients diagnosed as COPD according to Global Initiative of Chronic Lung Disease criteria, were included by non-probability consecutive sampling from February 2016 to august 2016 after taking the approval from ethics committee of the institution. Written consent of the study was signed by all patients. All patients were divided in mild, moderate, severe and very severe form of COPD on basis of FEV1. All patients completed International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) Questionnaire. Data was analyzed by using SPSS vol 23. Numerical variables like age, BMI and duration of COPD were statistically analyzed by using their mean and standard deviation and t-test was used to check their significance. Non numerical variables like area of living, income status, smoking status and different stages of COPD were statistically analyzed by using their frequency and chi square test was applied to check the significance. P value <0.05 was taken as significance. Results: Overall, 100% (n=336) male patients were included, in this study. The main outcome variable of this study was Erectile Dysfunction (ED). Classification of erectile dysfunction was noted as no, mild, moderate and severe as 32.7% (n=110), 23.5% (n=79), 16.4% (n=55) and 27.4% (n=92) respectively. Classification of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was observed as mild, moderate, severe and very severe as 5.1% (n=17), 45.8% (n=154), 32.1% (n=108) and 17% (n=57) respectively. No association was found between erectile dysfunction and area (p=0.484), stratified age (p=0.970), stratified BMI (p=0.283), except income (p=0.000) and smoking status (p=0.000) Conclusion: Erectile dysfunction is hidden and under discuss comorbidity in COPD patients. There is significant prevalence of erectile dysfunction in COPD patients. All respiratory physicians should ask and investigate erectile dysfunction in COPD patients. All patients of COPD should be encouraged to share their sexual problems. Key words: COPD, Erectile dysfunction, sexual functio

Indications of enucleations and eviscerations performed at a tertiary eye care unit: a case series.

Abstract The retrospective study was planned to look at the indications of eye enucleations and eviscerations, and comprised all such procedures done at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2006 to December 2015. Data was collected regarding age at the time of procedure, gender, procedure type, indication for enucleation or evisceration, type of implant if used and complications. Of the 66 eyes of 65 individuals, 47 (71.2%) underwent evisceration and 19 (28.8%) enucleation. The mean age at the time of the procedures was 37.86±23.09 years. The indication for enucleation or evisceration were keratitis 14(21.2%), introcular tumours 13(19.7%), trauma 10(15.2%), endophthalmitis 10(15.2%), cosmesis 10(15.2%) and painful blind eye 9(13.6%). Only 5(7.5%) procedures had postoperative complications such as wound dehiscence, infected socket, loose suture, or stich abscess. Most of causes of enucleation and evisceration in this case series could have prevented through the application of evidence-based safety practices

Epidemiologic Profile of Thyroid Disorders in a Tertiary Care Hospital, a Five Years Analysis

Background: Thyroid disorders are commonly encountered endocrine ailments in clinical practice.Objective: To determine the trends and frequency of thyroid disorders in patients presented for thyroid dysfunction at the department of Pathology Benazir Bhutto hospital RawalpindiStudy Design: Cross-sectional retrospective study. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent thyroid function tests were enrolled in the study Thyroid function tests were performed on a fully automated Chemistry Analyzer. Graph Pad Prism version 7 and SPSS version 25 were used for statistical analysis of the data.Results: Out of 2856 patients, 81.9% were females and 18.1% were males. The mean age of the participants was 38.12 ± 14.51 years and the median was 35(13-96). Overall, 1951 (68.3%) of the subjects were euthyroid, 343(12.0%) had subclinical hyperthyroidism, 200 (7.0%) had subclinical hypothyroidism, 192(6.7%) had overt hyperthyroidism and 168 (5.9%) had overt hypothyroidism. Females have a significantly high percentage of thyroid disorders as compared to males(χ2 =0.976 p =0.027). The major age group 798(27.9 %) tested for thyroid dysfunction suspicion was 24 to 33 years followed by 34-43 (22.9%).Conclusions: The thyroid dysfunction prevalence was higher in females than males. An upward trend in the frequency of thyroid dysfunction was observed with increasing age. Subclinical hyperthyroidism was the commonest abnormality observed. A steep rise in subclinical hyperthyroidism may be attributed to the high intake of iodized salt