Covid Prognostic Score (CoPs) to predict prognostic outcome in Patients with Severe Covid-19 Pneumonia

Objectives: To assess the degree of medical intervention needed for treatment and its application in areas with low resources and testing facilities. Methodology: A Retrospective Cohort study was conducted on 141 patients from June 2020 to May 2021. All PCR positive covid patients were included; excluding those who died or left within 24 hours of admission. Data was obtained from hospital record. (HIMS), incorporating sociodemographic details, history of co-morbids and presenting complaints. A Covid-Prognostic Score was developed to predict hospital outcome and severity of covid disease. It comprised of age, comorbidity (diabetes and ischemic heart disease), chest-x ray score, neutrophil- lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and ferritin score. Using SPSS version 23, descriptive means were analyzed; Chi-square test was applied along with Mann- Whitney U and linear regression. P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A significant association was found between health status (i.e., alive or dead) and diabetes (p=0.045) and ischemic heart disease (p=0.004), which reinforced their importance in the CoPS score. Association between CoPS and gender health status was highly significant; (p=0.003) (p=0.000) respectively. A positive correlation was found between CoPS and duration of hospital stay (R = 0.495) (p=0.216). Conclusion: The continuous surge of Covid-19 is causing hospital resource and facility burn out. The CoPS score aims to pave way for triage therapy from the point of admission. A multi-center approach and scoring of “severity strata” of disease would further corroborate the relevance of the CoPS scoring system

Differences in Brain Waves and Blood Pressure by Listening to Quran-e-Kareem and Music

Background: Quranic recitation and music do not share any features in terms of content besides the use of melodies, but it is a common belief, that both have positive effect on reducing blood pressure and anxiety level of patients. This research investigates and compares the effects of listening to Quranic recitation and soft music on human brain waves especially Alpha and Beta waves by electroencephalogram (EEG) using Power-Lab.Material and Methods: A clinical trial was carried out in the Physiology Department of Islamabad Medical and Dental College. There were 22 participants, divided into two groups (A and B) with 11 participants in each group. Group A included students with ages 20-25 years and Group B comprised of teaching faculty between 40-60 years. All the study participants were Urdu-speaking, Pakistani Muslims having normal hearing. Sample selection was based on non-random convenient sampling. Paired T-test was used to compare means of Alpha and Beta waves amplitude, with p value < 0.05 considered as statistically significant.Results: Listening to Quranic recitation results in greater amplitude of Alpha waves in both younger and older age groups (p=0.01). The cross comparisons of systolic blood pressure at rest and after music for Group A showed significant results (p=0.04) indicating that soft music increases systolic blood pressure in younger people. Diastolic blood pressure comparison proves that it decreases by Tilawat in older age-groups (p<0.05).Conclusion: EEG showed that Quran generates comparatively higher amplitudes of Alpha than Beta waves, which reflects the calmness and relaxation of the participants while listening to Quranic recitation. Furthermore, there was a mild reduction in diastolic blood pressure in older subjects after listening to Quranic recitation

Management of a giant carbuncle on the posterior trunk with excision and grafting

Carbuncle is a painful subcutaneous mass of infected hair follicles with a purulent discharge. It has predisposition in conditions like diabetes, immune-compromised states, chronic skin diseases etc. The authors present a case of a 67 year old diabetic male with a giant carbuncle on his back. Due to its large size, systemic co-morbidity and increased risk of complications in surgical treatment, a multi-disciplinary team approach was employed. Both general and plastic surgery were involved, who performed excision and soft tissue coverage respectively. Aim of the surgical intervention methods, like wide excision and debridement, application of vacuum assisted wound closure (VAC) and skin grafting was to minimize the healing time and risk of development of post-operative infection. The patient was surgically managed and sent home in a good condition. Continuous...