Risk behaviours associated with urethritis in prison inmates, Sindh

Objective: To identify sexual risk behaviours associated with lifetime risk of urethritis in prison inmates.Design: A cross-sectional study using a pre-designed questionnaire.SETTING: Fourteen prisons throughout the Sindh Province, Pakistan.SUBJECTS: Three thousand three hundred ninety-five prison inmates incarcerated during July, 1994.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Lifetime risk of urethritis occurrence (whether or not the subject was ever affected with urethritis up to his present age)Results: Lifetime risk of urethritis occurrence in the study population was 20.8% (706/3395). The final multivariate logistic regression model indicated that risk behaviours associated with lifetime risk of urethritis in this population were \u27sexual intercourse with a female\u27 (adjusted OR = 2.18; 95% CI 1.60, 2.95), \u27multiple female sexual partners\u27 (adjusted OR = 1.67; 95% CI 1.28, 2.18) and \u27sexual intercourse with man\u27 (adjusted OR = 2.75; 95% CI 2.29, 3.31).CONCLUSION: The prevalence of urethritis in this population was very high. High prevalence of various risky sexual behaviours among inmates indicates, their unawareness as to what precautions they might take to avoid risk of acquiring STDs including HIV. The study subjects meet the characteristics of a core group of STDs transmitters and provides short window of opportunity for STD/HIV control programs to intervene, while they are in detention to reduce the risk not only for this group but also for general population

Multivariate analysis of risk factors associated with genital ulcer disease among incarcerated males in Sindh

Objective: To evaluate the potential risk behaviors associated with the lifetime risk of self reported genital ulcer disease (GUD) among prison inmates.SETTING: Prison inmates from 14 prisons of Sindh Province.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 3395 prison inmates during July to December, 1994. A questionnaire was used to assess the lifetime risk of self-reported GUD (whether or not the subject was ever affected with GUD up to present age) and to investigate demographic markers and risk behaviors for their possible association with lifetime risk of GUD using logistic regression analysis.Results: The reported lifetime risk of GUD in the study sample was 11.4% (386/3395). In final multivariate logistic regression model the sexual behaviors which were independently associated with GUD were having sexual intercourse with female (adjusted OR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.3-2.3, P = 0.0002), sexual intercourse with a prostitute (adjusted OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2-2.0, P = 0.0008), sexual intercourse with man (adjusted OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.7-2.7, P = \u3c 0.001) and sexual intercourse with man during current incarceration (adjusted OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2-2.9, P = 0.0071).CONCLUSION: Health education needs to re-enforce monogamous relationship for high risk groups such as in our study. Although infrequent condom use was not a risk factor for GUD in this study, yet based on the results of previous studies, promotion of condom use should be the component of health education program

Prevalence of plasmodium slide positivity among the children treated for malaria, Jhangara, Sindh

Objective: The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of malaria amongst the children with fever or history of fever.SETTING: Rural Health Centre (RHC), Jhangara, a town near the Manchhar Lake in Taluka Sehwan, District Dadu, Sindh.SUBJECTS: Four hundred and thirty eight children of 6 months to 10 years of age, who attended above described RHC during August through October 1997.Methods: A Sindhi-translated standard questionnaire was used to record symptoms and duration of child\u27s illness. Each child was physically examined, had their axillary temperature measured; and blood samples were collected from which Giemsa stained thick and thin blood films were examined for presence of Plasmodium parasites.Results: The median age of the studied children was 24 months and 57% (250/438) were boys. Fifty three percent (231) of the study subjects were from Jhangara Town, 40% (177) and 7% (30) came from other villages and villages near to the Manchhar Lake respectively. The prevalence of Plasmodium slide positivity was 5.9% (26/438). Among Plasmodium slide positive children, 65% (17/26) were positive for P. falciparum and 35% (9/26) for P. vivax. Among the P. falciparum positive children, 88% (15/26) had scanty (MP, 1-10/100 fields) and 12% (2/26) had moderate density (MP, 10-100/100 fields) of infection. Seventeen percent (6/30) of the children from villages close to Manchhar Lake were Plasmodium slide positive compared to 7% (17/53) and 3% (5/177) from Jhangara town and other villages respectively. Cough, diarrhea, abdominal distention and vomiting were the commonly reported symptoms among the children of all ages at the time of interview. Guardians reported fever as part of the illness in all children, although during physical examination only 128 (29%) had axillary temperature \u3e or = 37.5 degrees C. Pallor as an indicator for anemia, rash and prickly heat were the major recorded observations.CONCLUSION: The Prevalence of Plasmodium positivity was higher in children who attended from villages close to Manchhar lake, therefore especial measure needs to be considered for this area. In addition, the health care workers in rural Sindh need to adopt appropriate guidelines to differentiate the clinical malarial patients from patients with other potential infectious diseases, which may need other treatment

Protective effect of25mg-porphyrin-fullerene nanoparticles on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion injury in PC12 cells

We investigated the effects of25Mg-Porphyrin-Fullerene nanoparticles, (25MgPMC16) smart ferroporphyrin nanoparticles, on PC12 cells exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion. In order to explore its effect on cells under oxygen-glucose deprivation conditions, the cultures were pretreated with25MgPMC16 24 hours prior to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion. To initiate the oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion, the cell culture medium was replaced with a glucose-free medium and the cells were transferred to a humidified incubation chamber in a mixture of 95 N2 and 5 CO2 at 37° C for 30, 60 and 120 min. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. Exposure of PC12 cells to 30, 60 and 120 min oxygen-glucose deprivation significantly decreased the cell viability. Pretreatment of the cultures with25MgPMC16 significantly increased cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment, the cultures with MK-801 (10 µM), a non-competitive NMDA antagonist, has attenuated the cell death after 30 min oxygen-glucose deprivation. We concluded that25MgPMC16 could protect PC12 cells against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion-induced cell injury in a concentration-dependent manner. That could be due to the effect of25MgPMC16 on ATP synthesis and the antioxidant effects of its components. © 2016 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

The effect of grandmultiparity on pregnancy related complications: The Aga Khan University experience

Background: Grandmultiparity has been associated with complications for both mother and the fetus.Objective: To evaluate if grandmultiparity is a risk factor in the presence of adequate antenatal care.Setting: A tertiary care teaching hospital.Methods: It was a retrospective study conducted in the department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at The Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi. During this period 9253 women were delivered, out of these 143 booked grandmultiparas (GMP) served as cases. The outcome of these women was compared with 430 non-grandmultiparas (NGMP). Logistic regression model was used to adjust for potential confounders.Results: Grandmultiparas had almost three times increased risk of having postpartum hemorrhage compared to NGMP group. Similarly, there were significantly low five-minute apgars in the GMPs compared to the NGMP group. Although the neonatal intensive care admissions were three times more in the GMPs but this did not reach statistical significance due to small number of cases in both groups.Conclusion: Our study indicates that grandmultiparity is a risk factor for pregnancy in this part of the world, even in the presence of reasonable antenatal care. This may be explained on the basis of the increased age of these women. Finally, we also recommend that an age-matched study needs to be undertaken in order to determine if age is an important determinant for risk factors in grandmultiparas

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) as a Prognostic Marker: an Immunohistochemical Study on 315 Consecutive Breast Carcinoma Patients

Objective: To assess the independent and interdependent prognostic value of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in carcinoma of breast in female population. The Type I family of growth factor receptors includes epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR also known as EGFRI). Methods: The expression of EGFR protein was analysed immunohistochemically on 315 tumour specimens of infiltrating ductal carcinoma of breast. These patients also had axillary lymph nodes sampling. Results: Overexpression and/or amplification of EGFR was observed in 70 (22.00%) tumours. Eleven (16%) were grade I, 43 (61%) grade II and 16 (23%) grade Ill tumours. Axillary lymph node metastasis had significant correlation with intensified positivity of EGFR (p\u3c 0.05). Significant number of EGFR positive patients developed local recurrence and distant metastases to brain, liver and bone (p\u3c 0.05). EGFR positivity showed significant correlation with the disease free and overall survival (p\u3c 0.05). At a median follow-up of48 (4 years) months in EGFR positive patients, the overall survival was 3.39 years and disease free survival was 2.86 years. EGFR negative tumour patients showed a better survival. In this group the overall survival was 4.62 years and the disease free survival was 4 years. Conclusion: EGFR analysis can be a useful indicator for the selection of patients who are at the high risk, for hormonal therapy decisions and can be useful as a target for new treatment modalities

Right side splenorenal fusion with marked extramedullary hematopoiesis, a case report

Developmental abnormalities of the spleen are common, much less common is splenic fusion abnormality. It may present as a renal mass sometimes with symptoms of hypersplenism (anemia) or as a renal mass only, mimicking primary or secondary renal neoplasms on imaging studies. Its documented that occurred on the right side which is significant that provides evidence for the possible migration of spleen cells in embryogenesis as an explanation for some other splenic fusion anomalies. We report a case of splenorenal fusion in a 5-year old girl with only right functional kidney who initially presented with a large renal mass which mimicked a primary renal neoplasm with no history of splenic trauma or splenectomy in past medical history. Also, the child didn't present with symptoms of hypersplenism. The child underwent right nephrectomy for a renal mass that was subsequently confirmed as right splenorenal fusion pathologically. © 201

Right side splenorenal fusion with marked extramedullary hematopoiesis, a case report

Developmental abnormalities of the spleen are common, much less common is splenic fusion abnormality. It may present as a renal mass sometimes with symptoms of hypersplenism (anemia) or as a renal mass only, mimicking primary or secondary renal neoplasms on imaging studies. Its documented that occurred on the right side which is significant that provides evidence for the possible migration of spleen cells in embryogenesis as an explanation for some other splenic fusion anomalies. We report a case of splenorenal fusion in a 5-year old girl with only right functional kidney who initially presented with a large renal mass which mimicked a primary renal neoplasm with no history of splenic trauma or splenectomy in past medical history. Also, the child didn't present with symptoms of hypersplenism. The child underwent right nephrectomy for a renal mass that was subsequently confirmed as right splenorenal fusion pathologically. © 201