Efficacy of Intra Articular Steroid Injection and Platelet Rich Plasma in Patients with Osteoarthrithis

Objective: To compare the efficacy of intra-articular steroid injection and Platelet rich plasma in patients with Osteoarthrithis. Methodology: A randomized controlled trail study was conducted at Rheumatology Division of the Department of Medicine, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad after the acceptance of synopsis from  . A total of 122 adult patients with unilateral or bilateral osteoarthritis of knee and were randomized into two treatment groups. In Group I, patients received intra-articular steroid injections and in Group II, patients received platelet rich plasma (PRP). WOMAC score was calculated at baseline and was subsequently assessed after 06 weeks and 3 months. Results: Age and gender distribution and mean WOMAC and VAS scores were similar in both groups at baseline (p>0.05).  At six weeks, mean WOMAC score in steroid group was 32.1 ± 24.1 and it was 24.9 ± 21.3 in PRP group (P=0.084).  Mean VAS in steroid group was 4.5 ± 2.5 and it was 3.9 ± 2.6 in PRP group (P=0.0.158).  At three months, mean WOMAC score in steroid group was 39.1 ± 24.3 SD and it was 27.1 ± 21.9 SD in PRP group (P=0.005).  At three months, mean VAS in steroid group was 5.6 ± 2.6 and it was 4.1 ± 2.7 in PRP group (P=0.003).  Conclusions: The study outcomes were better in patients treated with PRP as compared to intra-articular steroid injection. Mean WMOAC and VAS scores were significantly lower after three months in PRP group as compared to steroid group

Coronary artery bypass grafting after percutaneous coronary intervention

Following percutaneous intervention (PCI), restenosis, progression of disease and multi-vessel involvement may require further intervention in the form of surgical revascularization. Patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) done after PCI were evaluated to find out the reason for the need of surgical revascularization. Over a period of 12 months, 610 patients underwent CABG. Out of them, 34 patients had previous PCI/stenting. Coronary risk factors including hypertension in 85%, diabetes mellitus in 60%, dyslipidemia in 60%, tobacco use in 50% and a positive family history was present in 53% of the patients. All patients were symptomatic. Multi-vessel disease was present in 67% and single vessel in 4.7%. The extent of disease and stenosis of stents were responsible for reintervention. Careful selection of patients is required in presence of multiple risk factors for coronary artery disease to provide maximum benefit by either PCI or CABG

Variation Analysis of Acanthopagrus latus found in the costal belt of Lasbella by using Mitochondrial DNA, D- Loop region

Background: Fish is a major source of food and plays major role in the blue economy of Baluchistan, Pakistan. The Yellow fin Sea Bream (A. latus) is found in coastal belts and locally known as “Dhandya”. Variation analysis between fish species were studied, using mitochondrial DNA. To understand genetic diversity of fish, mitochondrial DNA D-loop provides a good source of information for the management as well as the selective breeding of the sea fauna.Methods: The current study was focus on variation analysis, phenotypic and genetic variation in A. latus fish found in different region of coastal belt of Baluchistan. A total of forty-five fish  A. latus from three different areas of Baluchistan (Gaddani, Dam, and Kund Malir) were collected aseptically. The Phenotypic study was done on the bases of their body shape, body color and color of the fins. Four different kinds of A. latus  were observed and named  as type  A, B, C and D. The genetic characteristics were studied by observing the mitochondrial DNA D-loop region.Results: For Mitochondrial DNA analysis, the blood samples were collected from the selected samples and processed for DNA extraction. Primer was designed and PCR was performed. PCR products were sequenced and analyzed for observing genetic variation in mitochondrial DNA of A. latus.Conclusion: The analysis revealed three genetic variations; two heterozygous variations at 32 and 172 nucleotide positions (Adenine substituted by Thymine and Thymine substituted by Guanine) and one homozygous variation at 72 nucleotide position (an insertion of a Thymine).Keywords: Acanthopagrus latus; Mitochondrial DNA; Fish; Polymerase Chain Reaction   

Dolutegravir twice-daily dosing in children with HIV-associated tuberculosis: a pharmacokinetic and safety study within the open-label, multicentre, randomised, non-inferiority ODYSSEY trial

Background: Children with HIV-associated tuberculosis (TB) have few antiretroviral therapy (ART) options. We aimed to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of dolutegravir twice-daily dosing in children receiving rifampicin for HIV-associated TB. Methods: We nested a two-period, fixed-order pharmacokinetic substudy within the open-label, multicentre, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority ODYSSEY trial at research centres in South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Children (aged 4 weeks to <18 years) with HIV-associated TB who were receiving rifampicin and twice-daily dolutegravir were eligible for inclusion. We did a 12-h pharmacokinetic profile on rifampicin and twice-daily dolutegravir and a 24-h profile on once-daily dolutegravir. Geometric mean ratios for trough plasma concentration (Ctrough), area under the plasma concentration time curve from 0 h to 24 h after dosing (AUC0–24 h), and maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) were used to compare dolutegravir concentrations between substudy days. We assessed rifampicin Cmax on the first substudy day. All children within ODYSSEY with HIV-associated TB who received rifampicin and twice-daily dolutegravir were included in the safety analysis. We described adverse events reported from starting twice-daily dolutegravir to 30 days after returning to once-daily dolutegravir. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02259127), EudraCT (2014–002632-14), and the ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN91737921). Findings: Between Sept 20, 2016, and June 28, 2021, 37 children with HIV-associated TB (median age 11·9 years [range 0·4–17·6], 19 [51%] were female and 18 [49%] were male, 36 [97%] in Africa and one [3%] in Thailand) received rifampicin with twice-daily dolutegravir and were included in the safety analysis. 20 (54%) of 37 children enrolled in the pharmacokinetic substudy, 14 of whom contributed at least one evaluable pharmacokinetic curve for dolutegravir, including 12 who had within-participant comparisons. Geometric mean ratios for rifampicin and twice-daily dolutegravir versus once-daily dolutegravir were 1·51 (90% CI 1·08–2·11) for Ctrough, 1·23 (0·99–1·53) for AUC0–24 h, and 0·94 (0·76–1·16) for Cmax. Individual dolutegravir Ctrough concentrations were higher than the 90% effective concentration (ie, 0·32 mg/L) in all children receiving rifampicin and twice-daily dolutegravir. Of 18 children with evaluable rifampicin concentrations, 15 (83%) had a Cmax of less than the optimal target concentration of 8 mg/L. Rifampicin geometric mean Cmax was 5·1 mg/L (coefficient of variation 71%). During a median follow-up of 31 weeks (IQR 30–40), 15 grade 3 or higher adverse events occurred among 11 (30%) of 37 children, ten serious adverse events occurred among eight (22%) children, including two deaths (one tuberculosis-related death, one death due to traumatic injury); no adverse events, including deaths, were considered related to dolutegravir. Interpretation: Twice-daily dolutegravir was shown to be safe and sufficient to overcome the rifampicin enzyme-inducing effect in children, and could provide a practical ART option for children with HIV-associated TB

Neuropsychiatric manifestations and sleep disturbances with dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy versus standard of care in children and adolescents: a secondary analysis of the ODYSSEY trial

BACKGROUND: Cohort studies in adults with HIV showed that dolutegravir was associated with neuropsychiatric adverse events and sleep problems, yet data are scarce in children and adolescents. We aimed to evaluate neuropsychiatric manifestations in children and adolescents treated with dolutegravir-based treatment versus alternative antiretroviral therapy. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of ODYSSEY, an open-label, multicentre, randomised, non-inferiority trial, in which adolescents and children initiating first-line or second-line antiretroviral therapy were randomly assigned 1:1 to dolutegravir-based treatment or standard-of-care treatment. We assessed neuropsychiatric adverse events (reported by clinicians) and responses to the mood and sleep questionnaires (reported by the participant or their carer) in both groups. We compared the proportions of patients with neuropsychiatric adverse events (neurological, psychiatric, and total), time to first neuropsychiatric adverse event, and participant-reported responses to questionnaires capturing issues with mood, suicidal thoughts, and sleep problems. FINDINGS: Between Sept 20, 2016, and June 22, 2018, 707 participants were enrolled, of whom 345 (49%) were female and 362 (51%) were male, and 623 (88%) were Black-African. Of 707 participants, 350 (50%) were randomly assigned to dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy and 357 (50%) to non-dolutegravir-based standard-of-care. 311 (44%) of 707 participants started first-line antiretroviral therapy (ODYSSEY-A; 145 [92%] of 157 participants had efavirenz-based therapy in the standard-of-care group), and 396 (56%) of 707 started second-line therapy (ODYSSEY-B; 195 [98%] of 200 had protease inhibitor-based therapy in the standard-of-care group). During follow-up (median 142 weeks, IQR 124–159), 23 participants had 31 neuropsychiatric adverse events (15 in the dolutegravir group and eight in the standard-of-care group; difference in proportion of participants with ≥1 event p=0·13). 11 participants had one or more neurological events (six and five; p=0·74) and 14 participants had one or more psychiatric events (ten and four; p=0·097). Among 14 participants with psychiatric events, eight participants in the dolutegravir group and four in standard-of-care group had suicidal ideation or behaviour. More participants in the dolutegravir group than the standard-of-care group reported symptoms of self-harm (eight vs one; p=0·025), life not worth living (17 vs five; p=0·0091), or suicidal thoughts (13 vs none; p=0·0006) at one or more follow-up visits. Most reports were transient. There were no differences by treatment group in low mood or feeling sad, problems concentrating, feeling worried or feeling angry or aggressive, sleep problems, or sleep quality. INTERPRETATION: The numbers of neuropsychiatric adverse events and reported neuropsychiatric symptoms were low. However, numerically more participants had psychiatric events and reported suicidality ideation in the dolutegravir group than the standard-of-care group. These differences should be interpreted with caution in an open-label trial. Clinicians and policy makers should consider including suicidality screening of children or adolescents receiving dolutegravir

The impact of trisomy 21 on epidemiology, management, and outcomes of congenital duodenal obstruction: a population-based study

Abstract: Purpose: Congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO) is associated with trisomy 21 (T21), or Down’s syndrome, in around a third of infants. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of T21 on the epidemiology, management, and outcomes of infants with CDO. Methods: Data were prospectively collected from specialist neonatal surgical centres in the United Kingdom over a 12 month period from March 2016 using established population-based methodology for all babies with CDO. Infants with T21 were compared to those without any chromosomal anomaly. Results: Of 102 infants with CDO that underwent operative repair, T21 was present in 33 [32% (95% CI 23–41%)] babies. Cardiac anomalies were more common in those with T21 compared to those without a chromosomal anomaly (91 vs 17%, p < 0.001), whereas associated gastrointestinal anomalies were less common in infants with T21 (3 vs 12%, p = 0.03). Surgical management was not influenced by T21. Time to achieve full enteral feed, need for repeat related surgery, and mortality were similar between groups. Infants with T21 had a longer median initial inpatient stay (23 vs 16.5 days, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Infants with T21 have a higher incidence of cardiac anomalies and a longer initial inpatient stay; however, it does not change CDO management or outcomes. This information is important for prenatal and postnatal counselling of parents of infants with CDO and T21

The impact of trisomy 21 on epidemiology, management, and outcomes of congenital duodenal obstruction: a population-based study

Abstract: Purpose: Congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO) is associated with trisomy 21 (T21), or Down’s syndrome, in around a third of infants. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of T21 on the epidemiology, management, and outcomes of infants with CDO. Methods: Data were prospectively collected from specialist neonatal surgical centres in the United Kingdom over a 12 month period from March 2016 using established population-based methodology for all babies with CDO. Infants with T21 were compared to those without any chromosomal anomaly. Results: Of 102 infants with CDO that underwent operative repair, T21 was present in 33 [32% (95% CI 23–41%)] babies. Cardiac anomalies were more common in those with T21 compared to those without a chromosomal anomaly (91 vs 17%, p < 0.001), whereas associated gastrointestinal anomalies were less common in infants with T21 (3 vs 12%, p = 0.03). Surgical management was not influenced by T21. Time to achieve full enteral feed, need for repeat related surgery, and mortality were similar between groups. Infants with T21 had a longer median initial inpatient stay (23 vs 16.5 days, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Infants with T21 have a higher incidence of cardiac anomalies and a longer initial inpatient stay; however, it does not change CDO management or outcomes. This information is important for prenatal and postnatal counselling of parents of infants with CDO and T21

Mortality from isolated coronary bypass surgery: a comparison of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the EuroSCORE risk prediction algorithms.

We compared the performances of the additive European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation, EuroSCORE (AES) and logistic EuroSCORE (LES) with the Society of Thoracic Surgeons\u27 risk prediction algorithm in terms of discrimination and calibration in predicting mortality in Patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) at a single institution in Pakistan. Both models were applied to 380 Patients, operated upon at the Aga Khan University Hospital from August 2009 to July 2010. The actual mortality was 2.89%. The mean AES of all Patients was 4.363.58%, the mean LES was 5.969.18% and the mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons\u27 (STS) score was 2.304.16%. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test gave a P-value of 0.801 for AES, 0.699 for LES and 0.981 for STS. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.866 for AES, 0.842 for LES and 0.899 for STS. STS outperformed AES and LES both in terms of calibration and discrimination. STS, however, underestimated mortality in the top 20% of Patients having an STS score \u3e2.88, thus overall STS estimates were lower than actual mortality. We conclude that STS is a more accurate model for risk assessment as compared to additive and logistic EuroSCORE models in the Pakistani population