The International Journal of Frontier Sciences

Background: Pleural diseases involve the parietal and visceral pleura. They can be of inflammatory or malignant origin. Pleural biopsy is advised for assessment and excluding infectious causes as tuberculosis or malignant disease, particularly malignant mesothelioma. Connective tissue disorders such as rheumatoid disease can also present with involvement of pleura, requiring pleural biopsy for diagnosis. Objectives: The aim of my study was to find out diagnostic outcomes of open pleural biopsy or differentiation between benign (noncancerous) and malignant (cancerous) disease, to diagnose viral, fungal and parasitic diseases of pleura. Materials and Methods: Non-random sampling was used for data collection from Gulab Devi hospital. To find out the clinical value of nonspecific pleural biopsy specimen and fluid malignant neoplasm and tuberculosis. Data was collected from the patients undergoing procedure at Gulab Devi hospital. The collected data consists of 160 patients included females and males of all age groups. Results: 160 patients were undergone biopsies. Out of 160 patients a nonspecific or normal result was found in 53(33.3%). Diagnostic of malignant neoplasm in 18(10.9%) and granulomatous disease in 28(17%). Tuberculosis was found in 46 (28.9%). Histopathologically, pnemonitis was found in 16 (10.1%). Conclusion: Open pleural biopsy is precise and gold standard investigative method for malignancy. Pleural biopsy is safe easily performed and useful in diagnoses of tuberculosis or malignancy. Full article

Background: To determine the association of non-adherence to the various age groups and related sociodemographic factors, this study was conducted. Materials and Methods: In different departments of Services Hospital Lahore, a cross-sectional survey was conducted. 370 patients voluntarily participated in the study. The data was collected using a questionnaire. The data was analyzed using chi-square. The level of significance was 0.05%. Results: In this study, 33.3% of patients were below the age of 40 years and 46.3% of patients were above the age of 40 years and were not adherents because of the experience that they did not get benefit from the treatment. Similarly, 21.5% of patients below age 40 and 22.3% of patients above age 40 think that they do not need medicine. 38.5% of patients below age 40 and 54.3% of patients aged above 40 stopped medicine after becoming better. Conclusion: None-adherence found more prevalent among elderly patients. Full article

Objective: Doxorubicin is presently a leading antineoplastic drug with promising efficacy. This study was designed to investigate the histological effects of doxorubicin toxicity on rat kidneys and how much protection is provided by Nigella Sativa. Materials & Methods: A randomized controlled trial conducted on thirty adult male wistar rats divided randomly into three equal groups. Group A served as a control. Group B was injected with weekly intraperitoneal injections of doxorubicin at a dose of 3mg/kg b.w. Group C rats received doxorubicin along with nigella sativa at a dose of 1000mg/kg b.w. orally daily. At the end of these interventions, animals were sacrificed and kidneys were removed for the purpose of histological staining. Renal glomerular and tubules related histopathological parameters were assessed qualitatively as mild, moderate & severe. Renal glomerular diameter was digitally measured by microscope. Ethical approval was taken from Ethical Committee, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi. All the parameters were statistically analyzed. Results: Group B rats’ renal tissue was adversely affected by the drug showing marked necrosis of tubules and the glomeruli along with interstitial cells’ infiltration. Glomerular diameter was also significantly decreased in group B as compared to group A. These histological features in group C rats’ renal tissue were milder and glomerular diameter was close to that of group A. Conclusion: According to our study doxorubicin treatment proved noxious for the renal tissue, both tubules and glomeruli, while nigella sativa significantly competed against these pathological alterations. Full article

ABSTRACT Objectives: The objectives of research were to analyze the smoking behavior among the medical students and to examine the factors behind the prevalence of smoking among the students of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Medical College while recommendations are made on study findings. Materials and Methods: Quantitative research design is used while nature of research is descriptive cross-sectional. Sample size of the study was 500 Medical Students (First year MBBS to final year MBBS). Non-probability convenience sampling technique was used to extract the sample. The data was collected through self-structured mixed questionnaire and analyzed by employing SPSS. Results: They faced difficulty in refraining the smoking stuff which might be the educational and socio-cultural pressures which they are expected to contain in the society. The knowledge and legislation were supported by the students as legislation should be carried out to ensure the smoke free environment in College. Conclusion: Students of Medical College Mirpur have been found addict to the smoking. However, they have been found conscious towards their smoking status while experiencing different brands. Full article

COVID-19 is a new disease that is spreading very fast in Pakistan. Cases have been reported from all of the provinces including Balochistan. The first two confirmed cases in Pakistan had travel history by road from Iran to Balochistan, hence SIR model used to predict the magnitude of the disease in Balochistan from May 2020 on wards when lock down and other social distancing measures were loosen up by the government of Balochistan. Our Prediction model shows that about 30,00000 individuals in Balochistan will be infected by 5th of July 2020. Over all 25% of the total population of Balochistan will be affected by this disease with 98% (2940,000 ) recovery rate by the end of 15th July 2020. Full article

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the effects of COVID-19 and lockdown on OPD services. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at District Headquarter Hospital (DHQ) and Tehsil Headquarter (THQ) Hospitals of District Layyah. The data was collected from one DHQ hospital and six THQ hospitals. The OPD data of three years (the years 2018 to 2020) was extracted from District Health Information System (DHIS). Trends of outpatients’ flow during months of March and April of three years were taken. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 24. RESULTS: The COVID-19 pandemic was declared by World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, and all countries started lockdown nationwide which imposed a major impact on all areas of life. Fear of coronavirus spread and lockdown resulted in significant reduction in number of patients at outdoor services. In our study, we analyzed outdoor services of seven hospitals of district Layyah - one DHQ hospital and six THQ hospitals. Conclusion: Fear of coronavirus spread and lockdown resulted in significant reduction in number of patients at outdoor services. Full article

Objective: To investigate the general health status in patients of Adhesive Capsulitis Study Design: Prospective study Place and duration: Occupational Therapy Unit of Rehabilitation Department of Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi from July 1, 2019 to September 30, 2019. Methodology: There were many patients suffering from shoulder pain. Among them, 52 patients who were suffering from adhesive capsulitis included. After the history of subjects, assessed for pain and restriction of range of motion in their affected shoulder. Lateral rotation, abduction, and medial rotation (LAM) test was performed. The inclusion criteria for subjects was symptomatic shoulder problems with restricted active and passive range of motion along with positive (LAM) test in ages between 30 to 80 years. The exclusion criteria was: (1) any neurological conditions affecting shoulder (2) any pathology other than adhesive capsulitis (3) any surgery of head, neck or upper limb. Data was analyzed using SPSS 25. Results: Our study showed that all 52 patients were suffering from a very acute state of pain, sleep cycle disturbance, difficulty in activities of daily living (ADLs) and recreational activities. Some patients were jobless due to acute shoulder pain of adhesive capsulitis. Conclusion: Adhesive capsulitis disturbs the daily life, sleep cycle, activities of daily living and difficulty in recreational activities. it is advocated that further researches must be conducted to point out the difficulties of such patients. Full article

Introduction: COVID-19, a novel disease, appeared in December 2019 in China and rapidly spread across the world. Till the second week of April 2020, high incidence (2.9/100,000) and cases fatality rates (1.7%) were observed in Pakistan. This study was conducted to determine the temporal and spatial distribution of the first 100 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Pakistan and their associated demographic factors. Method: A record review of the first 100 deaths reported among RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 cases was conducted. Demographic, epidemiological, and risk factors information was obtained associated comorbidities and clinical signs and symptoms were recorded and frequencies were determined. Results: A total of 100 mortalities with an overall case fatality rate of 1.67% (CFR) were analyzed. The median age of patients was 64.5 years (IQR: 54-70) with 75% (n=75) males. Among all deaths reported, 71 (71%) cases had one or more documented comorbidities at the time of diagnosis. The most frequently reported co-morbidities were: hypertension (67%), followed by Diabetes Mellitus (45%) and Ischemic Heart Diseases (27%). The most frequent presenting symptoms were shortness of breath (87%) and fever (79%). The median duration of illness was eight days (IQR: 4-11 days), the median delay reaching hospital to seek health care was three days (IQR: 0-6 days) while the median duration of hospital stay was also three days (IQR: 1-7 days). Among all, 62% had no history of international travel. The most affected age group was 60-69 years while no death reported in the age group below 20 years. Full article

Objective: In our part of the world poverty and illiteracy has adversely affected our core objective of pregnancy i.e. healthy mother and healthy child. Exploring the role of a routinely used drug in reducing the duration of labor could be a breakthrough. Present study was planned accordingly to evaluate the effect of phloroglucinol (PHL). Materials and Methods: It was a Randomized controlled trial conducted at Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Combined Military Hospital, Bahawalpur from January 2019 to June 2019. This study included 60 cases of age 18 to 40 years, having singleton pregnancy and in active first stage of uncomplicated labor. Patients with history of multiple pregnancies, obstetrical and surgical complications and cardiorespiratory diseases were excluded. The cases were placed randomly into Group A & Group B and given intravenous PHL and a placebo respectively. After this, duration of the first stage of labor was recorded in minutes from when there was 3-4 cm cervical dilatation with regular uterine contractions to complete cervical dilation i.e. 10 cm and descent of the presenting fetal part. Results: Mean duration of active first stage of labor in experimental group A (230.20 ± 52.96 minutes) was significantly higher than that of control group B (345.30 ± 50.57 minutes). Conclusion: This study concluded that intravenous PHL has efficiently reduced the duration of active first stage of labor in these randomly selected nulliparous and multiparous women. PHL is a useful drug serving the purpose of a spasmolytic, analgesic and labor augmentation at the same time. Full article

Anagallis arvesnsis belongs to family primulacae. It is a summer annual herb distributed worldwide or with a global spread abundantly found in Egypt, Palestine, a non-tropical region of South America, Taiwan, and India (more specifically Jammu & Kashmir). Different parts of plant contain variety of active constituents; such as glycosides, saponin, flavonoid, anthraquinone, alkaloids, rutin, kaempferol, oleananetriterpenes, anagalligenin, anagalligenone, stigasetrol, arvenin I, arvenin II, cucurbitacin B, D, E, I,L& Q, n-hexosamine, β-amyrin, sterols carbohydrates, lacceric acid. Anagallis arvensishas recognized medicinal values as an anti-mycotic, antimicrobial, molluscicidal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-leishmania, antiviral, cytotoxic, and spermatogenesis. The present review will highlight thetraditional uses, phytoconstituents and pharmacological effects of Anagallis arvensis. Full article

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has produced a global health crisis that has had a deep impact on the way we perceive our world and everyday lives. Not only the spread rate of contagion and patterns of transmission endangered our sense of security, but the safety measures put in place to contain the spread of the virus also require social distancing by refraining from doing what is inherently human, which is to find comfort in the company of others. Within this context of physical threat, social and physical distancing, the role of the different mass media channels and social media in lives on individual, social and societal levels cannot be underestimated. Full article

Since mid-December 2019, several cases of a pneumonia like disease (with symptoms including fever, difficulty in breathing, cough and invasive lesions on both lungs) of unknown cause have emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. Chinese authorities made a preliminary determination that the causative agent is a novel coronavirus(2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses are enveloped RNA viruses belonging to Coronaviridae family and the order Nidovirales. This subfamily consists of four genera alphacoronavirus, betacoronavirus, gammacoronavirus and deltacoronavirus on the basis of their phylogenetic relationships and genomic structures. These subfamilies are broadly distributed for causing infections in humans and other mammals. The alphacoronaviruses and betacoronaviruses infect only mammals. The gammacoronaviruses and deltacoronaviruses infect birds, but some of them can also infect mammals. The source of betacoronavirus 2019-nCoV is still unknown, although initial cases have been linked with south Huanan seafood market. Viral infections already known to produce similar symptoms are influenza, parainfluenza, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV). Laboratory investigations reported raised plasma levels of L2, IL7, IL10, GSCF, IP10, MCP1, MIP1A, and TNF? in patients. Full article

Objective: To evaluate the frequency, pattern, and etiology of mandibular fractures at a tertiary care hospital, in Karachi Study Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Setting: Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan Methodology: The study was initiated in Outpatient Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital Karachi. The duration of the study was 5 years and six months. Data of mandibular trauma was evaluated. In this retrospective, cross-sectional study the patients were recruited through convenience sampling and the inclusion criteria was patients from both genders suffered from mandibular trauma of mandibular region. Patients who suffered from the trauma of face other than mandible were excluded. The sample size of the study was 464. A questionnaire was designed to enquire into the demographic details like age, sex, etiology, and site of fracture. The data was analyzed on SPSS version 17.0. Results: The majority of patients were males i.e. 384 (82.8%) while 80 (17.2%) were females. The most common type of fracture was combination fractures followed by parasymphysis i.e. 142 (30.6%) and 79 (17%) respectively. Road traffic accident was the major cause of trauma i.e. 332 (71.6%) followed by fall 96 (20.7%). Cross tabulation was done between different variables. Association of gender with etiology and type of fracture revealed non-significant p-value while the association of age with etiology revealed significant p-value. The highest number of mandibular fracture cases due to RTA were reported in the year 2019. Conclusion: It has been concluded that the frequency of mandibular trauma is quite high with male dominance. The most susceptible site of trauma is the combination and parasymphseal region and the most common etiology were road traffic accidents. Full article

On December 31st 2019, Chinese Health Authorities in Wuhan city of their Hubei province, diagnosed 29 pneumonia cases of unknown etiology and informed WHO (World Health Organization). The unknown virus resembled SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), that occurred in China in November 2002, caused by a novel corona virus spilling over from an animal reservoir and transmitted by respiratory droplets. More than 8000 cases and 774 deaths were caused by SARS and circa US$20 billion coasted for its control. Full article