The colour test was found to be a rapid, accurate and inexpensive tool to screen for ceftriaxone resistance in typhoid-endemic areas.

Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP) is a rare pregnancy specific disorder. Genetic variants of ABCB4 gene increase ICP risk. This study was conducted to determine frequency of ICP cases presented at a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan and to screen for genetic variants of exon 6 and 14 of ABCB4 gene in ICP cases.

This analytical study included ICP patients presenting at Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi, from February 2017 to May 2017. Sanger’s sequencing was performed using genomic DNA extracted from blood samples of patients and controls.

Twenty pregnant women out of 1150 (1.74%) had ICP and were enrolled during study period. Overall (19/20) 95% patients had pruritus and among them (8/20) 40%, (4/20) 20% and (2/20) 10% had a history of miscarriages, stillbirths and familial ICP respectively. Genetic analysis revealed an already reported variant i.e., c.504C>T in exon 6 in thirteen patients and a novel variant i.e., c.1686A>G in exon 14 in five patients. Both variants were not present in controls. In silico analysis suggested that both variants might affect pre-mRNA splicing of ABCB4 transcript.

ICP had a frequency of 1.74% among pregnant women. Identification of a novel heterozygous variant in five patients and an already reported variant in thirteen patients reaffirms genetic heterogeneity and role of ABCB4 in ICP etiology.

ICP had a frequency of 1.74% among pregnant women. Identification of a novel heterozygous variant in five patients and an already reported variant in thirteen patients reaffirms genetic heterogeneity and role of ABCB4 in ICP etiology.

To explore current evidence on the effectiveness of shockwave therapy in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy.

The meta-analysis study was conducted at University of Lahore from May 2019 to December 2019 and comprised search on Cochrane, Medline, Embase, Physiotherapy Evidence Databasedatabases and other sources as well as unpublished grey literature related to shockwave therapy in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy published between 2000 and 2019. Methodological quality assessment was performed using Cochrane risk of bias tool and the included studies were critically appraised using the Physiotherapy Evidence Databasescale.

Of the 11 studies shortlisted, data was not extractable from 2(18%). Of the 9(82%) studies analysed, 8(89%) were randomised trials and 1(11%) was randomised pilot study. Overall, 4(44.4%) studies had high quality and 5(55.6%) fell in the fair category.

There was no consensus found on the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy compared to traditional rehabilitation among patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy.

There was no consensus found on the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy compared to traditional rehabilitation among patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy.

To assess the safety and effectiveness of peripheral nerve blocks using ultrasound.

The retrospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data of all patients who received peripheral nerve blocks as part of anaesthesia care between January 2015 and January 2017. The data included outcomes of peripheral nerve block effectiveness, complications and limb conditions after the block. Peripheral nerve block effectiveness was assessed by monitoring pain scores at rest and on movement, and the requirement of co-analgesia. Complications, like numbness, motor block, metallic taste, hypotension and respiratory depression, were also assessed. Data was analysed using SPSS 19.

There were 299 patients who received ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks. The overall mean age was 44.57±16.64 years. selleck kinase inhibitor Of the total, 140 (47%) received transversus abdominis plane block, followed by supraclavicular block 49(16.7%). The most common complication in the recovery room was numbness 19 (6.2%). Overall, 70% patients remained pain-free, while 16% had moderate pain on movement 12 hours postoperatively.

Ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia was found to provide effective analgesia during and after surgery. Nerve blocks proved to be safe when used with ultrasound.

Ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia was found to provide effective analgesia during and after surgery. Nerve blocks proved to be safe when used with ultrasound.

To estimate the burden of antenatal and postpartum depression, and to explore possible predictors of perinatal depression.

The longitudinal study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shifa International Hospital and its Community Healthcare centre in Islamabad, Pakistan, from October 2018 to May 2019, and comprised women in their third trimester of pregnancy. Socioeconomic and obstetrical history was recorded on a proforma, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used for screening of depression. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23.

Of the 200 women, 71(35.5%) were primigravida and 129(64.5%) were multigravida. The overall mean age was 27.1±5.08 years. Further, 64(32%) women belonged to the low-income group, 99(49.5%) middle-income and 37(18.5%) to upper-income group. Women in postnatal period had higher depression scores than women in antenatal period (p<0.05). Antenatal depression increased the risk of postpartum depression (p<0.05). In women having unplanned pregnancies, or being multigravida, or belonging to middle and lower socioeconomic classes, the chances of perinatal depression were higher (p<0.05).

Antenatal depression was strongly associated with postpartum depression, indicating that the former was a significant predictor of the latter. Social class and parity were also found to be directly linked with perinatal depression.

Antenatal depression was strongly associated with postpartum depression, indicating that the former was a significant predictor of the latter. Social class and parity were also found to be directly linked with perinatal depression.

To find out awareness levels about legislation/authorisation and objectives of autopsy among common people, and to assess correlation between opinions and academic levels.

The cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted from March 2019 to September 2019 after approval from Ziauddin University, Karachi, and comprised adult subjects from the community having various academic backgrounds. Data was collected on their knowledge, perceptions and concerns regarding autopsy. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.

Of the 260 individuals approached, 106(40.8%) were males and 143(55%) were females, while 11(4.2%) did not specify their gender. Overall, 123(47.3%) were aged 18-25 years. After 7(2.7%) dropouts, the total number of respondents was 253(97.3%). Of them There were 208(82%) subjects who marked “Yes” to knowing the meaning of autopsy, and 115(55.3%) of them had high academic level, while 93(44.7%) had low educational level. Also, 93(44.7%) participants correctly knew the purpose behind an autopsy. Regardless of the academic level, 135(21.