The Effect Of Garlic Consumption With Prescribed Anti-Platelet Medicines On Platelet Count Of Cardiovascular Patients

Backgroung: Garlic (A. sativum) is in use as a traditional medicine for millions of years. It is already establish that A. sativum is nature's best antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic agent. Its helpful effects for Cardiovascular system, Blood, Immune system, Central Nervous system, Respiratory system, Anti-cancer, Anti-Inflammatory and Antidiabetic properties have already been studied. In this study, we will evaluate the effects of garlic consumption on platelets count of MI Patients along with other blood-thinning medicines. Materials & Methods: This is a cross sectional study, 500 patients were interviewed. Interview questions included demographic information, diet plan, lifestyle, garlic consumption. Results: 412 (82.45%), patients stated that they are using or have used garlic for more than 6 months in raw form to reduce the symptoms of hypertension, along with prescribed medicines such as aspirin and clopidogrel. Platelet count of all patients of the study has been monitored and results showed 22.4% of them had thrombocytopenia with less than 150,000 mcL platelet count while only 2.19% showed thrombocytosis high levels of platelets count inPatients reported symptoms of excessive fatigues, unexplained vaginal bleeding, easy bruising, extreme headache, fluctuating blood pressure and other related symptoms. Conclusion: Garlic has a really impressive and wide range of pharmacological properties including antimicrobial, anticancer, cardiovascular disease An amazing pharmacological agent like A. sativum may affect adversely if taken without precaution. High dosage of garlic results in intoxication and disturbance of platelet count. However, a careful measure should be taken before garlic consumption especially with other blood-thinning medicines.

Oxidative Stress: A Double Edged Sword

Oxidative stress (OS) in simple words is defined as a state of imbalance between antioxidant and pro-oxidants defenses. The purpose of this article is to find out the connection of oxidative stress and free radical species with different aspects of human health. Owing to its harmful effects on proteins and nucleic acids, oxidative stress causes chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and cancer. It highlights the impacts of antioxidants and pro-oxidants particularly on fertility and infertility. It also focuses on the adverse effects caused by the long-term exposure to pro-oxidant factors leading to structural defects of mitochondrial DNA. As modern life style consists of more reliance on the processed foods and lack of physical activity, a nutrition deficiency, which is common in the present lifestyle, is also one of the reasons for oxidative stress to cause inflammation. However, this review also focuses on how diet affects and triggers inflammation. Redox mechanism with potential threats to health of mankind is discussed, how mere stress can provoke biological stress responses leading to development of disease or metabolic errors. Methods for reduction of oxidative stress are discussed in this review. It also highlights mitochondria as an aging factor as many ROS, particularly mitochondria ROS contribute directly to aging in human body. We will be discussing the recent findings in the oxidative stress field and its negative and positive impacts on human health.

Prevalence of Various Sign and Symptoms of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic syndrome marked by hyperglycemia due to absolute or relative deficiency of insulin hormone. Diabetic neuropathy is a complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Although pain is one of the most dominant symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, its pathophysiological mechanisms yet unknown. Toxic effects of high glucose levels play an important role in the development of this complication. METHODOLOGY: Data was collected through the questionnaire regarding Clinical findings, medical records, weight, age, family history, different habits, and psychogenic behavior. All the patients with the mentioned diseases are included in this study, excluding the mentally ill patients and the pregnant women. RESULT: The result of the present study showed that diabetic neuropathy is the most common complication of diabetes mellitus. It has been observed that most of the patients due to lack of awareness are suspected to the elevated or extreme blood sugar level which leads to neuropathy. Due to the Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) most of the patients suffering from foot problems, foot ulcers and then amputations. Lack of awareness, lack of health management, obesity, blood pressure changes, less care plays a key role in increasing the chances of diabetic neuropathy. COCLUSION: Diabetic neuropathy had very bad influence on a person’s health and daily activities. The Patient education programs need to emphasize on large scale. The ultimate aim of this study is the foot care education for people with the diabetes and to prevent foot ulcers and amputation.

Bacteriological profile and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of symptomatic bloodstream infection in Dhaka City

INTRODUCTION: Bacteremia, is regarded as a significant reason in all over the world for morbidity and mortality in mainly sick patients. Invasion by microorganisms in blood constitutes the critical issues in infectious disease. The aims and objectives are to find out the pathogenic agents infecting males and females in blood of different age groups and naturally used antimicrobial sensitivity profiles. METHODS: All the blood samples were collected aseptically and tested in Popular Diagnostic Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh between May, 2020 and October, 2020. Total 305 blood specimens from both sexes of different age groups were collected. Cultural analysis was performed by Gram staining, phenotypic examination, biochemical and serological analysis. Finally, antibiotic susceptibility test was done against commonly used antibiotics. RESULTS: 96 (31.47%) samples yielded a positive culture with predominant isolate being Salmonella typhi (41.66%) though Salmonella spp., Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus spp and Pseudomonas spp. were also detected. Like most of previous reports, Salmonella spp was predominant, this corroborates this study. But the profile of antimicrobial susceptibility of the detected organisms varied comparing studies which were done in the past. The isolates were found mostly resistant to nalidixic acid. Most of the pathogens showed tremendous susceptibility against ceftriaxone, cefixime, ceftazidime etc. CONCLUSION: The antibiotic selection for the treatment of bacteraemia in patients should always be serious concern due to multidrug resistant (MRD) bacterial isolates. For proper treatment of anti-bacterial resistance and critical mortality and morbidity should be related with the sickness. For validating more reliability, this research requires further work.

Demographic Factors Associated with Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination: An Online Survey-Based Study from Hyderabad Sindh

Background: COVID19 is a major threat to global health. World health organization has proposed use of vaccines against COVID19 to end the pandemic. Due to low literacy rate in many developing countries and disinformation, the population is reluctant for COVID19 vaccination. To explore the demographic factors associated with acceptance of COVID19 vaccination, we set up an online cross-sectional study. Methods: The online survey-based cross-sectional study was conducted to understand the demographic factors of residents of Hyderabad city associated with vaccine acceptance. The questionnaire was divided into sections to get sociodemographic characters and other information related with willingness of vaccination. This questionnaire was sent to 300 people from which 205 people participated. Results: The result showed that 28.8% of the participants were not sure to get vaccination of COVID-19, while 41.5% participants were willing to get vaccine if available; rest of the people (29.8%) were not willing be vaccinated at all. The main reason behind this denial was due to belief on conspiracies against COVID-19 vaccine. Many participants either denied (42%) for any disinformation or were not sure (12%) on this account. Conclusion: The study was based on demographic factors of residents of Hyderabad associated with acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine. Among the studied population only 41.5% showed willingness to get vaccinated which indicate the necessity to effectively educate the population about COVID-19 vaccines.

Prevalence of risk factors associated with ocular problems in males and females in type 1 & 2 diabetes

Background: The aim of current study was exploring the ocular abnormalities in individuals with Type 1 & 2 diabetes. Methods: Patients referred for diabetic ocular abnormalities (retinopathy, cataract, glaucoma and refractive error) on fundoscopy from LRBT eye hospital Korangi, Karachi were randomly included in the study. Retinopathy, cataract and refractive error were evaluated by slit lamp biomicroscope or indirect ophthalmoscope, & categorized into lacking, non-proliferative, proliferative retinopathy, maculopathy, capsular or sub capsular cataract, myopia and hypermetropia. While glaucoma was assessed by tonometry. Prevalence of eye complication has been seen in subjects. Outcome of substantial risk factors on the diverse phases of retinopathy, multivariate regression analysis was performed. Results: 200 diabetic subjects (106 males and 94 females) when the compared; diabetic subjects and subjects with hypertension; 28.0 % retinopathy, 9.75 % cataract, 7.31 % with glaucoma, and about 2.43% refractive error were found out among the diabetic males. 47.61 % retinopathy, 11.9% Cataract, 40.47% refractive error were found in females. In males with diabetes and hypertension were found 60.46 % retinopathy, 27.9 5% cataract, 11.62 % refractive error & in females 46.15% retinopathy, 19.23 % cataract, and 34.61 % with refractive error. Conclusions: This current study emphasizes screening of diabetic subjects regularly so as to distinguish ocular abnormalities and increasing public awareness.

Comparison Of Lung Function Tests Between Healthy And Asthmatic Individuals

Background: Comparison of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were achieved between asthmatic case and Controls. Materials & Methods: Case-control study conducted at Baqai Medical University (50 cases and 50 control). PFTs in both the participants were estimated by spirometry; FEC, FEV1 and their ratios were estimated. Results: According to the findings all spirometric values were lower in asthmatic patients as compared to healthy subjects. Moreover the asthamatic subjects had lower lung values when compared with healthy subjects. Conclusion: The current study evaluated spirometric values in asthmatic patients in Gadap area. This study's findings can be applied to the treatment of asthma in people of all ages.

Genetic Variations of Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor Gene With Premenstrual Syndrome Among Pakistani Menarcheal Girls: A Pilot Study

The premenstrual syndrome (PMS) comprises various physical and emotional symptoms which are associated with the menstrual cycle. The emotional changes might be due to the variation in the levels of BDNF especially lower levels of plasma BDNF may be present at the luteal phase of menstrual cycle. To date, no data were present to associate the link between BDNF gene polymorphism and PMS among young Menarcheal females. So, the goal of this investigation is to find out the possible relationship between BDNF gene polymorphism and PMS among young Menarcheal females of Pakistan. A total of 92 menarcheal girls with age range of 11-14yrs met the inclusion criteria. All participants were screened for the depression and PMS using Zung’s depression scale/ Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM IV) criteria and world health organization (WHO) criteria for PMS respectively. Genomic DNA was extracted from oral samples by Salting out method and BDNF genotyping was done using PCR-RFLP analysis. Results showed no significant association (χ2=1.685, p-value=0.431) was observed between BDNF genotyping and PMS among menarcheal girls. BDNF (rs6265) AA and GA genotypes did not show significant association with the risk of PMS. Hence, it was concluded that BDNF gene polymorphism may not be associated with the PMS among Pakistani Menarcheal girls

Screening to Determine Prevalence of β-Thalassemia and Iron Deficiency Anemia Among Medical Students

According to the Thalassemia Federation of Pakistan, the mostly inherited disorder in Pakistan is β-thalassemia, which is characterized by a deficient, abnormal, or lack of β-globin chain synthesis and has a prevalence of 6%. The only method of controlling and preventing β-thalassemia is to increase awareness among students. This was an observational study using a random sampling technique. The Dow-Thalassemia awareness program recruited 915 medical students from the Dow Medical College (DMC) and Sindh Medical College (SMC) to voluntarily donate blood samples, which were analyzed by the naked eye single tube red cell osmotic fragility test (NESTROFT) and complete blood count and results were confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography and analyzed using the NESTROFT. The samples were collected in 2012-2013. A total of 915 samples, out of these 390 samples, 390/915 (42.6%) samples were positive and complete blood count found 282 (72.3%) were positive for iron deficiency anemia. The remaining 108/390 (27.6%) were confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Only 2.4 % subjects were positive for the β-thalassemia trait. Of 915 students, 57.4% of students were healthy, 39.2% had iron deficiency anemia, and 2.4% were carriers of the β-thalassemia trait. The overall prevalence of β-thalassemia was 38/915 (4.1%), which was lower than observed in previous studies. This study also demonstrated the NESTROFT can be used as a primary method of screening out healthy individuals, where approximately 50% require further screening for β-thalassemia