Effect of Nigella sativa on Estradiol Levels and Menopausal Symptoms in Post-Menopausal Females

Introduction: Menopause is the permanent cessation of menses, typically occurs in women of 45-55 years. Menopause is associated with a number of somatic, psychological and sexual symptoms due to decline in estradiol levels resulting in poor quality of life of postmenopausal females. Aims & Objectives: The purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of Nigella sativa on menopausal symptoms and estradiol levels in postmenopausal females. Place and duration of study: Department of Physiology PGMI, Lahore for 8 weeks. Material & Methods: It was an interventional study conducted on 30 postmenopausal females. Nigella sativa was administered in the dose of 1g/day after breakfast for a period of 8 weeks. Menopausal Rating Scale (MRS) was filled and blood sample was taken before and after giving Nigella sativa for estradiol and testosterone levels. Data was analyzed by paired t-test using SPSS-21 and p- value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The result of the study showed that there was statistically significant reduction in the overall score of MRS (p = 0.001) and in all its domains, somatic (p=0.001), psychological (p=0.001) and urogenital (p=0.017). There was also significant improvement in blood estradiol level after 8 weeks of Nigella sativa administration (p= 0.021). Conclusion: Nigella sativa supplementation increases estradiol level and decreases menopausal symptoms severity as indicted by significant reduction in the 3 domains of MRS and may be used by postmenopausal females on regular basis to improve their quality of life.

FNAC: A Simple & Cost-Effective Diagnostic Tool for Benign & Malignant Pathologies Associated with Cervical Lymphadenopathy

Introduction: Cervical lymphadenopathy is very common as the presenting complaint in our outpatient departments. Its etiology may either be benign or malignant. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a comparatively cheap, easy to perform minimally invasive test. It has become the go to test to determine the cause of lymphadenopathy Aims & Objectives: To determine whether FNAC is a cost-effective diagnostic tool in evaluation of various benign and malignant Pathologies associated with cervical lymphadenopathy. Place and duration of study: It is a retrospective study conducted at Gulab Devi Hospital from April 2019 to April 2021. Material & Methods: The cyto-morphologic features seen in the aspirates were critically analyzed and correlated with their etiology. SPSS version 24.0 was analyzed for data analysis. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Among the 100 patients 56 were females and 44 were males with a female to male ratio of 1.3:1. The age range of the patients was from 3 to 75 years. 37% were reactive lymphadenitis, 32% were tuberculosis, 12% were suppurative, 11% were lymphoproliferative disorders, 8% cases were metastatic neoplasm. Conclusion: FNAC is a reliable and cost effective to diagnose the etiologies of cervical lymphadenopathy.

Food Insecurity and its Effect on Mental Health: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Food security is a rising concern worldwide. It is estimated that more than one billion people lack adequate supply of dietary energy and that at least half that amount suffers from micronutrient deficiencies. It is influenced by several factors: income, employment, race/ethnicity and disability, which adversely affect health. Food security has been considered as a risk factor for depression, stress and anxiety. Aims & Objectives: The research aimed to find the effect of food insecurity on mental health using systematic analysis. Place and duration of study: Data was gathered using Google Scholar, Medline, Embase, Science Direct and books from studies conducted between 2015 and 2020. Material & Methods: Systematic analysis was conducted with references to the literature. Results: This review showed a strong link of food insecurity with mental health status like depression, anxiety, and stress. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the tests of depression and mental health in both secured and foodinsecure food areas should be mandatory at the primary health level. It is suggested that food insecurity interventions on national and regional levels may help reduce the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress and improve the overall mental health status of the community.

An Updated Insight into Learning Approach of Government Sector Dental Students in Balochistan

Introduction: Learning approach is impacted by character attributes, domain of study, assignments assigned and requirements of medical/dental program. This helps in acquiring cognition through surface and deep learning that influences the amount and standard of learner’s acquisition of knowledge. Aims & Objectives: The objective of this work was to appraise Learning Approach (Deep or Surface Learning) of dental students at a public sector medical college. Place and duration of study: Bolan Medical College, Quetta, June-November 2016. Material & Methods: After ethical approval, a descriptive observational Census was conducted using RLS tool on 85 BDS (Bachelors of Dental Surgery) students at Bolan Medical College, Quetta. Data was collected on 14 RLS Likert scale variables and analyzed with SPSS version 20. Results: Eighty-five students participated in study; the response rate was 89.4%. Females constituted 72% of the participants with a mean composite RLS score of 64.26 ± 12.46. Highest mean score was noted for variable 6 (aware of learning task 6.07 + 1.46) with 85% reporting a positive attitude, followed by 71% on variable 14 (self-assess 5.36+ 1.95),68% on variable 12 (use capacity to reflect 5.24 + 1.66) and variable 8 (ponder for learning 5.24 + 1.59). Sixtyseven percent students were able to eliminate study related negative feelings. No statistically significant differences were found between genders and four academic years on all 14 items. Conclusion: BDS students demonstrated deep learning behavior through mitigating their negative thinking, memorizing learned material, self-assessment of their work and clarifying concepts by making association among themes to better understand the acquired knowledge and impression about subjects.

Comparison of Covid-19 IgG Anti-Spike Antibody Titer after Vaccination with Sputnik V in Seropositive and Naïve Vaccinees

Introduction: Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 has shown to reduce the risk of having a severe infection and initiate a good degree of disease protection. Studies assessing the antibody titer after vaccination can be very helpful to see whether previously infected individuals have better immunological response as compared to uninfected or antibody naïve individuals. Aims & Objectives: Comparison of Anti-spike IgG antibody among vaccinees with or without previous exposure to COVID-19. To determine whether single dose regimen can produce significant antibody titer amongst previously infected cases and design vaccine dosage regimens accordingly. Place and duration of study: This study was conducted at Chughtai Institute of Pathology from April 2021 to June 2021. Material & Methods: Blood samples were collected from 83 adult male and female vaccinees at baseline, 3 weeks after the first dose and finally 7 days after the second dose. Previously infected individuals’ record was noted separately. Samples were immediately analyzed using Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG II quant two step immunoassay. Data was analyzed using SPSS 23.0. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.Results: Majority of the candidates (57 %) were females and on analysis it was found that 42% of the patients were seropositive whereas 58% of the patients were antibody naïve before receiving the first dose of vaccine. There was a significant difference between mean antibody titer of seropositive and seronegative study participants at day 0, day 21 and finally on day 28 (p value <0.001) with seropositive individuals having higher antibody titers even after first vaccine shot. Conclusion: Post vaccination immunological response was higher in seropositive individuals as compared to the antibody naïve and this finding can help the policy makers to design a single dose vaccine regimen for the former category.

Symptoms and Associations of COVID-19 in Pakistan A Single Centre, Descriptive Study

Introduction: Since SARS-CoV2 is a novel virus, not much was previously known about the disease, however recent studies have shown that it is transmitted via droplet infection and mainly affects the respiratory tract, causing symptoms of fever, fatigue and shortness of breath. Comorbidities increase risk of severe disease. Aims & Objectives: Our study aims to determine the predominant manifestations and correlations of COVID-19 in Pakistan. Place and duration of study: The study was carried out at CMH Lahore over ten-day duration from 1st June 2020 to 10th June 2020. Material & Methods: Samples of 107 confirmed cases of COVID-19 was taken. Participants were administered a questionnaire by attending doctor which enquired regarding their symptoms, presence of complications, and comorbidities. Data was analyzed using SPSS 25.0. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: 77.6% of participants were male whereas 22.4% were female, with mean age 40.68 years. Symptoms commonly experienced were fever (71%), cough (32.7%), sore throat (36.4%), and myalgia (57%). Progression to complications was seen in 36 participants, most common being pneumonia (22.4%). Age of participants was significantly associated with symptoms of fever (p= 0.017), shortness of breath (p= 0.048) and fatigue (p= 0.021), and complication of pneumonia (p= 0.001). Comorbidities were associated with many symptoms and complications, most prominently cardiovascular disease was associated with development of complications like acute kidney injury (p= 0.002), cardiac failure (p= 0.005), and stroke (p= 0.005). Conclusion: Symptoms of COVID-19 are respiratory in nature primarily, however, the virus also affects other organs like gastrointestinal tract, neurons, heart. Age and presence of comorbidities increase risk of getting more severe disease, with highest risk of complications occurring in patients with history of cardiovascular disease.

Determination of Postmortem Interval by Estimating CSF Proteins Concentration after Death, by Dye Binding Method at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan

Introduction: Postmortem interval (PMI) is the time lapse between death of a person and its postmortem examination i.e. autopsy. Estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) is an imperative perspective of forensic medicine. Aims & Objectives: This study was conducted to see the impact of CSF protein estimation on determination of PMI. Place and duration of study: It was an observational correlational study, conducted for one year at Department of Forensic Medicine, King Edward Medical University Lahore. Material & Methods: A total of 119 cadavers were included in this study. Chemicals used were disodium molybdate, pyrogallol, succinic acid. The minimum detectable concentration of total proteins in CSF with dye binding method using pyrogallol red was determined as 0.022g/l. Two ml of CSF was taken from each cadaver. Clear, colorless samples were taken in test tubes. Turbid and blood contained samples were not included in study. Protein concentration was determined using photospectrometry. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS-23. Quantitative variables like age were presented as mean ± SD. Qualitative variables like gender were presented as frequency and percentages. For comparison between PMI and CSF proteins concentration correlation was applied. Results: Males accounted for majority of our subjects. The mean value of proteins in CSF was 219.91± 113.121 mg/dl. The most common PMI was 11 to 20 hours. CSF proteins increased gradually over 72 hours after death. The results of present study showed a significant positive correlation between time of death and CSF proteins concentration after death. Conclusion: It is observed that as a whole protein concentration increased with increasing time of death. Hence, CSF protein concentration can be used in estimating time since death.

Initial Psychological Response of Various Population Groups to COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: The corona virus pandemic has brought with it psychological problems like anxiety, stress, and depression. Research studies are urgently required to generate data that would help formulate strategies to manage the ensuing psychiatric and psychological maladies at societal level. Aims & Objectives: The aim of our study is to better comprehend the initial psychological response of society to COVID-19 outbreak though a survey. Place and duration of study: This cross-sectional study was conducted in King Edward Medical University, Lahore from April 2020 to October 2020. Material & Methods: An online questionnaire comprising of 20 items including the Zung self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) was disseminated to three fifty (350) participants. Two hundred and seventy-one (n=271) responses were received. Collected data was entered and analyzed using the SPSS software version 20. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. Relationships between categorical variables were tested by Chi square test. Regression analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of various variables on total stress score. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: It was revealed that 85.2% of the respondents reported minimal psychological impact, 14.8% had mild to moderate anxiety levels and 0.4% reported marked to severe anxiety. The impact was 2.5 times greater in subjects belonging to lower socioeconomic status (p=0.02). Conclusion: Population belonging to lower socioeconomic class is more vulnerable to be impacted by psychological disturbances due to the pandemic owing to economic losses that are magnified in the population with fragile earning sources.

Effect of Carica papaya Leaf Juice on Blood Cell Count of Busulfan-Induced Chronic Bone Marrow Aplasia in Mice

Introduction: Aplastic anemia is a syndrome of bone marrow failure comprising of peripheral pancytopenia and marrow hypoplasia. Recently, research has shown papaya leaf juice to increase blood cells counts. Aims & Objectives: This research was planned to investigate the effect of papaya leaf juice on blood cell counts in busulfan induced myelosuppressed mice. Place and duration of study: Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore from September 2015 to December 2015. Material &Methods: This animal experimental study comprised of 36 adult healthy Swiss albino mice weighing 30-35 g, divided randomly into three equal groups. Busulfan was given orally (14mg/kg) to induce myelosuppression to busulfan group and Carica papaya+ busulfan group on 8 occasions over a period of 23 days. Carica papaya leaf juice (10ml/kg) was given to the Carica papaya+ busulfan group daily for 23 days to observe its role in preventing myelosuppression. Normal group was given distilled water in an equivalent amount. One day after the final dose of busulfan and Carica papaya, the animals were sampled for blood cell counts. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. A p-value < 0.05 and below was considered as significant. Results: The Carica papaya leaf juice not only prevented significant fall in hemoglobin (10.86 ± 1.455 g/dl), RBC (9.54 ± 0.954× 106/mm3) and platelet count (958.92 ± 176.22 x103/mm3) vs (9.70 ± 0.904,11.24 ± 0.952 g/dl), RBC count (6.5025 ± 1.43,10.43 ± 0.234× 106/mm3) and platelet count (627.83 ± 151.63, 3881.08 ± 83.13 x103/mm3) in busulfan group but also kept them close to normal range. Total leukocyte count in C.papaya treated group improved significantly to 8116.67± 1540.85/mm3 vs (4516.67±789.51, 6666.67±798.10/mm3) busulfan treated and normal groups respectively. Conclusion: The Carica papaya leaf juice possesses significant myeloprotective activity. It may be a good candidate for prevention of chemotherapy induced pancytopenia