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Objective: This study aimed to evaluate pattern of markers of inflammation in apparently healthy drivers who exposed to traffic fumes. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2016 to January 2017 at Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro. It looked into the effects of traffic pollutants on markers of inflammation including CRP, Leukocytes count, IL-6, TNF-α, TNF-β of healthy human volunteers. Eighty-seven, apparently healthy, non-smoking automobile vehicle drivers, having daily contact of traffic exhaust for at least six hours, aged between 18-40 years recruited for this study. Levels of traffic-generated pollutants P.M2.5, P.M10, NOx were recorded in different areas of Hyderabad City. Results: P.M2.5 found to be positively correlated with markers of inflammation including IL-6 (rs = 0.99), TNF-α (rs = 0.41), CRP mg/dl (rs = 0.99) , neutrophils (rs = 0.29), lymphocytes (rs = 0.31), eosinophils (rs = 0.20), monocytes (rs = 0.42) and basophils (rs = 0.16). Positive correlation present among IL-6 (rs = 0.21), TNF-α (rs = 0.49) and CRP mg/dl (rs = 0.22) (rs = -0.31), Leukocytes (rs = 0.14) neutrophils (rs = 0.31), lymphocytes (rs = 0.21), monocytes (rs = 0.50), basophils (rs = 0.17) with P.M10. NOx showed positive correlation with IL-6 (rs = 0.22), TNF-α (rs = 0.48), CRP (rs = 0.22), neutrophils (rs = 0.31), lymphocytes (rs = 0.13), basophils (rs = 0.17) and monocytes (rs = 0.48). Conclusion: Findings of our study suggest that almost all markers of inflammation are positively correlated with traffic pollutants and this condition might raise the risk of systemic diseases. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.4.2025 How to cite this:Riaz H, Syed BM, Laghari Z, Pirzada S. Analysis of inflammatory markers in apparently healthy automobile vehicle drivers in response to exposure to traffic pollution fumes. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(4):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.4.2025 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Background: Pre-eclampsia is the hypertensive pregnancy disorder accompanied by the proteinuria. Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a biochemical marker that reflects the severity and progression of pre-eclampsia. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at the Liaquat University of medical and health sciences (LUMHS). One hundred pre-eclamptic women were enrolled and grouped into mild (n=30) and severe pre-eclamptic women (n=70) to ascertain the function of LDH as a prognostic marker and to assess its association with severity and gestational age in preeclamptic women. Results: The significant differences in mean concentrations of LDH between mild and severe pre-eclamptic women (P value '0.0001) and early and late onset pre-eclamptic women (P value=0.049) were found. Significant differences were also found in the LDH range between mild and severe pre-eclamptic women presented with late onset pre-eclampsia (P value= 0.004). Statistically significant differences (P value= 0.019) in the levels of LDH were found with systolic blood pressure and proteinuria (P value= 0.048). Conclusion: LDH is the prognostic marker representing the severity of pre-eclampsia. An increased level of LDH directs the adequate monitoring and management; and by early detection of pre-eclampsia serious consequences and complications may be prevented.

Objective: To identify and determine the frequency of complications in neonates with low birth weight. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted at Khairpur Medical College and Lady Willingdon Hospital, Khairpur Mirs from January 2018 to July 2021. Two hundred (n=200) neonates with low birth weight (<2500 grams) were recruited and frequency of different complications were observed. Results: The mean age of the neonates was 10.50 ± 4.34 days. Of the 200 neonates with low birth weight, 132 neonates (66%) presented with various complications; however 68 neonates (34%) were normal and without complications. Of the 200 neonates with low birth weight, the following complications were observed, hypoglycaemia (14.5%), jaundice (12.5%), respiratory distress syndrome (8%), feeding problems (8%), congenital cardiac defects (5%), hypothermia (4%), other complications such as sepsis (2%), apnea of prematurity (2%), intraventricular haemorrhage (2%), and more than 1 complications (16 neonates, 8%). Conclusions: In conclusion, hypoglycaemia and jaundice were the common complications associated with low birth weight in neonates. Advanced maternal age during childbirth, stress, lower socioeconomic conditions, consanguineous marriages, lower body mass index and maternal illness such as preeclampsia and anaemia were the risk factors of low birth weight observed in our study. Risk factors may be identified earlier in order to lessen the morbidities and mortality in low birth weight neonates.

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Introduction:In Pakistan, the incidence rate of aplastic anemia is 3.5 cases/million. The associated risk factors are exposure to pesticides, chemicals, and some drugs. The link between aplastic anemia and socio-demographic factors is debatable. Purpose: We conducted this study to investigate the role of socio-economic anddemographic factors with aplastic anemia. Methodology: A total of 191 lab-confirmed incident cases of aplastic anemia were identified from the tertiary hospital of Karachi-Pakistan in between 2015 and 2018. Age and gendermatched 694 controls were randomly selected from the same institute admitted or visited for other non-neoplastic conditions. Socio-demographic and exposure information was gathered using a data collection form. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed for selected socio-demographic factors. Results: Among socio-demographic factors, significant associations of aplastic anemia risk emerged for illiteracy (aOR: 2.3; 1.5; 3.5) occupation (any type) (aOR: 2.1; 1.7; 2.5), living in rural environments (aOR: 2.9; 1.9; 4.2). The odds of aplastic anemia increased with the age group 31-50 years (aOR: 1.8; 1.7; 3.5) and >50 years (aOR: 2.5; 2.1; 4.2). We observed no association of income with the risk of aplastic anemia. Conclusion:This study highlights the importance of socio-demographic factors as a risk factor for the development of aplastic anemia in the population of Pakistan. In order to reduce disease incidence, health education program and use of personal protective equipment and organization of screening camps in high-risk population is warranted.

Iniencephaly is an uncommon form of neural tube defects which is characterized by retroflexion of the head and absence of neck as a consequence of defective closure of the vertebral body and arch. Multiple identified risk factors for its causation include environmental, genetic and drugs.  We report a case of 38-year-old woman with prior history of still birth and abortions who presented at 35 weeks of gestation with lower abdominal pain and high blood pressure. Mother had consanguineous marriage. Her hypothyroidism was untreated in the first and second trimester. She delivered an iniencephalic baby girl via emergency c-section with multiple malformations at 38 weeks gestation secondary to fetal cardiac deceleration. Baby survived for less than 18 hours. In this case, proper antenatal care and follow up visits were needed along with postnatal genetic and pathological evaluation including assessment of risk factors. Appropriate management is important to prevent complications and recurrence in subsequent pregnancies. 

Background: Diabetes Mellitus is one of the alarming health hazardous indicator and with poor glycemic control, it will be dangerous for human health because it is more prone to development of different systemic & vascular complications. G6PD is one of the carbohydrate metabolic enzyme which prevent from oxidative stress and development of free radicals. Objective: The purpose of this research is to evaluate the level of G6PD in patients of type-2 diabetes mellitus with their different levels of glycemic control index. Methodology: This study was done at Department of Biochemistry LUMHS in collaboration with Diabetic clinic LUMHS and Diagnostic & Research Laboratory LUMHS Jamshoro. Total 100 diagnosed cases of type-2 diabetes were selected and divided into three groups with different categories of glycemic control index. The HbA1c% was measured by Bio Red Variant while G6PD was measured by standard G6PD quantitative measurement method at Diagnostic laboratory LUMHS using assay kit (SD Biosensor, Inc. Republic of Korea). Results: The G6PD significantly (p < 0.05) decline in diabetic patients with poor glycemic control having mean values of HbA1c% between 11-13%. Conclusion: This research study concluded that there is significant decline in G6PD in patients of diabetes mellitus with poor glycemic control. Estimation G6PD also can use as screening test in diabetic population to determine their genetic involvement. Keywords: Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus, HbA1c%, G6PD