INTRODUCTION: Deficiency of vitamin D has been implicated in several disorders, including skeletal, immune, neural, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The impact of vitamin D deficiency on CVDs is potentially through derangement of cardiometabolic profile. The present work assessed the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and cardiometabolic markers in adult men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study (n=160) was conducted on adult men between the ages 35-50 years without a history of CVDs and/or diabetes, liver, or kidney disorders. Serum vitamin D, lipid profile (cholesterol, triacylglycerol; TAG, low[1]density lipoprotein; LDL, high-density lipoprotein; HDL), and renal function tests (urea, creatinine) were measured using enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Pearson’s correlation was used for assessing correlations between the studied parameters. Participants were further grouped as underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese based on their BMI values, and one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey’s tests were done to observe group mean differences. RESULTS: Vitamin D and HDL were positively correlated (r=0.395, p=0.000) while negative correlation of serum vitamin D levels was seen with TAG (r=-0.539, p=0.000), cholesterol (r=-0.325, p=0.000), LDL (r=-0.541, p=0.000) and urea (r=-0.514, p=0.000). Levels of serum vitamin D (p=0.000) and HDL (p=0.000) were lower while levels of TAG (p=0.000), cholesterol (p=0.000), LDL (p=0.000) and urea (p=0.000) were higher in the overweight and obese groups. CONCLUSION: Inadequate serum vitamin D status is associated with dyslipidaemia in adult men. Moreover, obese and overweight men have lower serum vitamin D levels with pronounced dyslipidaemia, thus highlighting vitamin D as a potential cardiometabolic risk factor.

Obesity is a common clinical disorder featuring excessive buildup of body fat. The bioavailability of vitamin D in obese subjects is lowered because of its sequestration in the superfluous fat tissue. Hypovitaminosis D itself is associated with glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension, which are also linked to obesity. Objectives: To compare and correlate serum vitamin D and insulin resistance in controls and overweight / obese males. Study Design: Cross Sectional, Comparative Study. Setting: The study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Post – Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI) in collaboration with Lahore General Hospital and Central Park Medical College. Period: From 7th June 2018 to 10th Oct 2018. Material and Methods: Eighty male subjects (age range 35-50 years) included in this cross-sectional comparative study were divided into two groups on the basis of BMI; Group I: non-obese (control) BMI < 25 Kg/m2 (n=40) and Group II: overweight / obese males with BMI ˃25 Kg/m2 (n=40). Fasting serum vitamin D (25 hydroxy cholecalciferol; 25-OH D, serum insulin and blood glucose levels were measured. Insulin resistance (IR) was estimated from fasting serum glucose levels taken in mmol/l and the fasting serum insulin taken in µIU/ml by using Homeostasis Model Assessment-estimated Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR index). Results: Group II had lower serum 25-OH vitamin D levels and higher HOMA-IR index than control group. Significant negative correlation was present between serum vitamin D and HOMA-IR. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency may promote insulin resistance in overweight or obese individuals.

Objective: The objective of the study is to assess job satisfaction between groups of healthcare workers based on their work experience and monthly salary.Methodology: Healthcare workers (n=81) including clinicians, nurses and medical teachers were recruited from a private medical institute at Lahore. Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) and Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) Scale including its component scales of Compassion Satisfaction (CS), Burnout (BO) and Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) were used to determine aspects of vocational quality of life and satisfaction. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to assess group differences. Spearman correlational analysis was done to assess correlation between income, work experience and job satisfaction.Results: Significantly higher professional satisfaction, lower burnout and stress scores were observed in experienced healthcare workers as compared to less-experienced ones (p value =0.039* for JSS, p value =0.011* for CS, p value =0.055* for BO and p value =0.027* for STS). Significantly higher satisfaction scores were found in workers with higher monthly income as compared to those with lower monthly salary (p value =0.006* for JSS and p value =0.032* for CS). Significant positive correlation was observed between healthcare workers’ job satisfaction and their experience and monthly salary.Conclusion: More experience at work is particularly associated with lower burnout and reduced occupational stress.

Objectives: Obesity is a globally pervasive health concern linked to a plethora of cardiometabolic complications such as hypertension, dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia. Poor dietary proclivity contributes to dyslipidemia, however daily intake of nuts has previously been shown to improve abnormal blood lipid levels. The present study evaluated the effect of almond intake on the lipid profiles of normal, overweight and obese adults to discern which group benefits the most. Study Design: A prospective non-randomized comparative study design was employed. Setting: Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of Lahore and Department of Biochemistry, Central Park Medical College, Lahore. Period: May 2018 and December 2018. Material & Methods: A total of 34 adult subjects (males and females) were recruited for the study with an age range from 21 to 60 years. Participants were categorized into normal, overweight and obese groups based on their Body Mass Index (BMI) values. Baseline fasting blood samples were drawn from each subject and stored. The subjects were then asked to consume 50g/day almonds (without peel) for 30 days after which blood samples were again collected from each subject. Both baseline and post-supplementation serum samples were subjected to lipid profile analysis. Result: Almond supplementation resulted in lowered cholesterol, LDL and VLDL levels (p-values of 0.0001, 0.001 and 0.003, respectively) in Group 1 (normal weight). Lowered cholesterol levels were also observed (p-value 0.007) in Group 2 (overweight). There was no significant change in lipid profile in Group 3 (overweight), upon supplementation. Conclusion: Regular almond supplementation offers improvement in lipid profile and such beneficial effects of almond consumption on lipid profile are more pronounced in normal weight individuals than overweight or obese ones.

No abstract

Background: Thyroid nodules are nodules which commonly arise within an otherwise normal thyroid gland. A comprehensive history & physicals examination provides the foundations for decisions making in the managements of thyroids nodule. Endoscopic thyroidectomy is a newer technique and it is not accepted as a routine operation for thyroid diseases. With rising female gender, age, anemia & history of thyroid therapy, the possibility of thyroid nodules is greater. Objective: To compare the outcome of endoscopic lobectomy versus open lobectomy for benign diseases of thyroid gland Methodology: Randomized control trial was conducted in which after meeting the inclusion criteria 60 patients were participated in this study. Then patients were divided into two groups. One group is treated with endoscopic lobectomy technique and other with open lobectomy technique. During surgery, operative time was noted and then hospital stay was noted. Results: The’ patients average age was 28.68± 10.38 year, patients with endoscopic lobectomy procedures the mean surgery duration of patients was 101.60±24.16 minutes whereas among patients with open lobectomy surgical procedures the patients mean of surgery duration was 120.43±38.18 minutes (p-value=<0.05), similar finding observed in terms of hospital stay. Practical Implications: This will help in the early and prompt management of the thyroid swellings without causing any cosmetic effect and thus time saving and more efficient procedure would be endoscopic reresection of thyroid gland. Conclusion: The endoscopic lobectomy showed significantly better outcome than to open lobectomy for management of benign diseases of thyroid gland Keywords: Thyroid Gland, Benign, Endoscopy, Lobectomy, Pakistan

Background: Physiology of the mother, changes constantly during pregnancy including reduced HGS that is require for carrying the child after delivery. Activities of daily living require manual gripping tasks that require dynamic and static contractions. Predictor of upper extremity function is Hand Grip Strength and handgrip endurance. Screening of hand grip strength during antenatal care is still uncommon. Objectives: To compare static and dynamic hand grip endurance in pregnant females and to find its correlation with deep breathing. Material and Methods: The study recruited 40 participants of primi-gravida of 1st and 2nd trimester, between ages 20 and 35 years from SHALAMAR GYNAE OPD. The participants assigned to the groups (Group 1: with DB, Group 2: without DB) based on their trimester and gravidity. Static and dynamic endurance assessed using hand held dynamometer. Results: Mean Age ± Standard deviation for deep and non-deep breathing groups was 22.85 ± 2.30 and 24.05 ± 0.514. Age had negative little or low correlation with all variables of deep and non-deep breathing groups. Peak hand grip strength was moderately correlated with hand grip endurance with deep and non-deep breathing group (r = -0.628, r = -0.566 respectively). Static hand grip endurance was weakly correlated with peak hand grip strength in deep breathing group (r = -0.239) whereas static hand grip endurance had little, if any correlation with peak hand grip strength in deep breathing group (r = -0.165). Clinical implication: Management of hand grip strength and endurance improves general well being of pregnancy. By employing deep breathing exercises hand grip strength can be improved. Conclusion: Peak hand grip strength and endurance improved markedly in 2nd trimester with deep breathing. Deep breathing can improve peak hand grip endurance and peak hand grip strength in pregnancy with increasing trimester. Whereas static and dynamic hand grip endurance has insignificant effect in different trimester. Keywords: Pregnancy, deep breathing, trimester, endurance, peak grip endurance

.