BackgroundHydroxyurea is being used effectively in sickle cell anemia and thalassemia intermedia. Its role in transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major yet needs to be clearly established. This study has been carried out to assess the efficacy and safety of hydroxyurea as adjuvant therapy in pediatric cases of transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major disease. Materials and methodsThis quasi-experimental study was carried out at District Headquarter Hospital (DHQ), Zhob, from February 2021 to January 2022. One hundred ten cases fulfilling the inclusion-exclusion criteria were selected and divided into groups of 55 each. Group A cases received hydroxyurea (10-20 mg/kg/day) in addition to blood transfusion and chelation therapy. Group B received a blood transfusion and chelation therapy only. Both groups were compared in terms of blood transfusion requirement, mean hemoglobin, and mean serum ferritin levels. All the data were analyzed with SPSS 21 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). ResultsOf Group A cases, three were dropped because of side effects of hydroxyurea, and two were lost to follow-up. Similarly, three cases of Group B lost to follow-up, one patient withdrew consent, and one child died at home; thus both groups were left with 50 cases each. The mean age of participants was 11.98 + 3.74 years. There were 51 males and 49 females. Both the groups were comparable in terms of age and gender. Similarly, mean hemoglobin levels and serum ferritin levels were comparable at the start of the study. After one year, there was a significant improvement in mean hemoglobin level (p<0.001) and a significant reduction in serum ferritin levels (p=0.014) in the group taking adjuvant hydroxyurea. The requirement of packed red blood cells (RBCs) significantly decreased in cases taking hydroxyurea (p<0.001). ConclusionHydroxyurea is a safe and effective treatment that significantly decreases the packed RBC transfusion requirement in transfusion-dependent thalassemia children, improves hemoglobin levels, and reduces serum ferritin levels compared to the children on blood transfusions alone.
Objective: To assess the various clinical characteristics, seasonal variation, outcome and disturbance of taste(aguesia) and smell (anosmia) in cases of COVID-19.Study Design: Cross sectional study.Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Department of COVID-19 at Combined MilitaryHospital (CMH), Mardan from March 2020 to February 2021.Materials and Methods: Suspected case of corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) admitted and managed atCMH Mardan from March 2020 to February 2021 were included in the study and their nasopharyngeal swabswere sent for COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Only those clinically suspected cases withpositive PCR for COVID-19 were considered as cases of COVID-19. Demographic and clinical data includinggender, age, result of COVID-19 PCR test, symptoms, severity of disease, body system affected with COVID andoutcome, were recorded and entered in SPSS 21. Chi square was used to analyze qualitative variables and T testwas used for quantitative variables. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.Results: The reported clinically suspected cases of COVID-19 were 1552. Positive PCR test for COVID-19 were221 (14.2%) with mean age 37.53 +11.05. The highest number of COVID-19 cases were seen from May 2020 toJuly 2020. The positivity ratio of COVID-19 was highest during May 2020 (29.9%). Majority of COVID-19 caseswere asymptomatic (45.7%) and only ten cases died of COVID-19, i.e. mortality was 4.5%.Out of 221 COVID-19patients, 38.5% cases had olfactory and taste dysfunction.Conclusion: COVID-19 surged during the months of May to July 2020 followed by a downhill course. Majority ofCOVID-19 cases were asymptomatic. Respiratory system of body was most common system involved followedby gastrointestinal and combination of respiratory and gastrointestinal system. Olfactory and taste dysfunction(anosmia and aguesia) was seen commonly in COVID-19 patients.
Objective: To ascertain the frequency of various pathological disorders related to prostate so that benign lesions of prostate can be distinguished from adenocarcinoma prostate to avoid wrong diagnosis. Material and Methods: This study (descriptive cross sectional) was carried out in the Histopathology Department, Foundation University Medical College, DHA Islamabad from 1st August 2019 to 31st July 2020. A total 200 biopsy specimens from patients between 50 to 92 years of age were fixed in 10 % formalin. The samples were grossed and routinely processed under standard conditions for paraffin embedding. Haematoxylin and Eosin stains were used to stain the slides while special stains were used as per requirement. Microscopic evaluation was done by consultant histopathologists after correlating histopathological findings with clinical data. Results: Total 200 individuals were incorporated in this study. Age of patients ranged from 50 to 92 years. The mean age of study subjects was found to be 67 +9.64 years. Majority (37%) of individuals in the study belonged to age group of 61-70 years. Out of total 200 patients, 179 patients (89.5%) had diagnosis of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Twenty patients (10%) were diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma prostate. One out of 200 patients (0.5%) was diagnosed as a case of Prostatitis with no other finding. Conclusion: Benign prostatic hyperplasia is most frequent pathology of patients with prostate enlargement. Prostate cancer needs to be distinguished from spectrum of benign lesions to avoid wrong diagnosis. Key Words: Adenocarcinoma prostate, Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), Prostatitis.
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