Background Suicide is one of the leading mental health crises and takes one life every 40 seconds. Four out of every five suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries. Despite religion being a protective factor against suicide, the estimated number of suicides is rapidly increasing in Pakistan. Aims Our review focuses on the trends of suicide and means of self-poisoning in the past three decades, and the management of commonly used poisons. Method We searched two electronic databases (PubMed and PakMediNet) for published English-language studies describing agents used for suicide in different regions of Pakistan. A total of 46 out of 85 papers (N = 54 747 cases) met our inclusion criteria. Results Suicidal behaviour was more common among individuals younger than 30 years. Females comprised 60% of those who attempted suicide in our study sample, although the ratio of completed suicides favoured males. There were regional trends in the choice of agent for overdose. Organophosphate poisoning was reported across the nation, with a predominance of cases from the agricultural belt of South Punjab and interior Sindh. Aluminium phosphide (‘wheat pills’) was a preferred agent in North Punjab, whereas paraphenylenediamine (‘kala pathar’) was implicated in deaths by suicide from South Punjab. Urban areas had other means for suicide, including household chemicals, benzodiazepines, kerosene oil and rat poison. Conclusions Urgent steps are needed, including psychoeducational campaigns on mental health and suicide, staff training, medical resources for prompt treatment of self-poisoning and updated governmental policy to regulate pesticide sales.

Background: Unfractionated heparin has been traditionally used for anticoagulation during hemodialysis (HD), but more recently low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is being used as an alternative. Anti-Xa activity can be measured as a surrogate of LMWH efficacy. We present 52 patients treated with tinzaparin anticoagulation on HD, confirming that fixed dosing is safe and efficacious with sound pharmacodynamic reason in relation to anti-Xa profiling. Methods: We undertook a prospective audit in a single dialysis unit. All patients were established on a simple anticoagulation protocol for at least 1 month prior to the audit. Blood anti-Xa activity was measured at time 0, 30, 60 and 120 min into and at the end of HD. Efficacy and safety data were collected on the study day and the two sessions before and after it. Results: Fifty-two patients were included in the efficacy and safety analysis with 43 patients undergoing anti-Xa analysis (9 sampling errors). Using current consensus (an end-HD anti-Xa activity of <0.4 IU/ml), our fixed-dose protocol resulted in satisfactory safety in all patients tested. Of 260 HD sessions, 10 (4%) had reduced tinzaparin efficacy. During 105 dialysis sessions (21 patients) using an arteriovenous fistula, 4 patients had one episode of minor bleeding and there were 6 episodes (2 patients) of post-needle-compression time greater than 15 min. Conclusion: Tinzaparin administered thrice weekly as a fixed dose has good efficacy and is well tolerated as an anticoagulant during HD when used according to our protocol.

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A 58-year-old female with a recurrent history of upper abdominal pain and intermittent dysphagia underwent endoscopic evaluation that demonstrated an irregular and nodular esophago-gastric (EG) junction and grade I erosive esophagitis. Biopsies showed prominent intestinal metaplasia of Barrett's type without dysplasia, chronic inflammation and multiple aggregates of large cells within the mucosal lamina propria, some with spindle shaped nuclei. Immunohistochemistry stains for keratins AE-1/AE-3 were negative, while S-100 and NSE were positive. This, together with routine stains, was diagnostic for mucosal ganglioneuromatosis. The background of chronic inflammation with intestinal type metaplasia was consistent with long-term reflux esophagitis. No evidence of achalasia was seen. Biopsies of gastric antrum and fundus were unremarkable, without ganglioneural proliferation. Colonoscopy was unremarkable. No genetic syndromes were identified in the patient including familial adenomatous polyposis and multiple endocrine neoplasia type IIb (MEN IIb). Iansoprazole (Prevacid) was started by oral administration each day with partial relief of symptoms. Subsequent esophagogastroscopy repeated at 4 mo showed normal appearing EG junction. Esophageal manometry revealed a mild non-specific lower esophageal motility disorder. Mild motor dysfunction is seen with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and we feel that the demonstration of localized ganglioneuromatosis was not likely related etiologically. In the absence of findings that might suggest neural hypertrophy, such as achalasia, the nodular mucosal irregularity seen with this instance of ganglioneuromatosis may, however, have exacerbated the patient's reflux.

SJ is a 37-year-old male who presented with one year history of dysphagia, odynophagia and 15 pounds weight loss. He underwent endoscopic evaluation which showed mid esophageal ulcers. It was thought that the cause of the ulcer was the multivitamins and the patient was asked to stop them. Furthermore Esomeprazole therapy was also initiated. Patient's symptoms persisted but he did not seek any medical attention until about one year later. Meanwhile the patient reported additional 15 pounds of weight loss. We repeated upper endoscopy again which showed evidence of two chronic non bleeding irregular friable ulcerations seen in the mid esophagus, 31 cm from the incisors. Biopsies and frozen section were taken and sent for assessment to the Pathology lab. Immunoperoxidase studies on frozen sections showed the presence of IgM and for most plasma cells IgG. The microscopic and histologic findings were consistent with mucous associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma with plasmocytic differentiation. Computed tomographic scan done showed no evidence of spread to adjacent structures. The patient was referred to oncology and several cycles of radiation and Rituximab therapy were initiated which cured the disease. Subsequent endoscopies with blind biopsies were done which were negative for any neoplastic process. Key words: Lymphoma; Mucous associated lymphoid tissue; EsophagusCore tip: This is a case of a 37-year-old gentleman presenting with chronic esophageal ulcers. Endoscopic biopsy samples were taken. Immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin and eosin staining of the biopsy samples were consistent with mucous associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. There was no sign of disease process in the stomach, and radiological studies revealed no evidence of metastasis. In consideration of these findings a diagnosis of primary esophageal MALT lymphoma was made, which is an extremely rare occurrence. On the basis of our experiences we recommend keeping primary esophageal MALT lymphoma in the differential diagnosis of chronic esophageal ulcers that are resistant to conservative management.

Objective: To determine and compare Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) in predicting severity of disease in patients with COVID-19. Study design: Descriptive comparative study. Place and Duration of study:  Department of Medicine, CMH Thal from April to July, 2020 Patients & Methods: 61 patients of COVID-19 confirmed through polymerase chain reaction were recruited and divided into severe and non severe disease. Complete blood counts were done. Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio were calculated and analyzed. Results: 14 patients (23%) of severe disease had mean age of 49.93±19.42 and 47 patients (77%) with non-severe disease had mean age of 33.32±9.16. The mean Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet to Lymphocyte ratio in patients who had severe disease was 7.20±4.20 and 204.25±148.42 (p=0.001 and p=0.026) respectively. The diagnostic performance of both Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio produced statistically significant area under the curve (AUC), (p <0.001). The adjusted and unadjusted area under curve for Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.85–1.00) and 0.923 (95% CI: 0.839-1.000) and for Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio it was 0.883 (95% CI: 0.781–0.985) and 0.825(95% CI:  0.707-0.943) respectively.  Conclusion: Elevated Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio are independent biomarkers which predict severity of disease in COVID-19 patients with Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio being better predictor in terms of diagnostic accuracy.  Keywords: Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), Neutrophil to Lymphocyte ratio, Platelet to Lymphocyte ratio

Objective: To assess the frequency of thrombocytopenia among the patients of trauma at an intensive care unit and to look for its relationship and other socio-demographic factors with the outcome. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Intensive Care Unit, Combined Military Hospital Peshawar, from Mar to Aug 2017. Methodology: Thrombocytopenia was defined as platelet count of <150,000/μl and was performed on the fifth day of admission in the Intensive Care Unit. Age, gender, presence of thrombocytopenia, history of platelet transfusion, and length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit were correlated with the outcome in our study population. Results: A total of 107 patients admitted to intensive care unit with traumatic injuries during the study period were included in analysis. Mean age of the patients was 37.93 ± 6.697 years. Thrombocytopenia developed in 35 (32.7%) of the patients while 72 (67.3%) had normal platelet count. Less than 18% patients died in the intensive care unit. Long duration of Intensive Care Unit stay and presence of thrombocytopenia were statistically significantly associated (p<0.05) with the presence of poor outcome in our sample population. Conclusion: Frequency of thrombocytopenia was high among patients admitted with trauma in intensive care unit and was also related to poor outcome in these patients.

A medical error is a preventable adverse effect of medical care. Errors can happen in the hospital at the doctor’s office, at the pharmacy, laboratory and ward. These can also occur at home by the patient or the attendant. These errors may lead to death or major/minor injuries or can also be harmless. However these should be recorded, analysed and remedial measures implemented to reduce the risk of being committed in the future. We are reporting the medical care of our patient in persistent vegetative state over nineteen years due to medical error at our hospital resulting in brain anoxia. The key issues faced during the care were recurrent respiratory and urinary tract infections and in last one year kidney calculi leading to chronic kidney disease and its complications. There are no contractures or thrombo-embolic events and above all no bed sore over this period.