Identifying research obstacles; a cross sectional comparative study of perceptions of postgraduate medical and dental residents in three public sector medical colleges.

Objective: To explore the attitude of postgraduate medical and dental residents about research work and to identify barriers in the way of research activities.

Methodology: The cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July, 2018, at three public-sector medical and dental institutions in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan province of Balochistan, and comprised postgraduate residents. Data was collected using a pre-validated 16 item Likert scale questionnaire.

AAA Syndrome, Case Report of a Rare Disease.

Triple A (Allgrove) syndrome, an autosomal recessive disease is characterized by achalasia, alacrimia and ACTH-resistant adrenal failure with progressive neurological syndrome including central, peripheral and autonomic nervous system impairment, and mild mental retardation. The triple A syndrome gene, designated AAAS, localized on chromosome 12q 13 encodes for a 546 amino acid protein called ALADIN (Alacrimia-Achlasia-Adrenal Insufficiency and Neurologic disorder). This report relates to two sisters, aged 8 and 12 years, who had vomiting, muscle weakness, alacrimia, excessive fatigue and dysphagia.

Pneumatic Balloon Dilatation for Achalasia Cardia; Early & late results, a single center study.

Objective: Achalasia Cardia is treated by Pneumatic balloon dilatation, Heller's Myotomy and recently, by Peroral Esophagaeal Myotomy. This study reports the efficacy of pneumatic balloon dilatation as a non-surgical motility in achieving relief of dysphagia, clinical improvement and recurrence. Long-term complications were reported.

Early Initiation Of Beta Blockers Following Primary Endoscopic Therapy For Bleeding Oesophageal Varices In Cirrhotics.

Background And Aims: Beta-blockers provide secondary prophylaxis following endoscopic therapy for variceal bleeding. Guidelines recommend starting beta-blockers 6 days after endoscopy to prevent masking hemodynamic signs of re-bleeding. We aimed to see safety of earlier initiation of betablockers.

Comparison of 12-Hour with 72-Hour Terlipressin Therapy for Bleeding Esophageal Varices.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of 12-hour of Terlipressin therapy as compared to 72-hour therapy in preventing rebleeding after endoscopic therapy.

Study Design: Interventional study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, from January to March 2016.

COMPARISON OF SINGLE VERSES MULTIPLE SESSION BAND LIGATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF BLEEDING OESOPHAGEAL VARICES.

Background: Cirrhosis of liver is the leading cause of portal hypertension in this part of the globe. Around thirty percent of the patient with portal hypertension develops complications. Oesophageal variceal bleeding is a serious complication of portal hypertension.

Risk factors and prescription patterns of gastroesophageal reflux disease: HEAL study in Pakistan.

Objectives: To determine the frequency of the use of proton-pump inhibitor therapy in patients with typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease and evaluate its risk factors.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2010 and February 2011 across 10 cities of Pakistan. Adult patients giving a current history of typical gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms were included.

Periodontitis in coronary heart disease patients: strong association between bleeding on probing and systemic biomarkers.

Aim: Few studies have examined the relationship of individual periodontal parameters with individual systemic biomarkers. This study assessed the possible association between specific clinical parameters of periodontitis and systemic biomarkers of coronary heart disease risk in coronary heart disease patients with periodontitis.

Materials And Methods: Angiographically proven coronary heart disease patients with periodontitis (n = 317), aged >30 years and without other systemic illness were examined.

Non-surgical periodontal therapy reduces coronary heart disease risk markers: a randomized controlled trial.

Aim: Periodontal disease elevates systemic inflammatory markers strongly associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy on systemic C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and white blood cells in CHD patients.

Materials And Methods: Angiographically proven CHD patients with periodontitis (n = 317) were randomized to intervention (n = 212) or control group (n = 105).

Helicobacter pylori in dental plaque; is it related to brushing frequency, plaque load and oral health status?

Objective: To determine the relation between presence of H. pylori in supra-gingival dental plaque with oral hygiene habits and oral health status of patients suffering from symptomatic dyspepsia.

Study Design: Descriptive study.

Simultaneous amplification of two bacterial genes: more reliable method of Helicobacter pylori detection in microbial rich dental plaque samples.

Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR) assay is considered superior to other methods for detection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in oral cavity; however, it also has limitations when sample under study is microbial rich dental plaque. The type of gene targeted and number of primers used for bacterial detection in dental plaque samples can have a significant effect on the results obtained as there are a number of closely related bacterial species residing in plaque biofilm.

Propranolol, isosorbide mononitrate and endoscopic band ligation - alone or in varying combinations for the prevention of esophageal variceal rebleeding.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of propranolol, propranolol with nitrate, band ligation, and band ligation with propranolol and nitrate for the prevention of esophageal variceal rebleeding.

Study Design: A prospective randomized trial.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, from November 2003 to July 2005.

Efficacy of argon plasma coagulation in gastric vascular ectasia in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of Argon Plasma Coagulation (APC) in terms of improvement in hemoglobin level and disappearance of telangiectasia as endoscopic treatment for Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia (GAVE) and Diffuse Antral Vascular Ectasia (DAVE) syndrome in liver cirrhosis.

Study Design: Quasi experimental study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of Shaikh Zayed Hospital/ Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore, from January, 2006 to July, 2007.

Interferon-ribavirin treatment in chronic hepatitis C--the less talked about aspects.

Background: Combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin has become the standard of care in the treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) infected patients. Treatment response, however, is not 100% and is accompanied with side effects faced by the patient as well as observed in haematologic indices. Studies are focusing on daily or high-dose induction therapy with interferon, the titration of interferon dosing to initial viral load, higher doses of interferon throughout treatment, and adjustment of interferon dosing to the viral responses.

Helicobacter pylori in dental plaque and gastric mucosa: correlation revisited.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) related gastric infection is highly prevalent in developing countries. Prevalence of bacterium in dental plaque from these regions is also reported to be high, but association between simultaneous colonization of H.

L-ornithine-L-aspartate infusion efficacy in hepatic encephalopathy.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of L-ornithine-L-aspartate in treatment of hepatic encephalopathy.

Study Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, from February to August 2005.

Successful treatment of watermelon stomach / GAVE syndrome by using argon plasma coagulation.

This case report describes a 50-year-old female patient with liver cirrhosis presented with anemia. She was found to be suffering from gastric antral vascular ectasia (watermelon stomach) on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. She underwent multiple sessions with Argon plasma coagulation, a non-contact thermal method of hemostasis for the management of watermelon stomach.

Frequency of hepatopulmonary syndrome in cirrhotic patients.

Objective: To determine the frequency of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.

Study Design: Observational cross-sectional study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, from April 2005 to March 2006.

Achalasia esophagus; presenting as acute air way obstruction.

Acute airway obstruction from mega-esophagus is a rare presentation of achalasia. Mega-esophagus is generally considered when the transverse width of the esophagus is more than 7 cm. A 78 year old lady presented with longstanding history of productive cough and nocturnal dyspnoea.

Predictive value of Rockall score for rebleeding and mortality in patients with variceal bleeding.

Objective: To validate Rockall scoring system for in-hospital rebleeding and mortality in cirrhotic patients with variceal bleed.

Study Design: Cohort type of case series.

Place And Duration Of Study: It was carried out at the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, from March 2005 to March 2006.

Role of laparoscopy in the diagnosis of low serum ascites albumin gradient.

The objective is to determine causes of low serum ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) by direct visualization and obtaining biopsy samples using laparoscopic technique. This is a hospital-based, observational study conducted at Department of Gastroenterology, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore from January 2001 to April 2002. A total of 33 patients with ascites (SAAG < 1.

Serum alanine aminotransferase level and response to interferon-ribavirin combination therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Objective: To determine the difference in sustained virological response to interferon-ribavirin combination therapy between patients with normal ALT and those with raised ALT in chronic hepatitis C.

Design: Quasi-experimental study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shaikh Zayed Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore, from February 2004 to June 2005.

Effect of band ligation on portal hypertensive gastropathy and development of fundal varices.

Background: Use of endoscopic therapies for esophageal varices has resulted in increased prevalence of fundal varices and severe portal hypertensive gastropathy. This study was meant to compare the effect of band ligation and sclerotherapy on development of fundal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy.

Methods: Patients with esophageal varices presenting in the endoscopy unit of Shiakh Zayed Hospital, with at least one previous endoscopy were included.

A study of colorectal polyps.

Objective: To determine various features of colorectal polyps and to evaluate the safety of colonoscopic polypectomy.

Design: Case series.

Place And Duration Of Study: The Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, from January 1987 to January 2004.

Predictors of fatal outcome in fulminant hepatic failure.

Objective: To determine prognostic indicators for morbidity and mortality in patients with fulminant hepatic failure.

Design: Observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shaikh Zayed Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore, from April 2003 to June 2005.