Usefulness of convalescent plasma transfusion for the treatment of severely ill COVID-19 patients in Pakistan.

Background: Convalescent plasma(CP) was utilized as potential therapy during COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. The study aimed at appraisal of CP transfusion safety and usefulness in COVID pneumonia.

Methods: Single arm, MEURI study design of non-randomized open label trial was conducted in five centers.

Possible Therapeutic Effects of Adjuvant Quercetin Supplementation Against Early-Stage COVID-19 Infection: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, and Open-Label Study.

Background: Quercetin, a well-known naturally occurring polyphenol, has recently been shown by molecular docking, in vitro and in vivo studies to be a possible anti-COVID-19 candidate. Quercetin has strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antiviral properties, and it is characterized by a very high safety profile, exerted in animals and in humans. Like most other polyphenols, quercetin shows a very low rate of oral absorption and its clinical use is considered by most of modest utility.

Quercetin Phytosome® as a potential candidate for managing COVID-19.

When looking for new antiviral compounds aimed to counteract the COVID-19, a disease caused by the recently identified novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), the knowledge of the main viral proteins is fundamental. The major druggable targets of SARS-CoV-2 include 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), papain-like protease (PLpro), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and spike (S) protein. Molecular docking studies have highlighted that quercetin, a natural polyphenol belonging to the flavonol class, inhibits 3CLpro, PLpro and S proteins.

The clinical and demographical profile of Coronavirus illness: The tale of and in Quarantine / Isolation center at Sukkur and Hyderabad.

Objectives: To determine the clinical and demographical profile of corona-virus illness among kept in quarantine / isolation center at Sukkur and Hyderabad Sindh.

Methods: The cross-sectional descriptive study (late March-2020 to mid of April-2020) was conducted at Diagnostic & Research Laboratory LUMHS Jamshoro / Hyderabad. All the suspected cases for COVID-19 were recruited and screened for corona virus infection.

Trace elements in blood samples of smoker and nonsmoker active pulmonary tuberculosis patients from Jamshoro, Pakistan.

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is a serious public threat throughout the world. PTB and smoking have a strong correlation. Malnutrition, poverty, addiction, overcrowding, illiteracy, unemployment, and poor hygienic conditions are the collective aspects for the disease progress.

IL28B rs12980275 polymorphism shows association with response to treatment in Pakistani patients with chronic hepatitis C.

The aim of this study was to describe the genetic characteristics of Pakistani patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in relation to IL28B polymorphisms and its association to interferon and ribavirin treatment response. A total of 220 patients, infected with HCV were enrolled, out of which 100 were responders and 120 were nonresponders. The whole blood samples were collected to extract viral RNA and genomic DNA.

Lipid profile in children with coronary artery disease in Sindh, Pakistan.

Aim: To evaluate lipid profile in children with coronary artery disease (CAD) in Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan.

Methods: The study included 100 children (6-15 years), of which 43 were children of young parents (one or both) with recognized CAD, while the other 57 were children with no evidence of CAD (controls). All were evaluated for fasting blood lipid profile.

Serum zinc level in patients with pneumonia: a six-month long cross-sectional descriptive study at Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the serum zinc level in patients with pneumonia.

Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, Pakistan, from September 2008 to February 2009. All patients above 12 years of age and of either gender who had been diagnosed with pneumonia were further evaluated for their serum zinc status.

Efficacy of PEG-interferon based treatment in patients with hepatitis C refractory to previous conventional interferon-based treatment.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of peg-interferon-based therapy in patients refractory to previous conventional interferon-based treatment and factors predicting sustained viral response (SVR).

Study Design: Analytical study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Medical Unit IV, Liaquat University Hospital, Jamshoro, from July 2009 to June 2011.

Foetal outcome in patients with meconium stained liquor.

Objective: To determine the foetal outcome and mode of delivery in patients with meconium stained liquor during labour.

Methods: The observational study was carried out at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit-II of Liaquat University of Medical Health Sciences from June to November 2007. The patients with gestational age more than 37 weeks who presented with meconium stained liquor and cephalic presentation were included and the foetal outcome and mode of delivery was assessed in all such subjects.

Discoid lupus erythematosus: a profile.

Objective: To determine the demographic data, clinical pattern and therapeutic outcome in patients with discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE).

Study Design: Case series.

Place And Duration Of Study: The Department of Dermatology, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, from January 2004 to December 2008.

Frequency of syphilis in female sex workers at red light area of Hyderabad, Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the frequency of syphilis in female sex workers (FSWs) at red light area of Hyderabad.

Methods: This study was conducted on female sex workers at red light area of Hyderabad, Pakistan during 2003. All female subjects who were between 17-35 years of age were evaluated and enrolled in the study.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus: A risk factor for Helicobacter pylori infection: A hospital based case-control study.

Objective: To determine the frequency of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in diabetic and non-diabetic patients and to compare the frequency of H. pylori infection in both groups.

Oral lichen planus: a clinical study.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical characteristics, predisposing/aggravating factors and malignant potential of oral lichen planus (OLP).

Study Design: Case series.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Dermatology and Oral Pathology, Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, from January 2006 to November 2007.

Metabolic investigations in patients with hepatitis B and C.

Aim: To investigate the similarities and dissimilarities in patients with hepatitis B and hepatitis C, clinically and metabolically.

Methods: Fifty patients with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection were included in this study, along with fifty healthy controls for comparison purposes. Intravenous blood (10 mL) samples from patients and healthy subjects were collected and made to clot before serum was separated and immediately levels of the enzymes, alkaline phosphatase (ALK), creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (s-GOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (s-GPT) were determined by a kit method.

Frequency and pattern of gonorrhoea at Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad (a hospital based descriptive study).

Objective: To determine the frequency and pattern of gonorrhoea at Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad.

Methods: This descriptive study of eight months was conducted at Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan from December 2007 to May 2008. All patients who were above 14 years of age and came with history of discharge from penis or vagina were evaluated and enrolled in the study.

Precipitating factors of hepatic encephalopathy at a tertiary care hospital Jamshoro, Hyderabad.

Objective: To determine the precipitating factors of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in patients with liver cirrhosis at Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad/Jamshoro.

Methods: This hospital based descriptive study was conducted from April 2007 to September 2007. All the patients who were more than 12 years of age and were diagnosed as hepatic encephalopathy were studied.

Frequency, pattern and etiology of nosocomial infection in intensive care unit: an experience at a tertiary care hospital.

Background: Nosocomial infection is defined as an infection which develops 48 hours after hospital admission or within 48 hours after being discharged. The objectives were to assess the frequency of nosocomial infection in patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) and to determine the etiological factors in such patients. It was an Observational Study and conducted in Intensive Care Unit, Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad Sindh Pakistan from January 2008 to November 2008.