Perceived usefulness of medical teachers towards online learning using technology acceptance model.

Objective: To determine medical teachers' acceptance of and attitude towards online learning, and to gather their recommendations about how it can be incorporated in the educational system.

Methods: The mixed method study was conducted at Gujranwala Medical College, Gujranwala, Pakistan, from August 2021 to January 2022, and comprised medical teachers involved in online teaching during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic. Quantitative data was gathered using an online questionnaire based on the technology acceptance model.

Jejunal diverticulosis presenting as intestinal obstruction-A case report of a rare association.

Jejunal diverticula are rare medical conditions with an incidence of 0.3%-2.5%, mostly discovered perioperatively.

Intra-ocular pressure changes after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab.

Objective: To evaluate the short-term and sustained intraocular pressure changes after intravitreal bevacizumab in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: The quasi-experimental study was conducted at the District Headquarter Teaching Hospital, Gujranwala, Pakistan, from January to December 2020, and comprised diabetic patients of either gender aged 18-60 years with indication for intravitreal bevacizumab. Intraocular pressure was measured at 5, 10 and 30 minutes for short-term elevation, and the patients were followed up weekly for one month to record any sustained elevation in intraocular pressure.

Impact of formulation design and lyophilisation on the physicochemical characteristics of finasteride nanosystems.

The fundamental purpose of this study was to develop a stable lyophilised finasteride nanosystem (FNS-NS) for topical delivery. The FNS-NS was fabricated using an ultrasonication technique. The impact of two different cryoprotectants on the physicochemical characteristics of FNS-NS before and after lyophilisation was thoroughly investigated.

Prognostic Factors for Surgically Managed Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma: A Single-Center Case Series of 18 Patients.

Background: Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is a rare pathology, which carries a significant morbidity.

Objective: To review our institutional experience of surgically managed patients with SSEH, seeking to better understand clinical prognostic factors related to postoperative outcomes and thereby improve counseling of patients before treatment.

Methods: All patients who underwent surgical management of SSEH between September 2011 and 2021.

Prognostic factors and surgical outcomes of spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma (SSEH) is a rare disease defined as blood accumulation within the vertebral epidural space without a cause identified, which can lead to severe neurological deficits. We aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the prognostic factors affecting surgical outcomes in true SSEH and propose a critical time frame for operative management. A systematic literature search was performed and registered, using OVID Medline and EMBASE, in line with the PRISMA guidelines.

Physicochemical Characterization of Chitosan-Decorated Finasteride Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for Skin Drug Delivery.

Finasteride is considered the drug of choice for androgenic alopecia and benign prostate hyperplasia. The aim of the study was to formulate nanodrug carriers of finasteride with enhanced retentive properties in the skin. The finasteride was formulated as solid lipid nanoparticles that were decorated with different concentrations of chitosan for improved retentive properties.

Prognostic factors for surgically managed intramedullary spinal cord tumours: a single-centre case series.

Purpose: Intramedullary spinal cord tumours (IMSCTs) are comparatively rare neoplasms. We present a single-centre clinical case series of adult patients with surgically managed IMSCTs.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of electronic patient records in the time period spanning July 2010 to July 2021.

Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Doctors and Medical Students of Punjab, Pakistan: A Logistic Regression Analysis.

Background: This study was carried out to find the awareness level, prevalence of anxiety and depression, and their associated factors among doctors and medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Punjab province, Pakistan.

Materials And Methods: An online questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted; data were collected regarding the demographic profile, awareness of COVID-19, anxiety symptoms using a self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and depression symptoms using a self-rating depression scale (SDS). A total of 504 responses were obtained.

Development, characterization and optimization of methotrexate-olive oil nano-emulsion for topical application.

The chronic inflammatory conditions like psoriasis has an increased prevalence and is linked with various associated life threatening disease conditions. The main objective of this project was to developed a methotrexate-olive loaded nano emulsion. The formulation was assessed for various parameters including Thermodynamic Stability, physico-chemically characterization, drug release kinetics and entrapment efficiency and in vitro/ in vivo skin permeation analysis.

Physicochemical Characterization of Finasteride Nanosystem for Enhanced Topical Delivery.

Introduction: The current work aimed to formulate a novel chitosan-based finasteride nanosystem (FNS-NS) for skin delivery to optimize the drug availability in skin for a longer time and enhance ex vivo performance of finasteride against androgenic alopecia.

Methods: Both undecorated and chitosan decorated FNS-NSs were synthesized by a high energy emulsification technique. All the prepared nanosystems were further subjected to physicochemical characterizations like pH, viscosity, encapsulation efficiency, surface morphology and in vitro drug release behavior.

Awareness, anxiety, and depression in healthcare professionals, medical students, and general population of Pakistan during COVID-19 Pandemic: A cross sectional online survey.

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic has seriously affected the entire world. This study was aimed to assess prevalence and influencing factors of anxiety and depression during the pandemic in our Pakistani population, including healthcare professionals, undergraduate medical students, and general public. An online cross sectional survey was conducted; with a questionnaire having demographic profile, COVID-19-related knowledge/awareness, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and self-rating depression scale (SDS).

Neurosurgery and coronavirus: impact and challenges-lessons learnt from the first wave of a global pandemic.

Introduction And Objectives: The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) pandemic has had drastic effects on global healthcare with the UK amongst the countries most severely impacted. The aim of this study was to examine how COVID-19 challenged the neurosurgical delivery of care in a busy tertiary unit serving a socio-economically diverse population.

Methods: A prospective single-centre cohort study including all patients referred to the acute neurosurgical service or the subspecialty multidisciplinary teams (MDT) as well as all emergency and elective admissions during COVID-19 (18th March 2020-15th May 2020) compared to pre-COVID-19 (18th of January 2020-17th March 2020).

Customized disposable kit versus a conventional stainless steel instrument for an intravitreal injection: A comparison.

Comparison of a customized disposable kit with a conventional stainless steel instrument was performed for an intravitreal injection. A total of 2700 eyes of 2250 patients were enrolled in two groups. Comfort level of the patients was assessed using a 'Pain Scale' and any post intravitreal injection complications were examined clinically by a slit lamp biomicroscopy.

Modifications of histones in parasites as drug targets.

Post-translational modifications of histones and histone modifying enzymes play important roles in gene regulations and other physiological processes in parasites. Inhibitors of such modifying enzymes could be useful as novel therapeutics against parasitic diseases or as chemical probes for investigation of epigenetics. Development of parasitic histone modulators has got rapid expansion in the last few years.

Effect of Prophylactic Ilioinguinal Neurectomy on Postoperative Groin Pain Following Lichenstein Hernioplasty.

Objective: To compare mean postoperative pain post-Lichenstein open hernioplasty with and without ilioinguinal neurectomy at six months.

Study Design: Randomised controlled trail.

Place And Duration Of Study: Surgical Unit-I, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi, from August 2014 to February 2015.

Giant Sacral Schwannoma Treated with a 360 Approach: A Rare Case and Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: Sacral schwannomas are very rare and typically have a benign nature. They occur in a permissive anatomical location leading to nonspecific symptoms that can result in them going unnoticed before reaching a considerable size.

Case Description: We report a rare case of a giant sacral schwannoma (130 × 110 × 90 mm) in a 38-year-old man originating from the S2 nerve root, encompassing the neural canal with sacral erosion and extension in to the pelvis.

Mini Transsternal Approach to the Anterior High Thoracic Spine (T1-T4 Vertebrae).

Purpose. The anterior high thoracic spine is one of the most complex segments to be accessed surgically due to anatomical constraints and transitional characteristics. We describe in detail the mini transsternal approach to metastatic, infective, traumatic, and degenerative pathologies of T1 to T4 vertebral bodies.

Huge mesenteric liposarcoma.

Primary mesenteric liposarcoma is extremely rare and is treated by aggressive surgical management i.e. wide excision with adequate margins (in the absence of distant metastases).

Preoperative estimation of seizure control after resective surgery for the treatment of epilepsy.

Purpose: Predicting seizure control after epilepsy surgery is difficult. The objectives of this work are: (a) to estimate the value of surgical procedure, presence of neuroimaging abnormalities, need for intracranial recordings, resection lobe, pathology, durations of epilepsy and follow-up period to predict postsurgical seizure control after epilepsy surgery and (b) to provide empirical estimates of successful outcome after different combinations of the above factors in order to aid clinicians in advising patients presurgically about the likelihood of success under their patients' individual circumstances.

Methods: We report postsurgical seizure control from all 243 patients who underwent resective surgery for epilepsy at King's College Hospital between 1999 and 2011.

Rechargeable deep brain stimulators in the management of paediatric dystonia: well tolerated with a low complication rate.

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a recognised method of treatment for primary and secondary dystonia. The size of non-rechargeable batteries has limited their use in small children. Our severe dystonia patients have required battery replacement every 20-24 months.