Case-control study for assessment of factors associated with periodontitis among adults attending a university hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

Objective: To compare the physiological and biochemical markers in healthy and periodontitis subjects, and to relate these markers with the periodontal health condition.

Method: The case-control study was conducted at the Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from April 2017 to March 2018, and comprised systematically healthy controls and periodontitis cases. Periodontal probing depth, clinical attachment loss, oral hygiene indices, educational status and body mass index were recorded for all the subjects.

The relationship of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and Vitamin D binding protein in periodontitis.

Objective: This study was conducted to explore the relationship between 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25(OH)D) and Vitamin-D binding protein (DBP) in patients with periodontitis and healthy controls.

Methods: Seventy-five periodontitis cases were recruited from the dental OPD of Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi. Diagnostic criteria of periodontitis were followed according to the probe pocket depth and clinical attachment loss.

Leptin as a predictor of anthropometric cutoff points for obesity.

This study was conducted to find the association between leptin and adiposity indices. Secondly, to identify optimal threshold of various anthropometric indices for obesity, as assessed by 75th percentile of leptin levels, within a clinic sample of non-diabetic and diabetic Pakistani adults. Fasting serum leptin levels were compared with anthropometric markers of obesity in 164 diabetic and non-diabetic subjects (90 male, 74 female), aged 35 to 65 years.

Serum Interleukin-15 and its relationship with adiposity Indices before and after short-term endurance exercise.

Objective: The myokine interleukin-15 (IL-15) is capable of modifying the metabolism of both skeletal and adipose tissue. This study compares the change in serum levels of IL-15 in obese and non-obese after a single session of submaximal exercise.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi, during Aug-Dec 2015, comprising of 133 medical students (aged 17-24 years).

Cardiorespiratory fitness and its association with adiposity indices in young adults.

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and adiposity in young adults.

Methods: Data was collected from 133 students of a medical college of Pakistan. The study was conducted on young adults, aged 17-24 years, recruited from Jinnah Medical & Dental College, Karachi, between Aug-Dec, 2015.

Association Of Surfactant Protein-D With Obesity.

Background: Obesity is associated with inflammatory diseases and obese individual's poses high risk for infections. Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is an important regulator of immunity and inflammation. Latest studies have suggested that it is also involved in lipid homeostasis and obese subjects have decrease concentration of SP-D as compared to normal weight peoples.

Detection of interleukins-6 and 8 in saliva as potential biomarkers of oral pre-malignant lesion and oral carcinoma: A breakthrough in salivary diagnostics in Pakistan.

Oral cancer is at rise in our population due to increasing use of areca nut (Betel nut) with or without tobacco. It is the second frequent malignant tumour for both the gender in Pakistan. This non-interventional case control study was carried out with the aim to explore saliva as diagnostic medium for detecting interleukins (IL) 6 and 8 as biomarkers of pre-malignant lesions (PML) and oral carcinoma.

Neck circumference: A supplemental tool for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.

Objective: To explore the usefulness of neck circumference as a supplemental tool for diagnosing metabolic syndrome while identifying its cut-off values.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted at Dr. Essa's Laboratory and Diagnostic Centre, Karachi, from December 2014 to April 2015, and comprised subjects with and without metabolic syndrome aged between 35 and 65 years regardless of their diabetic status.

Salivary detection of human Papilloma virus 16 & 18 in pre-malignant and malignant lesions of oral cavity: Is it feasible in Pakistani context of Socio-Cultural Taboos?

Objective: To evaluate salivary detection of HPV-16 & 18 would be feasible and informative biomarker for oral pre-malignant and malignant lesion in our population.

Methods: This non-interventional, case control study was carried out at department of E.N.

Effect of exercise training program in post-CRET post-CABG patients with normal and subnormal ejection fraction (EF > 50% or < 50%) after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

The aim of the present study is to compare the effect of exercise training program in post-Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise Training (CRET), post-CABG patients with normal & subnormal ejection fraction (EF >50% or <50%) who have undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. The study was conducted on 100 cardiac patients of both sexes (age: 57-65 years) who after CABG surgery, were referred to the department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation between 2008 and 2010 at Liaquat National Hospital & Medical College, Karachi. The patients undertook exercise training program (using treadmill, Recumbent Bike), keeping in view the Borg's scale of perceived exertion, for 6 weeks.

The relationship between sleep and cognitive functioning in adult people.

The purpose of the current study is to find out if subjective sleep complaints will have less cognitive functioning in older people (50 years and above). Sleep was assessed with the subscale Sleep Problems of the Symptoms Checklist-90 (Arrendell & Ettema 1986). Cognitive performance was measured with the Mini Mental Status Examination (Folstein, et al 1975) which is used as a dependent variable.

Influence of anthropometric measurements on abnormal gonadotropin secretion in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of anthropometric measurements on abnormal gonadotropin secretion in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place And Duration Of Study: The Institute of Basic Medical Sciences (IBMS), DUHS in collaboration with Gynae/infertility clinics of the Civil Hospital and Lady Dufferin Hospital, Karachi, from October 2010 to February 2011.

Multilocus phylogeny of the avian family Alaudidae (larks) reveals complex morphological evolution, non-monophyletic genera and hidden species diversity.

The Alaudidae (larks) is a large family of songbirds in the superfamily Sylvioidea. Larks are cosmopolitan, although species-level diversity is by far largest in Africa, followed by Eurasia, whereas Australasia and the New World have only one species each. The present study is the first comprehensive phylogeny of the Alaudidae.

Association of aldosterone and cortisol with cardiovascular risk factors in prehypertension stage.

Background. The Pakistani population has higher incidence of cardiovascular (CV) diseases at younger ages, due to undiagnosed, uncontrolled hypertension (HTN). A variety of associated HTN stressors is also reported.

Neck circumference as a useful marker of obesity: a comparison with body mass index and waist circumference.

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of neck circumference as an index of excess weight and obesity in young adults while identifying its appropriate cutoff points.

Methods: The study comprised 41 male and 109 female students, aged 18-20 years. Anthropometric markers of obesity were measured, including body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and compared with neck circumference of the same subjects.

Overweight and obesity in students of a dental college of Karachi: lifestyle influence and measurement by an appropriate anthropometric index.

Objective: To compare body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and body fat percentage (%BF), as index of overweight and obesity in young adults. We also intended to find an association between lifestyle behaviours and obesity.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Fatima Jinnah Dental College, Karachi, during 2007 to 2008, with 192 first year dental students, (18-21years) of high socioeconomic class.

Anthropometric and metabolic indicators in hypertensive patients.

Objective: To determine the relationship between anthropometric variables with blood glucose and lipid concentrations in different stages of hypertension and evaluate the risk factors involved in progression of pre-hypertension stage in to clinical hypertension stage-1.

Study Design: Case-control study.

Place And Duration Of Study: National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and General Practitioner's Clinics, Karachi, from 2005 to 2007.

The effect of Carum Copticum extract on acetylcholine induced contraction in isolated rat's ileum.

Aims: There are many biological investigations for determining an effective cure for the dysfunction of gastrointestinal tracts, using herbal medicine. It has been reported that Carum Copticum is a bactericidal agent and possesses anticholinergic, antihistaminic and b-adrenergic stimulatory effects in some tissues. However, these effects of Carum Copticum on mechanical activities of isolated intestine are not clearly identified yet.

Changes in blood pressure, BMI and ECG Patterns in women using low-dose contraceptives.

Objective: To determine the cardiovascular risk factors in users of second generation contraceptives by recording changes in body mass index, blood pressure and electrocardiogram.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place And Duration Of Study: The National Institute of Fertility Research Centers at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center and PIB Maternity Home Karachi, from July 1997 to 1999.

Role of exercise in osteoporosis prevention--current concepts.

Osteoporosis is a metabolic disorder of the bones due to loss of both bone mineral and bone matrix in equal proportions resulting in a bone that is weak and unable to support the body. This becomes a problem in the elderly who are then at risk of frequent fractures increasing the morbidity and mortality. Measures taken early in life in the form of calcium and exercise go far in preventing the development of this disorder.

Current trends in type 1 diabetes mellitus--stem cells and beyond.

Search for a cure for type-1 diabetes mellitus has lead to many avenues of research, all having the same objective: to replace the lost beta cells and prevent their further destruction by the immune system. Transplantation of islets of Langerhans seems closer to achieving this goal with the recent introduction of new improved immunosuppressive protocols including monoclonal antibodies against the T-lymphocytes. But the need for acquiring beta cells in large numbers rather limits this approach.

Clinical and neurological study of women with precatamenial epilepsy.

Objective: To describe clinical features and seizure dispersion in precatamenial/pericatamenial epilepsy patients.

Design: Case series.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Neurology (formerly Neuropsychiatry), Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi, from July 1991 to November 2001.

Influence of steroid hormones in women with mild catamenial epilepsy.

Background: In view of considerable differences of opinion regarding the reproductive steroid hormonal pathogenesis in catamenial epilepsy, hormonal analysis of estrogen and progesterone in catamenial epileptics for a precise correlation is of significant importance.

Methods: Clinical, neurological and physiological assessments, and radioimmunoassay of plasma estradiol-17beta and progesterone a day prior to the onset of menstruation were carried out in noncatamenial and mild catamenial epileptics having multiple frequency tonic-clonic (primary and secondary generalized) seizures.

Results: Highly significant rise (p > 0.

Cord blood leptin levels in Pakistani newborns: relationship with birth weight, length and occipitofrontal circumference.

Objective: To determine the serum leptin levels in cord blood of Pakistani newborns and to ascertain the relationship between serum leptin and anthropometric parameters i.e. birth weight, length and OFC.