Publications by authors named "Muhammad H Khan"
Neurosurgical training and practice rely heavily on research, which is a pivotal marker of academic productivity. This study investigates the current landscape of neurosurgery publications originating from Pakistan, encompassing overall research output, prevalent topics, and disparities across institutions and regions. Electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect, were systematically searched up to November 1, 2023, using specified keywords.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis editorial highlights the importance of catheterisation documentation and the practice of trials without catheters in improving patient outcomes in Pakistan. Acute urinary retention, a major urological emergency, needs short-term catheter placement, with a trial without a catheter used globally to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections. This procedure, often enhanced by alpha-1 blockers, enables patients to regain continence and promotes micturition post-catheterisation, particularly useful following surgeries such as prostatectomy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBridging the gap: strategies for recognizing and managing post-COVID conditions.
Front Med (Lausanne)
November 2024
Article Synopsis
- Post-COVID conditions (PCC) affect 20-30% of adults recovering from COVID-19, leading to a variety of persistent symptoms that complicate diagnosis and management for healthcare providers and patients.
- There is an urgent need for increased awareness, understanding of long-term effects, and appropriate screening strategies, particularly for high-risk individuals to support early diagnosis and better quality of life.
- Effective management of PCC involves patient-centered approaches, standardized screening tools, and initiatives like RECOVER and N3C to improve treatment options and psychosocial health for those affected.
Article Synopsis
- The diagnosis of acute leukemia (AL) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is urgent due to their quick progression and differing survival rates among age groups, necessitating effective treatment strategies to lessen their global impact.
- Recent advancements in treatments like targeted therapies and immunotherapy show promise for better outcomes, especially for older patients.
- A systematic review evaluated 12 studies published from 2017 to 2024, highlighting improvements in diagnosis and management, but also pointing to ongoing challenges such as treatment costs and patient access.
Article Synopsis
- * A review of current literature investigates how artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of dyslipidemia in the pediatric population, showing positive findings in lipid profile analysis and obesity evaluations.
- * Despite most existing studies focused on adults, the successful application of AI in improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficacy suggests it may be beneficial for managing dyslipidemia in children as well.
Article Synopsis
- A study investigated the prevalence of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome but normal ECG results, emphasizing the need for cardiac biomarker testing to rule out NSTEMI.
- Conducted from October 2022 to April 2023, the study analyzed 120 patients at Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, recording demographic data and utilizing cardiac troponin T levels for diagnosis, where a level above 0.5 ng/mL was considered indicative of NSTEMI.
- Results showed an average patient age of 53.96 years, with 26.66% diagnosed with NSTEMI, highlighting a significant association between NSTEMI occurrence and male gender,
Article Synopsis
- - The study analyzed 117 adults with pancytopenia, focusing on demographic, clinical, and diagnostic characteristics, and included bone marrow examinations for accurate assessment.
- - Common symptoms of pancytopenia included weakness (72.65%), fever (64.1%), dyspnea (54.70%), bleeding (34.2%), and weight loss (25.6%), with liver and spleen abnormalities observed in many participants.
- - Key diagnostic findings revealed conditions like aplastic anemia (17.1%) and myelodysplastic syndromes (12.8%), highlighting the importance of thorough evaluation for appropriate patient management.
Article Synopsis
- This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of using abdominal drains versus not using them after left pancreatectomy, a surgery for pancreatic issues that can lead to complications like post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF).
- The analysis included nine studies with over 15,000 patients, revealing that patients who did not receive drains experienced significantly fewer major complications, POPF, readmissions, and surgical site infections compared to those who did.
- Additionally, the no-drain group had a shorter hospital stay, suggesting that avoiding routine drainage could lead to better overall outcomes after this surgical procedure.
Article Synopsis
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a challenging mental health condition often inadequately addressed by existing treatments, leading to interest in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AT) as a potential solution.
- A comprehensive analysis of nine studies involving 297 PTSD patients revealed that MDMA-AT significantly reduced PTSD severity scores and increased rates of patient response and remission compared to control groups receiving placebo or inactive doses of MDMA.
- The findings suggest that MDMA-AT is an effective treatment option for chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD patients while showing no significant increase in adverse effects compared to traditional treatment methods.
Article Synopsis
- - Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary blood disorder that leads to chronic pain, anemia, and various health complications, but advancements in treatments have improved patient outcomes over time.
- - Despite progress, challenges like limited access to stem cell transplants and complications from current therapies highlight the need for ongoing research in SCD treatments.
- - The recent FDA approval of Casgevy, a CRISPR/Cas9-based gene therapy, represents a significant step in SCD treatment, with the review focusing on its potential effectiveness and safety compared to traditional methods, emphasizing the need for long-term research.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the link between cancer risks and the use of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with Type 2 diabetes by following established research guidelines and analyzing data from 19 randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
- The findings indicated a potential increase in certain types of cancers, including reproductive and skin cancers, associated with SGLT2i use, but these results were not statistically significant.
- The study calls for caution regarding SGLT2i prescriptions for diabetic patients and emphasizes the need for further research to better understand the cancer risk connections.
Article Synopsis
- Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) poses a significant risk for older patients undergoing CT scans, prompting a clinical audit to evaluate practices related to renal function tests (RFTs) and hydration at a hospital in Pakistan.
- The study involved three audit cycles from July to August 2022, focusing on patients aged 75 and above, with data collected on hydration and RFT compliance before and after the scans.
- Results showed high documentation of RFTs before scans (100%), but poor pre-scan hydration (20%) and inadequate post-scan RFTs and hydration (0% and 20%, respectively), indicating a need for improved adherence to renal protection protocols.
Article Synopsis
- Leishmania is widespread, affecting almost half the globe, and its diagnosis remains particularly difficult in low- to middle-income countries.
- On average, it takes 4.5 years from the onset of symptoms to get a diagnosis, indicating significant delays.
- While traditional microscopic detection methods often miss diagnoses, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is highly effective; however, the varying clinical presentations complicate matters, especially in areas where the disease is not common.
Article Synopsis
- The meta-analysis compares robotic-assisted rectal surgery (RARS) and laparoscopic-assisted rectal surgery for treating rectal cancer, evaluating their advantages, disadvantages, and outcomes.
- RARS demonstrated a lower conversion rate to open surgery and a reduced reoperation rate compared to laparoscopic surgery, with no significant differences in most postoperative complications.
- The findings suggest that RARS may be safer and more effective, though larger, high-quality studies are needed to confirm these results.
Article Synopsis
- Trauma, especially penetrating chest trauma due to firearms, is a leading cause of death in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, with a high incidence among males.
- The study analyzed 203 cases from January 2022 to January 2023 at a tertiary care center in Peshawar to evaluate the epidemiology and outcomes of these injuries.
- Results showed that gunshot wounds were the primary cause of penetrating chest injuries, and most cases could be treated conservatively.
Article Synopsis
- Acute subdural hemorrhage (ASDH) resulting from traumatic brain injury is a serious condition that often requires surgery, and this meta-analysis aims to provide insights on the best surgical approach based on current literature.
- The analysis reviewed 14 studies with 4,686 patients, comparing outcomes between craniotomy (CO) and decompressive craniectomy (DC), revealing that CO led to better functional outcomes while DC had a lower rate of remaining subdural hematomas.
- The results suggest that while CO is preferable for improved patient recovery, DC may be beneficial in reducing residual hematoma cases, highlighting the complexity of treatment decisions for ASDH.
Article Synopsis
- - Cardiovascular disease is a major global health issue, prompting the need for innovative diagnostic methods, particularly through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in heart imaging techniques like CT, MRI, and nuclear imaging.
- - AI, especially through machine learning and deep learning, improves cardiac diagnostics by predicting heart conditions and personalizing treatment without needing extensive programming.
- - Despite the advancements, challenges such as standardizing data, validating algorithms, and addressing ethical issues remain. Collaboration among various stakeholders is crucial for effectively implementing AI in cardiac care.
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates whether sub-lobar resection can be a viable alternative to lobectomy for patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), focusing on those with tumors ≤2 cm.!* -
- After analyzing 27 studies with over 10,000 patients, the results showed that sub-lobar resection had similar overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) outcomes compared to lobectomy, although patients in the compromised subgroup had worse DFS with sub-lobar resection.!* -
- Ultimately, while sub-lobar resection did not show overall significant differences in survival or mortality when compared to lobectomy, it indicated poorer outcomes for specific patient groups, particularly those considered compromised.!*
Article Synopsis
- Menstrual blood, often seen as waste, contains valuable health information through its components like endometrial cells and immune cells that can help diagnose various conditions such as hormonal imbalances and cervical cancer.
- This review explores the potential for using menstrual blood as a non-invasive diagnostic tool, highlighting its composition and recent advancements in medical research.
- It also addresses challenges in menstrual blood testing, such as ethical issues, lack of standardized collection methods, extensive validation needs, and societal stigma, which must be overcome to enhance personalized healthcare for menstruating individuals.
Prediction of Mortality Using the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak
August 2024
Objective: To determine the accuracy and reliability of the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score in predicting the risk of mortality in ICU-admitted COVID-19 patients.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: COVID Intensive Care Unit (ICU), The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January to June 2022.
A Rare Case of Toxic Myositis Associated with Influenza Vaccination.
J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect
May 2024
Article Synopsis
- The influenza vaccine is widely used and generally safe, but very rare serious side effects can occur, like myositis, as seen in a reported case.
- A 77-year-old man developed muscle weakness in his legs after receiving the vaccine, and treatment with high-dose steroids led to a full recovery.
- Despite the lack of a clear link between the vaccine and his condition, it's important to monitor such rare events to improve vaccine safety, while still encouraging vaccination due to its overall benefits.
Article Synopsis
- Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious heart infection that can occur even in patients without common risk factors, as shown in a case involving a 30-year-old male on hemodialysis.
- The patient's infection was caused by a specific bacterium, leading to a diagnosis that was unfortunately delayed until significant damage to the mitral valve had occurred.
- Despite treatment efforts, including valve replacement, the patient’s condition deteriorated, highlighting the need for rapid diagnosis and intervention in suspected IE cases, regardless of traditional risk factors.
Article Synopsis
- Legionella pneumonia is a serious type of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacterium, which can lead to unusual symptoms and complications like muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis) and acute kidney injury (AKI).
- A report details a case involving a 32-year-old male who experienced both rhabdomyolysis and AKI as a result of Legionella pneumonia, with tests showing high creatinine kinase levels indicative of muscle damage.
- The patient received timely treatment with antibiotics and supportive care, leading to recovery and highlighting the need to consider Legionella pneumonia in cases of atypical pneumonia that might cause rhabdomyolysis and AKI.