Thrombocytosis and Thrombocytopenia in Treatment-Naïve Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Single-Centre Retrospective Data-Based Study From Pakistan.

Background and objective This study aims to investigate thrombocytosis and thrombocytopenia in treatment-naïve rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, addressing the lack of data on their prevalence and clinical significance. By focusing on untreated patients, this study seeks to clarify the disease's natural course without confounding factors from prior therapies. The research is particularly important in the Pakistani context, where regional variations in RA presentation are underexplored.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Its Relationship With Disease Activity: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study From Pakistan.

Objective This study aims to determine whether disease activity was associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the Pakistani population with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Rheumatology Department of the National Hospital & Medical Centre, Lahore, Pakistan, from April 2021 to June 2022. A sample of 60 patients, both male and female, diagnosed with a case of SLE was collected through the purposive sampling technique.

Frequency of Restless Legs Syndrome in Pakistani Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective To determine the frequency of restless legs syndrome (RLS) among Pakistani patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods This observational cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Medicine at Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur, Pakistan, from January 2024 to May 2024. The National Institute of Health (NIH) diagnostic criteria were used to diagnose RLS.

Refractory Sarcoidosis.

A multi-organ granulomatous disease with characteristic lung manifestations, sarcoidosis generally responds well to glucocorticoid therapy but 10% of cases are refractory necessitating immunosuppressive therapy. A 58-year-old lady presented with a dry cough and progressively worsening shortness of breath for the last 12 months. On investigation, her ESR was raised but cultures, malignancy screen and TB quantiferon were negative.

Lupus Vasculitis.

We present the case of a 30-year-old woman who presented with 8-month history of intermittent fever, joint pains with morning stiffness, recurrent oral ulcers, photosensitivity, weight loss and hair fall. For the last 2 months, she had developed a dry cough with progressive shortening of breath. On examination, a cachexic lady with malar hyperpigmentation, alopecia, pallor, nail dystrophy and erythema over her hands and feet were noted.

Avapritinib versus Placebo in Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis.

BACKGROUND: Indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM) is a clonal mast-cell disease driven by the KIT D816V mutation. We assessed the efficacy and safety of avapritinib versus placebo, both with best supportive care, in patients with ISM. METHODS: We randomized patients with moderate to severe ISM (total symptom score [TSS] of ≥28; scores range from 0 to 110, with higher numbers indicating more severe symptoms) two to one to avapritinib 25 mg once daily (n=141) or placebo (n=71).

Tamoxifen for the treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms: A Phase II clinical trial and exploratory analysis.

Current therapies for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) improve symptoms but have limited effect on tumor size. In preclinical studies, tamoxifen restored normal apoptosis in mutated hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). TAMARIN Phase-II, multicenter, single-arm clinical trial assessed tamoxifen's safety and activity in patients with stable MPNs, no prior thrombotic events and mutated JAK2, CALR or CALR peripheral blood allele burden ≥20% (EudraCT 2015-005497-38).

Proteus Syndrome: A Rare Disease Of Disproportionate And Asymmetric Overgrowth Of Connective Tissue.

Proteus syndrome is a rare disease manifested by progressive segmental overgrowth involving the skeletal, Cutaneous, subcutaneous, and nervous systems. We report the case of a 24-year-old female who was born with no obvious abnormality at birth. From the age of 1 year, she developed asymmetric enlargement of her left upper limb and bilateral lower limbs leading to enlargement of the right-hand phalanges with radial deviation, enlargement of the right big toe, lateral deviation of left foot, and discrepancy in the length of lower extremities and kyphoscoliosis.

Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA): A case report with atypical presentation.

A 72-year-old asthmatic gentleman with a history of recurrent sinusitis and chronic bronchitis presented with shortness of breath and progressively worsening hypoxemic respiratory failure. His CT chest demonstrated airspace disease bilaterally with ground-glass opacifications. He had peripheral eosinophilia with raised inflammatory markers but negative work up of infection.

Prostatitis As An Initial Presentation For Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is an uncommon pauci-immune small-vessel necrotising granulomatous vasculitis mostly seen in age 45-60 years. We present the case of a formerly healthy 44 years old male presenting with dysuria and intermittent urinary retention for 8 months, not responding to empirical antibiotic therapy and TURP. A prostate biopsy showed necrotising granulomatous prostatitis.

A retrospective real-world study of the current treatment pathways for myelofibrosis in the United Kingdom: the REALISM UK study.

Background: Myelofibrosis (MF) is a blood cancer associated with splenomegaly, blood count abnormalities, reduced life expectancy and high prevalence of disease-associated symptoms. Current treatment options for MF are diverse, with limited data on management strategies in real-world practice in the United Kingdom.

Methods: The REALISM UK study was a multi-center, retrospective, non-interventional study, which documented the early management of patients with MF.

Thin flexible lab-on-a-film for impedimetric sensing in biomedical applications.

Microfluidic cytometers based on coulter principle have recently shown a great potential for point of care biosensors for medical diagnostics. Here, we explore the design of an impedimetric microfluidic cytometer on flexible substrate. Two coplanar microfluidic geometries are compared to highlight the sensitivity of the device to the microelectrode positions relative to the detection volume.

Prevalence Of FLT-3 Mutation In Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

Background: FLT-3 mutation is a valuable prognostic marker in patients of AML being related with bad prognosis and poor clinical response to conventional chemotherapeutic agents. Frequency of FLT-3 mutation in AML varies from 25% to 35%. The objective of this study was to determine prevalence of FLT-3 mutation in patients with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

Circular shaped microelectrodes for single cell electrical measurements for lab-on-a-chip applications.

The impedimetric sensing techniques for single cell characterization have witnessed growing interest due to their high sensitivity and widespread applications. However, adapting the method to different biological measurements in microfluidic environments under various input conditions can result in feeble signal detection leading to a drastic decrease in the sensor sensitivity. The reduced signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) hinders the signal differentiation, sensor accuracy and prohibits fully integrated point-of-care applications.

Biochip with multi-planar electrodes geometry for differentiation of non-spherical bioparticles in a microchannel.

A biosensor capable of differentiating cells or other microparticles based on morphology finds significant biomedical applications. Examples may include morphological determination in the cellular division process, differentiation of bacterial cells, and cellular morphological variation in inflammation and cancer etc. Here, we present a novel integrated multi-planar microelectrodes geometry design that can distinguish a non-spherical individual particle flowing along a microchannel based on its electrical signature.

Is anaemia frequent in HIV/AIDS patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital?

Objective: To determine the frequency of anaemia among patients with human immune-deficiency virus / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional single-blind study was conducted at Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from June 25 to December 25, 2016, and comprised human immune-deficiency virus / acquire immunodeficiency syndrome patients diagnosed at least 3 months earlier. Demographic information was obtained along with sample of patient's blood for haemoglobin level estimation.

Exceedingly Sensitive Restructured Electrodes Design for Pathogen Morphology Detection using Impedance Flow Cytometry.

The cellular morphology is a vital biological characteristic for determining explicit information about its physiological state. Monitoring real-time cell shape is of great importance in infectious pathogen detection. Here, we designed a highly sensitive coplanar electrode sensing system and merged it with planar electrodes for simultaneous impedance signals in two dimensions.

Is Lactulose Plus Rifaximin Better than Lactulose Alone in the Management of Hepatic Encephalopathy?

Objective: To compare the efficacy of lactulose plus rifaximin with efficacy of lactulose alone in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy.

Study Design: A randomized controlled trial.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Medicine, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, from December 2014 to June 2015.