National Registry of Interstitial Lung Disease from Pakistan.

Introduction Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a heterogeneous group of over 200 parenchymal lung diseases with a myriad of etiologies. Interstitial lung disease registries from around the world show varying prevalence and incidence of these diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology and characteristics of ILD in Pakistan.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Xpert MTB/RIF in Sputum Smear-Negative Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Introduction Tuberculosis is a major health problem in Pakistan. The prevalence of pulmonary as well as extrapulmonary tuberculosis is quite high. Tuberculin skin test, radiological imaging, and sputum smear microscopy have limitations in the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Six-minute walk test performance in healthy adult Pakistani volunteers.

Objective: To determine the six-minute walking distance (6MWD) for healthy Pakistanis, identify factors affecting 6MWD, compare published equations with the local data and derive an equation.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Two medical institutes of Karachi, from January to May 2011.

Drug resistance pattern in multidrug resistance pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of drug resistance profiles of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) isolates of pulmonary tuberculosis patients, against both the first and the second line drugs.

Study Design: An observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: The multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) ward of Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases (OICD), Karachi, from 1996 to 2006.

Variables predictive of outcome in patients with acute hypercapneic respiratory failure treated with noninvasive ventilation.

Objective: To assess results with NIV in acute hypercapneic respiratory failure and to identify outcome predictors.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study on consecutive patients presenting with acute type II respiratory failure and meeting criteria for NIV use over a 5 year period. Patients presenting with haemodynamic instability, inability to protect their airway, malignant arrhythmias and recent oesophageal surgery were excluded.

Treatment outcome of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi.

Objective: To assess the outcomes of pulmonary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients treated at Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases (OICD), a reference hospital for TB in Karachi, Pakistan.

Methods: Clinical study for the period 1996-2006, with follow-up until June 2007 was performed. All the culture and sensitivity proven cases of MDR pulmonary TB were initially admitted for 3-6 months till the sputum converted negative.

Magnitude of initial default in pulmonary tuberculosis.

Objective: To assess the magnitude and reasons of initial default in pulmonary tuberculosis patients, diagnosed at Nazimabad Chest Clinic, Karachi.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted over five months from 1st December 2007 to 30th April 2008. Suspected tuberculosis patients were prescribed sputum AFB (Acid Fast Bacilli) smears for three samples.

Primary drug resistance against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Karachi.

Objective: To evaluate the primary drug resistance of new culture positive cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in Karachi.

Methods: All new suspected pulmonary tuberculosis patients were recruited initially. They were instructed to produce three-sputum samples for smear examination and on one of the specimen's culture was applied.

New drugs in resistant tuberculosis.

The World Health Organization estimates that up to 50 million persons worldwide may be infected with drug resistant strains of TB. The fatality rate of MDR-TB is 20-80%. Drug resistant tuberculosis cases are on the rise in Pakistan.