Acute-Onset Achalasia Following a Recent COVID-19 Infection: A Case Report.

Achalasia is a rare esophageal motility disorder that leads to dysphagia, regurgitation, and several other symptoms. While the etiology of achalasia is not completely understood, studies have suggested an immune reaction to viral infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), as a potential cause. Here, we present a case report of a previously healthy 38-year-old male who presented to the emergency room with severe shortness of breath, recurrent vomiting, and dry cough, that had progressively worsened over five days.

Characteristics and outcome of viral pneumonia caused by influenza and Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus infections: A 4-year experience from a tertiary care center.

Background: After the emergence of new influenza viruses, the morbidity and mortality of viral pneumonia have received a great attention.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to describe the epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory changes, and outcomes of viral pneumonia caused by influenza and the Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, the medical records of all patients diagnosed with viral pneumonia at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the period from January 2012 to December 2015 were screened.

Role of passive smoking in non-smoking related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objective: To determine the association between passive smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2015 to March 2016 at the Ojha campus of Dow University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised individuals who denied past or current active smoking and exposure to bio-mass fuel. The subjects were attendants coming with patients, hospital staff, faculty and medical students aged 15-64 years.

Early Detection of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Apparently Healthy Attendants of Tertiary Care Hospital and Assessment of its Severity.

Objective: Early detection of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in apparently healthy attendants of tertiary care hospital and assessment of its severity.

Study Design: Cross-sectional, observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Study was conducted from January 2015 to July 2015 at Dow University Hospital, Ojha campus.

Giant cell arteritis or tension-type headache?: A differential diagnostic dilemma.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) or Temporal arteritis (TA) is an autoimmune disease and the most common type of vasculitis in the elderly. It causes inflammation of the medium and large arteries in the upper part of the body. GCA is an under-recognized cause of  head aches in the elderly, especially when it presents itself with atypical features, resulting in delayed or incorrect diagnosis.

Are medical undergraduates more likely to indulge in substance abuse than non-medical undergraduates? A survey from Karachi.

Objective: To determine frequency of substance abuse and the commonest substance of abuse among medical and non-medical undergraduates.

Study Design: Survey report.

Place And Duration Of Study: Dow International Medical College, Karachi, from June 2012 to August 2012.

Progressive ataxia associated with ocular apraxia type 1 (AOA1) with a presence of a novel mutation on the aprataxin gene.

Ataxia, although rare, can be a symptom of many debilitating movement disorders. Hereditary ataxias are one subset of this condition and manifest when there is a genetic abnormality involved. Ataxia oculomotor apraxia type 1 (AOA1), an autosomal recessive ataxia, results from a mutation on the aprataxin gene (APTX).