A Survey of Traumatic Brain Injuries from Road Traffic Collisions in a Lower Middle-Income Country.

The burden of traumatic brain injury (TBI) from road traffic collisions (RTCs) is great in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to shortfalls in preventative measures, and the lack of relevant, accurate data collection. To address this gap, we sought to study the epidemiology of TBI from RTCs in two LMIC neurosurgical centres in order to identify factors amenable to preventative strategies. A prospective survey of all adult and paediatric cases of TBI from RTCs admitted to Northwest General Hospital (NWGH) and Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) over a four-week period was carried out.

Association of candidate genes (ALR2, RAGE, and VEGF) polymorphisms with diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Aim: To evaluate the aldose reductase (ALR2, rs759853), receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE, rs2070600), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF, rs833061) association with diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa population.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted on a total of 550 subjects consisting of 186 with diabetic retinopathy (DR) having type 2 diabetes, 180 had type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and 184 healthy controls (HC). All the samples were subjected to DNA isolation using salting-out method followed by SNP genotyping through Tetra-ARMS PCR.

Synthesis, anticancer evaluation and molecular docking studies of methotrexate's novel Schiff base derivatives against malignant glioma cell lines.

Recent years have witnessed advancement in cancer research that has led to the development of improved cytotoxic therapies with reduced side effects. Methotrexate (MTX) is a commonly used anticancer drug having robust activity, but with serious side effects. Several derivatives of MTX have been reported by modification at different sites to reduce its side effects and enhance efficacy.

Role of ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter Proteins in CNS Tumors: Resistance- Based Perspectives and Clinical Updates.

Despite gigantic advances in medical research and development, chemotherapeutic resistance remains a major challenge in complete remission of CNS tumors. The failure of complete eradication of CNS tumors has been correlated with the existence of several factors including overexpression of transporter proteins. To date, 49 ABC-transporter proteins (ABC-TPs) have been reported in humans, and the evidence of their strong association with chemotherapeutics' influx, dissemination, and efflux in CNS tumors, is growing.

CLINICAL FEATURES AND OUTCOME ANALYSIS OF INTRACRANIAL HYDATID CYSTS.

Background: Hydatid cyst of the brain is serious zoonotic parasitic infections which have profound health consequences if left untreated. The surgical excisions of the cysts are rewarding for both the patient the neurosurgeon.

Methods: The study was conducted prospectively at Department of Neurosurgery Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar from January 2013 to December 2014.

Feasibility, relevance and effectiveness of teaching and assessment of ethical status and communication skills as attributes of professionalism.

Objective: To examine the feasibility and effectiveness of teaching and assessing professionalism in a developing country.

Methods: The pre-intervention and post-intervention study was conducted from January to August 2012 and comprised 7 workshops of three days each that were held at four teaching hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. Overall, there were 10 Objective Structured Clinical Examination stations and 10 written scenarios.

Survey on perceptions and skills amongst postgraduate residents regarding breaking bad news at teaching hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Objective: To assess the perception, skills and comfort level of postgraduate residents with respect to breaking bad news.

Methods: Five workshops were conducted on communication skills, including the task of breaking bad news, at three teaching hospitals of Peshawar, Pakistan. Teaching methods included interactive lectures, video presentations, role play and small group discussions.

Per-operative findings of blocked ventriculoperitoneal shunt: a study of 72 cases.

Background: Most patients with hydrocephalus are treated with ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt placement; however, malfunction is common and is usually caused by mechanical failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the per-operative findings accompanying presumed VP shunt malfunction.

Methods: This is a descriptive study of 72 patients operated for shunt malfunction in the Department of Neurosurgery, Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar from January to December 2008.

Surgical outcome of transpedicular fixation in thoracolumber fractures.

Background: Development of transpedicular screw fixation techniques and instrumentation systems has brought short-segment instrumentation (fixation of one normal vertebra above and below an injured segment) into general clinical practice. The purpose of this study is to report the surgical outcome of thoracolumber fractures treated with short-segment pedicle instrumentation.

Methods: A retrospective review of all surgically managed thoracolumbar fractures during two years was performed.

Computerized stereotactic brain biopsies: an experience of 15 patients at Ayub Teaching Hospital.

Background: Deep seated lesions of the brain cannot be approached by conventional neurosurgical approach stereotactic system offers minimally invasive and accurate approach to such lesions. This study was carried out with an objective to determine the safety, efficacy and diagnostic yield of stereotactic biopsies of brain lesions using Brown-Roberts-Wells (BRW) system.

Methods: This study was carried out in patients with intracranial lesions at Ayub teaching hospital Abbottabad from September 1999 to October 2003.