Frequency and determinants of intracranial atherosclerotic stroke in urban Pakistan.

Background: Intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAD) is a frequent underlying mechanism of ischemic stroke. There is little direct evidence on its frequency and determinants from regions of high prevalence. This study explores the conventional and socioeconomic risk factors of ICAD in a South Asian population.

Carvedilol vs. esophageal variceal band ligation in the primary prophylaxis of variceal hemorrhage: a multicentre randomized controlled trial.

Background & Aims: Esophageal variceal bleed is a major problem in patients with cirrhosis. Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) has been shown to be equal to or better than propranolol in preventing first bleed. Carvedilol is a non-selective β blocker with alpha-1 adrenergic blocker activity.

Hepatic vein waveform in liver cirrhosis: correlation with child's class and size of varices.

Objective: To determine the correlation of hepatic venous waveform changes with severity of hepatic dysfunction and grading of oesophageal varices.

Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Medical Unit-III, Ward-7 from January 2009 to December 2009. Cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension were included in study.

Corelation of serum alpha fetoprotein and tumor size in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: To determine the correlation of elevated serum Alpha feto-protein with tumour size in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was done at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Medical Unit-III, Ward-7 from January 2009 to June 2010. Patients enrolled in study were known cases of chronic liver disease and were complicated by development of hepatocellular carcinoma; those having metastasis in liver from any where were excluded.