Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Aga Khan University

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 631 - 660 of 1661

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Etiology Of Acute Undifferentiated Fever In Patients Presenting To The Emergency Department Of A Tertiary Care Center In Karachi, Pakistan, Noman Ali, Nadeem Ullah Khan, Shahid Shahid, Syed Mustahsan Sep 2020

Etiology Of Acute Undifferentiated Fever In Patients Presenting To The Emergency Department Of A Tertiary Care Center In Karachi, Pakistan, Noman Ali, Nadeem Ullah Khan, Shahid Shahid, Syed Mustahsan

Department of Emergency Medicine

Objective: Our study aimed at identifying the characteristics and etiology of various causes of acute undifferentiated fever in patients presenting to the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at the department of emergency medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital from January to June 2016. Adult patients presenting to Emergency department with acute undifferentiated fever were enrolled. Descriptive statistics were calculated in terms of mean±SD for continuous variables like age of the patients and duration of fever, whereas frequency and percentage were computed for categorical variables like gender and causes of fever.
Results: A …


Quantifying Long-Term Health And Economic Outcomes For Survivors Of Group B Streptococcus Invasive Disease In Infancy: Protocol Of A Multi-Country Study In Argentina, India, Kenya, Mozambique And South Africa, Proma Paul, Simon R. Procter, Ziyaad Dangor, Quique Bassat, Amina Abubakar, Sridhar Santhanam, Romina Libster, Bronner P. Gonçalves, Shabir A. Madhi, Azucena Bardají Sep 2020

Quantifying Long-Term Health And Economic Outcomes For Survivors Of Group B Streptococcus Invasive Disease In Infancy: Protocol Of A Multi-Country Study In Argentina, India, Kenya, Mozambique And South Africa, Proma Paul, Simon R. Procter, Ziyaad Dangor, Quique Bassat, Amina Abubakar, Sridhar Santhanam, Romina Libster, Bronner P. Gonçalves, Shabir A. Madhi, Azucena Bardají

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Sepsis and meningitis due to invasive group B Streptococcus (iGBS) disease during early infancy is a leading cause of child mortality. Recent systematic estimates of the worldwide burden of GBS suggested that there are 319,000 cases of infant iGBS disease each year, and an estimated 147,000 stillbirths and young-infant deaths, with the highest burden occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa. The following priority data gaps were highlighted: (1) long-term outcome data after infant iGBS, including mild disability, to calculate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) or disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and (2) economic burden for iGBS survivors and their families. Geographic data gaps were …


What Will It Take To Implement Health And Health-Related Sustainable Development Goals?, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Sameen Siddiqi, Wafa Aftab, Fahad Javaid Siddiqui, Luis Huicho, Roman Mogilevskii, Qamar Mahmood, Peter Friberg, Fawad Akbari Sep 2020

What Will It Take To Implement Health And Health-Related Sustainable Development Goals?, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Sameen Siddiqi, Wafa Aftab, Fahad Javaid Siddiqui, Luis Huicho, Roman Mogilevskii, Qamar Mahmood, Peter Friberg, Fawad Akbari

Woman and Child Health

No abstract provided.


Newsletter Volume I Issue-Ii January-September-2020, Department Of Oncology Sep 2020

Newsletter Volume I Issue-Ii January-September-2020, Department Of Oncology

Cancer Updates Research & Education (CURE) Archives

  • Faculty Achievements
  • Online Conferences and Symposium
  • Achievements By Residents & Staff
  • Nursing workshops
  • Nurse Navigation Program
  • Departmental News
  • Upcoming Events


Tuberculosis Of The Flexor Carpi Radialis Muscle - A Case Report, Shah Fahad, Naveed Baloch, Nasir Ud Din Sep 2020

Tuberculosis Of The Flexor Carpi Radialis Muscle - A Case Report, Shah Fahad, Naveed Baloch, Nasir Ud Din

Section of Orthopaedic Surgery

Tuberculosis involving almost any organ of the body is a major problem in developing countries. The most commonly affected site in tuberculosis is the lung. Of the extra pulmonary tuberculosis, musculoskeletal involvement accounts for 1-5% of the cases. Muscular involvement in tuberculosis is a rare manifestation of extra pulmonary tuberculosis. Unusual presentations often go undetected and are associated with a diagnostic and therapeutic delay. This case report presents tuberculosis of the flexor carpi radialis.


Postinfectious Cerebellar Syndrome With Paraneoplastic Antibodies: An Association Or Coincidence?, Sajid Hameed, Mukesh Kumar, Pal Satyajit Singh Athwal, Sukhmanii Kahlon, Nimit Dalal Sep 2020

Postinfectious Cerebellar Syndrome With Paraneoplastic Antibodies: An Association Or Coincidence?, Sajid Hameed, Mukesh Kumar, Pal Satyajit Singh Athwal, Sukhmanii Kahlon, Nimit Dalal

Section of Neurology

Cerebellar ataxia has a very broad differential diagnosis in adults, including paraneoplastic and postinfectious etiologies. We report a case of a 56-year-old male presented with right-sided cerebellar dysfunction preceded by fever and headache. He was diagnosed with subacute postinfectious cerebellar ataxia. Blood serology showed the presence of anti-amphiphysin and anti-Ri (ANNA-2, antineuronal nuclear autoantibody type 2) antibodies, which have a known association with cerebellar syndrome. The patient subsequently improved with the steroids. Although no evidence of an underlying tumor was found in the patient, the presence of the paraneoplastic antibodies remains a mystery. We suggest a probable association of these …


Determinants Of Health Care Seeking Behaviors In Puerperal Sepsis In Rural Sindh, Pakistan: A Qualitative Study, Shabina Ariff, Fatima Mir, Farhana Tabassum, Farrukh Raza, Atif Habib, Ali Turab, Amnesty Lefevre, Linda A. Bartlett, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta Sep 2020

Determinants Of Health Care Seeking Behaviors In Puerperal Sepsis In Rural Sindh, Pakistan: A Qualitative Study, Shabina Ariff, Fatima Mir, Farhana Tabassum, Farrukh Raza, Atif Habib, Ali Turab, Amnesty Lefevre, Linda A. Bartlett, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Puerperal sepsis (PS) is one of the major causes of maternal death, contributing to 26,000 deaths per year in developing countries. Early recognition and treatment are essential to managing PS, but numerous social, cultural and technical barriers prevent or delay access to care and necessary medical attention. Through this qualitative study, we identified barriers to care seeking for puerperal sepsis among recently delivered women in Matiari, Pakistan.
Methods: We conducted 20 in-depth interviews among recently delivered women with and without sepsis and their family members in September 2012. Key informant interviews were conducted with 14 healthcare providers and traditional …


Redesigning The Landscape For Women And Leadership: Insights Gained From The Covid-19 Pandemic. On Behalf Of Women In Gastroenterology Network Asia Pacific (Wignap) And Women In Endoscopy (Wie), Lubna Kamani, Nonthalee Pausawasdi, Jeanin E Van Hooft, Amrita Sethi, Sharmila Sachithanandan Sep 2020

Redesigning The Landscape For Women And Leadership: Insights Gained From The Covid-19 Pandemic. On Behalf Of Women In Gastroenterology Network Asia Pacific (Wignap) And Women In Endoscopy (Wie), Lubna Kamani, Nonthalee Pausawasdi, Jeanin E Van Hooft, Amrita Sethi, Sharmila Sachithanandan

Section of Gastroenterology

No abstract provided.


Drivers Of Stunting Reduction In Peru: A Country Case Study, Luis Huicho, Elisa Vidal-Cárdenas, Nadia Akseer, Samanpreet Brar, Kaitlin Conway, Muhammad Islam, Elisa Juarez, Aviva Rappaport, Hana Tasic, Tyler Vaivada, Jannah Wigle, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta Aug 2020

Drivers Of Stunting Reduction In Peru: A Country Case Study, Luis Huicho, Elisa Vidal-Cárdenas, Nadia Akseer, Samanpreet Brar, Kaitlin Conway, Muhammad Islam, Elisa Juarez, Aviva Rappaport, Hana Tasic, Tyler Vaivada, Jannah Wigle, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Woman and Child Health

Background: Peru reduced its under-5 child stunting prevalence notably from 31.3% in 2000 to 13.1% in 2016.
Objectives: We aimed to study factors and key enablers of child stunting reduction in Peru from 2000-2016.
Methods: Demographic and Health Surveys were used to conduct descriptive analyses [height-for-age z scores (HAZ) means and distributions, equity analysis, predicted child growth curves through polynomial regressions] and advanced regression analyses. An ecological (at department level) multilevel regression analysis was conducted to identify the major predictors of stunting decline from 2000 to 2016, and Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition was conducted to identify the relative contribution of each factor …


Stunting In Childhood: An Overview Of Global Burden, Trends, Determinants, And Drivers Of Decline, Tyler Vaivada, Nadia Akseer, Selai Akseer, Ahalya Somaskandan, Marianne Stefopulos, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta Aug 2020

Stunting In Childhood: An Overview Of Global Burden, Trends, Determinants, And Drivers Of Decline, Tyler Vaivada, Nadia Akseer, Selai Akseer, Ahalya Somaskandan, Marianne Stefopulos, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Woman and Child Health

Background: Progress has been made worldwide in reducing chronic undernutrition and rates of linear growth stunting in children under 5 y of age, although rates still remain high in many regions. Policies, programs, and interventions supporting maternal and child health and nutrition have the potential to improve child growth and development.
Objective: This article synthesizes the available global evidence on the drivers of national declines in stunting prevalence and compares the relative effect of major drivers of stunting decline between countries.
Methods: We conducted a systematic review of published peer-reviewed and gray literature analyzing the relation between changes in key …


Substance Use Service Availability In Hiv Treatment Programs: Data From The Global Iedea Consortium, 2014-2015 And 2017, Angela M. Parcesepe, Kathryn Lancaster, E. Jennifer Edelman, Raquel Deboni, The Foundation For Aids Research, Bangkok, Thailand, Lukoye Atwoli Aug 2020

Substance Use Service Availability In Hiv Treatment Programs: Data From The Global Iedea Consortium, 2014-2015 And 2017, Angela M. Parcesepe, Kathryn Lancaster, E. Jennifer Edelman, Raquel Deboni, The Foundation For Aids Research, Bangkok, Thailand, Lukoye Atwoli

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Substance use is common among people living with HIV and has been associated with suboptimal HIV treatment outcomes. Integrating substance use services into HIV care is a promising strategy to improve patient outcomes.

Methods: We report on substance use education, screening, and referral practices from two surveys of HIV care and treatment sites participating in the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) consortium. HIV care and treatment sites participating in IeDEA are primarily public-sector health facilities and include both academic and community-based hospitals and health facilities. A total of 286 sites in 45 countries participated in the 2014–2015 …


High Burden Of Self-Reported Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Key Populations In Mozambique: The Urgent Need For An Integrated Surveillance System, Makini A. S. Boothe, Charlotte Comé, Cynthia Semá Baltazar, Noela Chicuecue, Jessica Seleme, Denise Chitsondzo Langa, Isabel Sathane, Henry F. Raymond, Erika Fazito, Marleen Temmerman, Stanley Luchters Aug 2020

High Burden Of Self-Reported Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Key Populations In Mozambique: The Urgent Need For An Integrated Surveillance System, Makini A. S. Boothe, Charlotte Comé, Cynthia Semá Baltazar, Noela Chicuecue, Jessica Seleme, Denise Chitsondzo Langa, Isabel Sathane, Henry F. Raymond, Erika Fazito, Marleen Temmerman, Stanley Luchters

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: Key populations - men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSW) and people who inject drugs (PWID) - are at high risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI) given their sexual risk behaviours along with social, legal and structural barriers to prevention, care and treatment services. The purpose of this secondary analysis is to assess the prevalence of self-reported STIs and to describe associated risk factors among participations of the first Biological Behavioural Surveillance (BBS) in Mozambique.

Methods: Responses from the first BBS surveys conducted in 2011-2014 were aggregated across survey-cities to produce pooled estimates …


Does Lipocalin-2 Affect Metabolic Syndrome In Hepatic Infections?, Waqas Shahnawaz, Nawal Suhail, Muhammad Ahsan Iqbal Siddiqui, Saira Yasmeen, Syeda Sadia Fatima Aug 2020

Does Lipocalin-2 Affect Metabolic Syndrome In Hepatic Infections?, Waqas Shahnawaz, Nawal Suhail, Muhammad Ahsan Iqbal Siddiqui, Saira Yasmeen, Syeda Sadia Fatima

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background and objective: Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) is an adipokine that plays a protective role in various inflammatory disorders and regulates innate immune response to acute and chronic infections. However, scant information is available regarding the relationship between serum LCN-2 levels and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) occurring concurrently with chronic hepatic infections. The present study sought to investigate the association of LCN-2 with T2DM patients with hepatic infections.
Methods: The association of LCN-2 with T2DM, hepatic steatosis, and inflammation was tested in 37 non-T2DM noninfectious individuals (group A, control group) and 55 age-matched patients with T2DM and chronic infection (group B). …


Achieving Sustainable Development Goals Two And Three: Role Of Academic Libraries, Francisca Chinyeaka Mbagwu, Martha Lyaka, Jackline Estomihi Kiwelu Ms., Lydia Nyantakyi-Baah, Marlene Holmner Aug 2020

Achieving Sustainable Development Goals Two And Three: Role Of Academic Libraries, Francisca Chinyeaka Mbagwu, Martha Lyaka, Jackline Estomihi Kiwelu Ms., Lydia Nyantakyi-Baah, Marlene Holmner

Libraries

Purpose:

This study investigated the role academic libraries play in the achievement of sustainable development goals 2 and 3

Design/Methodology/Approach: An exploratory approach through an extensive review of related literature and case study was adopted for this study. Discussion on the efforts made by academic libraries in Federal University of Technology Library Owerri, Nigeria; Makerere University Library, Uganda, Kampala International University, Uganda and Ghana Institute of Journalism Library made in the achievement of SDGs 2 and 3. The study was guided by three research questions. Research questions 1 and 2 were gotten from the literature reviewed while the answer …


Impact Of The Societal Response To Covid-19 On Access To Healthcare For Non-Covid-19 Health Issues In Slum Communities Of Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria And Pakistan: Results Of Pre-Covid And Covid-19 Lockdown Stakeholder Engagements, Syed A K Shifat Ahmed, Motunrayo Ajisola, Kehkashan Azeem, Pauline Bakibinga, Yen-Fu Chen, Narjis Rizvi, Syed Iqbal Azam, Romaina Iqbal, Ahsana Nazish, Komal Tabani Aug 2020

Impact Of The Societal Response To Covid-19 On Access To Healthcare For Non-Covid-19 Health Issues In Slum Communities Of Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria And Pakistan: Results Of Pre-Covid And Covid-19 Lockdown Stakeholder Engagements, Syed A K Shifat Ahmed, Motunrayo Ajisola, Kehkashan Azeem, Pauline Bakibinga, Yen-Fu Chen, Narjis Rizvi, Syed Iqbal Azam, Romaina Iqbal, Ahsana Nazish, Komal Tabani

Community Health Sciences

Introduction: With COVID-19, there is urgency for policymakers to understand and respond to the health needs of slum communities. Lockdowns for pandemic control have health, social and economic consequences. We consider access to healthcare before and during COVID-19 with those working and living in slum communities.
Methods: In seven slums in Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria and Pakistan, we explored stakeholder perspectives and experiences of healthcare access for non-COVID-19 conditions in two periods: pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Results: Between March 2018 and May 2020, we engaged with 860 community leaders, residents, health workers and local authority representatives. Perceived common illnesses in …


Prevalence Of Risk Factors Of Acute Kidney Injury In A Tertiary Care Hospital In Pakistan, Ainan Arshad, Ahmed Ayaz Aug 2020

Prevalence Of Risk Factors Of Acute Kidney Injury In A Tertiary Care Hospital In Pakistan, Ainan Arshad, Ahmed Ayaz

Section of Internal Medicine

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of preventable risk factors of acute kidney injury in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. All patients admitted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi with diagnosis of acute kidney injury were included out of which 134 were selected via random sampling. Patients with existing CKD were excluded. Data was then collected retrospectively from medical records of these patients. Mean age was 60±11.7 years while mean serum creatinine on admission was 2.4±1.3 (mg/dl). Sepsis played a role in almost half of the patients [60 (45%)]. Other factors included diarrhoea [23 (17%)], …


Out-Patient Neurological Disorders In Tanzania: Experience From A Private Institution In Dar Es Salaam, Philip Adebayo, Omar Aziz, Rose E. Mwakabatika, Mandela Makakala, Mugisha Clement, Shabbir Adamjee, Noureen Mushi, Ahmed Jusabani, Eric Aris Aug 2020

Out-Patient Neurological Disorders In Tanzania: Experience From A Private Institution In Dar Es Salaam, Philip Adebayo, Omar Aziz, Rose E. Mwakabatika, Mandela Makakala, Mugisha Clement, Shabbir Adamjee, Noureen Mushi, Ahmed Jusabani, Eric Aris

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background and introduction: Low and middle-income countries (LMIC) have a considerable burden of neurological disorders. Available profile of neurological disorders in our environment is biased towards neurological admissions. There is a paucity of data on out-patient neurological conditions in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objective: To determine the frequency and demographic data of neurological illnesses being managed at the adult out-patient neurology clinic of the Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam (AKHD).

Materials and methods: The electronic medical records of all cases with neurological diseases who presented to the adult neurology clinic of the AKHD between January 2018, and December 2019 were retrospectively …


Snail Fever Of The Bladder In A Non-Endemic Area, Romana Idress, Zehra Jamil, Muhammad Areeb Ashfaq, Daniya Umer, Romana Idress, Hammad Ather Aug 2020

Snail Fever Of The Bladder In A Non-Endemic Area, Romana Idress, Zehra Jamil, Muhammad Areeb Ashfaq, Daniya Umer, Romana Idress, Hammad Ather

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Schistosomiasis is rarely seen in Pakistan and is generally not very high on the list of differential diagnoses. However, it is an important cause of haematuria in certain endemic areas. It can affect multiple organs including the bladder, liver and lungs. We present a case of a young Pakistani male, travelling to and from Africa, who presented with complains of haematuria and suprapubic discomfort. Final pathologic diagnosis was urinary schistosomiasis (hematobium species). This case is particularly notable for the characteristic sago nodules identified on cystoscopy. It is important to consider schistosomiasis in the differential of haematuria in such scenarios as …


Intussusception In An Infant As A Manifestation Of Covid-19, Zorays Moazzam, Areej Saleem, Alina Ashraf, Fyezah Jehan, Muhammad Arshad Aug 2020

Intussusception In An Infant As A Manifestation Of Covid-19, Zorays Moazzam, Areej Saleem, Alina Ashraf, Fyezah Jehan, Muhammad Arshad

Medical College Documents

Gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19 are rare and have primarily been limited to diarrhea or vomiting. Intussusception is the most common cause of bowel obstruction in infants, with up to 30% of pediatric intussusception cases having a preceding viral illness. We present the rare case of intussusception in a SARS-CoV-2 positive infant. This is the first documented case of survival in a SARS-CoV-2 positive patient presenting with intussusception as the primary manifestation. As our knowledge of this disease evolves, surgeons need to remain suspicious for possible gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19.


Environmental Surveillance As A Tool For Identifying High-Risk Settings For Typhoid Transmission, Jason R. Andrews, Alexander T. Yu, Senjuti Saha, Jivan Shakya, Kristen Aiemjoy, Lily Horng, Farah Qamar, Denise Garret, Stephen Baker, Samir Saha, Stephen P. Luby Jul 2020

Environmental Surveillance As A Tool For Identifying High-Risk Settings For Typhoid Transmission, Jason R. Andrews, Alexander T. Yu, Senjuti Saha, Jivan Shakya, Kristen Aiemjoy, Lily Horng, Farah Qamar, Denise Garret, Stephen Baker, Samir Saha, Stephen P. Luby

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Enteric fever remains a major cause of morbidity in developing countries with poor sanitation conditions that enable fecal contamination of water distribution systems. Historical evidence has shown that contamination of water systems used for household consumption or agriculture are key transmission routes for Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi A. The World Health Organization now recommends that typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCV) be used in settings with high typhoid incidence; consequently, governments face a challenge regarding how to prioritize typhoid against other emerging diseases. A key issue is the lack of typhoid burden data in many low- and middle-income countries where TCV …


The Surveillance For Enteric Fever In Asia Project (Seap), Severe Typhoid Fever Surveillance In Africa (Seta), Surveillance Of Enteric Fever In India (Sefi), And Strategic Typhoid Alliance Across Africa And Asia (Strataa) Population-Based Enteric Fever Studies: A Review Of Methodological Similarities And Differences, Megan E. Carey, William R. Macwrigh, Justin Im, James E. Meiring, Malick M. Gibani, Se Eun Park, Ashley Longley, Hyon Jin Jeon, Caitlin Hemlock, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Farah Qamar Jul 2020

The Surveillance For Enteric Fever In Asia Project (Seap), Severe Typhoid Fever Surveillance In Africa (Seta), Surveillance Of Enteric Fever In India (Sefi), And Strategic Typhoid Alliance Across Africa And Asia (Strataa) Population-Based Enteric Fever Studies: A Review Of Methodological Similarities And Differences, Megan E. Carey, William R. Macwrigh, Justin Im, James E. Meiring, Malick M. Gibani, Se Eun Park, Ashley Longley, Hyon Jin Jeon, Caitlin Hemlock, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Farah Qamar

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Building on previous multicountry surveillance studies of typhoid and others salmonelloses such as the Diseases of the Most Impoverished program and the Typhoid Surveillance in Africa Project, several ongoing blood culture surveillance studies are generating important data about incidence, severity, transmission, and clinical features of invasive Salmonella infections in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. These studies are also characterizing drug resistance patterns in their respective study sites. Each study answers a different set of research questions and employs slightly different methodologies, and the geographies under surveillance differ in size, population density, physician practices, access to healthcare facilities, and access to …


Covid-19 And Liver Injury: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jawad Ahmed, Tehlil Rizwan, Farheen Malik, Raniyah Akhter, Mehreen Malik, Junaid Ahmad, Abdul Wasay Khan, Muhammad A. Chaudhary, Muhammad Shariq Usman Jul 2020

Covid-19 And Liver Injury: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jawad Ahmed, Tehlil Rizwan, Farheen Malik, Raniyah Akhter, Mehreen Malik, Junaid Ahmad, Abdul Wasay Khan, Muhammad A. Chaudhary, Muhammad Shariq Usman

Department of Anaesthesia

Background and Aims: The prevalence and extent of liver damage in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients remain poorly understood, primarily due to small-sized epidemiological studies with varying definitions of “liver injury”. We conducted a meta-analysis to derive generalizable, well-powered estimates of liver injury prevalence in COVID-19 patients. We also aimed to assess whether liver injury prevalence is significantly greater than the baseline prevalence of chronic liver disease (CLD). Our secondary aim was to study whether the degree of liver injury was associated with the severity of COVID-19.
Materials and Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed and Scopus) were systematically searched in June …


Invasive Pulmonary Infection By Syncephalastrum Species: Two Case Reports And Review Of Literature, Memoona Irshad, Nosheen Nasir, Urooj Haider Hashmi, Joveria Farooqi, Syed Faisal Mahmood Jul 2020

Invasive Pulmonary Infection By Syncephalastrum Species: Two Case Reports And Review Of Literature, Memoona Irshad, Nosheen Nasir, Urooj Haider Hashmi, Joveria Farooqi, Syed Faisal Mahmood

Section of Internal Medicine

Background: Syncephalastrum species belong to the class Zygomycetes and order Mucorale. These are found in the environment and tropical soil, usually presenting as colonizers and rarely cause human infection. Syncephalastrum racemosum is a species of the genus Syncephalastrum and is the most commonly identified pathogen. Most cases are reported in immunocompromised individuals, such as patients on long term steroids, poorly controlled diabetes, or patients with malignancy.
Case presentation: We are describing two cases of rare fungal infection by Syncephalastrum species causing invasive pulmonary manifestation. Both patients had compromised immune status and presented with worsening dyspnea to the emergency room. Both …


A Fatal Case Of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (Pam) Complicated With Diabetes Insipidus (Di): A Case Report And Review Of The Literature, Zain Mushtaq, Saad Bin Zafar Mahmood, Adil Aziz Jul 2020

A Fatal Case Of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (Pam) Complicated With Diabetes Insipidus (Di): A Case Report And Review Of The Literature, Zain Mushtaq, Saad Bin Zafar Mahmood, Adil Aziz

Section of Internal Medicine

Naegleria fowleri is a highly infective free-living amoeba usually isolated from soil and fresh water and is primarily found to infect the central nervous system (CNS) resulting in primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). PAM as a cause of meningitis is often overlooked for other, more common causes of meningitis. Despite all the advances in antimicrobial therapy and supportive care systems, the mortality rate of this rare infection remains above 95% with the bulk of the cases being found in developed countries. We are presenting a case of a 44-year-old male with fever, worsening headache, and generalized weakness. Lumbar puncture showed a …


A Race Against Time: Reduced Azithromycin Susceptibility In Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhi In Pakistan, Junaid Iqbal, Irum Fatima Dehraj, Megan E. Carey, Zoe A. Dyson, Denise Garrett, Jessica C. Seidman, Furqan Kabir, Senjuti Saha, Stephen Baker, Farah Naz Qamar Jul 2020

A Race Against Time: Reduced Azithromycin Susceptibility In Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhi In Pakistan, Junaid Iqbal, Irum Fatima Dehraj, Megan E. Carey, Zoe A. Dyson, Denise Garrett, Jessica C. Seidman, Furqan Kabir, Senjuti Saha, Stephen Baker, Farah Naz Qamar

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Antimicrobial resistance is an ongoing issue in the treatment of typhoid fever. Resistance to first-line antimicrobials and extensively drug resistant (XDR) Salmonella Typhi isolates in Pakistan have left azithromycin as the only remaining effective oral treatment. Here, we report the emergence of organisms with a single point mutation in acrB gene, implicated in azithromycin resistance, in a S. Typhi isolate from Pakistan. The isolation of this organism is worrisome and highlights the significance of the introduction of typhoid conjugate vaccine in South Asia.
Importance: The emergence of XDR Salmonella Typhi in Pakistan has left azithromycin as the only viable oral …


Physical And Mental Health Impacts Of Covid-19 On Healthcare Workers: A Scoping Review, Natasha Shaukat, Daniyal Mansoor Ali, Junaid Razzak Jul 2020

Physical And Mental Health Impacts Of Covid-19 On Healthcare Workers: A Scoping Review, Natasha Shaukat, Daniyal Mansoor Ali, Junaid Razzak

Community Health Sciences

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has spread to 198 countries, with approximately 2.4 million confirmed cases and 150,000 deaths globally as of April 18. Frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) face a substantially higher risk of infection and death due to excessive COVID-19 exposure. This review aimed at summarizing the evidence of the physical and mental health impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on health-care workers (HCWs).
Methods: We used the Arksey O'Malley framework to conduct a scoping review. A systematic literature search was conducted using two databases: PubMed and Google Scholar. We found 154 studies, and out of which 10 met our criteria. …


Impact Of Covid-19 On Laboratory Professionals-A Descriptive Cross Sectional Survey At A Clinical Chemistry Laboratory In A Developing Country, Lena Jafri, Sibtain Ahmed, Imran Siddiqui Jul 2020

Impact Of Covid-19 On Laboratory Professionals-A Descriptive Cross Sectional Survey At A Clinical Chemistry Laboratory In A Developing Country, Lena Jafri, Sibtain Ahmed, Imran Siddiqui

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: The lab professionals at one end are at increased risk of contracting the infection while on the other end have to deal with the various challenges during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. This survey was undertaken to analyze the lab professionals' perspectives, in terms of the challenges, financial implications, fears, motivation and satisfaction from organizational processes and policies adopted, amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Material & methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional survey design. The survey was administered online via the google docs survey tool from medical laboratory professionals (n = 64) serving at the section of Clinical Chemistry, …


Investigating Sofa, Delta-Sofa And Mpm-Iii For Mortality Prediction Among Critically Ill Patients At A Private Tertiary Hospital Icu In Kenya: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Lillian N. Lukoko, Peter S. Kussin, Rodney Adam, James Orwa, Wangari Siika Jul 2020

Investigating Sofa, Delta-Sofa And Mpm-Iii For Mortality Prediction Among Critically Ill Patients At A Private Tertiary Hospital Icu In Kenya: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Lillian N. Lukoko, Peter S. Kussin, Rodney Adam, James Orwa, Wangari Siika

Anaesthesiology, East Africa

Background: Outcomes in well-resourced, intensive care units (ICUs) in Kenya are thought to be comparable to those in high-income countries (HICs) but risk-adjusted mortality data is unavailable. We undertook an evaluation of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi ICU to analyze patient clinical-demographic characteristics, compare the performance of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), delta-SOFA at 48 hours and Mortality Prediction Model-III (MPM-III) mortality prediction systems, and identify factors associated with increased risk of mortality.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of adult patients admitted to the ICU between January 2015 and September 2017. SOFA and MPM-III scores were determined …


Determination Of Reference Intervals For Common Chemistry And Immunoassay Tests For Kenyan Adults Based On An Internationally Harmonized Protocol And Up-To-Date Statistical Methods, Geoffrey Omuse, Kiyoshi Ichihara, Daniel Maina, Mariza Hoffman, Elizabeth Kagotho, Alice Kanyua, Jane Mwangi, Caroline Wambua, Angela Amayo, Peter Ojwang, Zul Premji, Rajiv Erasmus Jul 2020

Determination Of Reference Intervals For Common Chemistry And Immunoassay Tests For Kenyan Adults Based On An Internationally Harmonized Protocol And Up-To-Date Statistical Methods, Geoffrey Omuse, Kiyoshi Ichihara, Daniel Maina, Mariza Hoffman, Elizabeth Kagotho, Alice Kanyua, Jane Mwangi, Caroline Wambua, Angela Amayo, Peter Ojwang, Zul Premji, Rajiv Erasmus

Pathology, East Africa

Background: Due to a lack of reliable reference intervals (RIs) for Kenya, we set out to determine RIs for 40 common chemistry and immunoassay tests as part of the IFCC global RI project.

Methods: Apparently healthy adults aged 18–65 years were recruited according to a harmonized protocol and samples analyzed using Beckman-Coulter analyzers. Value assigned serum panels were measured to standardize chemistry results. The need for partitioning reference values by sex and age was based on between-subgroup differences expressed as standard deviation ratio (SDR) or bias in lower or upper limits (LLs and ULs) of the RI. RIs …


Clinical Characteristics And Outcomes Of Patients With H1n1 Influenza Pneumonia Admitted At A Tertiary Care Hospital In Karachi, Pakistan, Mujahid Hussain, Nosheen Nasir, Muhammad Irfan, Zahra Hasan Jul 2020

Clinical Characteristics And Outcomes Of Patients With H1n1 Influenza Pneumonia Admitted At A Tertiary Care Hospital In Karachi, Pakistan, Mujahid Hussain, Nosheen Nasir, Muhammad Irfan, Zahra Hasan

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

Introduction: Influenza viruses specifically, A and B mainly contribute to seasonal outbreaks that occur globally. However, due to limited diagnostics for influenza there is little data regarding clinical outcomes of patients with H1N1 pneumonia in our region. Our objective was to determine the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized with H1N1 pneumonia at a tertiary care facility in Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: A retrospective study of adult patients admitted with influenza pneumonia from November 2017 to February 2018 at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Patient characteristics were compared between influenza A H1N1 and other types of influenza using …