Medical Specialties Commons^™

Ammonia Vs. Lactic Acid In Predicting Positivity Of Microbial Culture In Sepsis: The Alps Pilot Study, Yazan Numan, Yasir Jawaid, Hisham Hirzallah, Damir Kusmic, Mohammed Megri, Obadah Aqtash, Ahmed Amro, Haitem Mezughi, Emmon Maher, Yonas Raru, Jamil Numan, Sutoidem Akpanudo, Zeid Khitan, Yousef Shweihat

Internal Medicine

Objective: The use of serum ammonia as a novel marker for sepsis compared to lactic acid levels in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

Design and Interventions: Single arm, prospective clinical trial to collect arterial blood samples from patients with sepsis. Serial ammonia and lactic acid levels were sent every six hours for a total of three days.

Measurements and results: Compare mean levels of ammonia and lactic acid in terms of diagnosing sepsis and patient outcome, including length of stay and mortality. A total of 30 patients were enrolled in the pilot study. On admission, mean ammonia level was 35.7 …

Challenges In The Diagnosis And Management Of Cushing’S Syndrome Due To Ectopic Acth Caused By Pulmonary Carcinoid Tumor In A Patient With Pneumoconiosis., Hazim Bukamur, Chelsey White, Rodhan Khthir, Alysia Browne, Fauzi Najar, Mohammed Al-Ourani

Internal Medicine

Sites with a high prevalence of pneumoconiosis are especially challenging to physicians. The presence of pneumoconiotic nodules on the chest computerized tomography (CT) scans makes it difficult to localize the source of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Because of false-positive results that may occur with the use of 18 fluorodeoxyglucose ( [¹⁸F]FDG) Positron emission tomography CT (PET/CT) scan, alternative imaging modalities are needed. Gallium [⁶⁸Ga]DOTATATE is a positron emitter-labeled somatostatin analog used with PET/CT, which may improve the diagnostic accuracy of localizing ectopic ACTH-secreting carcinoid tumors in patients with pneumoconiosis by reducing false-positive results. We describe a …

Supervision In Community Mental Health: Understanding Intensity Of Ebt Focus., Leah Lucid, Rosemary Meza, Michael D Pullmann, Nathaniel Jungbluth, Esther Deblinger, Shannon Dorsey

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

The goal of the present study was to examine clinician, supervisor, and organizational factors that are associated with the intensity of evidence-based treatment (EBT) focus in workplace-based clinical supervision of a specific EBT, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Supervisors (n = 56) and clinicians (n = 207) from mental health organizations across Washington State completed online self-report questionnaires. Multilevel modeling (MLM) analyses were used to examine the relative influence of nested clinician and supervisor factors on the intensity of EBT focus in supervision. We found that 33% of the variance in clinician report of EBT supervision intensity clustered at the …

Texting And Its Impact On Post-Event Processing And Symptoms Of Social Anxiety, Amanda Nicole Newquist

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study is to evaluate how individuals with social anxiety perceive a social event after a texting conversation compared to a face-to-face conversation. This review is known as post-event processing. This study included 154 participants (89 males and 65 females). These participants were recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk. Each participant was asked to imagine a social situation where they experienced a high level of anxiety. The results of the study showed evidence that the self-reported level of trait anxiety was positively correlated with the self-reported level of state anxiety. Self-reported level of trait anxiety was positively correlated …

Physical Activity Self-Management Interventions For Adults With Spinal Cord Injury: Part 2 – Exploring The Generalizability Of Findings From Research To Practice, Shauna M. Burke, Jennifer R. Tomasone, Natalie V. Scime, Jasmin K. Ma, Samantha M. Harden, Dalton L. Wolfe

Paediatrics Publications

Despite the benefits associated with regular participation in physical activity, individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) remain insufficiently active. The ability to self-manage participation may increase physical activity levels, but only if self-management interventions can be implemented in the ‘real world’. The purpose of this review was to examine the degree to which authors of published studies of LTPA self-management interventions for individuals with SCI have reported on factors that could increase the likelihood of translating this research into practice. A systematic search of five databases was conducted, yielding 33 eligible studies representing 31 interventions. Each intervention was assessed using …

Physical Activity Self-Management Interventions For Adults With Spinal Cord Injury: Part 1–A Systematic Review Of The Use And Effectiveness Of Behavior Change Techniques, Jennifer R. Tomasone, Stephanie M. Flood, Jasmin K. Ma, Natalie V. Scime, Shauna M. Burke, Lindsay Sleeth, Stephanie Marrocco

Paediatrics Publications

Objectives: To determine which behavior change techniques (BCTs) have been used within leisure time physical activity (LTPA) self-management interventions for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), and which BCTs were effective for improving LTPA behavior and/or its antecedents. Design: Systematic review informed by the PRISMA guidelines. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using five databases. Study characteristics were extracted from included articles and intervention descriptions were coded using the BCT Taxonomy V.1. Effectiveness and maintenance of BCTs as well as the level of behavior change theory use in the design of interventions were examined within experimental studies. Results: Thirty-one …

Non-Canonical Functions Of The Rb Protein In Cancer, Frederick A. Dick, David W. Goodrich, Julien Sage, Nicholas J. Dyson

Paediatrics Publications

The canonical model of RB-mediated tumour suppression developed over the past 30 years is based on the regulation of E2F transcription factors to restrict cell cycle progression. Several additional functions have been proposed for RB, on the basis of which a non-canonical RB pathway can be described. Mechanistically, the non-canonical RB pathway promotes histone modification and regulates chromosome structure in a manner distinct from cell cycle regulation. These functions have implications for chemotherapy response and resistance to targeted anticancer agents. This Opinion offers a framework to guide future studies of RB in basic and clinical research.

Encouraging Kids To Hop, Skip, And Jump: Emphasizing The Need For Higher-Intensity Physical Activity In Childcare, Molly Driediger, Leigh M. Vanderloo, Stephanie Truelove, Brianne A. Bruijns, Patricia Tucker

Paediatrics Publications

No abstract provided.

The Path Report Volume 2 Issue 1, Pathology Department, New York Medical College

The Path Report

No abstract provided.

Sinus Of Valsalva Aneurysm Rupturing Into Main Pulmonary Artery: A Rare Paediatric Cardiac Emergency, Faiz Rasool, Muhammad Asim Khan, Muneer Amanullah

Section of Paediatric Surgery

Congenital Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a rare congenital cardiac disease. Most common site of origin is the right sinus. It ruptures into right ventricle or right atrium most of the times. Only in less than 2% of the cases it ruptures into the pulmonary artery. We report a rare case of right sinus of valsalva aneurysm rupturing into pulmonary artery.

Reducing The Donor Site Morbidity In Radial Forearm Free Flaps By Utilizing A Narrow Radial Forearm Free Flap, Safdar Ali Shaikh, Amber Bawa, Noman Shahzad, Zara Yousufzai, Muhammad Shahab Ghan

Section of General Surgery

Background: The radial forearm free flap (RFFF) has remained a leading choice of many plastic surgeons as a fasciocutaneous flap due to its versatility, pedicle length, and simple elevation technique. However, donor site morbidity has led many reconstructive surgeons to limit their use of the RFFF and to use other flaps instead. We propose that using a narrow RFFF (nRFFF) decreases the aesthetic and functional morbidity of the donor site.
Methods: We report our experiences with the nRFFF from April 2012 through May 2015 at the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Hand Surgery at Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi. The donor …

Role Of Radiosurgery In Arteriovenous Malformations, Syed Ijlal Ahmed, Gohar Javed, Syed Naseeb Uneeb, Syeda Benish Bareeqa, Manaal Haider, Syeda Sana Samar, Armighan Haider Ans, Muhammad Tayyab Shera

Section of Neurosurgery

Background: Intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) consist of an abnormal nidus of blood vessels that shunt blood directly from an artery to a vein and thereby bypass an intervening capillary bed. AVMs may be found as an incidental finding. They may be associated with intracranial haemorrhage, seizures, headaches or neurological deficits. There are different treatment options for AVM. These include observation, microsurgery, Stereotactic radio surgery (SRS), endovascular embolization and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).
Methods: Data was collected using searching engines like Pubmed, Google scholar, Embase, Cinahl and Medline. MeSH and Non-MeSH terms were used like Arterio-venous malformations, microsurgery, endovascular embolization.
Results: …

Dose-Response Of Cotton Dust Exposure With Lung Function Among Textile Workers: Multitex Study In Karachi, Pakistan, Naureen Akber Ali, Asaad Ahmed Nafees, Zafar Fatmi, Iqbal Azam Syed

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: Cotton dust exposure among textile mill workers lead to impaired lung function. However, only few studies have investigated the dose-response relationship between cotton dust and lung function.
Objective: To determine the dose-response relationship between cotton dust exposure and lung function among textile workers.
Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to March 2016 and included 303 adult male textile workers from spinning and weaving sections of 5 mills in Karachi, Pakistan. We collected data through a translated version of the American Thoracic Society respiratory questionnaire (ATS-DLD-78A) and using spirometry. Mill-level airborne cotton dust was measured …

Antidromic Atrioventricular Reentrant Tachycardia Dependent On A Unidirectional Left Anterior Accessory Pathway Mimicking Peri-Mitral Ventricular Tachycardia: Successful Ablation Via A Transseptal Approach, Aamir Hameed, Maryam H. Khan, Hunaina Shahab, , Qamaruddin Roziman

Section of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism

Antidromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (aAVRT) is rare compared to orthodromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (oAVRT). An aAVRT that is dependent on a unidirectional, decremental accessory pathway (AP) is even rarer. Idiopathic ventricular tachycardias (iVT) that have benign prognoses and respond well to medical therapy can be confused with aAVRTs dependent on APs having ventricular insertion sites close to the iVT focus and have a real risk of sudden death. The preferred approach of ablation for such tachycardias with anterograde conduction only is a retrograde aortic approach, which facilitates the mapping of the earliest ventricular activation during atrial pacing or tachycardia from …

An Interprofessional Education Initiative For Allied Health Students Preparing To Serve Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Brenda L. Beverly, Donna Wooster

University Faculty and Staff Publications

The need for effective services for persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is driving efforts to better prepare teams of allied health professionals. To address this need, an interprofessional graduate course was piloted with students from three allied health professions: physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology. The course aims were to address knowledge and competency in the field of ASD and to promote interprofessional abilities during entry-level preparation. Nine graduate students participated in weekly on-line education and attended a day-long autism conference with local practitioners from seven different professions. Attitude changes toward interprofessional practice were assessed with two pre- …

The Post Clinic Ambulatory Blood Pressure (Pc-Abp) Study Correlates Post Clinic Blood Pressure (Pcbp) With The Gold Standard Ambulatory Blood Pressure, Hunaina Shahab, Hamza Sohail Khan, Aysha Almas, Mayera Tufail, K. Kazmi, Aamir Hameed

Section of Cardiology

Objectives: Our previous study showed that post-clinic blood pressure (BP) taken 15 min after a physician-patient encounter was the lowest reading in a routine clinic. We aimed to validate this reading with 24 h Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) readings. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the cardiology clinics at the Aga Khan University, Pakistan. Hypertensive patients aged ≥ 18 years, or those referred for the diagnosis of hypertension were included.
Results: Of 150 participants, 49% were males. 76% of all participants were hypertensive. Pre-clinic BP reading was measured by a nurse, in-clinic by a physician and 15 min post-clinic …

The Significance Of Mgmt Methylation In Glioblastoma Multiforme Prognosis, Aaida Mumtaz Rao, Ayesha Quddusi, Muhammad Shahzad Shamim

Section of Neurosurgery

Methylation of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) has been extensively studied as a biomarker in predicting the prognosis of patients with GBM (Glioblastoma multiforme). Its significance has been studied in various subgroups, including age, gender and even race. Correlation between prognosis with MGMT methylation and different treatment regimens has also been studied in detail. There are multiple techniques to analyze MGMT methylation in tumour specimen. We review the current evidence for the importance of MGMT methylation as a biomarker for prognosis in GBM patients, the techniques to analyze it and the effect of epidemiologic factors on its significance.

Factors Affecting Functional Outcome After Decompressive Craniectomy Performed For Traumatic Brain Injury: A Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study, Farid Khan, Arif Villani, Abdul Rehman, Muhammad Ehsan Bari

Section of Neurosurgery

Background: Factors affecting functional outcome after decompressive craniectomy (DC) performed for traumatic brain injury (TBI) remain poorly understood.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all patients who underwent primary DC for TBI at our hospital between 2010 and 2014. Multivariate regression analyses were used to determine the predictors of functional outcome and overall survival.
Results: A total of 98 patients with severe (n = 81, 82.6%) or moderate (n = 17, 17.4%) TBI underwent primary DC and were included in this study. The 30-day and overall mortality rates were 15.3% and 25.5%, respectively. At a median follow-up …

Digital Health Practices, Social Media Use, And Mental Well-Being Among Teens And Young Adults In The U.S., Victoria Rideout, Susannah Fox, Well Being Trust

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

A national survey of 14- to 22-year-olds provides new evidence on the growing mental health crisis affecting young people. The survey, sponsored by Hopelab and Well Being Trust (WBT), finds that large numbers of teens and young adults experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of depression are turning to the internet for help, including researching mental health issues online (90 percent), accessing other people’s health stories through blogs, podcasts, and videos (75 percent), using mobile apps related to well-being (38 percent), and connecting with health providers through digital tools such as texting and video chat (32 percent).

“This survey suggests that …

Diagnosing Isolated Hepatosplenic Tuberculosis In An Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report, Om Dawani, Raja Samir Khan, Mujtaba Jamal Syed, Abdul Moid Shehzad, Ahmed Alratoot, Muhammad Faizan Ahmed

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

For many years, tuberculosis (TB) has been endemic in Pakistan; many rare and unusual presentations have been reported. There is a myriad of non-specific symptoms which always requires a high index of clinical suspicion for TB. World Health Organization data suggest that Pakistan ranks as the fifth highest country burdened with TB and has the fourth highest prevalence of multi-drug resistant TB globally. With an annual incidence of 277 cases per 100,000, the importance of early diagnosis and treatment is self-evident. We present a case where a strong suspicion of isolated hepatosplenic TB in an immunocompetent patient justified a directed …

A Dose Falloff Gradient Study In Rapidarc Planning Of Lung Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, Ganesh Narayanasamy, Dharmin Desai, Sanjay Maraboyina, Jose Penagaricano, Robert Zwicker, Ellis Lee Johnson

Radiation Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) report #0813 and 0915 recommends using D_2cm and R_50% as plan quality metrics for evaluation of normal tissue sparing in stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) of lung lesion. This study introduces dose falloff gradient (DFG) as a tool for analyzing the dose beyond the planning target volume (PTV) extending into normal tissue structures. In ascertaining the impact of PTV size and SBRT planning techniques in DFG, this study questions the independence of the RTOG recommended metrics. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, 41 RapidArc lung SBRT plans with 2 or 3 …

Comparative Effectiveness Of Secukinumab And Etanercept In Biologic-Naïve Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis Assessed By Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparison., Philip Mease, Ernest Choy, Peter Nash, Chrysostomos Kalyvas, Matthias Hunger, Luminita Pricop, Kunal K Gandhi, Steffen M Jugl, Howard Thom

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

OBJECTIVE: Matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) can be used to assess the comparative effectiveness of two treatments indirectly using data from randomized placebo-controlled trials. This MAIC assessed the comparative effectiveness of secukinumab (an anti-interleukin-17A) and etanercept (a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor) in a target population of biologic-naïve patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

METHODS: Individual patient data pooled from FUTURE 2 (NCT01752634), FUTURE 3 (NCT01989468), and FUTURE 5 (NCT02404350) (secukinumab: 150 mg, n=458 and 300 mg, n=461) were matched to data from the population in the NCT00317499 trial (etanercept 25 mg, n=101) using MAIC methodology, by adjusting for clinical and demographic baseline …

Cardiac Mri T2* In Liver Transplant Candidates: Application And Performance Of A Novel Imaging Technique To Identify Patients At Risk For Poor Posttransplant Cardiac Outcomes., Sara M Lewin, Kimberly Kallianos, M Ilan Nevah, Susan Zhao, Oren K Fix, Gabriel C Brooks, Teresa De Marco, Atif N Qasim, Karen G Ordovas, Neil Mehta

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Background: In end-stage liver disease, alterations in iron metabolism can lead to iron overload and development of iron overload cardiomyopathy. In liver transplant candidates, evaluation for cardiac iron overload and dysfunction can help to identify candidates at increased risk for peritransplant morbidity and mortality, though recommendations for pretransplant evaluation of cardiac iron overload are not standardized. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging T2* (CMRI-T2*) is a validated method to quantify cardiac iron deposition, with normal T2* value of 20 ms or greater. In this study, we sought to identify the incidence and predictors of iron overload by CMRI-T2* and to evaluate the …

Holmium Laser For Endoscopic Treatment Of Benign Tracheal Stenosis, D J. Verret, Arneya Jategaonkar, Samuel Helman, Sameep Kadakia, Arash Bahrami, Eli Gordin, Yadranko Ducic

Otolaryngology (ENT) Resident Research

Introduction Laryngotracheal stenosis is a difficult problem with varied etiology and various treatment options. The holmium laser represents another tool for the treatment of benign tracheal stenosis.

Objectives To determine the utility of holmium laser treatment for benign tracheal stenosis with regards to safety and efficacy.

Methods This was a retrospective case study examining patients with benign tracheal stenosis from 1998–2016 who underwent holmium laser treatment. Determining the safety of this procedure was the primary goal, and complications were monitored as a surrogate of safety.

Results A total of 123 patients who underwent holmium laser treatment for benign tracheal stenosis …

Mortality Among Very Low Birth Weight Infants After Hospital Discharge In A Low Resource Setting, Yaser Abdallah, Flavia Namiiro, Jolly Nankunda, Jamiru Mugalu, Yvonne Vaucher

Faculty of Health Sciences, East Africa

Background Early discharge of very low birth weight infant (VLBW) in low resource settings is inevitable but to minimize mortality of these infants after discharge we need to identify the death attributes.

Method A prospective cohort was conducted among 190 VLBW infants discharged from Mulago Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) with discharge weight of < 1500 g over an 8 months period. These infants were followed up with the aims of determining the proportion dead 3 months after discharge, identifying factors associated and possible causes of death.

Relevant data were captured, transferred in to STATA and imported to SPSS 12.0.1 for analysis. To determine factors associated with mortality bi-variable and multivariable regressions were conducted. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant and 95% confidence interval was used.

Results Of the enrolled infants 164 (86.3%) completed follow up. The median gestational age of study …

Tracking Facility-Based Perinatal Deaths In Tanzania: Results From An Indicator Validation Assessment, Marya Plotkin, Dunstan Bishanga, Hussein Kidanto, Mary Carol Jennings, Jim Ricca, Amasha Mwanamsangu, Gaudiosa Tibaijuka, Ruth Lemwayi, Benny Ngereza, Mary Drake

Faculty of Health Sciences, East Africa

Background Globally, an estimated 2.7 million babies die in the neonatal period annually, and of these, about 0.7 million die from intrapartum-related events. In Tanzania 51,000 newborn deaths and 43,000 stillbirths occur every year. Approximately two-thirds of these deaths could be potentially prevented with improvements in intrapartum and neonatal care. Routine measurement of fetal intrapartum deaths and newborn deaths that occur in health facilities can help to evaluate efforts to improve the quality of intrapartum care to save lives. However, few examples exist of indicators on perinatal mortality in the facility setting that are readily available through health management information …

Higher Event Rate In Patients With High-Risk Duke Treadmill Score Despite Normal Exercise-Gated Myocardial Perfusion Imaging, Maseeh Uz Zaman, Nosheen Fatima, Areeba Zaman, Unaiza Zaman, Rabia Tehseen, Sidra Zaman

Department of Radiology

his prospective study was carried out to find the negative predictive value of various Duke Treadmill Scores (DTSs) in patients with normal myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). This study was conducted from August 2012 to July 2015, and 603 patients having normal exercise MPIs were included. Patients were followed for 2 years for fatal myocardial infarction (FMI) and nonfatal myocardial infarction (NFMI). Follow-up was not available in 23 patients, leaving a cohort of 583 participants. DTS was low risk (≥5) in 286, intermediate risk (between 4 and - 10) in 211, and high risk (≤-11) in 86 patients. Patients with high- …

Assessment Of Bulbar Function In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Validation Of A Self-Report Scale (Center For Neurologic Study Bulbar Function Scale)., R A Smith, E A Macklin, K J Myers, G L Pattee, K L Goslin, G D Meekins, J R Green, J M Shefner, E P Pioro

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Impaired bulbar functions of speech and swallowing are among the most serious consequences of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Despite this, clinical trials in ALS have rarely emphasized bulbar function as an endpoint. The rater-administered Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) or various quality-of-life measures are commonly used to measure symptomatic benefit. Accordingly, we sought to evaluate the utility of measures specific to bulbar function in ALS.

METHODS: We assessed bulbar functions in 120 patients with ALS, with clinicians first making direct observations of the degree of speech, swallowing and salivation impairment in these subjects. Clinical diagnosis …

Large Intra-Cardiac Fibroma Identified On Cardiac Mri - A Case Report And Review Of Literature, Khwaja Yousuf Hasan, Fateh Ali Tipoo Sultan

Section of Cardiology

Primary cardiac tumours are rare. Cardiac fibroma is a benign tumour of the heart. It is fairly common among children and adolescents and is rarely encountered in adults. We present the case of a thirty-eight year old lady who presented with shortness of breath and was found to have a very large intra-cardiac mass that had cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) features consistent with cardiac fibroma. The patient was referred for tumour resection, however could not survive the surgery.

Labrad : Vol 44, Issue 1 - July 2018, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi

LABRAD - Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Radiology Archives

• How to Investigate a Bleeding Disorder
• Nucleic Acid Testing at AKUH
• Lab Diagnosis of von Willebrand Disease
• Ristocetin Cofactor Activity
• All You Need to Know About Thrombophilia Screening
• Utility of ADAMTS-13 Assay
• Homocysteine as a Risk Factor of Thrombosis
• Detection of Heparin/Platelet Factor 4 Antibodies
• Anti-factor Xa Assay