PAKISTAN MEDICAL STUDENTS RESEARCH JOURNAL

A CASE OF HEREDITARY SPASTIC PARAPLEGIA- A NEUROLOGICAL CONUNDRUM

2025-01-21T09:18:19+00:00

Introduction

Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia is a group of rare neurological degenerative disorders with a broad pattern of inheritance and not limited to a specific age group. Around 82 different loci have been identified in the causation of this disease. It may present with weakness limited to lower limbs or may be a complex disease with extra neurological manifestations.

Case Description

We report a case of a 44-year-old Pakistani male with progressive spasticity and lower limb weakness of 3 years duration with upper motor neuron signs limited to the lower limb. His Baseline investigations were within normal range and his metabolic profile as well as inflammatory markers were normal. His MRI showed Non-specific peri-ventricular intensities on T2W and FLAIR sequences with mild axonal neuropathy on Nerve Conduction Studies. EMG was normal. He was diagnosed with Type 2, Pure Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia after the exclusion of all other possible differentials. He was started on muscle relaxants, statins, and pregabalin.

Discussion

Our diagnosis was supported by previous literature on the disease and the treatment we initiated was also evidence-based. Due to lack of accessibility to genetic testing in Pakistan, our case highlights the importance of analyzing in detail, a patient’s clinical examination and history as well as picking subtle MRI findings.

Key Words

Case Report, Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, SPG, Inherited

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTERS IN DISTRICT PESHAWAR: A DESCRIPTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

2025-01-22T07:25:16+00:00

Objective: To assess the health care delivery system of Primary Health Care facilities in district Peshawar of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan

Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the conveniently selected four primary healthcare facilities in district Peshawar. The participants’ responses were recorded via structured questionnaires. The participants were selected through non-probability convenient sampling techniques. Written informed consent was obtained from each study participant.

Results: All participants indicated that the Basic Health Units (BHUs) were generally functioning efficiently. However, they expressed dissatisfaction with several aspects of the services provided. Specifically, there were concerns regarding the field visits conducted by Lady Health Visitors (LHVs), with participants feeling that these visits were insufficient or lacked proper guidance, particularly about antenatal and postnatal care, as well as family planning services. Additionally, the availability of essential resources such as ambulances and basic laboratory facilities was also a point of concern, as these were either inadequate or not easily accessible, hindering the overall effectiveness of the healthcare services at the BHUs.

Conclusion: This study results revealed that the performance was overall satisfactory at the PHC level except for a few areas including family planning services, ambulatory services, and availability of laboratory facilities which need improvement.

Keywords: Primary Health Care, Essential Services, Immunization, Health Systems, Maternal and Child Healthcare.

THE PREVALENCE OF DIABETES MELLITUS AND ITS ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS IN THE ELDERLY POPULATION OF UNIVERSITY CAMPUS PESHAWAR

2025-01-06T07:32:00+00:00

Objective: To find the frequency of diabetes with associated symptoms in elderly people aged 60 and above residing on the university campus in Peshawar.

Materials & Methods: This community-based descriptive cross-sectional study included a total of 103 elderly people aged 60 and above, selected from the university campus in Peshawar by simple random sampling from January to April 2023. Random blood sugar was measured by using a glucometer. Those having a random blood sugar of greater than 200g/dl and those who were having signs and symptoms of diabetes and were on diabetic medications were considered diabetics Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect the data. Data was entered and analyzed on SPSS version 20 and Microsoft Excel 2013.

Results: The prevalence rate of diabetes in the study population was 32% (33/103). Diabetes was more common among females than males. The mean RBS value was 195.48 mg/dl (SD 43.78 mg/dl, 95% CI 180.55-210.42) in the diabetic population (32.04%, 33/103). Of the total diabetic population, 57.58% (19/33) had controlled diabetes. The diabetes was more controlled in males than females.

Keywords: Elderly, Diabetes, random blood sugar

EXAMINING OUTDOOR MEALS CONSUMPTION AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH DIGESTIVE HEALTH AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS DWELLING IN HOSTELS OF KHYBER MEDICAL COLLEGE, PESHAWAR

2025-01-06T07:06:54+00:00

Objective: The objective of the study is to find the association between outdoor meal consumption and digestive health in students dwelling in hostels of Khyber Medical College, Peshawar.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 297 undergraduate medical students dwelling in hostels of Khyber Medical College, Peshawar for one month. Data collection was carried out through an adapted questionnaire. A pilot test was performed for testing the questionnaire. Data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS 20 version.

Results: The study revealed that most students (38.4%) consumed outdoor meals two to three times a week. Dinner was the most popular choice, favored by 38.4% of students. Dissatisfaction with hostel-cooked meals was a significant factor, with 57.6% of students citing it as their reason for choosing outdoor meals. Street food emerged as the most preferred type of outdoor meal, relished by 38.4% of hostel residents.

Conclusion: The study found that the majority of the hostel-dwelling medical students ate two to three times a week from outdoor sources, especially dinner. Dissatisfaction with hostel meals was a key reason, with street food being the most preferred option. A significant association was observed between outdoor meal consumption and digestive issues. These findings underscore the need to improve hostel meal quality and taste to promote healthier dietary habits.

Key Words: Outdoor meals; Hostel Dwellers; Digestive health.

CAUSES AND HEALTH EFFECTS ON CHILDREN WORKING IN AUTOMOBILE WORKSHOPS OF PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

2025-01-06T07:04:59+00:00

Objective: To determine the causes and health effects of children working in automobile workshops in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Materials & Methods: From February to July 2016, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in different automobile workshops in Peshawar. After obtaining consent, data was collected from 200 randomly selected children via questionnaires. The study included children under 15 who were working in automobile workshops in Peshawar, while the children who could not answer the questions were excluded. The data were analyzed using Excel and SPSS version 15.

Results: Most (84%) of the children working in automobile workshops were in the age range of 11-15 years. A major (47%) proportion had below primary level education. According to the study, parental income for most (44%) children was Rs.11-15,000. 58% of children were living in families having more than 10 members. Poverty was the main cause of working in workshops for 63% of children. As a consequence, 46.77% of children were suffering from GIT problems.

Conclusion: The main causes of children working in automobile workshops were poverty and large families, as a result of working conditions most of the children suffered from gastrointestinal diseases.

Key Words: Child Health; Income; Automobiles; Poverty; Parents; Employment

FREQUENCY OF DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENTS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOLS IN PESHAWAR CITY, PAKISTAN

2024-12-03T08:45:15+00:00

Objectives: To determine the frequency of depression in Public and Private High School adolescents in Peshawar Pakistan and to find an association between depression and age, and depression and gender.

Materials and Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over 6 months from April 2021 to October 2021 in public and private colleges of Peshawar city. Colleges were selected through a stratified random sampling technique. A sample of 220 adolescent students aged 16-18 was chosen through a simple random technique using the balloting method. Data from students was collected through a modified pre-tested version of Beck’s Depression Inventory. Ethical approval was sought from the IREB (Institutional Review and Ethical Board) of Khyber Medical College. The chi-square test was used to find the relationship between depression and gender and depression and age of adolescent students.

Results: Out of 220 participants, 115 (52.25%) adolescents had depression, 18 (8.18 %) had extreme depression, 27 (12.27%) had severe depression, 44 (20.0%) had moderate depression, 26 (11.8%) had borderline clinical depression. The frequency of adolescents with mild mood disturbance is (18.18%). Depression was found more in female students than males (55%). There was a significant relationship between depression and gender. However, the age categories of adolescents were not statistically related to each other.

Conclusion:

The frequency of depression in adolescents is an escalating public health issue. About half of the students in the study were found to have some form of depression. The study further concluded a statistically significant relationship between depression and gender with females having a higher frequency of depression 62 (55%).

Keywords: Depression, Adolescent, High Schools, Peshawar.

FREQUENCY OF ENERGY DRINK CONSUMPTION AMONG KHYBER MEDICAL UNIVERSITY–INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES KOHAT PAKISTAN

2024-12-03T08:36:21+00:00

Objective: The main objective was to assess the prevalence of energy drink consumption among undergraduate medical students of a public medical college in Kohat Pakistan

Materials and Methods: After ethical approval, a cross-sectional study was conducted from February to September 2024 at the Department of Community Medicine KMU-Institute of Medical Sciences Kohat. Relevant information was collected using a self-structured questionnaire that included all the direct and indirect variables, such as demographics and other determinants of energy drinks. The data was analyzed using SPSS-23.

Results: The study involved 228 MBBS students from first to final year. Among them, 160 (70.2%) reported drinking energy drinks, and 68 (29.8%) said they did not. Most participants were male, with 146 males (64%) and 82 females (36%). In terms of how often they drank energy drinks, 70 students (30.7%) had them once a day, 16 (7%) drank them twice a day, and 10 (4.4%) had them three times a day. Only 4 students (1.8%) consumed more than three energy drinks daily, and 62 (27.2%) drank them occasionally. Additionally, 88 students (38.6%) had tried to stop drinking energy drinks, while 74 (32.5%) had never attempted to quit. Eight students (3.5%) also smoked while drinking energy drinks, but most, 154 students (67.5%), did not smoke. Taste is the primary motivation for consuming energy or cold drinks, with 92 (40.4%) of respondents prioritizing flavor, social gatherings also play a significant role, attracting 42 (18.4%) consumers.

Conclusions
The study concluded that the prevalence of energy drink consumption was high among the study participants and showed a strong relationship with age, year of study, taste and social gatherings, monthly pocket money, residence, and physical exercise, etc. Thus, effective strategies are needed to reduce the frequency among medical students.

Keywords: Energy drinks consumption, frequency of energy drinks consumption, Sting, Red Bull

POLIO IN PAKISTAN: PROGRESS AND PERSISTENT CHALLENGES IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA (KP)

2025-01-21T09:21:19+00:00

Polio, a highly contagious viral disease that can lead to permanent disability and even death, continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Pakistan. The country remains one of the few in the world where polio transmission is still a concern. A closer look at the reported cases from 2019 to 2024 reveals both progress and worrying trends, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), a province that has consistently reported the heaviest burden of this disease.

2025-01-24T06:09:46+00:00