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Background: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a prevalent complication of antibiotic therapy, attributed to disruptions in gut microbiota. Probiotics are increasingly studied for their potential in preventing AAD by restoring microbial balance., Objective: The aim of this investigation was to assess the efficacy of probiotics in reducing AAD in adult patients when compared to a placebo., Methodology: This research was conducted from March 2023 to March 2024 using a randomized, placebo-controlled design at multiple institutions: Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar; Prime Teaching Hospital, Peshawar; Mufti Mahmood Memorial Teaching Hospital, Dera Ismail Khan; Shalamar Hospital, Lahore; University Hospitals of Leicester; and DHQ Teaching Hospital Kohat, enrolling 340 adult patients prescribed systemic antibiotics. Eligible participants were aged 18 years and older, while those with chronic diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, immunodeficiency, recent probiotic or antibiotic use, or inability to provide informed consent were excluded. The sample size was calculated using WHO guidelines, resulting in a target of 340 to ensure adequate power. Participants were randomized to receive either probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium longum BB536) or placebo, administered within 24 hours of starting antibiotics. Daily monitoring of bowel habits and symptoms was performed using standardized diaries, and adherence was evaluated through pill counts. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27 (Released 2020; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States), comparing the incidence, severity, and duration of AAD between groups, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05., Results: In the probiotic group, 31 patients (18.23%) developed AAD compared to 53 patients (31.17%) in the placebo group (p=0.01). Among those with AAD, the probiotic group experienced a shorter duration (mean 3.5 ± 1.2 days) compared to placebo (mean 5.1 ± 1.8 days, p=0.002). Adherence rates were high in both groups (probiotic: 96.4%, placebo: 95.9%). Significant improvements in bowel habits were reported more frequently in the probiotic group (77.06%) than placebo (50.59%, p=0.02). The hospital stay duration was similar between groups (probiotic: mean 7.8 ± 2.1 days, placebo: mean 8.3 ± 2.4 days, p=0.15)., Conclusion: Probiotics significantly reduced the incidence and duration of AAD compared to placebo, with high adherence and favorable patient-reported outcomes., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Khyber Teaching Hospital and Khyber Medical College Peshawar Institutional Research and Ethical Review Board (IREB) issued approval 624/DME/KMC. This study received ethical approval in December 2022. Permission for data collection was obtained from the Head of Department of all the involved institutes. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Shah et al.)

Background and objective Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are related but distinct conditions. Iron deficiency refers to a state where the body has insufficient iron stores, which can lead to anemia if not addressed. Iron deficiency anemia, on the other hand, is a more severe condition where the lack of iron has resulted in decreased hemoglobin levels, impacting oxygen transport in the blood. Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) infection can contribute to iron deficiency through mechanisms such as chronic gastrointestinal bleeding and impaired iron absorption, potentially progressing to iron deficiency anemia. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency, including its potential progression to iron deficiency anemia, among patients diagnosed with H. pylori infection. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted at Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta, and included 200 patients diagnosed with H. pylori infection via endoscopic biopsy or urea breath test, from January to June 2023. Participants were aged 18 years and older, excluding those with chronic diseases affecting iron metabolism, current iron supplement users, and pregnant women. Data were collected through questionnaires and medical records, and blood samples were analyzed for serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests and logistic regression was performed in SPSS (version 27; IBM Corp, Armonk, NY); p-value <0.05 was significant. Results Out of 200 patients, 80 (40%) were iron deficient. The prevalence was highest among those over 60 years (n = 15, 75%) compared to the 18-30 age group (n = 10, 20%). Males had a slightly higher prevalence of iron deficiency (n = 50, 45.5%) compared to females (n = 30, 33.3%). Patients with H. pylori infection for more than three years exhibited a higher prevalence of iron deficiency (n = 30, 50%) compared to those with less than one year of infection (10/60, 16.7%). Dietary habits also played a role, with vegetarians showing a higher prevalence (n = 20, 50%) compared to non-vegetarians (n = 60, 37.5%). Hemoglobin levels were significantly lower in iron-deficient participants, averaging 10.8 ± 0.9 g/dL, and logistic regression indicated significant associations between iron deficiency and both age (OR = 1.05, p = 0.001) and infection duration (OR = 1.10, p < 0.001). Conclusions The study revealed a significant prevalence of iron deficiency among H. pylori -infected patients, particularly in older adults, males, those with longer infection duration, and vegetarians. The findings underscore the need for routine monitoring and targeted treatment of iron deficiency in this population., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Bolan Medical Complex Hospital Institutional Review Board issued approval BMCH/IRB/2022/Car-08/10. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Khan et al.)

A girl who was born at 40 weeks of gestation weighing 3800 g presented with bilious vomiting and abdominal distension shortly after birth. A lower gastrointestinal contrast study showed a microcolon with small bowel atresia. Subsequently, laparotomy, small bowel resection and anastomosis were done. Intra-operative findings noted jejunal atresia type 3a. Post-operatively, the patient developed persistent conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia and hence, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) was performed. MRCP revealed possible biliary atresia (BA) of which the patient underwent Kasai hepato-porto-enterostomy. We reported a rare case of double pathology involving jejunal atresia and BA, describing its aetiology, characteristics and treatment availability based on literature., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Choong Yew Hoe et al.)

Background: The incidence of traumatic vertebral artery injury (VAI) associated with cervical spine trauma varies widely in published trauma series. The primary aim of this study was to determine the incidence of traumatic VAI in patients who suffered cervical spine injuries by means of routine magnetic resonance imaging, and the secondary objective was to identify any associations with injury mechanism, level of injury, and neurologic injury severity.  Materials and methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 96 patients who suffered cervical spine fracture dislocation with or without an associated spinal cord injury (SCI) in Indian Spinal Injuries Center (ISIC), New Delhi, India from January 2013 to April 2023. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to diagnose VAI. Patient's age, sex, cervical injury level, mechanism of injury, neurologic level of injury, association with foraminal fracture, facet dislocation, and clinical sequelae of vertebral artery injury were analyzed., Results: In this study, of 96 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 18 patients (18.75%) had VAI on the MRI study. Thirteen (72.22%) of the eighteen patients had right-sided injuries, four (22.22%) had left-sided injuries, and one (5.55%) had bilateral injuries. There was an associated SCI in every VAI patient. VAI was significantly more common in patients who had ASIA A (61%, n = 11) and ASIA B (22%, n = 4) injuries, and no VAI was noted in neurologically intact patients (p<0.001). The incidence of VAI was higher in the flexion distraction type of injury (n = 12, 66%). The most commonly involved cervical spine injury level was C5-C6 (27%, n = 5), followed by 22% (n = 4) at C4-C5 and C6-C7 levels. About 27.8% (n = 5) of VAI was associated with foraminal fractures, and 72% (n = 13) of VAI was associated with facet dislocations, of which 44% (n = 8) were bifacetal and 28% (n = 5) were unifacetal dislocations. On clinical symptoms, only one (5.56%) patient had a headache, and 17 (94.4%) had no clinical features due to VAI., Conclusion: The incidence of traumatic vertebral artery disease is not very uncommon and requires careful and meticulous screening and management. Otherwise, complications like pseudoaneurysm, neurologic deficit, late-onset hemorrhage, infarction, and death can happen. Mostly, it is associated with high-velocity injuries and neurological injuries. MRI can be used as a good screening tool, which can be aided by a CT angiogram or digital subtraction angiography for confirmation. Proper pre-operative evaluation of vascular injury in cervical spine fracture dislocation is very important for patient counseling, patient management, and surgical planning., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Hasan et al.)

Background For the treatment of unstable thoracolumbar fractures, this study compared the results of short-segment fixation with fracture level inclusion (SSFIFL) with long-segment pedicle fixation (LSPF). Methodology In this prospective case series study conducted from January 2015 to January 2019, 80 patients with partial spinal cord lesions were investigated. For the comparison, two groups of 40 patients each were chosen and treated with SSFIFL and LSPF. The outcomes were measured using pre and postoperative radiological parameters and clinical parameters. The radiographic variables included the kyphotic angle with loss of correction, kyphotic deformation, and the Beck index. Mean blood loss, operative time, and cost-effectiveness were also examined for clinical indicators such as the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Results There were no substantial variations between the groups regarding age or gender, trauma etiology, fracture level, or fracture pattern. Between the two categories, there appeared to be no notable change in radiological indicators such as kyphotic angle, kyphotic deformation, and Beck index at the end of follow-up (p = 0.120, 0.360, and 0.776, respectively). Both groups had similar neurological outcomes (p = 0.781). In terms of ODI and VAS, statistically, there was no discernible difference (p = 0.567 and 0.161, respectively). In this study, however, there was less surgical time, blood loss, and implant cost (p = 0.05). Conclusions When fracture level is included in a short-segment fixation, the radiological and clinical results are comparable to long-segment posterior fixation. Ultimately, this treatment has proven to be not only a motion segment-saving procedure but also cost-effective., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Al Mamun Choudhury et al.)

Background Though there is ongoing controversy regarding the best treatment option for cervical spine dislocation (CSD), anterior cervical surgery with direct decompression is becoming widely accepted. However, managing all cases of subaxial CSD entirely by a single anterior approach is rarely seen in the published literature. Methods The study comprised patients with subaxial CSD who underwent surgical stabilization utilizing a single anterior approach. Most of the CSD was reduced and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) were performed. Anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) were done in unreduced dislocations. The patient's neurological condition, radiological findings, and functional outcomes were assessed. SPSS version 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) was used for statistical analysis. Results The total number of operated cases was 64, with an average of 42 months of follow-up. The mean age was 34.50±11.92 years. The most prevalent level of injury was C5/C6 (57.7%). Reduction was achieved in 92.2% of cases; only 7.8% of patients needed corpectomy. The typical operative time was 84.25±9.55 minutes, with an average blood loss of 112.12±25.27 ml. All cases except complete spinal cord injury (CSI) were improved neurologically (87.63%). The mean Neck Disability Index (NDI) was 11.14±11.43, and the pre-operative mean visual analog score (VAS) was finally improved to 2.05±0.98 (P<0.05). In all cases, fusion was achieved. The most common complication was transient dysphagia (23.4%). After surgery, no patient developed or aggravated a neurological impairment. Implant failure was not observed at the final follow-up except for two cases where screws were pulled out partially. Conclusion Based on the results of this study, a single anterior approach is a safe and effective procedure for subaxial CSD treatment with favorable radiological, neurological, and functional outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Jonayed et al.)

Introduction: Adding adjuvant drugs to intrathecal local anesthetics improves the quality and duration of the sensory blockade and prolongs postoperative analgesia. Intrathecal opioids are synergistic with local anesthetics, thereby intensifying the sensory block without increasing the sympathetic block. This study was designed to comparatively evaluate the two different dosages of nalbuphine as intrathecal adjuvants on subarachnoid block (SAB) characteristics of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine., Methods: A randomized, triple arm study was conducted on 60 adult female patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II, aged 30-60 years, scheduled for total abdominal hysterectomy under SAB. Patients were randomized into three groups: group I received 15 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine, group II received 15 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 1.6 mg of nalbuphine, and group III received 15 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 2.4 mg of nalbuphine. The primary outcome was the duration of analgesia, while secondary outcomes included onset, duration of sensory and motor block, maximum cephalic extension, and two dermatome segment regressions., Results: The onset time of the sensory block was 3.2 ± 1.0 minutes, 3.5 ± 1.6 minutes, and 3.1 ± 1.1 minutes in groups I, II, and III, respectively. The onset time of the motor block was 8.5 ± 1.0 minutes, 8.5 ± 1.1 minutes, and 8.2 ± 1.1 minutes in groups I, II, and III, respectively. The onset of sensory and motor blocks was comparable among the three groups with no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). The total duration of analgesia was 117.8 ± 23.3 minutes, 166.8 ± 27.8 minutes, and 181.8 ± 25.9 minutes in groups I, II, and III, respectively, with a statistically significant difference. Few incidences of manageable hypotension, but no incidences of bradycardia or respiratory insufficiency, occurred. Five patients of the control group shivered, which was managed well by tramadol 50 mg and ondansetron 4 mg. No patient suffered from pruritus, sedation, respiratory depression, nausea, and vomiting., Conclusion: The study concluded that intrathecal nalbuphine in a 1.6 mg dose is an effective adjuvant to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine for SAB. It potentiated the SAB characteristics and enhanced the duration of analgesia with no effect on respiration. Nalbuphine in a dose of 2.4 mg did not offer any added advantage., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Shah et al.)

Introduction Histopathologic specimen examination of surgically isolated organs and tissues yields valuable information regarding a disease process and plays a vital role in the future management of a patient. Our aim was to account for the common diagnosis yielded from histopathological specimens of the obstetrics and gynecology department and to determine if all the obstetric and gynecological specimens should be routinely sent for histopathology. Methods A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at the histopathology unit of a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar. Data were acquired for all gynecological and obstetric specimens sent for histopathology for analysis to the histopathology unit during August 2018 and July 2019. Any sample that was not sent via surgical excision was excluded from the study. Results A total of 922 samples were sent for histopathological analysis in the tertiary care hospital. The mean age of patients who had their specimens sent for pathology was 40.78 ± 10.81 years. Most of the samples sent were of the uterus (458) and the age 31-50 years (270) had the highest proportion of histopathological specimens. Normal ovaries (64.4%) and fallopian tubes (78.8%) were the main diagnoses for these two specimens while a normal cervix (0.58%) was the least common diagnosis among samples sent for histopathology. Chronic cervicitis (92.4%) in cervix and secretory phase endometrium (30.1%) in the uterus were the other common diagnosis. All the other samples were infrequently sent. Conclusion Uterine specimens are the most common histopathological specimen sent followed by cervix and then fallopian tube. Fallopian tube and ovaries yielded the highest normal diagnosis. Cervix specimens must be biopsied. More data is needed for a certain consensus on the need for routine histopathology., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2021, Nasim et al.)