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Objective: To determine the association between serum vitamin D levels and febrile seizures in the paediatric patients. Study Design: Case-Control Study. Place and Duration of Study: Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi Pakistan, from Mar 2020 to Mar 2021. Methodology: The study included all pyrexia paediatric patients, both with and without febrile seizures, as cases and controls. Children aged below six months or older than 60 months, with a previous history of afebrile seizures, diagnosed with central nervous system infection, dehydration, or electrolyte disturbance, were excluded from the study. Serum vitamin D levels and other demographic data were documented. Results: The study included 86 cases and controls. The mean age of cases was 28.07±16.47, and the controls were 26.38±15.72 months. The rate of vitamin D insufficiency was three times more likely in cases compared to controls, i.e. [OR, 95% CI: 3.95 (2.084-7.489)] with p=0.0001. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is substantially more likely in the case than in the control group. As a result, children with febrile seizures should have their serum vitamin D levels tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of study was to compare oral health knowledge, attitude and practice scores between medical and dental students of Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: It was cross-sectional study conducted at private medical and dental college of Karachi, Pakistan from Jul 2018-Jul 2019. Hundred medical and 100 dental students of age 22-26 years of either gender, enrolled in 2nd year of their medical and dental school were recruited for the study by using non-probability convenience sampling technique. The adapted questionnaire was used which consist of 16 items to assess knowledge, attitude and practice regarding oral health. SPSS version 23 was used to analyse data. Results: The mean age of participants was reported as 22.77 years. Among all medical students, the high mean knowledge score was observed for brushing timings (0.90), for attitude, the high mean score for use of floss/interdental brush was reported (4.41). Among all the dental students, the high mean score was observed for knowledge of brushing timings, frequency of replacing toothbrush and amount of toothpaste on your brush (0.93). According to attitude, high mean score for use of mouthwash was reported (4.45) followed by method of tooth brushing (4.35). According to practice the high mean score was reported for treatment of gum problems as 4.51.The knowledge, attitude and practice score of dental students were significantly high as compared to medical students (p<0.05). Among males, knowledge and attitude of dental students were significantly high as compared to medical students (p<0.05), whereas no significant difference was found between practice score. Among females, knowledge, attitude and practice score of dental students were significantly high as compared to medical students (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study ascertained that knowledge, attitude and practice regarding oral health was better in dental students as compared to medical students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of sodium polystyrene subpoenaed in treating hyperkalemia and its effect on different serum electrolytes level. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Lyari general hospital, 500 bedded tertiary care public sector hospital at Karachi, from Jan 2017 to Mar 2017. Material and Methods: Hyperkalemic patients were included in study who fulfilled inclusion criteria and were administered with single STAT 30 grams dose of Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate. Serum electrolytes such as sodium, chloride, magnesium, phosphate and calcium were measured before and after 2 hours of administration of Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate. Paired t-test was used as tool for statistical analysis. Results: Significant (p<0.05) decrease in serum potassium level with mean decrease of 0.61 mmol/L was observed in hyperkalemic patients (n=83) after single dose of Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate. Among 83 studied patient, 67 (81%) recovered from hyperkalemia. Besides, there was significant (p<0.05) increase in sodium level with a mean increase of 2.26 mmol/L. Serum magnesium and calcium levels were significantly decreased (p<0.05) with mean difference of 0.02mmol/L and 0.13mmol/L respectively. No significant difference was found in serum chloride and phosphate levels (p>0.05). Conclusion: Sodium polystyrene sulphonate found to be effective in treating hyperkalemia and considerable changes in serum sodium level have been observed with minimal changes in serum magnesium and calcium levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]