Search

Objective: To determine the frequency of etiological factors of non-traumatic compressive myelopathies. Methods: This is tertiary care Hospital based descriptive cross sectional study conducted at Neurology department of Liaquat University of medical and health Sciences, Jamshoro / Hyderabad after approval of departmental ethical committee from 22th October 2020 to 21st April 2021. Study data was collected after informed consent from all cases. All cases fulfilled inclusion criteria were selected and included in study and data was recorded on preformed proforma. Data was analyzed on SPSS 21 and results were formulated accordingly. Results: In this study 163 patients were included to assess the etiological factors of non-traumatic compressive myelopathy and the results were analyzed. Out of theses 163 subjects who had nontraumatic compressive myelopathies, the etiological and demographic features revealed that, 106 (65%) were male & 57 (35%) were female patients, having a 1.85:1 male to female ratio. The study population's age ranged from 20 to 60 years, and the mean age SD was 47.6 ± 11.2 years. One hundred and eleven 111 (68.1%) patients had paraparesis while fifty two 52 (31.9%) had Quadriparesis. Most common cause of non-traumatic compressive myelopathy was Tuberculosis spine 35(21.5%) followed by demyelinating Myelitis 30 (18.4%) spinal secondaries 24 (14.8%), disc prolapse was noted in 22(13.5%), multiple myeloma 12 (7.3%) cervical spondylosis 10(6.1%), spinal epidural abscess 8(4.9%), transverse myelitis 4(2.5%) while ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament as 3(1.8%) patients. Conclusion: Tuberculosis of spine followed by demyelinating Myelitis were most common causes of non-traumatic compressive myelopathies. It is of prime importance to identify those risk factors and contributing states that prone the population for the development of such disabling ailments to address the burden of diseases and to optimize the management's strategies for this already compromised patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psoriasis is a systemic, inflammatory, chronic autoimmune disease characterized by multiple discoid plaques over body with silvery scales associated with cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Recently, association between psoriasis and Vitamin D level has also been reported. Our aim of study was to evaluate the association of vitamin D and its association with the severity of Psoriasis. Materials and methods: 60 patients diagnosed with psoriasis, in our outpatient department from January 2021 to December 2021, were included the study. 58 age, gender- and skin phototypematched healthy controls were included in the study. Results: The serum vitamin D level in patients and in the control group ranged from 7 to 24 ng/ml (mean: 13.04 ±8.32 ng/ml) and from 16 to 65 ng/ml (mean: 23.91±6.08 ng/ml), respectively. The circulating vit D levels were less in patients compared to control. The analysis showed statistical significance (P< 0.05) between the two groups. Conclusion: Our results showed decreased level of vitamin D in patients suffering from psoriasis when compared to healthy controls. Vitamin D supplementation can be useful in psoriasis management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is most common type of inflammatory arthritis. It is chronic autoimmune disease that affects joints as well as extra-articular structures. The prevalence of this condition could be due to both genetic and non-genetic factors (e.g., environmental, viral, and hormonal). Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine and correlate 25(OH) D level with disease severity in patients of RA. Materials and Methods: The prospective observational study consists of 70 patients of RA and 70 healthy controls. Assessed level of 25(OH) D, C-reactive protein (CRP), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and Disease Activity Score (DAS) 28-CRP score were compared in both cases and controls. Correlation of Vitamin D level with parameters such as CRP, Anti-CCP, and ESR was performed. Correlation between Vitamin D level deficiency and disease activity among the RA patients was assessed. Results: The mean age of patients in the RA group was 37.77±13.31 years. The mean CRP in cases was 40.57±25.94 mg/L and in controls was 3.26±1.95 mg/L with significant intergroup difference (P<0.001). The mean anti-CCP in cases was 62.18±27.21 U/mL and in controls was 4.99±1.52 U/mL with significant intergroup difference (P<0.001). The mean 25(OH) D level in cases was 12.65±5.88 and in controls was 32.18±10.22. The 25(OH) D was significantly decreased in cases than controls (P<0.001). A significant inverse relationship between serum 25(OH) D levels and DAS28 was observed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves results showed that 25(OH) D<11.7 ng/mL indicates severe disease activity (Area under ROC curve=84%, Sensitivity 77.78%, and specificity 83.33%,). 25(OH) D between 11.7 ng/mL and 19.83 ng/mL indicates moderate disease activity. 25(OH) D˃19.83 ng/mL indicates low disease activity value below 4.13 is alarming situation. Conclusion: The study reveals high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in RA patients. There is also significant inverse correlation exist between serum Vitamin D levels and RA disease activity. Vitamin D level is good disease activity predictor in patients of RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]