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Background: The coronavirus pandemic is one of the most disastrous calamities of modern times. The outpatient departments of health centers have an important role in the appropriate health education of the patients and their attendants regarding disease prevention and control. Objective: The objective of this study was to help the health authorities in devising an effective strategy of educating the vulnerable population at their point of first contact with a health professional. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 2 April 2020, to 17 July 2020, in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Data was entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Out of 238, 144 were males and 94 were females and the mean age was 34.53 years. Although television was the most common source of information (51.7%) a significant proportion of the people of Shorkot, i.e., 60.3% relied on word of mouth compared to that of other cities (p

Scabies classically presents with itching and skin lesions in the interdigital spaces of hands, trunk, and genitals. Rarely, non‐classical skin lesions can result in misdiagnosis and inappropriate management of patients.

Objectives: Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) is a common medical emergency in cirrhosis. These patients mainly bleed from esophageal varices. The aim of the present work was to determine the prevalence of fundal varices; gastro-oesophageal varices type2 (GOV-2) and isolated gastric varices type1 (IGV-1), as a cause of AUGIB. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Gastroenterology Department of Nishtar Hospital Multan, Pakistan, using non-probability consecutive sampling. Period: July to December 2018. Material and Methods: Emergency upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy was performed in 165 cirrhotic patients and the findings documented. Results: The mean age was 50.15 ± 12.72 years. There were 103 (62.4%) males and 62 (37.6%) females (p

Auto-brewery syndrome (ABS), also known as gut fermentation syndrome, is a very rare disorder. It is characterized by the endogenous production of alcohol. It typically presents with the signs of alcohol intoxication, such as staggering gait, slurred speech, gastrointestinal distress, and state of confusion. Due to the nonspecific symptoms, it is necessary to rule out other etiologies before reaching a diagnosis of ABS. The confirmatory test for this syndrome is the raised levels of blood or breath ethanol after a glucose challenge test. The management includes the use of antifungal drugs and avoidance of a carbohydrate-rich diet. In this review, we summarize the etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic tests, management, and medicolegal aspects of ABS.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory condition of the skin affecting a large number of people worldwide. Historically, this condition has been managed by topical corticosteroids and general skincare measures. The inadequacy of these management strategies has always driven efforts to find better drugs. Dupilumab has been recently approved for the management of atopic dermatitis. It is a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits the binding of key interleukins involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis, thus blocking the signaling mechanisms and disrupting the disease progression. Dupilumab reduces the severity and associated symptoms of atopic dermatitis. It improves the life quality of patients and reduces the anxiety associated with the disease. Combination therapy of dupilumab and topical corticosteroids is more effective than dupilumab monotherapy. The treatment-related adverse events include headache, injection site reaction, conjunctivitis, nasopharyngitis, and herpes viral infections. Moreover, the simultaneous use of live vaccines with dupilumab is contraindicated. It is also beneficial in the management of asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis, and eosinophilic esophagitis. In this review, we have discussed the clinical efficacy and safety profile of dupilumab in the management of atopic dermatitis.

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a rare entity leading to inflammation of the pancreas. It can be broadly categorized into two types. Type 1 AIP is more common and primarily presents with jaundice. Less commonly it can also progress to multiorgan involvement. Here we report a case of a 19-year-old male who presented to us with complaints of abdominal pain and vomiting. His laboratory investigations showed raised serum amylase and lipase. A contrast-enhanced CT revealed a diffuse enlargement of the pancreas with internal low-density foci. Due to the repeated episodes of pancreatitis, the patient's blood was tested for serum IgG4 (immunoglobulin type G4) which was markedly elevated pointing toward the diagnosis of AIP. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) showed a sausage-shaped pancreas with hyper- and hypoechoic strands. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration cytology of the lymph nodes performed in the celiac region showed a mixed population of lymphoid cells. Based on all the workup, our patient was diagnosed as type 1 AIP. He was managed with steroids and his condition progressively improved. This case is clinically significant because of the close resemblance of AIP with other pancreatic disorders like neoplasm. A timely diagnosis can prevent the unnecessary performance of invasive procedures in these patients.

Viruses are long known to be leading causes of self-limiting infections. Infectious mononucleosis (IM) caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is, however, no exception. The ailment is caused by a DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. As stated earlier, the infection is usually self-limited with mononucleosis-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, lymphadenopathy (LAD), rash, headache, etc. In rare instances, it can lead to severe complications. The organ of prime importance following the infection is spleen. There are occasions where splenic injuries can lead to rupture, deeming to emergency surgical interventions. At other times, a rare entity may also be seen that constitutes an infarction within the splenic substance. We present this rare finding in a 20-year-old male patient with a left upper quadrant (LUQ) pain, cervical LAD, and sore throat who was brought to the emergency department. On physical examination, mild tenderness was observed in the LUQ with an inflamed throat and palpable cervical and occipital lymph nodes. Laboratory investigations suggested lymphocytosis with no blast cells, lactic acidosis, and mild acute kidney injury. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan demonstrated an enlarged spleen with wedge-shaped hypodense areas, which led to a diagnosis of splenic infarction secondary to infectious mononucleosis. Keeping in mind the symptomatology and the age of the patient, a bunch of differentials were needed to be ruled out. Out of a series of investigations done on the patient, EBV serology for IgM was positive. The patient was conservatively treated with a complete resolution of symptoms in one month. Our case adds to the literature the finding of a rare etiology of splenic infarction secondary to IM and the importance of stepwise and cost-effective investigations to avoid unnecessary workup when needed.

Background & Aim It is of great importance to carefully choose appropriate donors according to strict eligibility criteria, so as to guarantee an adequate and safe blood supply. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of deferral in blood donors and evaluate the different causes of deferral in Multan. Materials & Methods This prospective study was carried out at the Blood Bank of Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Multan. All donors who came for the donation of blood from 1st February to 30th September 2019 were evaluated after taking their consent. The data was analyzed to determine the frequency and causes of deferral using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results Among 3348 individuals presenting for blood donation, 433 (12.9%) were deferred (427 males and only six females). The mean age of deferred individuals was 28.96 + 6.42 years. The youngest individual was 18 years, while the eldest one was 51 years of age. Almost 65% of the individuals were less than 30 years of age. The most frequent cause of deferral was low hemoglobin. Anemia was the leading cause of deferral in more than half of the individuals (n = 221). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was the second most frequent cause of deferral, seen in 83 (19.2%), followed by hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (n = 49, 11.3%), syphilis (n = 36, 8.3%), thrombocytopenia (n = 18, 4.2%), and active infection (n = 14, 3.2%). Other rarer causes included early donation, thrombocytosis, polycythemia, pancytopenia, malaria, allergies, insulin, and tuberculosis. Conclusion Deferral for blood donation is a significant problem in Multan and accounts for almost 13% of all prospective blood donors. Our results stress the importance of addressing the problem of anemia which is the most prevalent cause of temporary deferral for blood donation in this region of the world.

We report a case of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), which presented with antenatal pre-eclampsia complicated by acute kidney injury (AKI). A 25-year-old patient in her 27th week of gestation presented with high blood pressure. She was later diagnosed with PPCM, which was complicated by AKI. Our case report indicated PPCM presentation during the prepartum period, which is a rare entity. On her fifth day of admission, our patient had spontaneous expulsion of her neonate, who was found to be dead on antenatal ultrasound.

Background: Pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin combination was themain treatment for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients in Pakistan till 2016. An important sideeffect of this combination was thyroid dysfunction (TD). Objectives: To evaluate thyroid functionabnormalities in Chronic Hepatitis C patients treated with PEG-IFN and ribavirin. Study Design:Descriptive study. Setting: Outpatient Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology,Nishtar Hospital Multan. Period: January to September 2016. Methods: Using non-probabilityconsecutive sampling. There were 337 CHC patients enrolled in the study who fulfilled theinclusion criteria. Patients were given PEG-IFN plus ribavirin combination therapy and at 12weeks their serum Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels were measured to identify any TD.Data was entered and analyzed by computer program SPSS-17. Results: Of these 337 cases,211 (62.6%) were male patients while 126 (37.4%) were female patients. Mean age of our caseswas noted to be 30.92 ± 5.84 years. Mean disease duration was 16.19 ± 6.42 months. In ourstudy 98 patients (29.1%) had genotype 2 while 239 (70.9%) had genotype 3. TD was seenin 28 (8.3%) patients, 70% of whom were females. Equal number of cases of Hypothyroidismand hyperthyroidism were seen (14 each). Hypothyroidism was significantly associated withrelatively older age group patients and genotype 3 (p value

Background: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a bacterial infectionwhich occurs in cirrhosis of liver complicated by ascites. To decrease the high in-hospitalmortality rate of 20 to 30%, rapid diagnosis and antibiotic treatment are essential. Objectives:To ascertain the frequency of causative organisms of SBP. Study Design: Descriptive study.Setting: Gastroenterology Department, Nishtar Medical College/Hospital, Multan using nonprobability, consecutive sampling. Period: Jan 2017 to July 2017. Methodology: The studyincluded 183 patients of liver cirrhosis having SBP. Under aseptic conditions, ascitic fluid tapwas done and sent for bacterial culture. Data was analyzed by computer program SPSS-18.Results: Of these 183 study cases, 103 (56.3%) were male patients while 80 (43.7%) werefemale patients. Mean age of our study cases was 51.73 ± 9.28 years. Mean duration ofdisease (liver cirrhosis) was 26.43 ± 12.32 months while mean duration of SBP was 4.51 ±1.21 days. More than half of cases (56.3%) of liver disease were caused by Chronic Hepatitis C,13.7% were due to Hepatitis B and 16.9% of patients were alcoholics. Among the study cases,E.coli was noted in 135 (73.8%), Staph. Aureus in 17.5% and Klebsiella was noted in 8.7%.Conclusion: Our study indicates that E.coli is the major organism causing SBP in patientshaving cirrhosis of liver followed by Staph. Aureus and Klebsiella.

Background and Objective: Disease relapse remains the primary cause of morbidity and mortality following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT) in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Oral azacitidine (5-aza) was associated with clinical benefit as maintenance therapy in transplant ineligible patients. However, contradicting data have been reported regarding the role of 5-aza as a maintenance therapy to reduce relapse rate -post-allo-HSCT. We conducted this systematic review to describe the efficacy and safety of 5-aza in this context. Materials and Methods: We systematically searched multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Clinicaltrials.gov. We also searched major conferences for oral or poster presentations. We used MeSH terms and keywords for MDS, AML, Allo-HSCT, and 5-aza. We included all retrospective and prospective studies of 5-aza (all formulations) published until March 2020. The primary database search yielded 1209 articles. We excluded irrelevant, duplicate, and review articles. The final search revealed 20 articles that we explored in detail for various efficacy and safety outcomes. Results: A total of 1211 patients were enrolled in 14 prospective and 6 retrospective studies. Of those, 1169 patients were evaluable. Prospective studies CALGB 100801 trial by Vij et al. (2015) reported overall survival (OS) of 45.7% and progression-free survival (PFS) of 41.2% at 24 months following reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) in a phase 2 trial of 41 patients. In a randomized control trial, Oran et al. (2018) evaluated relapse-free survival (RFS) as the primary outcome after 12 cycles of 5-aza at 32 mg/m2/day (n=187). Only 30% of the patients in the azacitidine arm completed the targeted number of cycles. The study showed a median RFS of 24.8 months in the treatment arm vs 15.3 months in the control arm (p=0.43). In a phase 2 trial conducted by Guillaume, T et al. (2019) the cumulative incidence of relapse was 27.6% in patients who received 5-aza, compared with 41.9% in 58 matched patients control group (p=0.21). Platzbecker et al. (2018-2019) studied a higher dose of azacitidine (75mg/m2/day) in a phase 2 trial as a pre-emptive strategy for patients who develop minimal residual disease (MRD) within 24 months. The 12-month OS and PFS were 94% and 44%, respectively. De Lima et al. (2018) studied the role of maintenance Oral 5-aza in Phase I/II trial (n=30). A dose-escalation design was used with a dosage ranging from 150 mg to 400 mg, received in a 7- or 14-day cycles. The 12-month PFS was 54% and 72% and estimated survival was 86% and 81% among 7-days and 14-days cycles, respectively. (Table 1) Retrospective studies: Mishra et al. (2017) reported a better OS in 14 patients who received 5-aza maintenance compared with a control arm (p-value 0.026). Cheikh et al. reported a 12-month OS of 70%. Ali, N et al. (2020) (n=107) compared 5-aza group vs. control group retrospectively. EFS was 53.1% vs. 49.5% (p=0.02) while OS was 56.8 and 53.4 months (p=0.01) in the treatment arm vs the control arm respectively. Safety: The most common grade 3 or 4 hematological adverse effect was neutropenia, while some patients also experienced grade 3 or 4 anemia, thrombocytopenia, or lymphopenia. The main non-hematological adverse effects were infections, fatigue, and gastrointestinal distress. The incidence of acute graft versus host disease varied from 13% to 50%. The most common reason for treatment discontinuation was disease relapse. A minority of patients discontinued treatment due to side effects. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive systematic review for the role of 5-aza maintenance -post-Allo-HSCT in patients with MDS or AML. The heterogeneity of the studies, in terms of dosing regimens, variable duration of treatment and patient selection, precludes definitive conclusions. Despite that, 5-aza seems to improve relapse rates and OS at least numerically but also significantly in some studies, as illustrated in this review. Low number of patients involved in most of these studies contributed to non-significant p-values. Azacitidine remains a valid and safe option, especially in patients with high risk of relapse. Further studies aiming at those high risk patients, such as AML with myelodysplasia related changes (AML-MRC) and high-risk MDS following RIC, are of utmost need. Disclosures Anwer: Incyte, Seattle Genetics, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals, AbbVie Pharma, Astellas Pharma, Celegene, Millennium Pharmaceuticals.: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Fazal:Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Agios: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Gilead/Kite: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Stemline: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Speakers Bureau; Jazz: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau.

Background: Philadelphia negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) include polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), primary myelofibrosis (PMF). MPNs can progress to accelerated and blast phase (MPN-AP/BP), defined by blast percentage of 10-19% and ≥20%, respectively, based on IWG-MRT. The therapeutic options, aside from allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT), are limited. Hypomethylating agents (HMAs), including azacitidine (5-aza) and decitabine, are an effective treatment option for myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). They have been used for older adults who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. Herein, we did a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of HMAs in MPN-AP/BP. Methods We comprehensively searched multiple databases (PubMed, google scholar, EMBASE, and clinicaltrials.gov), from the inception of the database until April 2020. We used MeSH terms and keywords related to azacitidine, decitabine, and MPN-AP/BP. We included studies that used HMAs as monotherapy on in combination to treat Philadelphia negative MPNs AP/BP and were published in the English language. The initial search yielded 2439 articles. After screening by two reviewers and excluding irrelevant articles, 16 studies were explored in detail. Results Of those studies, nine articles looked at HMAs as monotherapy (five articles for 5-aza and four articles for decitabine). The remaining articles looked at different combinations, including decitabine and ruxolitinib in four studies, 5-aza and ruxolitinib in one study, and ruxolitinib with either decitabine or 5-aza in one study. The combined overall response rate of the 5-aza monotherapy trials was 52/91 (57%), complete response rate (CR) was 26/118 (22.0%), partial response (PR) was 15/118 (12.7%), and hematological improvement (HI) was 18/118 (15.2%). The median overall survival (OS) ranged from 8.4-13.5 months. The combination of 5-aza and ruxolitinib was reported by Drummond et al. with ORR, CR, and PR of 33%, 16.6%, and 16.6%, respectively. Hobbs et al. reported that 1/8 patients receiving HMA (unspecified) achieved CR or CR with incomplete platelet recovery. Four studies reported the use of decitabine alone for the treatment of MPN-AP/BP. Three out of the four studies reported the response rate, and the combined ORR based on these studies was 14/29 (48.3%), CR was 6/42 (14.3%), and PR was 6/41 (14.6%), while the median OS ranged from 6.9 to 9.7 months. The fourth study published by Mascarenhas et al. reported outcomes of decitabine in 6 patients with MF-BP. Three out of six patients treated with decitabine died at 5, 7, and 10 months. The combined ORR of the four studies of the combination decitabine and ruxolitinib was 22/46 (47.8%), CR was 8/67 (11.9%), and PR was 6/46 (13.0%), while median OS ranged from 6.9 months to 21 months. Lancman et al. reported a CR rate of 15% with the use of ruxolitinib with either decitabine (n=26) or 5-aza (n=1). The most common hematological adverse effects reported were thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, anemia, and lymphopenia. The significant non-hematological adverse events were gastrointestinal intolerance (nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea), hypokalemia, and injection site reaction, in addition to infections and bleeding. Conclusion All evidence available for the use of HMAs in Philadelphia negative MPNs-AP/BP is from small series and retrospective analysis. Although they are well tolerated as monotherapy and in combination with other agents like ruxolitinib, they have low CR rates (up to 22% only). The tolerability profile along with familiarity with the drug makes them an attractive option. More effective treatment options with reasonable toxicity profile remain an unmet need in the elderly or frail and unfit patients, who are ineligible for induction chemotherapy and Allo-HSCT. Prospective larger-scale studies are warranted to evaluate the efficacy of HMAs, preferably in combination with novel agents, to achieve higher remission rates with minimal toxicity. Disclosures Anwer: Incyte, Seattle Genetics, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals, AbbVie Pharma, Astellas Pharma, Celegene, Millennium Pharmaceuticals.: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Fazal:Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Karyopham: Speakers Bureau; Incyte Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Agios: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Glaxosmith Kline: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Gilead/Kite: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Stemline: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Jazz Pharma: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Jansen: Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau.

Background: Phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase (PI3K)-oncogenic protein kinase is ubiquitously expressed in cells, however, PI3Kδ and PI3Kγ are selectively expressed in hematopoietic cells predominantly in leucocytes. Suppression of the PI3K pathway has emerged as a therapeutic strategy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and 3 PI3K inhibitors are already approved for therapeutic use with many others under exploration. The application of these agents in terms of risk and benefit remains scarcely explored. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of PI3K inhibitors in non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted from inception to the 4th of April 2020, following PRISMA guidelines on 4 databases (PubMed, Cochrane library, clinicaltrials.gov, web of science, and Embase). A search was performed without the use of filters and the MeSH terms used were "lymphoma, non-Hodgkin" and "phosphoinositide-kinase inhibitors". Only studies with available data that were either completed or still recruiting were included. Trials with no reported efficacy or safety data were excluded. A pooled analysis of the extracted data was performed using the "meta" package by Schwarzer et al. in the R programming language (version 4.0.2). For data analysis purposes, in the case of multi-arm studies, only those cohorts where PI3K was administered were included. The event rates were pooled using the inverse variance method and logit transformation. The between-studies variance was calculated using the DerSimonian-Laird estimator. The random-effects model was used for the analysis. Results: Initial search revealed 391 articles. After a thorough screening, 22 studies involving 1123 patients with relapsed or refractory NHL that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included (Table 1). The median age ranged from 58-70 years. The median number of prior therapies ranged from 2 to 4. Twenty studies used a selective PI3K inhibitor including voxtalisib, pilaralisib, umbralisib, duvelisib, idelalisib, copanlisib, buparlisib, and parsaclisib. The pooled overall response rate (ORR) was 50% [95% CI: 42%; 58%] with pooled complete response of 15% [95% CI: 12%; 20%]. A subgroup analysis was performed on complete responses (CR) of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and follicular lymphoma (FL). The CR in FL and DLBCL were 20% [95% CI: 15%-20%] and 14% [95% CI 8%-25%] respectively, and the difference between the two subgroups was statistically non-significant with the Cochran Q test yielding the p-value of 0.34. The overall survival (OS) was extractable in only 3 studies with the highest OS reported as 28.9 months. The progression-free survival (PFS) ranged from 1.9 to 37.1 months and was reported in 16 studies. In terms of safety, the most common ≥ grade 3 hematologic abnormality was neutropenia with a pooled incidence rate of 24% [18%; 32%] while the pooled incidence rates of anemia and thrombocytopenia were 11% [7%; 17%], and 10% [7%; 13%]. Diarrhea was the most common ≥ grade 3 non-hematological adverse event, which was seen in 14.85% [12%;18%] patients. Conclusion: PI3K pathway inhibitors have shown promising efficacy. However, the therapeutic applicability is hindered by the off-target adverse events especially gastrointestinal as well as the consequences of neutropenia. Overcoming these limitations would involve exploring the selectivity of novel agents, optimizing sequencing, use in combination regimens, and varying of the doses. Table Disclosures Anwer: Incyte, Seattle Genetics, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals, AbbVie Pharma, Astellas Pharma, Celegene, Millennium Pharmaceuticals.:Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.

Introduction Acne is one of the most common skin conditions worldwide. Self-medication for acne is a fairly common practice among medical students. The objective of our study was to identify the prevalence of self-medication and to assess its knowledge, attitude, and practices among medical students. Materials and methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January 2019 to June 2019. Data were collected by using the convenient sampling technique. Students were asked to fill a semi-structured questionnaire. Students of all the medical years studying in our university were included in the study. Data were entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, US). Results Out of 349 students, 244 (69.9%) suffered from acne and self-medication was practiced by 123 (50.4%) acne sufferers. The practice of self-medication was significantly higher in students having acne lesions on the face (52.2%). The most common source of information was reported to be acquaintances (55.8%). Most of the students had knowledge of the dosage of drugs (46.3%) and precautions for their use (41.5%). Sixty-three percent of the students were of the opinion that self-medication is part of self-care. Most of the students read the expiration date on the drug label (88.6%). Conclusion Acne is a highly prevalent condition among medical students and the practice of self-medication among acne sufferers is high. The practice of self-medication and visits to dermatologists were both significantly more common in the students with lesions on the face. The knowledge of students regarding self-medication of acne was not adequate.

Hepatitis E (Hep E) is a type of liver disease caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV), which is a single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus. This mainly spreads through the intake of contaminated food and water. Here we present a case of a 30-year-old male with complaints of dark-colored urine and yellow discoloration of eyes (jaundice) for the past few days. He also had associated mild abdominal pain, nausea, and loss of appetite. On further inquiry, he pointed out that his drinking water was from an unfiltered source, and had unsatisfactory sanitary conditions at home. On physical examination, he was deeply jaundiced. His laboratory results showed deranged liver function tests (LFTs) and positive serology for HEV. He was managed conservatively and was discharged after improvement in his condition. On follow-up after one month, complete normalization of liver enzymes and symptoms was seen. This case report highlights the significance of better sanitation and personal hygienic habits in the prevention of HEV infection.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasias (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, is an uncommon genetic disorder. It is inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder with varying penetrance and expression. The diagnosis of HHT requires the presence of at least three out of four clinical criteria. These so-called Curaçao criteria include epistaxis, telangiectasias, visceral involvement, and a family history of HHT in a first-degree relative. Visceral involvement can involve the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, resulting in the development of GI telangiectasias. One of the complications is anemia due to the chronic blood loss from these vascular malformations. Here, we present a case of a 26-year-old male who was diagnosed with HHT. He initially had episodes of epistaxis but now presented to us with features of anemia. According to the patient, he didn’t have epistaxis for the past many months and on his esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy, there was evidence of multiple small telangiectasias seen in his stomach, duodenum, and colon. He was managed with blood transfusion and was discharged on oral iron supplementation. This is a rare cause of anemia and should be evaluated if other features of HHT are present.

The prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing worldwide. Multiple strategies are available for its management including surgical removal, chemotherapeutic drugs, and ablative and chemoembolization procedures. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is currently being used for the unresectable intrahepatic tumor with no vascular invasion or metastasis to other organs. The common adverse effects associated with this technique involve self-limiting fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Liver failure is reported in a few cases. In this report, we present a case of 37-year-old HCC patient who experienced rapid progression of tumor following TACE. Our patient came to the Gastroenterology & Hepatology Department, Nishtar Hospital, Multan, with signs concerning acute liver failure within a few months following TACE. On triphasic computed tomography (CT) scan, there was evidence of multiple new infiltrating lesions in both lobes of the liver and portal vein thrombosis, which were not present before TACE procedure. Hence, we made a diagnosis of acute, chronic liver disease due to the rapid intrahepatic progression of HCC. This is a rare side effect of TACE procedure and highlights the significance of proper counseling of the patients undergoing this intervention.

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a late complication associated with liver cirrhosis. Recent studies have suggested that it can also occur in non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. The criteria that need to be met for making the diagnosis of HPS include chronic liver disease, impaired gaseous exchange leading to hypoxemia and intrapulmonary vascular dilation. The pathophysiology of this disease includes mediators like nitric oxide (NO), and endothelial growth factors which play an important role in intrapulmonary dilation of vessels. This, in turn, leads to ventilation-perfusion mismatch which is the main etiology of pulmonary symptoms associated with this syndrome. The classical symptoms include dyspnea, orthodeoxia and platypnea. Contrast echocardiography has emerged to be a very sensitive test for its diagnosis. The timing of appearance of microbubbles help to differentiate between intracardiac and intrapulmonary shunting, with the latter being the hallmark of HPS. The only curative treatment available is liver transplantation. Here we present a case of a 13-year-old patient who presented in Nishtar hospital in Multan, Pakistan. He initially presented with signs of liver cirrhosis but no definite cause could be found. The patient didn't come for a follow-up after that. Now he presented with signs of HPS and acute decompensated liver disease. HPS was confirmed on contrast echocardiography. This is a rare presentation of HPS in this age group.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is becoming a rapidly prevalent hepatic tumor throughout the world. Initially, liver transplantation and resection were the only available options. But there is a recent advent of new treatment modalities like ablative embolization techniques and chemotherapy. Guidelines are available regarding the use of these techniques according to the stage of the tumor. Sorafenib is a chemotherapeutic agent approved for the management of advanced HCC. It works by inhibiting different tyrosine kinases, which halt the progression of the tumor. The common side effects associated with it are diarrhea, hand-foot skin reaction, and alopecia. Acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF), defined as the development of acute liver failure, in the setting of chronic liver disease, is a rare adverse event associated with sorafenib. Here, we present a case of a 65-year-old male presented to Nishtar Hospital Multan, Pakistan, who developed advanced-stage HCC due to underlying liver cirrhosis. There was no metastasis or vascular involvement. After discussing the options, he selected microwave ablation (MWA). There was a recurrence of the tumor after the procedure so he was started on sorafenib. A week after the initiation of a low dose drug (200 mg twice daily), he developed signs and symptoms of ACLF, which included hyperbilirubinemia, prolonged prothrombin time (PT), and flapping tremors. He was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and was successfully managed. He was discharged with a follow-up scheduled after two weeks. This is a unique and rare adverse event of sorafenib.

Objectives: To study the association of waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index (BMI) with hypertension in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: The anthropometric measures of patients were recorded in the Diabetic Outdoor of Nishtar Hospital Multan from 2013 to 2018 after taking approval from the Institutional Ethical Review Committee. All patients were evaluated in detail after obtaining informed consent. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS version 20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results: Data of 4556 type 2 DM patients, 2549 (55.9%) females, and 2007 (44.1%) males, was analyzed. Mean age of the study population was 47.72 years. Mean age of females was 47.32 years, while of males was 48.23 years. A total of 3393 (74.5%) of the patients had hypertension, 1912 females and 1481 males. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 130.84 mmHg, while the mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 82.65 mmHg. Mean WC was 102.85 cm. Mean hip circumference was 100.33 cm. Mean weight was 66.93 kg. Mean height was 1.59 m. Mean WHR was 1.02. Mean BMI was 26.37 kg/m2. Obesity (BMI >27 kg/m2) was found in 1,891 (41.5%) of patients. Central obesity was found in 80.7% and 94.7% of type 2 DM patients according to the WC and WHR cutoff, respectively. Hypertension was significantly associated with all the obesity indicators (p27 kg/m2 were more likely to be hypertensive as compared to those with a normal range (18.5 to 22.9 kg/m2) BMI (83.1% versus 64.4%, OR 2.7, p

The prevalence of liver tumors is increasing worldwide. These can be broadly classified into primary and secondary types, depending upon the origin of the tumor. Multiple modalities are available for the management of these tumors. Ablative techniques are becoming the cornerstone of management especially for the tumors which are unresectable. Thermal ablative techniques include radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA), and cryotherapy. Recently, a non-thermal technique known as irreversible electroporation (IRE) is gaining importance owing to its better clinical outcome and a good safety profile. IRE works by high voltage and intensity electrical discharge which makes pores in the membrane of the cells. Its clinical outcome is reported in different studies in terms of progression-free survival (PFS), frequency of complete ablation, and local recurrence of the tumor. Favorable results were seen especially for the small size tumors and very early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It was also found to be useful for the management of tumors which are close to vital structures of the liver. The adverse effects of IRE are also comparable to other ablative techniques like RFA and MWA. The common complications associated with this procedure include liver abscess, bleeding, renal failure, pleural effusion, fever, and partial portal vein thrombosis. In view of this literature review, IRE is found to be a good alternative for the management of liver tumor in patients who cannot undergo surgery, thermal ablative procedures or tumor lying close to vital structures. The safety profile of this procedure is also encouraging. Further studies and clinical trials need to be done to explore this technique.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a rapidly growing challenge worldwide and is characterized by an increase in dependence on opioids up to a point that a person loses control over the drug use. Multiple drugs are approved for its treatment, including methadone, buprenorphine, and diazepam. Although not approved, clonidine is also used for the treatment of OUD. On May 16, 2018, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new drug lofexidine hydrochloride for the treatment of opioid withdrawal symptoms. Lofexidine is a centrally acting alpha two receptor agonist. It reduces the neurochemical surge by inhibiting the conversion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) which in turn decrease the sympathetic outflow. This results in the improvement of withdrawal symptoms. When compared with methadone and buprenorphine, it is equally effective in controlling withdrawal symptoms. Its efficacy is also similar to clonidine with a better side effects profile. The adverse effects of lofexidine include bradycardia, hypotension, orthostasis, somnolence, sedation, dry mouth, and rebound elevations in blood pressure and prolongation of QT interval. Lofexidine is contraindicated in patients who are on beta-blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors). In our review, we have discussed the clinical efficacy and safety profile of lofexidine in treating opioid withdrawal symptoms and its comparison to other available treatment options.

Objective The objective of this study was to analyze the demographic profile of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital of Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Methods This descriptive study was carried out at the Diabetic Outdoor Nishtar Hospital Multan from 2013 to 2018 after taking approval from the Institutional Ethical Review Committee. All patients were evaluated in detail after obtaining informed consent. Results Data of 4,556 patients with type 2 DM were analyzed. There were 2549 (55.9%) female and 2007 (44.1%) male participants in our study. The mean age of our study population was 47.72 years with a standard deviation (SD) of 10.82 years. Seventy-nine percent of the patients belonged to urban areas. Symptoms of polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia were found in 72%, 67%, and 59% of patients, respectively. Hypertension was found in 3391 (74%) patients. The mean waist circumference (WC) was 102.85 cm with an SD of 18.14 cm. The mean waist to hip ratio (WHR) was 1.02 with an SD of 0.102. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.50 with an SD of 5.57 kg/m2. Obesity (BMI >27 kg/m2) was found in 1,891 (41.5%) of patients. Central obesity was found in 80.7% and 94.7% of type 2 DM patients according to the WC and WHR cutoff, respectively. Females were more likely to be obese than males in all parameters of obesity. Central obesity was much more common in female diabetics as compared to male diabetics (odds ratio 4 in WHR criteria versus odds ratio 1.8 in BMI criteria for obese). Conclusion Diabetes is more prevalent in females than males and especially affects the middle age group. Hypertension and obesity are important comorbid associations of DM. WC and WHR are more reliable indicators of obesity in type 2 DM patients especially in this part of the world. Central obesity was more prevalent in female type 2 DM patients.

Background & aims Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common medical emergency that results in high patient morbidity and mortality. There are numerous causes of UGIB. The aim of our study was to evaluate the endoscopic findings in patients of UGIB in this part of the world. Methods This retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Gastroenterology Nishtar Medical University & Hospital Multan from June 2018 to March 2019. Record of all patients undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for evaluation of UGIB was reviewed. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Results Record of 730 (464 male and 266 females) patients undergoing EGD for UGIB was reviewed. Mean age of study population was 49.38 years with standard deviation of 14.86 years. Age of the youngest patient was 14 years while the oldest patient was 99 years of age. More than half of the patients (53%) belonged to the 41-60 years age group. The most common endoscopic finding was esophageal varices in 371 (50.8%) patients, followed by gastropathy (114, 15.6%), gastritis (68, 9.3%), cardio-fundal varices (58, 7.9%) and duodenal ulcer (26, 3.6%). Esophageal varices, gastritis, duodenal ulcers and gastric carcinomas were more likely to be found in male UGIB patients as compared to female patients (p = 0.039). Gastropathy, esophageal ulcer and gastric ulcer were more likely to be found in female UGIB patients. Esophageal varices and cardio-fundal varices were more likely to be found in UGIB patients from middle age group (p = 0.000). Whereas gastritis, duodenal ulcer, gastric erosions and duodenitis were more likely to be found in older (>60 years) UGIB patients (p = 0.000). Conclusion UGIB was more likely to occur in male gender. In our study, bleeding from esophageal varices was the most important cause of UGIB in this part of the world and bleeding from duodenal ulcer was quite uncommon as compared to the western world. Variceal bleeding had a significant association with male gender and middle age group patients. While duodenal ulcer bleed had a significant association with older age.

The worldwide incidence of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) has been increasing. They are a very diverse group of tumors which are commonly found in the gastrointestinal and bronchopulmonary tracts. These tumors usually express somatostatin receptors. Therefore, somatostatin analogs are used for symptom relief as well as treatment. Of the many therapeutic options available, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) has been shown to be very promising. In January 2018, the Food Drug and Authority (FDA) approved 177Lu-Dotatate for use in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs). Lutetium is a lower energy beta-emitting radionuclide. The therapeutic use of lutetium-177 (177Lu) has shown better results in advanced gastroenteropancreatic and bronchial neuroendocrine tumors when compared with other therapies available. Adverse effects associated with this therapy include myelotoxicity and nephrotoxicity as the radiopeptides are reabsorbed and accumulate in the renal interstitium. Everolimus is a good and safe option in patients pretreated with 177Lu-Dotatate. Lutetium, in combination with somatostatin analogs, has proven efficacy to treat gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in candidates with somatostatin receptor-positive advanced tumors and normal renal function. This therapy has great potential as it decreases tumor size, improves symptoms, and improves quality of life.

Enteric fever is a common infectious disease, especially in countries with poor sanitation and in the tropics. It is caused mainly by Salmonella typhi and accounts for nearly 27 million cases worldwide and 200,000 deaths annually. Enteric fever involves the reticuloendothelial system such as bone marrow, spleen, and liver. As it mostly involves the Peyer’s patches of the terminal ileum, enteric perforation occurs commonly. However, gallbladder perforation can also occur, though not very often. Ultrasound as well as computerized tomography (CT) abdomen and pelvis lack specificity for detecting gallbladder perforations in enteric fever. Diagnosis is usually confirmed intraoperatively when the gallbladder is visualized and perforation is seen. Gallbladder perforation is usually seen in acute cholecystitis when the gallbladder becomes necrotic and gangrenous. In acalculous cholecystitis, perforation is rare. Enteric fever is one of the rarest causes of acalculous cholecystitis, leading to perforation. Here, we present the case of a 20-year-old man who presented with fever for 10 days along with loose stools, vomiting, and acute abdomen. Labs showed leukopenia, positive Typhidot test but X-ray erect abdomen and ultrasound abdomen and pelvis were nonspecific. Only after resuscitation and exploration of the abdomen was it found that the gallbladder had multiple perforations. The patient was improved after eight days of postoperative intravenous antibiotics. This is a unique and rare presentation of such a common infectious disease.

Introduction: Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase, is a member of the non-receptor type protein kinase family. Apart from the hematopoietic cells, it is also expressed in the epithelial and endothelial cells. Fostamatinib, a Syk inhibitor, has been proven beneficial in autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Murine models have shown a direct correlation between hypertension and level of R406, the active metabolite of fostamatinib. In this study, we sought to examine the cardiovascular profile of fostamatinib in published and unpublished randomized controlled trials. Methods: A systematic search of Pubmed, Medline and Scopus databases were done from inception till date to identify all phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of fostamatinib in patients with ITP and RA by two independent reviewers. Trials were included if they reported side effects including but not limited to cerebral ischemia or infarction, myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction, hypertension and cardiac rhythm disorders. 35 trials were retrieved in the initial search which were excluded according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. 11 trials met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis. All statistical analysis was carried out using OpenMetaAnalyst software. Categorical variables from each study are presented as proportions. The proportions from each study were subjected to arcsine transformation and pooled using a random-effects model. This yielded the pooled estimate with 95% confidence intervals. The I2 statistic was used to assess heterogeneity and a value of I2 = 25%-50% was considered mild, 50%-75% as moderate, and > 75% as severe. A P value of Results: 11 trials included in final study had 3941 patients. Cardio-vascular side effects were reported by all trials which ranged from 0.7% to 19.2%. The pooled estimate was 11.7% (8.6%-15.3%, P Conclusion: Our study shows that the use of fostamatinib is significantly associated with cardiovascular side effects, of which hypertension is most significant adverse event. We also recorded a few serious adverse events like hypertensive crises, myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure in few patients, but at a very low rate. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to determine the side effect profile of fostamatinib. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Introduction FDA (Food and Drug Administration) fast track program facilitates the development and accelerated review of new drugs aimed at treating life-threatening conditions and having the potential to address unmet medical needs. FDA fast track drugs (2019) for relapsed refractory MM include selective exportin-1 (XPO-1) inhibitors, first generation Selinexor / KPT-330 (S) and second generation KPT-8602, and an anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE), AMG-420. The aim of our study is to analyze published literature for updates in clinical data viz efficacy and toxicity of these new agents in pts with RRMM. Methods Following PRISMA guidelines, we performed a comprehensive literature search on articles published after 2014 using Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane and Web of Science. Fifty-eight articles were identified initially and after a detailed scrutiny, we finalized 8 studies involving 299 RRMM patients and summarized the data using absolute values and percentages. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy was excluded from our manuscript. Results Selinexor / KPT-330: A total of 6 studies (Table 1) involving 258 RRMM pts were included. In a phase Ib/II study by Bahlis et al., S was given in combination with bortezomib (V) and dexamethasone (d) to 22 pts with 4 median prior lines of therapy. The overall response rate (ORR) was 77% with complete response (CR) in 5%, partial response (PR) in 50% and very good partial response (VGPR) in 23% pts. In another phase Ib/II study by the same author, SVd was given to 42 pts with 3 median prior therapies. In 40 evaluable pts, ORR was 63% with CR in 8%, PR in 33%, and VGPR in 23%. The progression free survival (PFS) was 9 months. In a phase I/II study by Broijl et al., S (45 or 30 mg/m2) was given in combination with Vd to pts with median 3 prior treatments. Among 5 evaluable pts who received 45 mg/m2 of S, PR was observed in 80% and VGPR was observed in 40% pts. OS was 100% and 75% at 12 and 24 months respectively and PFS was 17 months. In pts who received S (30 mg/m2) with Vd, PR was observed in 67% and VGPR was observed in 17% pts. OS was 75% at 12 months and PFS was 10 months. In a phase II study by Vogl et al, 79 pts received S (80 mg) in combination with d (20 mg), both orally and twice weekly. Median prior therapies received were 7. In 78 evaluable patients, the ORR was 21% with PR in 15% and VGPR in 5%. OS and PFS were 9.3 and 2.3 months respectively. In a phase I study by Chen et al., 84 pts having received 6 median prior therapies were included. S was given either alone or in combination with d. Fourteen pts were rendered ineligible for response. ORR was 4% for pts who received single-agent S and 22% for those who received S+d. PR was observed in 4% of single-agent S pts. Among S+d pts, all responses were observed in S (45 mg/m2) plus d (20 mg) group (ORR 50%) with CR in 8% and PR in 42% pts. In a phase I study by Jakobowiak et al., 18 pts with median 3 prior therapies were included. S in combination with carfilzomib (CFZ) and d were given. Among 16 evaluable patients, PR was observed in 63% and VGPR was observed in 25% pts. On July 3, 2019, FDA granted accelerated approval to selinexor. KP-8602: In a phase I/II trial by Cornell et al., involving 6 pts, KP-8602 (5 mg PO QDx5) in combination with dexamethasone (20 mg 2QWK) was given for 28 days. they had received 6 median prior lines of therapy. PR was observed in 16% of the pts. AMG-420: In a phase I study by Topp et al., 35 pts with median 4 prior lines of therapy were included. Single-agent AMG-420 (0.2-800 µg/day) was given. CR was observed in 17% pts. The highest dose at which a CR was observed was 400 µg/day. It was also the dose at which maximum number of pts showed a CR (n=3, 9%). A partial response (PR) and a very good partial response (VGPR) was also observed in 1 patient each i.e. 3%. Conclusion Combination regimens of SVd has superior efficacy as compared to S monotherapy. Major adverse events reported with both single-agent and combination regimens are hematological i.e. thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and anemia. KP-8602 has promising efficacy in limited pts and appear to have better adverse effect profile. AMG-420 has shown promising activity and tolerability in RRMM pts at a dose of 400 µg/day with no major toxicities at this dose. The published data on these drugs is scarce, still emerging and warrants further investigation. Disclosures Anwer: In-Cyte: Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.