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OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of variable durations of loud noise stress on the histomorphology of the thyroid gland in adult rats. METHODS: This laboratory-based experimental study was conducted at the Anatomy Department, Army Medical College/National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January to December 2020. Thirty Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: Control group A (no noise exposure), experimental group B (100 dB noise for 4 hours daily), and experimental group C (100 dB noise for 6 hours daily) for four months. At the end of the experiment, the rats were weighed, euthanized, and their thyroid glands removed. The glands were analyzed microscopically after Haematoxylin and Eosin staining, measuring the diameter and epithelial height of thyroid follicles. RESULTS: All rats remained healthy with no statistically significant differences in weight gain between the groups. The follicular epithelial height significantly increased in groups B (9.86±0.38 µm) and C (10.37±0.39 µm) compared to the control group A, (p-values <0.001 and 0.001, respectively). The follicular diameter significantly decreased in groups B (86.61±7.68 µm) and C (95.47±5.24 µm) compared to group A, (p-values <0.001 and 0.003, respectively. Microscopic examination revealed that experimental groups exhibited disrupted thyroid follicles and increased inflammatory infiltrates compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Exposure to variable durations of loud noise stress in adult rats leads to histomorphological changes in the thyroid gland, including increased follicular epithelial height and reduced follicular diameter. These findings are suggestive of potential hyperactivity of thyroid follicles in response to noise stress exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the students' perception of insomnia at the university level and to determine the effects of demographic factors on their perception. Study Design: Cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Education and Department of English, International Islamic University, from Sept 2020 to Feb 2021. Methodology: This study involved twelve hundred and fifty (1250) university students. The insomnia questionnaire was developed after the exploratory factor analysis. Results: The findings of this study revealed that students at the university level suffer from a high rate of insomnia, but they did not take any steps to address it because they had a neutral perception toward the problem. There was no significant effect of semester-term and the type of department with insomnia (p=0.864 and p=0.648). Conclusion: Students were neutral about their insomnia problem at the university level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the ameliorative effects of therapeutic ultrasound and high frequency electromagnetic radiation on inflammation and proximal convoluted tubular diameter, after damage induced by wireless fidelity, on kidneys of chick embryo. Study Design: Laboratory based experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anatomy, Army Medical College, in collaboration with Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine Rawalpindi, from May to Jun 2019. Methodology: Forty day “0” eggs of Fayomi breed weighing 48-50 grams were divided into four groups. Group A served as a control group while group B, C and D were the experimental groups exposed to wireless fidelity for 30 minutes daily for 15 days. Group C was further given therapeutic ultrasound while group D received high frequency electromagnetic radiation in the form of microwave diathermy. Results: Therapeutic ultrasound and high frequency electromagnetic radiations both improved the interstitial inflammation (p-value <0.001 on intergroup comparison), and proximal tubular diameter (group A = 59.52 ± 4.55 µm, group B = 75.48 ± 1.32µm, group C, = 61.15 ± 2.71µm, group D = 56.15 ± 1.94µm; p-value <0.001. Conclusion: Therapeutic ultrasound and high frequency electromagnetic radiation had ameliorative effects in reverting derangements induced by Wi-Fi in kidneys of chick embryo with HF-EMR being superior to ultrasound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the performance index of private and public sector hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: In a tertiary care hospitals (one private and one public sector) of Karachi, from Nov 2016 to Nov 2017. Methodology: A sample size of 153 were enrolled by purposive sampling technique. Performance index of both hospitals was compared by asking questions from the hospitals staff. Data were collected by the researcher using closed ended questionnaire. Results: Out of 153, 78 (51%) cases were for private hospitals and 75 (49%) cases were for public hospitals. While evaluating the performance index by hospital work area/unit elements, “Enough staff to handle workload" was significantly higher for private hospitals with the p-value of <0.05. Performance index by Supervisor/Manager elements showed that "Whenever pressure builds up, the supervisor/manager wants us to work faster, even if it means taking shortcuts" was significantly higher for private hospitals with a p-value of <0.05. "Staff are afraid of asking questions when something seems does not right" is the lowest-rated elements on overall with an index score of 41.99 for overall and for public and private hospitals index score is 40.67 and 43.27 respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed on the rest of the elements. Conclusion: The performance index was higher in private hospital as compared to the public sector hospital in the Karachi city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare cross-cultural followership styles of resident trainees. Study Design: Cross-sectional quantitative study. Place and Duration of Study: Followership styles of trainees in four provinces of Pakistan, from Jun 2019 to Dec 2019. Methodology: The survey of 300 resident trainees was done by direct administration of survey packets in the respective institutes. It included, consent form, demographic survey, return envelope and Kelley’s followership survey forms. The participants responded to each question. They were instructed to respond to a question with information that was to the best of their knowledge in the event that they were uncertain of its answer. Results: Total 281 medical trainees participated in the survey. The age ranged from 20 years to 54 years with mean age of 30.62 ± 4.87 years. A total of 139 (49.5%) males and 142 (50.5%) females participated in the study. One hundred and fifty six (55.5%) from civil hospitals and 125 (44.5%) from military hospitals. Most frequent followership style was pragmatist, 62 (44.6%) in male and effective, 64 (45.0%) in females. Effective followership style was most frequent in Hyderabad 14 (50%), Karachi 16 (61.5%), Lahore 18 (35.2%) and Quetta 19 (46.3%). Peshawar had equal effective and pragmatist styles i.e. 29 (42.6%) whereas, in Rawalpindi most common style was pragmatist 33 (41.7%). Conclusion: This article provides new understandings of the multiple ways in which followership is experienced in the healthcare workplace in different cultural settings. Understanding the follower will have the purpose to educate leaders how to be more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To elucidate the frequency of intentional and unintentional non-adherence to medication among patients of different systemic diseases. Study Design: Comparative cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Pak Emirates Military Hospital and Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi, from Nov 2018 to Jun 2019. Methodology: A total of 80 patients belonging to 4 system specific diseases Asthma, Myocardial infarction (MI), Stroke, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) were recruited. Twenty patients in each group were taken for comparison of medication adherence in their respective disease. Diagnostic Adherence Medication Scale (DAMS) was used for the purpose of data collection. Results: Overall there were 24 (30%) females and 56 (70%) were male patients. Diagnostic adherence medication scale revealed that 40% of the sample was non adherent and 60% were adherent towards their respective medication. Further in non-adherent 23.57% were un-intentionally non-adherent. Non adherence was found more in stroke patients. Chronic kidney disease patients were found most adherent towards medications (70%). Conclusion: The present study highlighted unintentional medication non adherence as a significant barrier for providing complete medical care to the patients of the selected diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effects of hormone replacement on gross appearance, total body weight and volume of liver in ovariectomized rats. Study Design: Laboratory-based experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anatomy, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, in collaboration with National Institute of Health, Islamabad, from Mar to Jun 2019. Methodology: Forty, female, healthy, non-pregnant, Sprague dawley rats, 5-6 months of age, weighing 250 ± 10g, were randomly divided into 4 equal groups (A, B, C and D). Group A served as control and group B was sham operated. Group C i.e. ovariectomized group underwent ovariectomy but was kept untreated. Group D underwent ovariectomy and was treated with injection estradiol (Inj Gravibinan, 2ml, Medipharm. Mfg. Co, Ltd) 2.5 mg/kg via subcutaneous route once weekly for 60 days. All animals were sacrificed after the last injection of estradiol as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to group D. Gross parameters of liver were observed. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 22. The p-value of ≤0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Ovariectomized (OVX) group showed marked change in colour and consistency of liver, increased total body weight and volume of liver. While these changes started reverting back towards normality in treated group. Conclusions: Injection of hormone replacement therapy improved the gross parameters of liver in treated group, 12 weeks after surgery as compared to untreated group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To ingress the austerity of symptoms of anxiety of the first-degree relatives that report to the hospital at the time at which their relative has to go a surgical procedure. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, from Jan 2014 to Oct 2014. Methodology: The sample consisted of 307 relatives of surgery inpatient at Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi. Attendants present at the time of surgical procedure above the age of 18 years and below 60 years were included. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale was used as the questionnaire for data collection. Simple random sampling technique was adopted where every fourth attended was included in the study. Results: Out of 307 sample population, 45.9% had severe level of anxiety, at the time when their relatives were in operating rooms. When we compared anxiety with age groups, 54 people fell in age group 21-30 years. In these, 18 individuals had mild anxiety, 16 had moderate anxiety and 20 had severe anxiety. The second age group had was between 31-40 years. In this age group, 12 had severe anxiety. The 41-50 years of group age, 43 had mild anxiety, 42 had moderate anxiety and 53 had severe anxiety. Conclusions: The impassioned abutment and complacency of relative's essentialities should be preeminence to prevent anxiety and other disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the effects of commercial green tea on ibuprofen induced effects on luminal diameter of proximal renal tubule in adult rat. Study Design: Laboratory based experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Army Medical College Rawalpindi and National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad, from Mar 2017 to May 2017. Methodology: Thirty healthy adult Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups, each containing 10 animals. Schedule of intervention was once a day for a period of 8 weeks. Group Awascontrol. Group B received only ibuprofen 120 mg/kg bodyweight once daily. Group C was given green tea 1ml/100 mg bodyweight in addition to ibuprofen 120mg/kg bodyweight, once a day. At the end of 8 weeks, all animals were sacrificed and kidneys were dissected out. Renal tissue was then prepared for histological study. Luminal diameters of proximal renal tubules were measured. Results: Luminal diameter of proximal renal tubule was found significantly reduced (4.79 ± 0.92μm) in experimental group B (ibuprofen only), as compared to those in control group A (13.073 ± 1.02μm) and in experimental group C (12.67 ± 1.34μm). However, the reduction in proximal luminal diameter in group C was not significant as compared to group A. Conclusion: Ibuprofen caused reduction in proximal luminal diameter in kidneys of adult rats. However, administration of green tea along with ibuprofen protects against the adverse effects of the drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the teaching qualities of supervisors in post graduate residency training. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This multicenter study was conducted at four medical colleges and six affiliated postgraduate training institutions of Rawalpindi/Islamabad, from Feb to May 2017. Methodology: Total 242 post graduate trainees evaluated teaching qualities of their supervisors on a five point likert scale of SETQ tool. Trainees having experience of more than six months enrolled in all post graduate courses like MCPS, FCPS, MS/MD and M.Phil were included in this study from basic, preclinical and clinical specialties. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 21. Frequencies were calculated for computed scores categories of individual domain as well as for total SETQ computed scores. Chi square test was applied to find out association between SETQ computed scores and age, gender, specialty, qualification and duration of experience of supervisors as well as for different variables related to trainees. Results: Cronbach’s α value of tool was 0.73. Overall teaching practices were categorized as “Good” by 220 (90.9%) trainees. More than 85% trainees evaluated their supervisors as “Good” regarding each of individual domains (Professional attitude, learning climate and evaluation) of SETQ except for communication of goals and feedback domain. Lowest evaluation scores (79.3%) were observed for “Feedback” domain. Statistically significant association was found between SETQ score and qualification of supervisors (p=0.04). Conclusion: Despite of work load and patient care responsibilities, the supervisors are evaluated to have good teaching qualities and practices by postgraduate trainees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To observe the effect of lagenaria siceraria on inflammation and fibrosis brought about by arsenic in liver of Sprague Dawley rat. Study Design: Laboratory based randomized control trial. Place and Duration of Study: This experiment was performed at Department of Anatomy, Army Medical College Rawalpindi in co-operation with National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad for eight weeks (1st March 2017 to 25th April 2017). Material and Methods: Fifty Sprague Dawley rats (both male and females housed separately) were carefully chosen and distributed randomly into five groups, each consisting of 10 animals. A and B were the control groups whereas C, D and E served as experimental groups. During the first four weeks, experiment groups C, D and E were given a dosage of 5milligram/kilogram body weight of sodium arsenite. At the end of four weeks, animals from control group A and experimental group C were dissected and liver samples were processed for microscopic studies. In the next 4 weeks, group D animals were set aside without any further intervention. At that time, sodium arsenite at a dose of 5 milligram/kilogram body weight and lagenaria siceraria at a dose of 100 milligram/kilogram bodyweight were administered to group E animals. Group B animals served as control for experimental groups D and E. At the end of these 4 weeks animals of groups B, D and E were dissected. Results: Experimental group C developed moderate grade fibrosis and inflammation (grade 2 to 3) as compared to group A. Degree of inflammation and fibrosis was mild to moderate (grade 1 to 2) in group D. There was no inflammation and fibrosis (Grade 0 to 1) in group E. Group B served as a control for group D and E. Conclusion: Inflammation and fibrosis developed in the liver of adult rats when they were subjected to sodium arsenite even for a brief calculated period. Simultaneous administration of lagenaria siceraria can shield and diminish the toxic effects of arsenic. Oxidative potential and immunomodulatory properties and presence of flavonoid like substances renders lagenaria siceraria to act as ameliorative against this fibrosis and inflammation in liver lobules and surrounding area of portal triads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the finding of interviews to explore perception of strugglers in Medical Collage. Aim of study was to acquire into those circumstances which drive strugglers into Medical Collages short of their goals leading towards failures. Utilizing the qualitative research design information was gathered through classroom observations and student interviews. Improved understanding of what motivates students will prompt them to modify their strategy so as to foster self-directed efforts towards their goals. Students who lack motivation intermixes intellectual ability, content knowledge, emotional stamina and goal striving with diverse learning environments. Attributional retraining (AR) is a motivation-enhancing treatment designed to offset the dysfunctional explanatory thinking that can arise from lack of motivation, lame excuses often raised by students of their failure and unsatisfactory learning experiences. The theme includes academic performance, failure and motivation level which translate academic efforts into strugglers perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the histomorphological effects of platelet rich plasma infusion on number of chondrocytes in articular cartilage of monosodium iodoacetate induced osteoarthritic rat knee model. Study Design: Experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anatomy, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi from March to May 2018. Methodology: Thirty two healthy adult male rats of 3-4 months of age weighing 200-300 gm were taken. Animals were divided into two groups A and B as control and experimental with 8 and 24 animals respectively. Group B was further subdivided into B1, B2 and B3 with 8 animals in each group. All rats were injected with 50 µl of monoiodoacetate solution in the right knee. Group B1 along with group A was sacrificed on day 14 for establishing the presence of histological features of osteoarthritis (OA). Group B2 was injected with single dose of platelet rich plasma on day 18. Group B3 was not given any treatment. All animals were sacrificed 4 weeks after the injection of platelet rich plasma (PRP) in group B2. Number of chondrocytes was observed. Results were analyzed using SPSS v 21. Results: Significant decrease in chondrocyte count was noted in group B3 as compared to group B2 in which PRP therapy was given. Conclusion: Platelet rich plasma infusion prevented chondrocyte apoptosis in the treated group as compared to the untreated group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Ficus carica on lead acetate induced changes in the height of germinal epithelium of seminiferous tubules in testes of adult rats. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted for a period of 8 weeks at Departments of Anatomy and Pathology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi in collaboration with National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad Pakistan. Material and Methods: Thirty healthy adult male Sprague-dawley rats were selected by simple random sampling and divided into three groups. Each group consisted of 10 animals. Group A served as control. Group B was given lead acetate 30 mg/kg body weight/day. Group C received Ficus carica 80 mg/kg bodyweight/day in addition to lead acetate 30 mg/kg bodyweight/day. The dose was administered once a day for a period of 8 weeks. Twenty-four hours after administration of last dose, the animals were sacrificed and testes were removed. Testicular tissue was processed and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Height of germinal epithelium of the seminiferous tubules was measured. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results were considered significant at p-value<0.05. Results: In experimental group B, significant decrease in height of germinal epithelium was observed as compared to the control group of the germinal epithelium. In experimental group C, the height increased as compared to experimental group B. Conclusion: Our study proposes that the laboratory induced deleterious effects of lead acetate in the testes of adult rats may be limited by administering concomitant supplement of Ficus carica in adult rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To find out the knowledge and preferences of a rural hypertensive populace. Study Design: A cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Conducted at the Basic Health Unit (BHU) Mangat Neecha in March, 2018. Material and Methods: Systematic, probability sampling was done. A total of 143 hypertensive patients regardless of age labeled as hypertensive: Visiting from each of the 12 villages under charge of each Lady Health Worker; within the BHU Mangat Neecha bracket were included in the study. Informed consent was taken from all the patients who participated in the study and the data were analyzed using SPSS 20. Results: Eighty-four (58%) patients who did not know of their normal blood pressure, 100 (70%) patients either did not know or were not told of their high BP by their healthcare provider. Sixty four (45%) patients did not consider hypertension a serious life threat. Only 29 (20%) patients could correctly identify the SBP (Systolic Blood Pressure 120 mmHg) number and another 16 (11%) the DBP (Diastolic Blood Pressure), 32 (22.3%) patients agreed having resorted to alternative cures for their illness like homeopathy etc. Eighty four (58%) patients had the perception of hypertension being a normal part of ageing and 60% (n=86) considered it incurable. While 100 (70%) patients agreed the role of medication in BP control and 133 (93%) supported the claim of exercise being of help, only 16 (11%) patients gave weight age to dietary/behavioral changes as an integral part of attaining adequate blood pressure control. Conclusion: Our results suggested existence of inadequate knowledge and awareness about hypertension amongst the hypertensive patients at grass roots level. In general, they fail to recognize hypertension as a very serious health concern owing to lack of percolating public healthcare awareness initiatives. Therefore, extensive patient education and counseling is necessary to improve the adherence of patients to antihypertensive medications as well as better equip them to understand its affects on decreasing their cardiovascular event risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of topically applied paraphenylene diamine (PPD) on medulla of ovary in Sprague dawley rat. Study Design: Laboratory based randomized control trial. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Anatomy Department, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi; in collaboration with animal house, National Institute of Health, Islamabad. The study duration was one year, from Jan 2016 to Dec 2016. Material and Methods: Forty adult Sprague Dawley female rats, weighing 200-300 grams, were used and divided into 4 groups with 10 rats in each group. Group A served as control group and animals were applied with distilled water on dorsal surface clipped free of hair. Group B, C and D were painted with 1mg, 2mg and 3mg per kg body weight of paraphenylene diamine in addition to distilled water on dorsal surface clipped free of hair. The solution was applied for 30 minutes daily for a continued duration of 60 days. All animals were sacrificed on day 60 and right ovary of each rat was removed, fixed in 10% formalin, processed and sectioned. For histological study haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stains were used. Results: On microscopic examination it was observed that topically applied paraphenylene diamine solution caused vascular congestion in the medulla of ovary. Conclusion: It was concluded from results that topically applied paraphenylene diamine solution induces medullary congestion in ovary of rat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the effects of daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy on the histomorphology of rat placenta. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Place and Duration of Study: NIH and Army Medical College Rawalpindi, from Oct 2010 to Jan 2011. Material and Methods: Thirty two adult female and ten adult male Sprague Dawley rats were taken. After pregnancy was confirmed they were divided randomly into two equal groups and Ferrous Sulphate (FeSO4) was administered at the dose of 0 mg/Kg body weight (control) and 10 mg/Kg body weight (Experimental), starting from gestation day 0 (GD 0). Half of the animals from each group were sacrificed at GD 17 and half at GD 20. The placentae were separated; sections were taken and processed for light microscopic examination. In H&E and PAS stained slides, thickness of labyrinthine zone, trophospongium zone and fetomaternal barrier was measured and number of giant cells were counted. Results: The results were assessed at GD 17 and GD 20. The results showed no significant difference in the histomorphology of placenta at GD 17. At GD 20, significant decrease in thickness of labyrinthine zone and trophospongium zone and significant reduction in the number of giant cells in experimental group as compared to the control group was noted. There is no significant difference in the thickness of fetomaternal barrier. Conclusion: Adequate iron supplementation is crucial for maintaining healthy pregnancy. Blood volume increases during pregnancy, so extra iron is needed to make more hemoglobin that is critical for the normal development of placenta especially duing the last trimester. There should be increased awareness regarding the need of healthy diet and iron supplementation at the beginning of the pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of transperineal ultrasonography in assessing the accurate cervical length at 24-32 weeks of gestation in comparison with the TVS as gold standard. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Radiology, CMH Multan, from 12th Apr 2014 to 11th Dec 2014. Material and Methods: A total of 157 patients of 20-35 years of age with singleton pregnancy of gestational age 24 to 32 weeks were included in the study. Patients with premature rupture of membrane, cervical incompetence, cervical injury, multiparity and h/o co-morbid conditions were excluded. Cervical length was measured first by transperineal ultrasound followed by trans-vaginal ultrasound. Results: Of the total 157 patients assessed, 96 were true positive, 4 were false positive, 13 were false negative and 44 were true negative. Among 57 transperineal ultrasound negative patients, 13 (False Negative) had short cervical length on trans-vaginal sonography where as 44 (True Negative) had normal length. So, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of transperineal sonography in assessing accurate cervical length are 88.07%, 91.67%, 96.0%, 77.19% and 89.17% respectively. Conclusion: This study concluded that transperineal sonography is a reliable, easily available and cost effective method with high diagnostic accuracy for assessing the cervical length at 24-32 weeks of gestation which nearly approaches the value of trans-vaginal sonography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the effects of Lagenaria siceraria and arsenic on size of Hepatic lobule of Sprague Dawley rat. Study Design: Laboratory-based randomized controlled trial. Place and Duration of Study: Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, and National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, for eight weeks, from 20th Mar 2017 to 14th May 2017. Material and Methods: Fifty Sprague Dawley rats both male and female selected randomly and broadly allocated into five groups, each with 10 animals. Groups A and B animals were controls, C, D and E served as experimental groups. Sodium arsenite 5mg/kg body weight was initially given for a period of 4 weeks to the experimental groups C, D and E. After 4 weeks of therapy, the animals of groups A and C were sacrificed for histopathological study of liver to see the immediate effects of arsenic. Within the next 4 weeks group D animals were retained without any intervension. Group E animals were administered sodium arsenite (5mg/kg body weight) along with Lagenaria siceraria at a dose of 100mg/kg bodyweight. Group B served as a control for experimental group D and E. Animals of group B, D and E were sacrificed after last dose at the end these 4 weeks. Liver was removed and prepared for histological study. Size of hepatic lobule was studied. Data were analysed by SPSS V 22. A p- value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Moderate increase in the size of hepatic lobule was seen in group C as compared to control group A. Group D showed slight increase in size of hepatic lobule and group E showed normal size of hepatic lobule when compared with control group B. Conclusion: Sodium arsenite caused used disruption of hepatic architecture and increase in size of hepatic lobule of adult rats but administration of Lagenaria siceraria protected and reduced the arsenic-induced effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the spectrum and antimicrobial sensitivity of bacterial pathogens causing neonatal sepsis, in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi. Study Design: Prospective cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This was a prospective cross sectional study, conducted at NICU of Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from Jul 2017 to Dec 2017. Material and Methods: All neonates admitted to our department who underwent evaluation for sepsis, from Jul 2017 to Dec 2017. Results: Out of 2,480 admitted neonates, 733 were suspected with sepsis, making an incidence of suspected neonatal sepsis to be 29.5%. 421 (57.4%) babies were suspected with early onset sepsis (EOS) and 312 (42.6%) with late onset sepsis (LOS). Majority of the babies (70.3%) were preterm. In 281 (11.3%) neonates, blood culture came out to be positive. 73/281 neonates with culture proven sepsis died making a mortality rate of 25.9%. Gram negative bacilli were most predominant among isolated bacteria. Most of the organisms showed resistance to the first line antibiotics. Conclusion: Sepsis has a high mortality rate in neonates admitted to our department. Gram negative organisms are the most common cause. Most of the isolated organisms are resistant to empirical antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]