- Life Sciences; Research on life sciences reported by scientists at Aga Khan University
- Critical Care; Research from Aga Khan University reveals new findings on critical care
- Blood Pressure; Scientists at Aga Khan University publish new data on blood pressure
- Life Sciences; Research reports from Aga Khan University provide new insights into life sciences
Current study results from the report, ‘Bond failure with a no-mix adhesive system,’ have been published. According to a study from Karachi, Pakistan, “To determine the bond failure pattern and time to first bond failure at an orthodontic clinic. The study included 63 subjects meeting the study criteria.”
“A total of 1074 brackets (Roth prescription 0.022 slot) were bonded to incisors, canines, and premolars using a no-mix adhesive (Unite, 3M Unitek). The survival and failure rates of the brackets were evaluated by tooth position in the dental arch, sagittal occlusal relationship, and gender of the patients. Overall bracket survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier test. The total percentage of bond failure was 17.87%. The mean survival time for the sample was 235 days (SE=32.27 days). Significantly higher failure rates were observed for posterior than anterior teeth (p <.05) and in the Class II division 2 malocclusion group than other malocclusion groups (p <.05). No difference was observed between dental arches or genders. However, in terms of survival time, the difference was marginally significant for gender (p=.051) CONCLUSION: For 1074 brackets bonded with a no-mix adhesive system in 63 patients, the mean time until first bracket failure was 235 days,” wrote A.
Bherwani and colleagues, Aga Khan University (see also Life Sciences).
The researchers concluded: “The overall failure rate of brackets was 17.87%.”
Bherwani and colleagues published their study in Angle Orthodontist (Bond failure with a no-mix adhesive system. Angle Orthodontist, 2008;78(3):545-8).
For more information, contact A. Bherwani, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Dept. of Dental Surgery, Karachi, Pakistan.
Publisher contact information for the journal Angle Orthodontist is: E H Angle Education Research Foundation, Inc., 1615 Beacon St., Newton N, MA 02468-1507, USA.
This article was prepared by Life Science Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Life Science Weekly via NewsRx.com
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“With improvements in the care of critically ill, physicians are faced with obligations to provide quality end-of-life care. Barriers to this include inadequate understanding of the dying patient and withdrawal or limitation of care,” investigators in Karachi, Pakistan report (see also Critical Care).
“The objectives of this study were to document the comprehensions of physicians and nurses regarding the recognition and practice of end-of-life care for critically ill patients placed on life support in the intensive care unit. This was a cross-sectional study carried out at three hospitals in Karachi. Chi-squared analysis and one-way ANOVA were used to compare differences in response between the groups. One hundred and thirty-seven physicians and critical care nurses completed the survey. ‘Brain death’ was defined as an ‘irreversible cessation of brainstem function’ by 85% respondents, with 50% relying on specialty consultation. Withdrawal of life support is practised by 83.2%; physicians are more likely (Chi square test P-value < 0.001) to withdraw mechanical ventilation, compared with nurses who would withdraw vasopressors (P-value 0.006). In a do not resuscitate patient, 72.3% use vasopressors, 83% initiate haemodialysis and 17.5% use non-invasive ventilation; 72.6% consult
Hospital Ethics Committees; 16% respondents never withdraw life support; 28.3% considered it their responsibility to ‘sustain life at all costs’ and only 8% gave religious beliefs as a reason. There are confusions in the definition of brain death, end-of-life recognition and indications and processes of withdrawal of life support. There are discrepancies between physicians’ and nurses’ perceptions and attitudes,” wrote N. Salahuddin and colleagues, Aga Khan University.
The researchers concluded: “Clearly, teaching programmes will need to incorporate cultural and religious differences in their ethics curricula.”
Salahuddin and colleagues published their study in Internal Medicine Journal (End of life in the intensive care unit: knowledge and practice of clinicians from Karachi, Pakistan. Internal Medicine Journal, 2008;38(5):307-313).
For additional information, contact N. Salahuddin, Aga Khan University Hospital, Dept. of Medical, Pulmology & Critical Care Med Sect, Stadium Rd., Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
The publisher of the Internal Medicine Journal can be contacted at: Blackwell Publishing, 9600 Garsington Rd., Oxford OX4 2DQ, Oxon, England.
This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com
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According to recent research published in the International Journal of Cardiology, “Obesity and hypertension are two major inter-related cardiovascular risk factors. Decrease in adiposity is one of the most effective preventive measures not only in decreasing the overall cardiovascular risk but also the blood pressure.”
“This cross-sectional study measured the effect of various measures of adiposity on blood pressure in normal healthy subjects of Pakistani origin. 400 normotensive subjects (247 males and 153 females) were included in this study. Along with data on co-morbid conditions, two blood pressure readings and several anthropometric measurements were recorded. Age and gender specific analysis was done. Following the WHO cutoffs for Asians, about 52% of our sample population was found to be overweight or obese. Age was not associated with blood pressure indices in males; however it was strongly associated with all blood pressure indices in females. Greater Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC) and Waist to Height Ratio (WHTR) were associated with higher Systolic and Diastolic Blood pressure. Increasing age was also associated with higher levels of BMI, WC and WHTR. Anthropometric variables however, were more strongly associated with blood pressure indices than age in this sample
population,” wrote A. Khan and colleagues, Aga Khan University (see also Blood Pressure).
The researchers concluded: “We found WC and WHTR to be strongly associated with blood pressure indices in normotensive Pakistani males.”
Khan and colleagues published their study in International Journal of Cardiology (Anthropometric correlates of blood pressure in normotensive Pakistani subjects. International Journal of Cardiology, 2008;124(2):259-262).
For additional information, contact U. Ahmad, Aga Khan University, Dept. of Biology & Biomedical Science, Stadium Rd., Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
The publisher’s contact information for the International Journal of Cardiology is: Elsevier Ireland Ltd., Elsevier House, Brookvale Plaza, East Park Shannon, Co. Clare, Ireland.
This article was prepared by Blood Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Blood Weekly via NewsRx.com
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New investigation results, ‘Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Pakistan,’ are detailed in a study published in Journal of Medical Virology. According to a study from Karachi, Pakistan, “Crimean-Congo virus, the causative agent of Crimean-Congo Virus Fever (CCVF) is endemic in Pakistan. Cases are documented sporadically ever year, mostly at and around the time of Eid-ul-Adha, an Islamic festival, celebrated on day 10 through 13 of the 12th month of each lunar calendar year.”
“At this time of the year in Pakistan, livestock are brought down to the urban areas from the rural parts of the country. Animals are housed in open spaces and private houses until they are slaughtered during the 3 days of Eid-ul-Adha. This allows the CCHF virus, which is carried by a tick that inhabits the animal hide, to be transmitted through unprotected contact with live animals as well as through contact with animal blood subsequent to its slaughter. In this report, a typical case of CCVF is described that was encountered in Rawalpindi, Pakistan,” wrote M.A. Rai and colleagues, Aga Khan University (see also Life Sciences).
The researchers concluded: “A number of issues pertaining to the management of recurrent outbreaks of CCVF in the country are discussed.”
Rai and colleagues published the results of their research in the Journal of Medical Virology (Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Pakistan. Journal of Medical Virology, 2008;80(6):1004-6).
For additional information, contact M.A. Rai, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
The publisher of the Journal of Medical Virology can be contacted at: Wiley-Liss, Division John Wiley & Sons Inc., 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA.
This article was prepared by Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA via NewsRx.com
Ismailimail 