Abidullah Khan

Ferritin Is a Marker of Inflammation rather than Iron Deficiency in Overweight and Obese People

Background. In clinical practice, serum ferritin is used as a screening tool to detect iron deficiency. However, its reliability in obesity has been questioned. Objectives. To investigate the role of ferritin in overweight and obese people, either as a marker of inflammation or iron deficiency. Methods. On the basis of body mass index (BMI), 150 participants were divided into three equal groups: A: BMI 18.5–25 kg/m2, B: BMI 25–30 kg/m2, and C: BMI > 30 kg/m2. Serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation, ferritin, C-reactive protein, and hemoglobin (Hb) were measured for each participant and analyzed through SPSS version 16. One-way ANOVA and Pearsons correlation tests were applied. Results. Ferritin was the highest in group C (M = 163.48 ± 2.23, P < 0.001) and the lowest in group A, (M = 152.78 ± 1.81, P < 0.001). Contrarily to ferritin, transferrin was the lowest in group C, (M = 30.65 ± 1.39, P < 0.001) and the highest in group A, (M = 38.66 ± 2.14, P < 0.001). Ferritin had a strong positive correlation with both BMI (r = 0.86, P < 0.001) and CRP (r = 0.87, P < 0.001) and strong negative correlation with Hb, iron, TIBC, and transferrin saturation (P < 0.001). Conclusion. Ferritin is a marker of inflammation rather than iron status in overweight and obese people. Complete iron profile including transferrin, rather than serum ferritin alone, can truly predict iron deficiency in such people.

Hyperammonemia Is Associated with Increasing Severity of Both Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatic Encephalopathy

Background. Hyperammonemia resulting from chronic liver disease (CLD) can potentially challenge and damage any organ system of the body, particularly the brain. However, there is still some controversy regarding the diagnostic or prognostic values of serum ammonia in patients with over hepatic encephalopathy, especially in the setting of acute-on-chronic or chronic liver failure. Moreover, the association of serum ammonia with worsening Child-Pugh grade of liver cirrhosis has not been studied. Objective. This study was conducted to solve the controversy regarding the association between hyperammonemia and cirrhosis, especially hepatic encephalopathy in chronically failed liver. Material and Methods. In this study, 171 cirrhotic patients had their serum ammonia measured and analyzed by SPSS version 16. Chi-squared test and one-way ANOVA were applied. Results. The study had 110 male and 61 female participants. The mean age of all the participants in years was 42.33 ± 7.60. The mean duration (years) of CLD was 10.15 ± 3.53 while the mean Child-Pugh (CP) score was 8.84 ± 3.30. Chronic viral hepatitis alone was responsible for 71.3% of the cases. Moreover, 86.5% of participants had hepatic encephalopathy (HE). The frequency of hyperammonemia was 67.3%, more frequent in males (N = 81, z-score = 2.4, and P < 0.05) than in females (N = 34, z-score = 2.4, and P < 0.05), and had a statistically significant relationship with increasing CP grade of cirrhosis (χ 2(2) = 27.46, P < 0.001, Phi = 0.40, and P < 0.001). Furthermore, serum ammonia level was higher in patients with hepatic encephalopathy than in those without it; P < 0.001. Conclusion. Hyperammonemia is associated with both increasing Child-Pugh grade of liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy.

Psoriatic Arthritis Is an Indicator of Significant Renal Damage in Patients with Psoriasis: An Observational and Epidemiological Study

Background. Psoriasis affects joints in around 30% of the patients. Recent studies have demonstrated an increased risk of essential hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and stroke in psoriatic patients. However, the prevalence of renal disease in patients with psoriasis has not been evaluated properly. Objectives. Objectives were to evaluate renal functions in patients with psoriasis and to assess any possible relationship of renal failure with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 30 participants were recruited into the following three groups: group-A, psoriatic arthritis; group-B, psoriasis without arthritis; and group-C, healthy subjects. Renal function tests were performed for every participant of each group. The data was analyzed by using SPSS version 16. Chi-squared and one-way ANOVA tests were applied, considering a P value of less than 0.05 as a standard criterion. Results. Serum creatinine, urea, and phosphate were the highest in group-A, higher in group-B, and normal in group-C, P < 0.05. Similarly, GFR was the lowest in group-A, lower in group-B, and normal in group-C. The difference in mean GFR values was statistically significant, F(2) = 355, P < 0.001. Moreover, proteinuria (gm/day) was seen in 96.7% of the patients with psoriatic arthritis, (M = 1.18 ± 0.55, P < 0.05) against 10% of the psoriatic patients without arthritis (M = 0.41 ± 0.10, P < 0.05). Conclusion. Derangement of renal function is more prevalent in psoriatic patients, especially in those with concomitant psoriatic arthritis. Therefore, each psoriatic patient must be routinely screened for an underlying renal failure.

AN ATYPICAL PRESENTATION OF HYPEROSMOLAR NON-KETOTIC COMA

Diabetes is a common ailment in our world. It has some atypical presentations as well; one of them is hemiballismus-hemichorea. Here we report a case of newly diagnosed diabetic patient presenting as hemiballismus-hemichorea secondary to hyperosmolar non-ketotic coma. Her MRI brain showed T1 high signals in right basal ganglia and corona radiata suggestive of metabolic derangement. These symptoms may take from months to years to resolve. It has a good prognosis if it is recognised early and treated effectively.

Coexisting giant splenic artery and portal vein aneurysms leading to non-cirrhotic portal hypertension: a case report

BackgroundSplenic artery aneurysms are the commonest visceral and third most common abdominal artery aneurysms, having a strong association with both pregnancy and multiparity. Here we report possibly the first case of a giant splenic artery aneurysm in association with a smaller portal vein aneurysm, in a woman who had never conceived, leading to non-cirrhotic portal hypertension.Case presentationA 40-year-old Pakistani Asian woman who had no evidence of liver cirrhosis presented in April 2016 for a diagnostic workup of ascites, massive splenomegaly, and pancytopenia. An abdominal ultrasound followed by computed tomography angiography showed a giant aneurysm in her splenic artery and another smaller one in her portal vein.She underwent splenectomy and excision of the splenic artery aneurysm. Surgical findings included a giant splenic artery aneurysm pressing on her portal vein and causing its aneurysmal dilatation. On her first review in July 2016, she was generally in good health, ascites had subsided, and her full blood count was normal. Her portal vein aneurysmal dilatation, which was presumed to be secondary to the pressure effect from the splenic artery aneurysm, had shrunken remarkably in size.ConclusionA giant splenic artery aneurysm can cause non-cirrhotic portal hypertension and should be treated with splenectomy and aneurysmectomy.

An Audit of the Medical Students’ Perceptions regarding Objective Structured Clinical Examination

Objective. To record the perceptions of the final year MBBS students of Khyber Medical College (KMC) Peshawar regarding Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) conducted in the year 2016. Materials and Methods. This study was conducted in April 2016 which is in fact a reaudit of our similar survey done back in 2015. A total of 250 final year MBBS students participated by filling in a validated and pretested questionnaire already used by Russel et al. and Khan et al. in similar but separate studies including questions regarding exam content, quality of performance, OSCE validity and reliability, and so forth. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results. The study group comprised 160 (64%) males and 90 (36%) females. 220 (88%) stated that exam was fair and comprehensive; 94% believed OSCE was more stressful and mentally tougher. 96% of the students considered OSCE as valid and reliable and 87% were happy with its use in clinical competence assessment. Conclusion. Majority of students declared their final year OSCE as fair, comprehensive, standardized, less biased, and reliable format of examination but believed it was more stressful and mentally tougher than traditional examination methods.

Lujan-Fryns Syndrome (LFS): A Unique Combination of Hypernasality, Marfanoid Body Habitus, and Neuropsychiatric Issues, Presenting as Acute-Onset Dysphagia.

Background Lujan–Fryns syndrome (LFS) is an extremely rare, X-linked disorder, for which the full clinical spectrum is still unknown. Usually, it presents with neuropsychiatric problems such as learning disabilities and behavioral issues in a typical combination with marfanoid features. Often, there is a positive family history for the disorder. However, sporadic cases have also been reported in males. More interestingly, there is no case of LFS presenting with acute-onset dysphagia in the English language medical literature. Case Presentation A 17-year-old Pakistani mentally normal school boy was admitted for the workup of acute-onset dysphagia, hypernasal speech, and nasal regurgitation of liquids. He had no neuropsychiatric issues, and his family history was unremarkable. An obvious nasal twang, facial dysmorphism, and marfanoid body habitus were found on examination. The genetic tests revealed a pathogenic missense mutation in the MED12 gene on his X-chromosome. Conclusion LFS can present as acute-onset dysphagia and in the absence of any neuropsychiatric issues or positive family history of the syndrome.