Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP最新文献

Objective: To assess the clinical efficacy of combined microsurgery and postoperative radiotherapy for the treatment of intramedullary spinal gliomas and its impact on neurological function.

Study design: An observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Neurosurgery, Baoding No.1 Central Hospital, Hebei, China, between January 2020 and 2023.

Methodology: Sixty patients diagnosed with spinal cord intramedullary gliomas were divided equally into an experimental and control group. The control group received microsurgical treatment, and the experimental group received microsurgical treatment combined with postoperative radiotherapy. The treatment effectiveness, neurological function, and follow-up results of the two groups were compared.

Results: After treatment, the clinical efficacy of the experimental group treatment was significantly better than that of the control group (p <0.05). The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores were significantly lower, and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) scores were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (p <0.05). The 1-3-year survival rate and median survival time of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p <0.05). The incidence of complications was 3.33% in the experimental group and 6.67% in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p >0.05). The postoperative recurrence rate was significantly lower in the experimental (0%) than in the control group (13.33%, p <0.05).

Conclusion: Combined microsurgery and postoperative radiotherapy was found to be more effective than microsurgery alone. It was also more conducive to the recovery of neurological function and improved the patient's quality of life.

Key words: Intramedullary spinal cord glioma, Microsurgery, Neurological function, Radiotherapy.

This study was a meta-analysis of patient data to investigate the therapeutic effects of inclisiran on LDL-C, PCSK9, and TC in patients with atherosclerosis. Authors searched the Cochrane Library, Pubmed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases for randomised controlled trials. Data of 4,731 subjects from five randomised clinical trials were included in this analysis. Patients treated with the PCSK9 inhibitor inclisiran had significantly lower LDL-C levels than those treated with placebo or a statin (mean difference (MD) -1.477; 95% CI -1.551 to -1.403; p <0.001; I2 = 7.2%). The average level of PCSK9 was also relatively lower ((MD) -2.579; 95% CI -2.694 to -2.464; p <0.001; I2 = 36%). They exhibited significant reductions in total cholesterol protein levels ((MD) -1.477; 95% CI -1.585 to -1.369; p <0.001; I2 = 46.7%). Inclisiran reduced LDL-C and PCSK9 levels as well as TC and Apo B levels significantly in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Key Words: Inclisiran, Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, Atherosclerosis, Adverse events, Meta-analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kit targeting 18S rRNA against Giemsa-stained tissue slides in patients clinically suspected of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL).

Study design: Cross-sectional analytical study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Microbiology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology / National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from July to December 2022.

Methodology: Samples of skin tissue in 98 patients suspected of CL were evaluated. These samples were subjected to Giemsa-staining for microscopy and real-time PCR. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the PCR were calculated keeping Giemsa-stained tissue slide microscopy as gold standard.

Results: Out of the 98 tissue samples, 37 were found positive for leishmaniasis on PCR while 13 were found Leishmania positive on microscopy of Giemsa-stained slides. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the PCR for the detection of Leishmania species were 100%, 71.8%, and 91.8%, respectively with 100% negative predictive value.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the commercial PCR is a reliable diagnostic test for the diagnosis of CL. The ease, rapidity, and reliability of the PCR make it a dependable tool in diagnostic repertoire of CL.

Key words: Giemsa stain, Leishmania spp., Polymerase chain reaction, Viasure.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of flipped classroom and video-assisted learning techniques with didactic lectures in promoting clinical reasoning skills in Forensic Medicine.

Study design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Forensic Medicine, Dow International Medical College and Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan, from May to October 2023.

Methodology: The study included 114 third-year medical students divided into three predefined tutorial groups. Over four weeks, within the Forensic Medicine respiratory module, each group was taught one topic per week using a distinct teaching strategy: Traditional lectures (TL) for the first group, flipped classroom (FC) method for the second group, and video-assisted teaching (VAT) for the third group. Students' learning achievements and clinical reasoning skills were assessed through a pre-test, post-test, and revision post-test.

Results: Pre-test scores showed no significant differences among the groups (p = 0.655). However, post-test scores differed significantly (F2:111 = 11.93, p <0.001). Tukiye's test indicated that the mean score for the FC group was significantly different from the TL group (p = 0.003) and the VAT group (p <0.001), but there was no significant difference between the TL and VAT groups (p = 0.422). The revision post-test indicated a significant decrease in mean scores across all groups, regardless of the instructional approach (p <0.001).

Conclusion: The FC approach for teaching clinical reasoning in Forensic Medicine shows promising results, effectively improving student performance and learning experience.

Key words: Flipped classroom, Video-assisted teaching, Clinical reasoning, Forensic Medicine teaching.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and postoperative complications of laser and hybrid seton methods in the treatment of perianal fistula (PF).

Study design: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of General Surgery, University of Health Sciences, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkiye, from January 2021 to April 2022.

Methodology: A total of 76 patients, with 46 in the hybrid seton group and 30 in the laser group, were included in the study. Perianal fistula classification was based on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. The Likert satisfaction scale was assessed for patient satisfaction and the Cleveland Clinic Florida Faecal Incontinence (CCF-FI) scoring system was used for incontinence. Treatment outcome was determined based on success rate and postoperative faecal incontinence.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 43 ± 13 years and 59 (78%) of them were male. Forty-seven (62%) patients had simple fistula. Acute and late complications were significantly higher in the hybrid seton group than in the laser group (p <0.001). According to the Likert satisfaction scale, the rate of unsatisfied patients was significantly higher in the laser group than in the hybrid seton group (p = 0.02). According to the CCF-FI scoring system, incontinence was significantly higher in the hybrid seton group than in the laser group (p = 0.01). Treatment failure was higher in the laser group (p = 0.03).

Conclusion: The laser method has lower intraoperative / postoperative complications, but higher treatment failure and lower patient satisfaction compared to the hybrid seton method.

Key words: Anal fistula, Fecal incontinence, Laser therapy, Outcome, Loose seton method.

Bile leakage in abdominal drain after cholecystectomy is reported to close spontaneously without any intervention. The aim of this systematic review was to find out the amount and source of bile leaks that can be closed spontaneously and various factors associated with this closure. A systematic search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane under preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was performed. Ten studies were finally included in the review. Five studies were found from India, two from Pakistan, and one each from Mexico, Nepal, and Romania. Maximum volume of bile reported to close spontaneously was 500 ml per day and took seven days to close. Overall 66.6% cases of bile leaks were laparoscopically operated. Bile leakage in abdominal drain after cholecystectomy up to 500 ml per day closes spontaneously in a week time provided patient has no major ductal injury and peritonitis. Key Words: Bile leakage, Abdominal drain, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Objective: To determine the frequency of phenotypes of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in patients presenting with sub-fertility, and to compare the clinical and hormonal characteristics among them.

Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Forest View Specialist Clinic, Peshawar, Pakistan, from August 2022 to January 2023.

Methodology: The study included 662 female patients presenting with menstrual irregularities, hyperandrogenism, and infertility to the clinic. PCOS was diagnosed on the basis of the Rotterdam criterion and clinical features and classified into different phenotypes on the basis of the National Institute of Health (NIH) panel criteria. Data were entered and analysed by IBM SPSS VERSION 23.0. The frequency of four phenotypes was calculated and phenotypes were compared for age, weight, hormonal profiles, and history of miscarriages. A p <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Frequency of PCOS in patients with infertility was 59.76%. Phenotype A was seen in 58.2%, phenotype D in 23.3%, phenotype C in 16.9%, and phenotype B in 1.7% of cases. The LH/FSH ratio was statistically significant in phenotype A as compared to other phenotypes, while other parameters were non-significant.

Conclusion: The frequency of PCOS is high in patients with infertility. Phenotype A is the most common variant and is associated with significant impairment of the LH/FSH ratio.

Key words: Polycystic ovarian syndrome, Subfertility, Phenotypes of PCOS, Hyperandrogenism, Anovulation, R-C1.

Objective: To establish an optimal preoperative HbA1c threshold that enhances surgical outcomes and minimises postoperative complications in diabetic patients undergoing elective total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Study design: Prospective cohort study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Orthopaedics, First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, China, from January 2021 to March 2024.

Methodology: A total of 152 diabetic patients scheduled for elective TKA were included. Data on preoperative HbA1c levels were collected and analysed to assess their impact on postoperative outcomes using the Oxford Knee Score (OKS). Patients were divided into groups based on HbA1c levels and compared for functional and pain recovery one year postoperatively. Statistical analyses included binary and multivariate logistic regression, with an emphasis on the minimum clinically important difference for OKS.

Results: Patients with a preoperative HbA1c below 7.35mmol/L exhibited significantly better functional and pain recovery outcomes at one-year post-TKA. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis confirmed the predictive power of HbA1c, with an Area Under the Curve of 0.734 for functional improvement and 0.721 for pain improvement.

Conclusion: The study identifies 7.35mmol/L as the optimal preoperative HbA1c threshold for diabetic patients undergoing elective TKA, with lower levels associated with improved functional and pain outcomes. Maintaining HbA1c below this level preoperatively can significantly enhance postoperative recovery and patient satisfaction.

Key words: Diabetes mellitus, Total knee arthroplasty, Haemoglobin A1c, Oxford knee score.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of cyclosporin A (CSA) monotherapy in treating patients with non-severe aplastic anaemia (NSAA).

Study design: A cross-sectional observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Clinical Haematology, Armed Forces Bone Marrow Transplant Center, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January 2022 till December 2023.

Methodology: A total of 51 patients of NSAA, classified as aplastic anaemia not satisfying criteria for severe and very severe disease as per Modified Camitta Criteria, were included. Results were evaluated in terms of survival rate (OS) and responses. Responses were assessed as complete response (CR), partial response (PR), overall response (ORR), and no response (NR) by using standard British Committee for standard Haematology (BCSH) response criteria at 3, 6, and 12 months.

Results: Out of 51 patients, 34 (67%) were males and 17 (33%) were females. Median age at the time of diagnosis was 25 (IQR 26) years. At follow-up of 12 months, OS was 86.3%. Overall response rates to cyclosporin monotherapy at 3, 6, and 12 months were 49%, 57%, and 59%, respectively. Baseline haemoglobin was associated with responses at 6 and 12 months and a significant association was found between transfusion dependency at 3, 6, and 12 months with overall survival (p = 0.01, 0.005, and 0.04, respectively). Responses at time-defined points also had significant impact on OS (3 months Plog-rank = 0.046, 6 months Plog-rank = 0.01, and 12 months Plog-rank = 0.008).

Conclusion: Overall response rates at 3, 6, and 12 months indicate the potential of CSA as a viable treatment option, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Despite some patients experiencing treatment-related complications, CSA demonstrated a generally tolerable safety profile.

Key words: Cyclosporin A, Non-severe aplastic anaemia, Survival rate, Response rate, Complete response, Partial response.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transparent cap-assisted blunt dissection (TCABD) in the endoscopic resection of gastric submucosal tumours (G-SMT) smaller than 2cm, as compared with conventional electronic knife dissection.

Study design: Randomised controlled analysis. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, The First Hospital of Putian City, Putian, China, from July 2020 to 2022.

Methodology: Fifty-eight patients having G-SMT smaller than 2cm were included. They were randomly divided into two groups; undergoing transparent cap-assisted blunt dissection (BD group) and conventional endoscopic submucosal excavation (ESE group). The pathology, lesion size in long diameter (mm), operation time, the number of clips used to close the wounds, the number of snare used to resect the tumour, hospital days, hospitalisation expense, en bloc resection rate, and the complications including perforation, postoperative bleeding, and postoperative infection were compared between the two groups.

Results: The mean long diameter in the BD group was 9.6 ± 3.6mm, while the conventional ESE group was 10.7 ± 4.5mm. As compared with the conventional ESE group, the operation time, the number of clips used to close the wounds, the number of snare used to resect the tumours, the hospital days, and the hospitalisation expense were all significantly decreased (p <0.05). The perforation rate was lower in the BD group (p <0.05).

Conclusion: TCABD was effective and safe in the endoscopic resection of G-SMT smaller than 2cm. TCABD could help to reduce the perforation rate, shorten the operation time and hospital days, and decrease the hospitalisation expense in the endoscopic resection of G-SMT.

Key words: Endoscopic submucosal excavation, Endoscopic full-thickness resection, Endoscopic resection, Submucosal tumour, Transparent cap-assisted blunt dissection.