Journal of University Medical & Dental College

2026-07-09T08:18:11+00:00

Before the prompt, make them think: fossil-skilling and the obsolescence gap

2026-07-01T08:13:52+00:00

Comparison of effect of intracoronary nitrate vs adenosine in TIMI flow in patients of STEMI undergoing primary PCI

2026-07-01T08:13:53+00:00

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The no-reflow phenomenon during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains a serious complication associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Recent evidence suggests that intracoronary nitrates may improve coronary perfusion through vasodilatory and antioxidant effects. This study compared the efficacy of intracoronary nitrates and adenosine on TIMI flow in STEMI patients with refractory no-reflow after primary PCI.

METHODOLOGY: This comparative study included 66 STEMI patients with refractory no-reflow during primary PCI, divided equally into two groups (33 each). Patients with cardiogenic shock at admission or known allergy to nitrates or adenosine were excluded. Group A received intracoronary adenosine (maximum dose 120 mcg), while Group B received intracoronary isosorbide dinitrate 200 mcg in a 10 ml solution. The study was approved by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) (Study Identifier: RCTS-0107; Case Number: 0230).

RESULTS: The mean age was 49.15 ± 8.47 years in Group A and 51.79 ± 7.22 years in Group B. Of the 66 patients, 35 (53.03%) were men and 31 (46.97%) were women. After 30 days, efficacy was observed in 31 patients (93.94%) in the nitrate group compared with 23 patients (69.70%) in the adenosine group.

Emotional intelligence and perceived stress among undergraduate medical, dental, and allied health students: A comparative study

2026-07-01T08:13:53+00:00

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Emotional Intelligence (EI) encompasses five key principles: self-awareness, self-management, motivation, social awareness, and relationship management. Perceived stress (PS) refers to the emotions or thoughts someone has about the level of stress they experience, and it is common among undergraduate health students. High EI improves learning and reduces stress. The current study was designed to assess the levels of Emotional Intelligence and Perceived Stress, and the association between the, among undergraduate health students. The study also aimed to check the association between EI and the academic performance of students.

METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at Lahore Medical and Dental College (January 2023 to June 2023), including participants from MBBS, BDS, Pharm D, BS Nutrition and BS Biotechnology. A comparative analysis was performed across gender, academic discipline, and year of study. SPSS version 22 was used for the analysis of the data.

RESULTS: A total of 1351 students were enrolled in the study. The mean score with standard deviation for EI and PS were 121.4 ± 19.35 and 22.53 ± 10.92, respectively. Female students had a higher level of EI, while no significant gender difference was observed for the level of PS. EI can predict PS with significant accuracy, as indicated by the ROC curve (AUC of 0.88; p-value < 0.01). There was no association of academic performance with Emotional intelligence as checked by linear regression (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The study finds that undergraduate medical, dental, and allied health students have high levels of PS and average EI. Moreover, low EI was associated with higher stress.

The association of GSDMB rs7216389 polymorphism in childhood asthma

2026-07-01T08:13:53+00:00

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Asthma is a chronic airway disease with increasing cases in children, differing from adult-onset asthma in terms of its triggers and outcomes. This study focuses on the rs7216389 variant of the GSDMB gene, exploring its role in airway inflammation and its clinical and genetic links to pediatric asthma, with implications for improved diagnosis and targeted treatment.

METHODOLOGY:

A case-control study spanning 18 months was carried out at CMH Lahore and Children’s Hospital, comprising 100 participants (50 with asthma and 50 healthy controls) aged 3–18 years. A genetic evaluation was conducted on blood specimens, and data analysis was executed using SPSS (v25.0). A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Ethical clearance was secured, and Informed consent was acquired.

RESULTS:

Research has found that the GASDERMIN B variant rs7216389 functions as a possible genetic risk factor for asthma because it links to severe asthma in children. The T allele of rs7216389 was significantly more frequent in asthmatic children (60%) than in controls (40%). This research acknowledges industry challenges in translating genetic discoveries into clinical practice, alongside descriptions of the therapeutic potential of genetic marker-based approaches. The research provides comprehensive information on healthcare expenses and is distinctive in its scope. Symptoms encountered in pediatric asthma patients can help better understand the full impact of the disease.

CONCLUSION:

The rs7216389 polymorphism in the GSDMB gene shows a significant association with childhood. asthma, underscoring its potential as a genetic marker for early risk identification and the development of personalized, targeted management strategies.

Prevalence of raised mean platelet volume in patients of chronic plaque psoriasis

2026-07-01T08:13:52+00:00

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Psoriasis is a systemic, chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder. MPV is a useful metric for assessing platelet aggregation and activity. To determine the mean platelet volume (MPV) in patients of chronic plaque psoriasis.

METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Dermatology Department at Allied II Hospital, Faisalabad Medical University, Faisalabad. A total of 175 patients aged 18 to 50 years with clinically confirmed persistent plaque psoriasis were included in the study. Patients with comorbidities that impacted platelet function were excluded from the study.

RESULTS: Among 175 patients, 58 (33.1%) had raised MPV. Mean MPV was 8.61 ± 0.69 fL. The majority had severe psoriasis (60.6%) and were overweight (62.3% with BMI >25). No statistically significant association was found between MPV status and age (p=0.254), gender (p=0.359), BMI (p=0.709), disease duration (p=0.758), or PASI-based disease severity (p=0.801).

CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion (33.1%) of patients with chronic plaque psoriasis had elevated MPV, with a mean value of 8.61 ± 0.69 fL, indicating increased platelet activation. However, no significant association was observed between MPV and disease severity or other clinical variables. MPV may reflect systemic inflammation, but it is not reliably related to psoriasis severity.

Maternal knowledge on complementary feeding and dietary diversity among peri-urban area children of Gilgit Baltistan

2026-07-09T06:07:04+00:00

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Undernutrition is a major global health challenge, with limited data available from Northern Pakistan regarding mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and feeding practices related to child nutritional status and dietary diversity. This study assessed mothers’ understanding of complementary feeding and dietary diversity among children aged 6–23 months in the peri-urban region of Gilgit.

METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 313 mothers/caregivers of children aged 6–23 months selected through multistage cluster sampling. Data were collected using a pretested, validated, closed-ended questionnaire administered in the Shina language by trained interviewers from January 2021 to January 2022, following ethical approval from the Research Ethics Committee, HITEC-IMS, NUMS. Associations were determined using the Chi-square test, while multivariable analysis examined relationships between independent and outcome variables. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: The mean age of mothers was 23.25±3.49 years, while the mean age of children was 16.72±4.54 months. Among respondents, 171 (54.6%) mothers were aged 21–24 years, and 155 (49.5%) had primary-level education. Infants constituted 65 (20.8%) of the study population. Stunting was observed in 44 (14%) children. A significant association was found between minimum dietary diversity (MDD) and child growth (p≤0.001). Higher MDD was more frequently observed in smaller families, younger mothers, and mothers with higher educational levels.

CONCLUSION: Minimum dietary diversity was significantly associated with improved child growth. Maternal education and family characteristics play an important role in achieving adequate dietary diversity among children aged 6–23 months.

Standards of facial growth in children using anthropometric method and its correlation with somatic growth

2026-07-09T06:06:29+00:00

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Craniofacial anthropometry involves the measurement of various soft and hard tissue characteristics of the head and face and is considered an important preclinical record for the diagnosis of growth and development and for orthodontic treatment planning. This study aims to determine the means of facial growth parameters and their correlation with somatic growth in a sample of growing children of the Pakistani population.

METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted at various schools of Lahore, Pakistan, with an age range of 3-14 years. Data were collected by taking facial measurements using a digital Vernier caliper and a geometric divider to the nearest 1mm. To measure height and weight, a Martin anthropometer and an electronic scale were used. Data were entered and analyzed for description using SPSS version 25. A post-stratification Pearson correlation test was applied to general body growth and facial parameters.

RESULTS: Mean upper face height, lower face height, total face height, and face width for the sample were 53.08±5.561 mm, 53.05±5.407 mm, 106.25±9.022 mm, and 118.07±9.281 mm, respectively. Mean weight and height for ages 3–14 years were 31.61±13.1 kg and 133.22±17.3 cm. Facial parameters correlated significantly with height and weight.

CONCLUSION: A stronger correlation was seen between facial width and weight in both genders (r = 0.737-0.739), whereas the correlation between height and total facial height was observed only in girls (r = 0.710).

Orofacial function improvements from elastodontic appliance use in children: A scoping review

2026-07-09T07:24:34+00:00

Elastodontic appliances are flexible, prefabricated orthodontic devices that not only guide tooth position but also stimulate the orofacial muscle system and breathing patterns and suppress bad habits. This scoping review aims to identify the outcomes of orofacial function evaluations and the research methodologies used in studies on the use of elastodontic appliances in children. Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from 2015 to 2025. Included studies evaluated the use of elastodontic appliances involving participants aged ≤18 years, evaluated orofacial function, and reported functional outcomes after elastodontic appliance use. Five studies met the inclusion criteria from 2,662 identified articles. The most widely used prefabricated elastodontic appliance was Myobrace, which was recognized for its effect on orofacial function. Myobrace helps correct poor oral habits such as mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, and lip biting, with good results in terms of dental arch and jaw development.

Journal of University Medical & Dental College

Contents

Before the prompt, make them think: fossil-skilling and the obsolescence gap

Comparison of effect of intracoronary nitrate vs adenosine in TIMI flow in patients of STEMI undergoing primary PCI

Emotional intelligence and perceived stress among undergraduate medical, dental, and allied health students: A comparative study

The association of GSDMB rs7216389 polymorphism in childhood asthma

Prevalence of raised mean platelet volume in patients of chronic plaque psoriasis

Maternal knowledge on complementary feeding and dietary diversity among peri-urban area children of Gilgit Baltistan

Standards of facial growth in children using anthropometric method and its correlation with somatic growth

Orofacial function improvements from elastodontic appliance use in children: A scoping review