Journal of University Medical & Dental College

Emerging Health Issues and the Way Forward

2026-10-29T15:23:19+00:00

To compare the diagnostic performance of Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI) and Single Deep Pocket (SDP) in detecting Oligohydramnios, and to evaluate their association with perinatal outcomes in term singleton pregnancies

2026-10-29T15:23:19+00:00

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Term oligohydramnios is linked with fetal distress, cesarean delivery and neonatal complications. Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI) and Single Deepest Pocket (SDP) are the most commonly used ultrasound techniques to measure amniotic fluid volume, but their diagnostic accuracy is unclear. To compare the sensitivity and specificity of AFI and SDP for the diagnosis of Oligohydramnios, and to assess the relationship between AFI, SDP and perinatal outcomes in term singleton pregnancies.

METHODOLOGY: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Radiology, PINUM Hospital, Faisalabad, over 9 months. A total of 100 women with singleton, low-risk pregnancies at ≥37 weeks were included. Amniotic fluid volume was measured during the same ultrasound session using AFI and SDP. AFI ≤5 cm and SDP <2 cm were considered Oligohydramnios. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were recorded. Data were analyzed using an independent t-test and Chi-square test; p≤0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS: SDP detected more oligohydramnios cases (24%) than AFI (13%). SDP-defined Oligohydramnios was significantly associated with higher caesarean rates (66.7% vs 31%; p=0.009) and neonatal incubation (62.5% vs 33.8%; p=0.030). NICU admissions were higher but not statistically significant. Birth weight and Apgar scores were lower in oligohydramnios cases.

CONCLUSION: SDP shows a stronger association with adverse perinatal outcomes than AFI and may be preferred for amniotic fluid assessment in term pregnancies.

Anxiety and plasma oxytocin levels in mothers having CP children

2026-10-29T15:23:23+00:00

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) experience several medical, social, and psychological problems, and their families, especially mothers, face considerable economic and psychosocial difficulties. The current study aimed to estimate the levels of anxiety in mothers caring for children who are severely affected by CP, compare these scores with those of mothers of healthy children and assess the correlation between anxiety scores and plasma oxytocin levels.

METHODOLOGY: The cross-sectional comparative study included a total of 42 mothers with first group of 21 mothers who had children with severe CP and a second group of 21 controls after obtaining written informed consent. All participants were younger than 40 years. Anxiety was assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Oxytocin was measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).

RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between the means of the anxiety scores and plasma oxytocin levels of the two groups. Spearman correlation analysis showed, a significant negative correlation of BAI score with the plasma oxytocin levels was observed.

CONCLUSION: The results of this study revealed no significant difference in anxiety in mothers having CP children. The significant negative correlation between plasma oxytocin levels and anxiety scores suggests a possible role of oxytocin in anxiety.

Assessment of quality of life in patients with epilepsy

2026-10-29T15:23:21+00:00

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder that negatively impacts health, emotional state, social abilities, and quality of life. The study determines QoL in individuals with epilepsy to support patient-centred care.

METHODOLOGY: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study at Lahore General Hospital among epileptic patients aged 18-35 years. Before data collection, an ethical approval letter, UIPH/UOL/849/2024, was obtained from The University of Lahore (approval number: ECM#2023-703), and the study was completed within six months. We analyzed data from 385 participants, selected via convenience sampling, using SPSS 26.0 based on QOLIE-10 responses. We used the chi-square test to assess QoL in epileptic patients.

RESULTS: Of 385 participants, most (38.7%) were aged 21–24 years; 63.1% were male, and 61.0% resided in rural areas. Regarding seizures, 62.9% had >10 seizures in the past year, while only 6.8% were seizure-free. QoL outcomes were 53.5% poor, 42.9% moderate, and 3.6% good. Rural residents had significantly poorer QoL (60.4%) than urban residents (42.7%; p = 0.002).

Lipid profile patterns associated with pre-diabetes: a comparative study with normoglycemic and diabetic individuals

2026-10-29T15:23:19+00:00

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Disturbed glucose metabolism is associated with dyslipidemia, a potent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Pre-diabetes is the intermediate state between normoglycemia and overt diabetes. Our study aims to find lipid profile patterns associated with pre-diabetes.

METHODOLOGY:This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at the OPD of Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore. This study included 360 individuals in total, 120 individuals from each glycemic group. Glycemic status was defined using the guidelines of the American Diabetes Association. Blood samples were drawn after overnight fasting and tested for lipid profile parameters and HbA1c. One-way ANOVA was applied to compare lipid profile parameters between glycemic groups. A chi-square test was applied to assess the association between various lipid profile patterns and glycemic groups. Regression analysis was applied to determine the odds of each pattern associated with pre-diabetes.

RESULTS: Lipid abnormalities increased with changes of glycemic status, i.e., 80.2% in the normoglycemic group, 85.8% in the pre-diabetic group and 90.8% in the diabetic group. Isolated low HDL-C, Atherogenic dyslipidemia and mixed dyslipidemia were significantly associated with change in glycemic status. Univariate regression analysis showed that the odds of getting mixed dyslipidemia increased by 250% in pre-diabetes (OR=3.509, 95%CI: 1.783-6.903, p<0.001). After adjustment for confounders, mixed dyslipidemia remained the independent predictor of pre-diabetes (OR=3.114, 95%CI: 1.477-6.566, p=0.003).

CONCLUSION:Qualitative lipid profile abnormalities better define glycemic status. Mixed dyslipidemia is associated with pre-diabetes, while atherogenic lipid profiles are pronounced in diabetes, representing increased cardiovascular risk with worsening glycemic states.

Identification of clinical features of viral and bacterial pharyngitis, confirmed by throat swab.

2026-10-29T15:23:20+00:00

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE:

Sore throat is one of the most common complaints in clinical practice, and pharyngitis often causes it. Although most cases are viral and self-limiting, antibiotics are frequently prescribed unnecessarily due to overlapping clinical features of viral and bacterial infections. Identifying reliable clinical features can help clinicians manage patients appropriately and reduce antibiotic misuse. This study aimed to determine the frequency and clinical features of viral and bacterial pharyngitis and to correlate these findings with throat swab results.

METHODOLOGY:
We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, from 15/06/2024 to 30/06/2025. A total of 184 patients were included. We recorded clinical findings using a structured proforma and performed throat swab cultures.

RESULTS:
We diagnosed bacterial and viral pharyngitis in 32 (17%) and 152 (83%) patients, respectively. Among 100 male patients, 84% had viral pharyngitis. The most affected age group was 18–40 years. A total of 96 patients presented after 3 days of illness, of whom 74 had viral pharyngitis and 22 had bacterial infection. High-grade fever, pus points, neutrophilia, and positive throat swab culture were strongly associated with bacterial pharyngitis.

CONCLUSION:
Careful history-taking and clinical examination are essential to distinguish viral from bacterial pharyngitis, ensure appropriate treatment, and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.

Association of ABO and Rh blood groups with transfusion-transmitted infections among Blood Donors in Lahore

2026-10-29T15:23:21+00:00

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Blood transfusion carries the risk of transmitting infections collectively known as transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) or transfusion-transmitted pathogens. Major TTIs include the Hepatitis C virus, Hepatitis B virus, HIV, syphilis, and malaria. Different factors can expose individuals to these TTIs, but the effect of blood groups on susceptibility is not well understood. This study aimed to find any association of these TTIs with specific blood groups in the donor population.

METHODOLOGY: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among eligible donors who attended the Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore, from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. Donor data, including screening results and blood groups, were recorded and analyzed using SPSS. Chi-square was used to assess the association between TTIs and blood groups.

RESULTS: Out of 17,770 donors, 92.77% were Rh-positive and 7.23% were Rh-negative. Blood group B was identified as the most frequent blood group (36.1%). The remaining donors had blood group O (29.2%), blood group A (24.7%), and blood group AB (10.1%). 3.5% of the total donors tested positive for different TTIs. HCV was the most prevalent TTI (1.40%), followed by syphilis (1.09%), HBV (0.87%), HIV (0.10%), and malaria (0.04%). In the statistical analysis, no significant associations were observed between ABO/Rh blood groups and TTIs (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: Blood groups influence susceptibility to certain infections and diseases. Although TTIs are highly prevalent in the donor population, they are not associated with ABO/Rh blood groups. Further large-scale studies are needed to confirm whether any association exists between TTIs and blood groups.

Effect of an oral health awareness program to improve oral care of school children in Lahore city

2026-10-29T15:23:22+00:00

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Oral health is an important index of general health. Oro-dental problems are common but preventable and manageable in children. Awareness regarding oral health at a young age might make a difference. In order to have a clear picture of our society, we planned our study to assess the effectiveness of oral health programs in school children in Lahore city.

METHODOLOGY: Quasi-experimental study, conducted in nine months (Dec 2023 to Aug 2024) at randomly selected four primary branches of Army Public School (Girls), Lahore, after ethical approval by the University of Lahore (Ref No: REC-UOL-612-12-2023). Eighty-seven children were selected through multi-cluster sampling. Data was collected through a validated questionnaire and oral examination before and after one month of oral health awareness session. Data was analyzed using SPSS 25; for qualitative variables, frequency and percentages, whereas for quantitative variables, mean and standard deviation were calculated, and McNemar’s test was applied for clinical oral examination before and after intervention.

RESULTS: Study participants (n=87); ages between 8-10 years 8(9.2%) and between 11-13 years 79(90.8%). It was observed that the oral health awareness program significantly improved the knowledge of study participants. Oral examination showed significant improvement in gingival erythema, ulceration, inflammation, and swelling (p≤0.001). However, the effect on gingival color and the presence of plaque and calculus was reported as insignificant.

CONCLUSION: The Oral health awareness program had a positive effect on school children. Children are building blocks of a society, and schools are the best place for conducting awareness programs.

CBCT assessment of infraorbital foramen for maxillary sinus procedures: a cross-sectional variation according to age and gender in a Lahore-based Pakistani population

2026-10-30T06:07:28+00:00

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The infraorbital foramen (IOF) serves as a critical anatomical landmark for maxillofacial surgeries and nerve blocks. Its location is traditionally aligned with the maxillary second premolar, which may vary, potentially affecting surgical outcomes. This study aims to determine the location of IOF relative to various local anatomical reference points and to analyze variations across gender and age groups in the Lahore-based Pakistani Punjabi sub-population.

METHODOLOGY: Eighty-one CBCT scans, without maxillary pathologies, were analyzed. Distances were measured from IOF to the buccal cusp of the second premolar (IOF-PM), alveolar crest (IOF-AC), mid-maxillary line (IOF-MML), and lateral nasal wall (IOF-LNW). Data were stratified by gender and age groups, and statistical significance was assessed by comparing them between the two sides.

RESULTS: Significant asymmetry was observed only in the IOF-LNW distance, with right and left measurements of 12.90 ±2.64 mm and 11.91 ±2.64 mm, respectively. Males showed significantly greater IOF-PM and IOF-AC distances bilaterally than females (p≤0.001), while IOF-MML differed significantly by gender on the left Side only (p=0.008). Age-related differences were significant for IOF-PM bilaterally (right p=0.047; left p=0.007), IOF-MML on the right Side (p=0.034), and IOF-AC on the left Side (p=0.022).

CONCLUSION: The IOF position demonstrates variations in side asymmetry, gender, and age. Understanding these differences enhances clinical precision for Pakistani Punjabi demographics, aiding in surgical planning for various maxillofacial surgeries and reducing iatrogenic risks.

Bridging the green gap: knowledge and practices of sustainable healthcare among medical and dental students of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

2026-10-29T15:23:21+00:00

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE:

Environmental destruction resulting from power usage, waste, and resource-intensive practices in the health sector has become a global issue. Eco-friendly notions seem inadequately presented in undergraduate medical and dental programs in developing nations, despite of raised global awareness about eco-friendly health practices. The aim of our study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and abilities of undergraduate medical and dental students regarding eco-friendly practices.

METHODOLOGY:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Frontier Medical and Dental College, Abbottabad, KPK(January–May 2025). A total of 270 students of third-, fourth-, and final-year MBBS, and second-, third-, and final-year BDS completed a pre-validated, closed-ended, 27-item questionnaire. The sampling process involved 290 students, of whom 270 completed the survey (93% response rate). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS v20.

RESULTS:
Out of 290 students invited, a response rate of 93% (N=270) was achieved, with 135 each in BDS and MBBS. A total of 60% recorded energy savings, 77.78 % reflected awareness of recycling practices, and 72.96% had knowledge about waste management despite of practical non-compliance, as 54% still reported disposal of major waste in general Bins. About 78.2% of participants were interested in further training on biomedical waste management. Awareness about wastemanagement appeared higher among BDS Students than MBBS students (77.0% vs. 68.9%), though this difference was not statistically significant.

Challenging the safety of progesterone supplementation: is it associated with early-onset intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

2026-10-31T09:16:30+00:00

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a gestational problem causing liver dysfunction characterized by itching, biochemical evidence of raised bile acids, and altered liver enzymes (LFTs). It is associated with serious perinatal outcomes. The objective of the study is to evaluate whether exogenous progesterone use during pregnancy is associated with ICP and adverse perinatal outcomes.

METHODOLOGY: This retrospective case-control study was carried out at Sadiq Abbasi Hospital, Bahawalpur, from February 2021 to December 2023. The cases were pregnant women diagnosed with ICP, and the controls were pregnant women who did not have ICP. Data included demographics, progesterone supplementation, obstetric outcomes, and biochemical markers. Associations were interpreted using Chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests and multivariable logistic regression adjusted for maternal age, BMI, parity, and prior ICP.

RESULTS: Women with ICP have received more progesterone than controls (52% vs 20%, p < 0.001). Progesterone support in the first trimester was related to an increased risk of ICP (aOR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.9–4.1, p < 0.001). The ICP group also delivered a higher incidence of preterm delivery (35% vs 12%, p < 0.001), lower birth weight neonates, and increased NICU admissions.

CONCLUSION: Progesterone supplementation, specifically in early pregnancy, is a risk factor for the development of ICP. This emphasizes the need for regular and careful checking of bile acid levels in women using exogenous progesterone, as it may elevate the odds of getting an early-onset ICP leading to obstetric complications.

Diagnostic accuracy of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with suspected prostate cancer

2026-11-06T10:59:10+00:00

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: In addition to reducing the frequency of needless biopsies, multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) has a high sensitivity and specificity in identifying clinically relevant tumors. The goal of this study was to find out how accurate multiparametric MRI is at finding prostate cancer.

METHODOLOGY: Between March 1, 2023, and February 28, 2024, 123 male patients with suspected prostate cancer, ages 50 to 90, participated in this cross-sectional validation study. Patients with active urinary tract infections were excluded from immediate TRUS-guided biopsy because of the acute infection and post-biopsy urosepsis risk. A multiparametric MRI was generated at an outpatient diagnostic clinic. To achieve thorough coverage and precise imaging of the prostate gland, the mpMRI protocol used an 8-Channel Body Array coil and included T2-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging with ADC maps, and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging; additional anatomical/localizer sequences were used only for localization. The mpMRI diagnostic indicators' sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV were analyzed.

RESULTS: Overall, mpMRI's sensitivity was 84.93%, specificity was 84.0%, PPV was 88.57%, NPV was 79.25%, and diagnostic accuracy was 84.55% when compared to TRUS-guided biopsy.

CONCLUSION: This study shows that prostate cancer can be detected with a very high degree of diagnostic accuracy using multiparametric MRI.

A 10-Step Road Map to Obtaining PHC Quality Inspection License in Punjab.

2026-11-06T10:55:15+00:00

This short communication shares a systematic approach to help health facility personnel in the process of obtaining a provisional/regular license from the Health Care Commission. So far, no one has published a strategy on this issue. This article will guide all the health care facilities to initiate the process and then sustain the routine work. Quality care indicators are now integrated into the annual audit of all the public sector hospitals, so it will not just be a one-time effort. There should be a proper dedicated team monitoring continuous progress and maintaining the record.