Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan An Inspiration for Humanity Occupational Asthma Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in General Population of Islamabad Lipomodelling for Breast Surgery Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan An Inspiration for Humanity Begum Kulsum Saifullah had unequivocally an illustrious career which enfolded the mainstream functions of State of Pakistan. She had innumerable feathers in her cap. In addition to being a Founder member of APWA and chairperson of number of Women organizations, she contributed in the National politics as member provincial assembly, member of Federal council, member of National Assembly of Pakistan and first lady Federal minister. She represented Pakistan at annual session of General assembly in the United Nations International Council on Population. She was a nationalist political leader and a successful entrepreneur. She remained the Chairperson of Saif Group of Companies till 1990. Her life was full of struggle and was marked with success and accomplishments. Mothers, politicians and business community look towards her as a symbol of struggle and success. She influenced the national politics and struggled for the women to have their rights as laid down in our religion, in Pakistan. Her main contribution is her professional children who had and will have long lasting impressions on our society, politics and entrepreneurship. Extremely affectionate and caring mother who believed to be at giving end always be it reward, prayers, wishes or guidance. She did assume her next journey but has left an immortal legacy behind which we all have to carry forward. We miss her as a mother and pledge to adhere to her teachings and advice with conviction so that our efforts bear fruit. We supplicate to Allah Karim that she rests in eternal peace and rise with the commended. Prof. Iqbal Saifullah Khan Director, Saif Healthcare Limited O ccupational Asthma Dr. Shazli Manzoor (Consultant Pulmonologist, KIH) Occupational Asthma is considered a serious disease, which contributes up to 15% adult-onsite asthma, and may become fatal. Adult-onsite asthma is diagnosed after the age of 20. This disease is most common in industrial sector and leads to worsening of health, working ability and productivity. Work exposure can cause or intensify asthma and can also be associated with different variants of asthma. Specific workplace sensitizers can cause occupational asthma, which is an agent that carries asthma through a mechanism associated with immunologic response. Occupational sanitizers are commonly high molecular weight agents that produce specific IgE antibodies and allergic responses. Low molecular agents can also cause sensitization which leads to asthma. Figure 1 shows high molecular agents which put workers on risk. Figure 1 Agents High-molecular-weight agents Workers at Risk of Exposure Animal allergens Farmers, persons who work with laboratory animals, veterinarians Plants Greenhouse workers, farmers Plant products (e.g., natural rubber latex) Latex-glove makers and users, makers of other latex products Cereals and grains Farmers, grain workers, bakery workers Other foods (e.g., milk powder and egg powder) Food-production workers, cooks Fungi Office workers, laboratory workers Enzymes Laboratory workers, pharmaceutical workers, bakery workers Insects Farmers, greenhouse workers Fish and crustaceans Workers handling herring or snow crabs Vegetable gums (e.g., guar and acacia) Printers, including carpet makers Low-molecular-weight agents Diisocyanates (e.g., toluene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate) Makers of rigid or flexible polyurethane foam, installers of polyurethane foam insulation, urethane spray painters, those who work with urethane adhesives or urethane molds in foundries. Acid anhydrides (e.g., phthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, and trimellitic anhydride) Makers of epoxy resins for plastics. Acrylic monomers Chemical-industry workers, dental workers, aestheticians applying artificial nails Wood dusts (e.g., from red cedar and exotic woods) Carpenters, sawmill workers, forestry workers Complex platinum salts Refinery workers, jewelry workers Other metal salts (e.g., nickel chromium) Metal-plating workers, welders of stainless steel Biocides (e.g., glutaraldehyde and chlorhexidine) Health care workers Phenol-formaldehyde resin Makers of wood products, foundry workers Persulfates and henna Hairdressers Drugs (e.g., antibiotics) Pharmaceutical workers, pharmacists Aliphatic amines (e.g., ethylenediamines and ethanolamines) Lacquer handlers, soldering workers, spray painters, professional cleaners 4 It is estimated that 1 in 10 cases of adult-onset asthma are directly related to workplace. A study which was conducted in 13 countries with 7000 participants shows that 10%-25% of population is at risk of occupational asthma equivalent to 250-300 cases per million per year. Diagnosis Occupational asthma needs to be suspected in every new onsite asthma patient. Respiratory symptoms including wheezing, dyspnea, chest tightness, cough and sputum production are similar to non-work related asthma but its occurrence is tied to work related exposure. Symptoms begin variably – at the beginning and end of the work shift or in the evening after working hours. Improvement in the condition occurs during weekend or holidays. Detailed occupational and clinical history should be obtained before diagnosing occupational asthma. Diagnosis include assessment of clinical symptoms, objective confirmation, testing for skin or serologic specific IgE antibodies, documentation of symptomatic, functional, and inflammatory changes in response to exposure to occupational agents. Basic facilities include Pre-bronchodilator FEV1 and Pre-bronchodilator FVC as a percent of predicted. Prevention Tertiary Prevention 1. Evaluating the symptomatic workers early, obtaining accurate diagnosis and removing employee from further exposure after confirmed diagnosis. 2. Controlling other causes and usage of pharmacologic measures when required. 3. Monitoring patient’s asthma in future work locations to ensure safe placement. Future Developments Primary prevention can be achieved through following practices. Prevalence of occupational asthma continues to grow. Current areas of particular interest include Novel agents, mechanisms of sensitization and the health effects associated with complex multiple exposures are the current areas of interest. In addition to this, diagnostic process in occupational asthma and appropriate investigations is the subject of current debate. Primary Prevention 1. Carrying out a complete risk asthma assessment of the workplace, allowing reduction in exposure to asthmagens and through an appropriate health surveillance program. 2. Avoiding the introduction of predicted new sensitizing agents at workplace. 3. Monitoring and controlling the levels of exposure to workplace sensitizers. 4. Educating workers in the use of safe practices at work. 5. To reduce the risk of exposure by modifying the physical or chemical form of known sensitizers (e.g., less volatile preparations, polymerized products, and latex gloves with a low-protein and low-powder content). Secondary Prevention 1. Introducing medical surveillance programs for workers at risk. 2. Educating workers on the risks of occupational asthma through workplace programs and information provided by healthcare providers. References 1. Fishwick, D., Barber, C., Bradshaw, L., Roberts, J., Francis, M., Naylor, S., Ayres, J., Burge, P., Corne, J., Cullinan, P., Frank, T., Hendrick, D., Hoyle, J., Jaakkola, M., Taylor, A., Nicholson, P., Niven, R., Pickering, A., Rawbone, R., Stenton, C., Warburton, C. and Curran, A., 2008. Standards of care for occupational asthma, [Online] Available at <https://www.brit-thoracic.org. uk/document-library/clinical-information/asthma/ occupational-asthma-a-standard-of-care/> [20 June 2015]. 2. Tarlo, S. and Lemiere, C,. 2014. Occupational Asthma, The New England Journal of Medicine, 370(7), pp. 640649. 5 Prevalence ofof V itamin-D Prevalence D eficiency in Vitamin-D G eneral Population Introduction DEFICIENCY IN Gof ENERAL I slamabad, POPULATION OF Pakistan (Corresponding Author: Asim Ansari – Manager Clinical Laboratory, KIH) Objective: The current study was designed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D in the general population of Islamabad and its suburbs. Vitamin D (sunshine vitamin) belongs to the class of secosteroids which are fat-soluble and performs the important function of intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphate. The vitamin, first identified in 1921, has two main types namely Vitamin D3 and vitamin D2. These two vitamins are also called cholecalciferol and ergocalciferol respectively. Both these types are collectively termed as calciferol. The main sources of the vitamin are skin production (via sun exposure) and dietary intake. Most individuals rely on sunlight exposure (UVB 290 – 315 nm) to fulfill their requirements for vitamin D. The serum vitamin D level reflects exogenous intake in diet as well as endogenous production from exposure to sunlight. It is accepted that synthesis may add in the maintenance of sufficient serum concentrations. Approximately 95% of the vitamin D which is measured in serum is of D type whereas D is less than 5% and only reaches to higher levels in individuals who are on vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D is helpful in bone health and causes a reduction in mortality in aged women Vitamin D deficiency results in osteomalacia (rickets in case of children). Insufficient vitamin D, in addition to causing rickets, increase osteoporosis in adults, and results in osteomalacia which is very painful. In addition, reduced vitamin D levels have also been associated with reduced bone mineral density. The most important vitamin D metabolite which can be estimated in the blood is the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), which includes the major circulating form that can safely be related with skin production and dietary intake. Vitamin D has received an enormous attention recently. In the United States, the deficiency of vitamin D has been found to be 36% in adults while up to 57% in general medicine patients. Therefore, Vitamin D deficiency is now recognized as an epidemic in the USA.The same has also been reported from Europe in even higher percentages. A report from Australia indicated in Australians as Vitamin D deficient. Reports from Pakistan have also demonstrated Vitamin D deficiency. The number of cases with deficiency of vitamin D in Pakistan is on the rise yet the issue has not been given due attention by the concerned government authorities nor by ISLAMABAD 6 the individuals. The problem is further compounded due to the fact that people do not have basic knowledge and awareness on how to maintain required level of vitamin D in the body. According to surveys conducted in the recent past, over 85 percent of both non-pregnant and pregnant mothers have been found vitamin D deficient. In Pakistan, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among children has been reported as 41.1% including 10.1% severe cases while 31% deficient cases. Inadequate vitamin D is frequent and deficiencies can be found in all countries in all ethnic groups, and across all ages. In Islamabad, the frequency of vitamin D deficiency hasn’t been fully elaborated in the general population. This particular study was designed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in general population of Islamabad and its suburbs. group are at borderline and caution while normal are with adequate concentration of vitamin D. Material and Methods This wasa retrospective, cross-sectional study conducted from January 2012 to December 2012, at the Department of Pathology, Kulsum International Hospital, Islamabad. During the study period, 737 subjects were selected through convenience sampling technique and tested for vitamin D. The inclusion criteria included all subjects referred to the hospital during the study period. About 3 ml blood from all the study subjects was collected in gel tubes and serum was separated via centrifugation at 4,000 rpm for 5 minutes. The test principle is based on a Electrochemiluminescence Immuno Assay (ECLIA). The assay uses a vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) as capture protein in the assay which binds to vitamin D and vitamin D (25hydroxyvitamin). The reagents and kit were stored and used according to manufacturer’s instructions. All the results were analyzed using MS excel. Results 562 study subjects (76.2%) were females while 175 (23.8%) were males with a mean age of 36.3 years (age range 1575 years). The patients were placed in three categories according to the quantity of vitamin D in their blood namely deficient, insufficient and normal. Individuals falling in the deficient category need immediate vitamin D ingestion and those in insufficient group are at borderline and caution while normal are with adequate concentration of vitamin D. Females had significantly higher mean Vitamin D deficiency (56.2%) compared to males (15.3%). Insufficiency has been reported by 11.3% individuals with 9.65% females and 1.65% males. The rest of the subjects (17.2%) were normal including 10.5% females and 6.7% males. The results have been summarized in the following tableI. Table I: Signification of Vitamin D Deficiency in Males and Females Category Total Female Male (T/%) Deficient 527 (71.5%) 414 (56.2%) 113 (15.3%) Insufficient 83 (11.3%) 71 (9.65%) 12 (1.65%) Normal 127 (17.2%) 77 (10.5%) 50 (6.7%) Total 737 (100%) 562 (76.2%) 175 (23.8%) Discussion There are many factors which contribute to the vitamin D deficiency in general population worldwide. These factors include reduced exposure to sunlight, age-linked reduction in cutaneous synthesis, and intake of food with a reduced vitamin D level. Vitamin D deficiency is a new global epidemic among both children and adults. There are some evidences which confirm the association of vitamin D deficiency with high possibility of other morbidities such as diabetes mellitus (both types 1 and 2), cardiovascular illness, and malignancy particularly of the intestine and prostate. The results of vitamin D levels are also used as an aid for the assessment of bone metabolism. Vitamin D supplements are given to make the muscle strength better and lessen the fall percentage by around 50%. Our study has reported a higher percentage of vitamin D deficient individuals in Islamabad region. The frequency of vitamin D deficiency escalated considerably with age and was found higher in women. This was in line with a study conducted in Australia in which 11,247 adults from 42 randomly selected districts were studied and exhibited 31% deficiency. Our results are also supported by a national data reported from Faisalabad, Punjab in which 77.5% of the sample showed Vitamin D deficiency whereas 18% were in the category of Vitamin D insufficiency. Another study from the same city (Faisalabad) reported the highest prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in females. The study showed that 87% pregnant women were having Vitamin D deficiency, 10% were having Vitamin D insufficiency while only 3% had normal levels. High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in females might be because they are not exposed to sunlight properly and are mostly house-wives involved in domestic work. The chances to expose their bodies are not available even if they go out because they wear clothes covering most of their body except face and hands. This is due to the cultural, social and religious norms existing in our society. The lack of awareness regarding healthy balanced diet and the overcooking of food are a few other contributing factors to the prevailing vitamin D deficiency. A national programme by government on the supplementation of vitamin D and a public awareness campaign are urgently needed. Conclusion The study showed a high percentage of vitamin D deficient individuals. The frequency of vitamin D deficiency increased considerably with age and was greater in females. There is a need to take immediate measures to tackle this growing public health problem. (This article was originally published in Annal of PIMS) 7 Oncoplastic Breast Reconstruction Surgeon – KIH Lipomodelling is the transfer of autologous fat from a donor site, such as the thighs or abdomen, to a recipient site with the aim of defect correction. In recent years there has been a growing interest in the use of lipomodelling to correct shape, symmetry and volume defects following breast conservating surgery or reconstructive surgery for breast cancer. In addition to this, lipomodelling may be used in cosmetic enhancement of the breasts or in correction of congenital abnormalities such as Poland’s syndrome. The technique involves harvesting fat from a suitable donor site by blunt needle aspiration. The samples are then placed in a centrifuge to purify the fat which is injected into the breast in thin strips at different depths. This time-consuming technique is necessary to avoid pooling of fat which can lead to fat necrosis, calcification and oil cyst formation. Several procedures may be required to obtain an optimal outcome as fat absorption may lead to a loss of 10% - 30% of volume in the 6 months following injection. An emerging technique, cell-assisted transfer, may increase the amount of Adipose Derived Regenerative Stem Cells (ADRCs) in the harvested fat prior to injection with the aim of reducing the amount of fat absorption. The aesthetic outcomes of lipomodelling are very encouraging, papers reporting these as ‘good’ and ‘very good’ in up to 90% of patients. The same papers report low complications rates with no apparent increase in breast cancer recurrence rates1,2,3,4. There are, however, many unanswered questions regarding the safety of such a procedure following breast cancer treatment. Worryingly, in vitro and experimental animal models have shown that ADCRs can be induced into promoting tumour cell growth and metastasis when present in a tumour micro-environment5,6,7. Conversely, there is also evidence that the ADRCs can inhibit tumour growth when treated with appropriate growth factors and cytokines8. Publicised case series have demonstrated low recurrence rates following mastectomy and reconstruction with lipomodelling to correct volume deficiencies1,9. There is limited evidence following breast conserving surgery10. To date there are no studies comparing recurrence rates of breast cancer patients that have undergone lipomodelling with controls and therefore the true oncological safety of this procedure cannot be determined. Until such evidence exists it would seem sensible to implement a careful follow up protocol of patients that have undergone lipomodelling and to withhold cell-assisted transfer outside the context of clinical trials. An international register of cell-assisted fat transfer cases has been proposed by the Cell Society11. Fat that is aspirated for lipomodelling contains Adipose Derived Regenerative Stem Cells (ADRCs) which are pluripotent and may be of therapeutic value. Cell-assisted transfer is a technique that has been developed to increase the yield of ADRCs with the aim of improving graft survival12,13. There is no reliable evidence from controlled clinical trials to support the efficacy of this. Fat necrosis, a complication of lipomodelling, may appear as microcalcifications on mammography. Experienced breast radiologists may be able to diagnose these as benign however indeterminate lesions will lead to an increase in investigation. A recent multicentre study concluded that lipomodelling did not interfere with radiological follow up after breast conserving surgery however this study did not compare patients with a control group that had not undergone lipomodelling10. There is currently no evidence to substantiate the suggestion that the presence of benign calcifications disguises malignant calcification and leads to a delay in diagnosis of recurrence. To date, several agencies have reviewed the literature and developed guidance of lipomodelling. In July 2009 the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ task force stated that there was a ‘tremendous need for high-quality clinical studies’ and they were unable to make any specific recommendations for the clinical use of fat grafting due to a lack of data14. In 8 their December 2010 report, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) essentially agreed with the Australian Safety and Efficacy Register of New Interventional Procedures – Surgical (ASERNIP-S) report of September 2010 that stated the available literature was poor with a complete lack of comparative evidence15,16. All three agencies concluded that there was a need for controlled trials to assess safety and to identify which patients would benefit most from the procedure. In light of the above considerations, guidelines have been developed by a writing group which has been appointed by the Association of Breast Surgery (ABS), The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, and the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. These guidelines have been produced with the aim of supporting training and audit in this relatively new technique, informing appropriate use of lipomodelling, and promoting patient safety. References 1. Delay E, Garson S, Tousson G et al. Fat injection to the breast: technique, results, and indications based on 880 procedures over 10 years. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2009; 29: 360–78. 2. Illouz YG, Sterodimas A. Autologous fat transplantation to the breast: a personal technique with 25 years of experience. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 2009; 33: 706–15. 3. Missana MC, Laurent I, Barreau L et al. Autologous fat transfer in reconstructive breast surgery: indications, technique and results. European Journal of Surgical Oncology. 2007; 33: 685–90. 4. Panettiere P, Marchetti L, Accorsi D. The serial free fat transfer in irradiated prosthetic breast reconstructions. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 2009; 33: 695–700. 5. Jotzu C, Alt E, Welte G, Li J et al. Adipose tissue derived stem cells differentiate into carcinoma-associated fibroblast-like cells under the influence of tumor derived factors. Cellular Oncology. 2011; 34: 55-67 6. 7. 8. Razmkhah M, Jaberipour M, Erfani N et al. Adipose derived stem cells (ASCs) isolated from breast cancer tissue express IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β1 and upregulate expression of regulatory molecules on T cells: Do they protect breast cancer cells from the immune response? Cellular Immunology. 2011; 226(2): 116-22 Muehlberg F, Song Y, Krohn A et al. Tissue-resident stem cells promote breast cancer growth and metastasis. Carcinogenesis. 2009; 30(4): 589-597 Grisendi G, Bussolari R, Cafarelli L et al. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells as stable source of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand delivery for cancer therapy. Cancer Research. 2010; 70: 3718-3729 9. Rigotti G, Marchi A, Stringhini P et al. Determining the oncological risk of autologous lipoaspirate grafting for post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 2010; 34: 475–80. 10. Petit J, Lohsiriwat V, Clough K et al. The oncologic outcome and immediate surgical complications of lipofilling in breast cancer patients: A multicenter study – Milan-ParisLyon experience of 646 lipofilling procedures. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. 2011; 128(2): 341-6 11. www.cellsociety.org 12. Weiler-Mithoff E, Perez Cano R, Calabrese C et al. Cellenhanced reconstruction after breast conservation therapy: A proven technique. Abstract at San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2009. Cancer Research. 2009; 69: Supplement 3, 748s 13. Zhu M, Zhou Z, Chen Y et al. Supplementation of fat grafts with adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) improves long-term graft retention. Ann Plast Surg. 2010; 64(2): 222228 14. Gutowski K, ASPS Fat Graft Task Force. Current applications and safety of autologous fat grafts: A report of the ASPS fat graft task force. Plastic Reconstructive Surgery. 2009 Jul; 124(1):272-80 15. www.guidance.nice.org.uk/IP/845/DraftGuidance 16. Leopardi D et al. Systematic review of autologous fat transfer for cosmetic and reconstructive breast augmentation. ASERNIP-S Report No. 70. Adelaide, South Australia: ASERNIP-S, September 2010. 9 Handwashing Week: Health experts recommend handwashing using soap to prevent spread of infection and communicable diseases. Practice of hand washing improves health and saves life by preventing infections. Many infections start when hands are contaminated with disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Nursing department at Kulsum International Hospital took an initiative by celebrating Handwashing Week and made people aware of this hygiene practice. A ceremony was also held at the end of week by Mrs. Salimah Jalal Baig, Chief of Nursing KIH. Key speakers on this occasion were Dr. Muhammad Saleem Khan, CEO KIH and Dr. Syed Muntazir Mehdi Zaidi, Head of Operations KIH. Percutaneous Vertebroplasty: Services for Percutaneous Vertebroplasty have been introduced at Kulsum International Hospital with an aim of providing this treatment modality to the patients. Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive, image guided therapy used in relieving the pain from a vertebral body fracture. Percutaneous Vertebroplasty involves percutaneous injection of cement called Polymethylmethacrylate in to the vertebral bodies. A patient was brought for a treatment with history of trauma having TH12 collapse vertebral body and painful spine. Pain was radiating to the ribs. Dr. Umair Rashid Chaudhry, Consultant Neuro-Radiologist at KIH, conducted the procedure using local anesthesia under Fluoroscopy. The procedure had excellent results. Pulmonary Discussion Forum: Prevalence of Pulmonary diseases has shown an increase lately. Diseases including Asthma, Atelectasis, Bronchitis, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Emphysema and Lung cancer; have higher percentage of occurrence. Kulsum International Hospital organized a Pulmonary Discussion Forum on 30th of January, 2015. Aim of this conducive activity was to exchange the experiences of pulmonary cases among medical experts and improve existing practices. Esteemed panel comprised of Maj. Gen. Jawad K Ansari, Dr. Wajid and Dr. Shazli Manzoor along with other fellows. 10 Success Story: Shamshad Begum, age 43, came to KIH Physiotherapy department with right Frozen Shoulder. Shamshad Begum is a housewife and a mother of three young children. Her children are greatly dependent on their mother to take care of them. From making them study at home to dropping them off to school, Shamshad Begum has to do it all. Being right handed, she faced extreme difficulty in carrying out even her basic daily activities including dressing and cooking due to severe pain in her right shoulder and arm for the past one year. She felt helpless and depressed. Having met several doctors who would prescribe daily intake of pain killers for weeks, Shamshad Begum’s shoulder remained stiff and restricted. After consulting several physiotherapists from other reputed hospitals in the vicinity, she had almost given up the thought of using her dominant arm fully and freely like before until she came to KIH Physiotherapy Department. Our young and competent physiotherapist, Dr. Shafaq Altaf (BSPT, PPDPT) assessed her condition and designed an efficient exercise plan along with the use of Interferential Current therapy for pain management. After following physiotherapy for consecutive two weeks and alternate exercise sessions for the next one week, Shamshad Begum has now returned to her household routine with a mobile and pain free shoulder. This is what she has to say about KIH Physiotherapy department: “I am lucky enough to have been treated by a wonderful team of physiotherapists. My exercise sessions were carried out in a very friendly, comfortable and motivational environment. My kids are happy to have their joyful and active mother back.” Hypertension – An enemy inside you: An awareness session was conducted at Kulsum International Hospital on Hypertension with the theme “Hypertension, An enemy inside you”. Dr. Hamid Iqbal (Cardiologist) presented particulars to patients and visitors about the life style and factors which promote hypertension. Audience was provided with education material which helps in making them understand causes, effects and complications of hypertensive life style. 11 Making Lives Safe... Everyday
© Copyright 2024