The established correlation between diabetes and periodontal diseases and the increasing prevalence of Type II diabetes in the general population indicate that dental practitioners will probably treat an increasing number of diabetic patients. Despite the fact that there is little scientific evidence to support the concept, it has been generally accepted that treatment for periodontal disease in diabetic patients may reduce insulin requirements and improve metabolic balance. However, to date no one has evaluated the effects of periodontal therapy on the metabolic state of the poorly-controlled diabetic patient. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of controlling gingival inflammation on blood glucose levels as determined by glycosylation of hemoglobin and albumin.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder in hemodialysis (HD) patients. It is associated with poor sleep and decreased quality of life. The precipitants for the disorder are still poorly understood. The condition has not been studied extensively in Pakistan, which has a vast majority of end-stage renal disease patients on maintenance HD. We aimed to determine the prevalence of this condition in patients attending HD units of the largest renal dialysis center in Northern Pakistan. We also strived to determine any associations with dialysis inadequacy and the total duration of HD. This was an observational study comprising 279 patients. RLS was diagnosed using the International Restless Leg Syndrome Study Group criteria. Dialysis adequacy was determined using the Urea Reduction Ratio and the Kt/V technique. The prevalence of RLS in this large HD population was 24%. Our results show that a longer duration and greater number of HD sessions were significantly associated with the development of RLS (p<0.05). Dialysis inadequacy was not associated with the development of the disorder. These results may indicate that the pro-inflammatory nature of hemodialysis may have a role in the pathophysiology of RLS in HD patients and prolonged exposure to it may make them more prone to developing the disorder.

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling aberrations trigger differentiation and proliferation in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the current approaches which inhibit this vital cellular pathway provoke some side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to look for new therapeutic options. MicroRNAs are small molecules that modulate expression of the target genes and can be utilized as a potential therapeutic option for CRC. On the other hand, nanoformulations have been implemented in the treatment of plethora of diseases. Owing to their excessive bioavailability, limited cytotoxicity and high specificity, nanoparticles may be considered as an alternative drug delivery platform for the Hh signaling mediated CRC. This article reviews the Hh signaling and its involvement in CRC with focus on miRNAs, nanoformulations as potential diagnostic/prognostic and therapeutics for CRC.

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) has been studied less extensively in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). It is unclear whether the presence of severe liver disease is actually a predisposing factor for CI-AKI. Liver cirrhosis is extremely common in Pakistan and is attributed to the high prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis. Patients with LC often undergo contrast-enhanced computed tomograms (CECT) for various diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, and there have been concerns regarding them being at risk for CI-AKI. The available literature on this topic is scanty, and no study has been conducted in Pakistan. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to determine the frequency of CI-AKI in patients with LC undergoing CECT and to determine any significant predispositions. We retrospectively analyzed the records of 470 LC patients at our center. The frequency of CI-AKI in our study was 5.1%. A higher mean model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), MELD including sodium (MELD-Na), and Child-Pugh (CP) scores was significantly associated with developing CI-AKI (p<0.05). Patients with CI-AKI also had a significantly higher mean international normalized ratio (INR) and serum bilirubin levels, with lower mean venous bicarbonate and serum sodium levels (p<0.05). Our results show that patients with a more advanced liver disease and poorer synthetic function are increasingly susceptible to developing CI-AKI. Further studies can investigate the role of bicarbonate therapy in preventing CI-AKI in LC.

Introduction: Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated disease caused by ingesting gluten-containing foods and is characterized mainly by malabsorptive diarrhea. Furthermore, distinguishing between mild disease and asymptomatic individuals is critical and necessitates a high level of clinical suspicion. Short stature, delayed puberty, bone abnormalities, neurological problems, and intestinal cancer can all be consequences of a delayed diagnosis. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of celiac disease among our community's recurrent diarrhea patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study aimed at determining the frequency of celiac disease in patients with chronic diarrhea. One hundred eighty-eight patients between the ages of 18 and 60 years who had chronic diarrhea lasting greater than three months were enrolled in this study. Stratification was utilized to control for modifiers. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 74.5% of patients (n=140) were male, while 25.5% (n=48) were female with a mean age of 38.48±10.85 years. The average duration of celiac disease symptoms was 8.17± 3.75 months. Celiac disease was found in 12.2% (n=23) of the individuals. Also, 21% of individuals with a positive family history of CD devolved CD, compared to those without prior CD family history (p=0.01). Conclusions: In individuals with chronic diarrhea for more than three months, the prevalence of celiac disease was determined to be 12.2% (n=23). There was a statistically significant difference between those with a positive family history of CD and those who did not have the condition.