Diabetes has been found to be associated with low levels of thiamine stores in the body, as thiamine directly affects carbohydrate metabolism. Amplified renal clearance of thiamine has been found in both type I and type II diabetic patients. It has been shown that high-dose thiamine therapy may have a therapeutic effect on early-stage diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study was to evaluate various biochemical parameters and serum thiamine levels in type I and type II diabetic patients and compare them with a healthy control group.

Objective Blood pressure (BP) has been found to rise among populations due to the high body mass index (BMI). Overweight and persons who have high BP are prone to develop heart diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between BMI and BP among hypertensive patients in both males and females aged 18 years and above. Methodology A cross-sectional study was carried out among patients with a self-reported history of hypertension and anti-hypertensive medication. After taking ethical approval, a total of 337 patients aged 18 or above were selected by using convenience sampling. The duration of the study was six months. A detailed history was taken from each patient about hypertension associated symptoms with the help of a self-designed questionnaire. The BMI of the patients was assessed. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used to analyze the collected data. Spearman correlation was used, and p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results In a total of 337 patients, the mean age of the patients was 45.87±13.38 years. In which 176 (52.2%) were males and 161 (47.8%) were females. Their mean BMI level was 26.83±5.83 kg/m 2 , and the mean systolic blood pressure level was 141.78±13.00 mm Hg whereas the diastolic blood pressure was 85.21±10.03 mm Hg. The results also showed that among males the BMI had a significant negative correlation with both systolic blood pressure level (ρ = -0.212, p = 0.011) and diastolic blood pressure level (ρ = -0.208, p = 0.013), while in females the correlation was insignificant. Conclusion Our study results concluded that the BMI of the patients had a significant weak negative correlation with both systolic blood pressure level and diastolic blood pressure level in males; however, no significant correlation was found in females.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of self-medication among undergraduate students of medical sciences Study design and setting: Cross-sectional Study was conducted at Al-Tibri Medical College Hospital, from October 2019 to February 2020. Methodology: Data was collected after an ethical approval of concerned institute; total of 150 students included from the 1st, 3rd and final year of MBBS. Valid questionnaire was used to evaluate the response of the participants regarding selfmedication. Verbal consent was taken from the students, and then they were asked to fill their responses. Data was evaluated in the form of frequency and percentages through SPSS version 21.0. Chi-square test was applied, and the level of significance was considered p=<0.05 Results: Out of total of 150 students, 58.7% were males and 41.3% females. In students of 1st, 3rd and 5th year the most common morbidity for seeking self-medication was headache, flu/cough, fever, and pain. The percentage of drug/ drug groups commonly used for self-medication included antipyretics being 36%, 54% and 64%, antibiotics were 50%, 86% and 90%, and analgesics was 42%, 62% and 64% in 1st, 3rd and 5th years respectively. Common reasons for pursuing selfmedication were minor illnesses (50%, 81%, 94%), easy availability (52%, 82%, 92%) and quick-relief (50%, 58%, 100%) in 1st, 3rd and 5th year respectively. Conclusion: In the present study, self-medication was observed in a large percentage of students. Thus, medical curricula need further consideration to promote awareness regarding the disadvantages of self-medication in undergraduates so we can curb this self-medication culture from our society

Objective: To assess the status of antioxidant vitamins (A, E & C) in cortical and nuclear cataracts patients. Study Design: Prospective Comparative study. Setting: Al-Ibrahim Eye Hospital and Biochemistry Department of Al-Tibri Medical College, Karachi. Period: Sept 2016 to Aug 2017. Material & Methods: A non-probability random sampling technique was used on 80 pre-diagnosed cataracts (cortical and nuclear) patients, and 40 control subjects were selected for the study. The demographic data were collected, and the blood sample of control and cataract patients were analyzed for random blood sugar and antioxidant vitamins (A, E, and C) by Elisa Method. Results: The Blood level of vitamins E was low in cataract patients as compared to control subjects. Conclusions: The blood level of vitamin E is less in cortical and nuclear cataract patients as compared to control but had shown no significant difference between cortical and nuclear cataract patients.

Background: In Pakistan age related vision disturbances are mainly due to cataract. Various studies have reported relationship of ocular lesion with senile changes and diabetes mellitus resulting in reduced quality of life due to vision. Oxidative stress is an important factor in the process of cataractogenesis. The pathogenesis of the cataract may involve decreased activity of antioxidant scavenging system which includes non-enzymatic natural antioxidants as biomolecules such as carotenoids and vitamins. So, it is planned to investigate the level of serum antioxidant vitamins in diabetic cataract patients and in non-diabetic cataract patients.Methods: The study was conducted at Biochemistry department, Al-Tibri Medical College Karachi from October 2016 to October 2017. Ninety pre diagnosed cataract patients were selected from Al-Ibrahim Eye Hospital Karachi 40 normal control subjects were selected from the same population with same socioeconomic group. The demographic data was analyzed. The random blood sugar, antioxidant vitamins (C, A and E) and malondialdehyde were analyzed in the blood sample of control and cataract patients. The data was analyzed by SPSS version 20.Results: There was no significant difference in the level of vitamin C, A, E and MDA between diabetic and non-diabetic cataract patients, but the blood levels of vitamins of control are higher as compared to the cataract patients. The level of MDA is significantly high in cataract patients as compared to control. Antioxidant vitamin E was negatively correlated with serum malondialdehyde in cataract patients.Conclusions: It is concluded that in diabetic and non-diabetic cataract low level of serum antioxidant vitamins may be a contributory factor for cataractogenesis.