The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and severity of the condition of lower urinary tract symptoms in Pakistani men, determine its predictors and assess its impact on the quality of life. Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted among men aged 30 years and over in three districts of Punjab province, Pakistan. The modified Urdu version of the International Prostate Symptom Score was used to assess the prevalence and severity of lower urinary tract symptoms. Individuals with total symptom score ⩾8 were considered as having lower urinary tract symptoms. The data were analysed using SPSS version 22. The chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to assess the difference among categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Moreover, binary logistic regressions were performed to determine the predictors of lower urinary tract symptoms. Results: The overall prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms in our sample was 33.7%. The frequency of individuals having mild, moderate and severe lower urinary tract symptoms was 66.3, 30.3 and 3.4%, respectively. Storage symptoms were more common than voiding symptoms (35.6% vs 28.2%, respectively). Increasing age (one-decade interval age stratum), higher education levels, working status (currently not working), smoking, hypertension, diabetes and renal impairment were positive predictors of lower urinary tract symptoms. Moreover, the condition of lower urinary tract symptoms was associated with a significant reduction in an individual's quality of life. Conclusion: Around one-third of adult Pakistani men suffer from clinically relevant urinary symptoms, with lower urinary tract symptoms sufferers having poor quality of life as compared to non-sufferers. We recommend that the aging population should be made aware of conventional measures to mitigate mild urinary symptoms affecting their routine activities.

Myxomas are rare tumours but are the most common benign tumours of the heart. They can arise from any heart chamber. However, they arise more frequently from the left atrium.

Myxomas are rare tumours but are the most common benign tumours of the heart. They can arise from any heart chamber. However, they arise more frequently from the left atrium. They have rarely been described as originating in early age. A case of left atrial myxoma successfully removed using cardiopulmonary bypass in a 8-year-old child is presented. Review of the literature emphasizes the rarity and clinically aggressive behavior of this tumor in this age group. The object of this case report is to present myxoma in children and to evaluate possible differences between young and adult patients. Keywords: Myxoma; Left Atrium DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cardio.v4i1.9399 Cardiovasc. J. 2011; 4(1): 99-101

Introduction:Over the past three decade myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) has emerged as a robust tool for non invasive assessment of both myocardial perfusion and function. Since its inception in the 1970s, many advance have been made that have enhanced the diagnostic and prognostic strength of this modality, including the development of new Technetium 99m ( 99 mTc)-based on isotopes, implementation of SPECT, Multidetector cameras, computerized quantification, attenuation correction, and ECG gating for assessment of LV function. These advances allow for very high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. In addition there is wealth of data supporting the strength of this technique as a prognostic tool, not only in general population, but also in many important patient subgroups, such as women, patient with diabetes mellitus, in post revascularization patients, and as a preoperative assessment prior to noncardiac surgery.In Bangladesh MPI is a newly introduced modem noninvasive test. In this study a total of 100 patients of both sex were evaluated by Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MPI) in NICVD, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Full hemodynamic data, echo, ETT and in some cases CAG result were available. Even some patient has referred for MPI to see the post CABG or post PTCA status, so that prior diagnosis of coronary artery disease was established in those cases.Technetium tetrofosmin were used as a perfusion reagent. Gated SPECT procedure was done under dual head gamma camera in same day protocol. Treadmill stress instead of pharmacological stress was used in conjunction with MPI. The scanning has done in 64 slices both for stress and rest. Processing and reconstruction of image has done both in rest and stress slices of heart in SA, VLA and HLA views. Interpretation of the result has done by visual comparison of sequential images of Stress with rest in numerical parallel of SA, VLA and HLA. Diagnostic and Therapeutic Value of Cardiac Scan: First Experience of Utility and Prosfect of MPI in Bangladesh

Background: The non-invasive tests like X-ray, ECG and Echocardiography are viewed as an extension of clinical art in cardiology and have become an integral part of history taking, physical examination and other diagnostic method. Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) of secundum type is defined as a through and through communication at atrial level. Previously the diagnosis and decision of surgery for ASD, mandatorily advocate cardiac catherization. Now cardiologist and cardiac surgeon very hardly asked for cardiac catheterization. Non-invasive diagnosis with the help of ECG, X-ray and Echo is sufficient for its diagnosis and treatment for surgery. In Bangladesh there is no study upon it. Considering this ground the study is perform on Bangladeshi patients.Methods: Forty six consecutive patients with clinical (auscultatory and electrocardiographic) signs of uncomplicated atrial septal defect of secundum type were examined by chest x-ray, ECG and echocardiography, before right heart catheterisation.Result: Thirty four (74%) had ASD, four patients (9%) had insignificant pulmonary stenosis, and eight subjects (17%) were normal. No false positive diagnosis of atrial septal defect was made by chest x-ray examination, whereas increased vascular markings were incorrectly interpreted as pulmonary congestion in one case. Eight patients had x-ray films showing questionable signs of left-to-right shunt. Twelve of 30 patients with a large left-to-right shunt were correctly selected for surgery based on radiological findings. Conclusion: Analysis of non invasive diagnosis and management of ASD secundum conform the usually described pattern in western literature. Keywords: Atrial Septal Defect; Cardiac Imaging DOI: 10.3329/cardio.v2i2.6645Cardiovasc. j. 2010; 2(2) : 223-226