Objective: To determine the association between the consumption of carbonated drinks and development of kidney stones. Study Design: Matched Case-control study. Setting: Liaquat National Hospital Karachi, Pakistan. Period: June 2017 to December 2017. Material & Methods: We recruited patients of nephrolithiasis admitted in Nephrology ward at Liaquat National Hospital as cases and controls from General Surgery ward. The sample size calculated was 186, with 93 cases and 93 controls, matched for age. Descriptive statistics of socio-demographic variables were computed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the association between predictor and outcome variables. Results: A total of 186 patients participated in the study. Mean ages of the cases and controls were 34.92 (SD: 16.81) years and 31.76 (SD: 14.49) years, respectively. Around 66% of the cases and 75% of the controls had formal education. Approximately 16% of the cases and 10% of the controls were consuming soft drinks daily. Of them 77% were taking for more than 5 years. In multivariate analysis, we were unable to find significant associations between intake of carbonated drinks and kidney stones. However, the adjusted matched odds ratio (adj. mOR) for calcium intake was 6.36 (CI: 1.81- 22.33) and for caffeine intake was 7.9 (CI: 2.12 – 30.04). Those who had a past history of kidney diseases were at higher risk of developing kidney stones (mOR14.5; CI: 3.20- 65.76). Conclusion: The Study did not show any significant association of kidney stones with the intake of carbonated drinks. However, further longitudinal studies are required in order to confirm or refute any association between intake of carbonated drinks and nephrolithiasis.

Objectives: To screen new-borns to diagnose any hearing impairment early. Method: The prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, from November 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021, and new-borns of either gender aged >12h born via spontaneous vaginal delivery, induced labour, and Caesarean section. A predesigned questionnaire was used to collect detailed case history, including gestational age, duration of labour, and other prenatal, natal, and postnatal risk factors. Otoacoustic emission test was performed, and infants referred twice were scheduled for complete diagnostic evaluation and brainstem evoked response audiometry. Data was analysed using SPSS 23. Results: Of the 267 neonates, 249(93.3%) passed the first screening. Of the remaining 18(6.7%) neonates, 8(44.4%) passed the second screening, while 10(55.5%) were asked to come for a follow-up after three weeks. Of them, 3(30%) returned for check-up, while 7(70%) did not show up. Conclusion: Neonatal risk factors associated with hearing loss need to be identified, and a comprehensive hearing screening programme is required for neonates. Key Words: Hearing, Otoacoustic emission, High risk, Neonatal screening.

Nasal chondromesenchymal hamartoma in the sinonasal cavity is an unusual entity mostly found in young infants and children. We present the case of a nasal chondromesenchymal hamartoma in a young female. NCMH has a favourable outcome that shows neither recurrence nor any malignant behaviour. Keywords: Nasal Chondromesenchymal Hamartoma, Malignant, Recurrence.

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Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is one of the useful procedures for the investigation of thyroid swellings. FNAC is a minimally invasive procedure, is cost effective, and a gold standard for diagnosing thyroid lesions. Haemorrhage, thrombosis, and infarction are known common complications of FNAC. Post FNAC infarction in thyroid gland has been known as a rare phenomenon. Here, we report the case of a young female who underwent FNAC that showed Hurthle cell neoplasm (Bethesda 3). Four weeks later, she underwent right thyroid lobectomy and the final histology showed extensive necrosis and haemorrhage which is a diagnostic dilemma and hampered our diagnosis. Keywords: Hurthle cell neoplasm, FNAC, Thyroidectomy, Thyroid neoplasm.