<p><strong>Background and Objective: </strong>Pakistan has been sternly affected by COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) since March, 2020. This study was intended to evaluate the mental health among health care workers throughout the epidemic and to sight see the possible influence factors. <strong>Methods: </strong>A web-based cross-sectional survey composed of n = 237 self-selected health care workers was conducted. Their demographics, COVID-19 associated knowledge, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were noted. <strong>Results: </strong>This study received n = 237 responses. A total of (59%) of the participants belonged to age group 20-30 years. Females (56.3%) were more among all of them. Regarding marital status, (44.5%) were unmarried. Out of n = 237 participants, there were (62%) doctors, (34%) nurses and (4%) paramedical staff. Depression and anxiety prevailed in about (34.6%) and (42.2%) of participants respectively. Moderate depression was reported equally by doctors and nurses. Severe anxiety was found in (25%) while borderline anxiety in (17%) of all the participants. Nurses reported more severity in depression while comparing to doctors. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Females were slightly more depressed than males and anxiety was more common than depression especially in health workers from Sahiwal. Depression was seen more commonly in married individuals while comparing to singles. Risk of transmission of COVID-19 to family was most stressful for the participants and more than half of them affirmed it.</p>

Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is a hereditary disease, which leads to degenerative changes in the spinal cord and cerebellum (incidence 1:50,000). These changes are caused by a defect in the gene that encodes a mitochondrial gene called frataxin and causes muscle weakness, scoliosis, cardiomyopathy and impaired glucose tolerance. Therefore, these patients require special care during anaesthesia. We report the case of a 25-year-old primigravida with a history of FA and dorsal stabilisation of the vertebral column, who was admitted to our hospital for elective caesarean section. Due to increased sensitivity to muscle relaxants, peridural anaesthesia with 8 ml 0.75% ropivacaine and 10 microg sufentanil was used in this case. The perioperative neurological consultation revealed no undue exacerbation of symptoms.

Objective: To document demographic profile, clinical features and management of patients presented with PPD/Kala Pathar poisoning at District Teaching Hospital Sahiwal, Pakistan. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized data for cases of PPD poisoning presented at study place from 1st July 2019 to 30th June 2020. Relevant information was recorded on a proforma. Results: A total of 111 cases were included in study. Mean age was 23.01 ± 7.24 years. Majority of cases were observed in females (82%) and majority presented from rural areas (87.4%). Cervico-facial edema (78.4%) and respiratory distress (66.7%) were the most common findings. Evidence of some level of organ damage was recorded in following manner: kidneys (44.1%), musculoskeletal (50.5%) and cardiac (45.9%). Tracheostomy was carried out in 47.7% cases and dialysis in 11.7% cases. All cases ingested PPD in raw form. Mortality rate was 50.5%. Conclusion: PPD poisoning is associated with high rate of morbidity and mortality. Effective clinical management requires multidisciplinary approach. Measures to restrict access to this means of suicide are urgently needed. We need to set up a surveillance system for cases of attempted suicide. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.5.4251 How to cite this:Akbar S, Siddiqui ZK, Diwan RA, Rehm MH. Demographic profile and clinical picture of patients presented with Paraphenylene Diamine (PPD)/ Kala Pathar poisoning at a District Teaching Hospital. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):---------.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.5.4251 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) is a worst type of malignancy in the field of gynecology. This is because ovarian tumors diagnosed at advanced stage of disease. The exact mechanism for its development is still unknown. Aim: The aim of this study is to measure the levels of steroidal hormones and their function in ovarian cancer progression. Methods: In the present study, fifty ovarian cancer patients and fifty control individuals were taken and serum was separated from their blood samples. The levels of steroid hormones were measured by ELISA kit methods. Results: Result of the current study determined the levels of E2, progesterone, testosterone, FSH, LH, 17-β-HSD-I, 17-β-HSD-II, cortisol and aromatase were extensively higher in patient group in comparison with healthy individuals. Conclusion: Current study concluded the Study concluded that overexpression of steroid hormones may lead to enhance tumor survival in ovarian cancer through various signaling mechanisms. Keywords: Ovarian cancer, Estradiol, FSH, LH, progesterone

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