Objective: Doxorubicin is presently a leading antineoplastic drug with promising efficacy. This study was designed to investigate the histological effects of doxorubicin toxicity on rat kidneys and how much protection is provided by Nigella Sativa. Materials & Methods: A randomized controlled trial conducted on thirty adult male wistar rats divided randomly into three equal groups. Group A served as a control. Group B was injected with weekly intraperitoneal injections of doxorubicin at a dose of 3mg/kg b.w. Group C rats received doxorubicin along with nigella sativa at a dose of 1000mg/kg b.w. orally daily. At the end of these interventions, animals were sacrificed and kidneys were removed for the purpose of histological staining. Renal glomerular and tubules related histopathological parameters were assessed qualitatively as mild, moderate & severe. Renal glomerular diameter was digitally measured by microscope. Ethical approval was taken from Ethical Committee, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi. All the parameters were statistically analyzed. Results: Group B rats’ renal tissue was adversely affected by the drug showing marked necrosis of tubules and the glomeruli along with interstitial cells’ infiltration. Glomerular diameter was also significantly decreased in group B as compared to group A. These histological features in group C rats’ renal tissue were milder and glomerular diameter was close to that of group A. Conclusion: According to our study doxorubicin treatment proved noxious for the renal tissue, both tubules and glomeruli, while nigella sativa significantly competed against these pathological alterations.

Objective: To investigate the outcomes of energy drink on renal tubules of albino rats. Study Design: Laboratory-based experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: King Edward Medical University, Lahore from Aug 2018 to Dec 2019. Methodology: Group A and B were experimental groups received 1.5ml/kg and 2.2ml/kg body weight of energy drink, respectively. Group C received 1ml/kg body weight of distilled water. Comparison among groups was made by applying One-Way ANOVA for quantitative variables. Tukey’ test was used for post hoc analysis. For qualitative variables, chi-square test was applied to make comparison among groups Results: The mean initial and final weight of animals was around 152.7 ± 5.3g and 171.9 ± 5.1g, respectively. The mean paired kidney weight, relative tissue weight index, length and width of kidneys for all three groups were found insignificant. Microscopic examination showed tubular vacuolization in groups A and B showing p-value of 0.027. Conclusion: Consumption of energy drinks results in histopathological injury of epithelial cells of renal tubules.

Background: Prescribing errors are quite common and according to one estimate out of 100 patients admitted into UK hospitals 15 will have some form of prescribing error in their records. It is a general understanding that most of the time these errors are made due to lack of awareness. Severity of these errors can range from minor to major mistakes that can lead to fatal results. Materials and Methods: A simplified anonymous approach of identifying these errors and then using a step wise approach to educate the prescribers’ especially junior doctors can be quite fruitful in reducing these errors. Unfortunately there are not many studies or projects available to back our proposal however these seems a logical way forward and is exactly what we have shown in our study. Results: We performed a prospective snapshot study involving 100 inpatients to get baseline measurements. The errors and mistakes were identified and fed back to the junior doctors in an anonymous manner. Clear & legible writing, frequency of use, responsible consultant name, allergy box filled, VTE assessment, oxygen prescribing and labeling of medication discontinuation were the most common negligence identified. At the same time junior doctors were reminded of local prescription standards and guidelines which usually don’t form part of induction. Conclusion: Multiple deficient areas were identified during this audit like legible writing, dosage frequency, VTE prophylaxis and oxygen prescription. It was highlighted to junior doctors how important are these components as they play a key role in patient getting better after medical review. Above mentioned steps did improve prescription errors to an extent, but aim should be to achieve 100% results.  Repeated reminders are important in this case as that helps to improve practice and avoid clinical accidents.

Background: The mean arterial pressure serves as an expression of blood pressure in patients on chronic hemodialysis. Serum calcium phosphorus product is considered as a risk factor of vascular calcification that is associated with hypertension in the patients of end stage renal disease. The literature regarding this relationship is inconsistent therefore this study is designed to determine the correlation between calcium phosphorus product and mean arterial pressure among hemodialysis patients with end stage renal disease. Methods: A total of 110 patients of end stage renal disease on hemodialysis for at least one year, 20 to 60 years of age were included. Patients with primary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism, peripheral vascular disease, malignancy, hypertension secondary to any cause other than kidney disease were excluded. Mean arterial pressure was calculated according to the standard protocol in lying position. Blood samples for estimation of serum calcium and phosphorous were taken and was sent immediately to the laboratory for serum analysis. Results: Mean age was 44.17 ± 10.94 years. Mean calcium phosphorous product was 46.71 ± 7.36 mg/dl and mean arterial pressure was 103.61 ± 12.77 mmHg. The values of Pearson correlation co-efficient (r) were 0.863 for age group 20 to 40 years and 0.589 for age group 41 to 60 years. This strong positive correlation means that high calcium phosphorous product goes with high mean arterial pressure (and vice versa) for both the age groups. Conclusion: A strong positive relationship exists between the mean arterial pressure and calcium phosphorous product and is independent of patients’ age.