Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is common among asthmatics with literature suggesting that its low levels in the body may trigger exacerbations and decrease the response to corticosteroid treatment. It has also shown to inhibit the production of cytokines, which in turn enhances the body’s response to corticosteroid treatment during an exacerbation. Therefore, maintenance of adequate levels of vitamin D in patients with asthma may reduce the risk of exacerbation and improve their general health. This study aims to explore the role of vitamin D supplementation in preventing asthma exacerbations. Methods: This single blind parallel arm interventional study was conducted in the pulmonology ward in a tertiary care hospital from June 2018 to April 2020. Two hundred (n= 200) participants with a history of frequent acute exacerbation of asthma were enrolled in the study via consecutive convenient non-probability technique. Participants were divided into two groups; the placebo and the interventional group that received 200,000 IU of vitamin D capsule. Results: Compared to day 0, mean episodes of exacerbation in the interventional group were significantly lower after 180 days (1.1 ± 0.4 vs. 0.61 ± 0.3; p-value <0.0001). Similarly, number of asthma attacks in past 7 days was significantly lower in intervention group after 180 days (4.4 ± 2.7 vs. 3.1 ± 1.5; p-value 0.0001) Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation is a safe and cost-friendly approach to reducing asthma exacerbations. It may also help to improve the condition in severe asthmatics with low vitamin D levels.

Background: Human Immunodeficiency virus patients with AIDS defined opportunistic infections with Pneumocystis jiroveci, cryptoccocal, disseminated TB, cytomegalovirus, and cytomegalovirus associated retinitis, and cryptospordiasis. Objective: To determine the frequency of AIDS defining opportunistic infections in hospitalized HIV infected patients. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted from 21st October 2018 to 20th April 2019 at Department of Medicine, Civil Hospital, Karachi. Total 154 diagnosed patients of HIV were included. For diagnosis of various AIDS defining illness, clinical, radiological and bacteriological evidence of disseminated tuberculosis chronic cough, and weight loss diagnosed by AFB smear/ gene experts. Pneumocystis jiroveci was diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage and CD4 counts. Cryptosporidiosis with watery diarrhea and stool sample microscopy, cerebral toxoplasmosis with headache, hemiparesis, vomiting, diagnosed by serology and cytomegalovirus retinitis with blurred vision diplopia, vision impairment and Cryptococcal meningitis with fever >98.6oF. Headache, stiff neck, photophobia diagnosed by microscopy, culture, or antigen was done. Descriptive statistics were calculated and stratification was done. Post stratification chi square test was applied. P value ≤0.05 was taken as significant. Results: There were 71.4% male and 28.6% female patient. The mean HIV duration was 15.25±5.09 months. The overall mean CD4 count was 174.17±12.85/cumm. 18.8% patient were found with disseminated tuberculosis, 31.2% with pneumocystis pneumonia, 12.3% with cerebral toxoplasmosis, 18.2% with cryptococcal meningitis, 3.9% with cryptospordiasis and 14.9% with cytomegalovirus retinitis. Conclusion: Pneumocystis pneumonia was the most prevalent infection followed by disseminated tuberculosis, cryptococcal meningitis, cytomegalovirus retinitis, cerebral toxoplasmosis, and cryptospordiasis.

Aim: To determine the pattern of dyslipidemia and the extent to which lipid therapy may reduce the risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) in individuals with Diabetes. Study design: A retrospective study. Place and Duration:This study was conducted at National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Karachi from march 2021 to March 2022. Methodology: During the study, biochemical, clinical, and pharmaceutical profiles of every patient with Diabetes were compiled. After removing patients with lipid-lowering medication and those withthyroid dysfunction the prevalence of different lipid disorders was calculated. The patients' triglyceride levels, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and other clinical records were assessed. Based on recommendations from the American Diabetes Association, the effectiveness of statin therapy was evaluated. Results: The total number of 367patients was incorporated into the study. Forty percent of them had hyperlipidemia. Elevated LDL cholesterol was the most prevalent lipid abnormality. LDL cholesterol levels were shown to be correlated with increased HbA1C and fasting blood glucose readings. Twenty-seven percent of individuals were receiving statin medication. A total of 42.6 percent of individuals on statins had LDL cholesterol levels under 100 mg/dL.

Aim: To assess the lipid profile and blood glucose concentration association between diabetic patients with and without cardiac disease. Study design: Case-control study Place and Duration: National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Karachi from January 2021 to June 2021 Methodology: The study included a total of 180 participants categorized into comparative groups. Diabetic patients were categorized into cardiac and non-cardiac patients. Demographic data were collected using a questionnaire, and clinical data were recorded with the physical examination. Blood was collected from all patients for further glucose and lipid profile testing. Data were evaluated using SPSS version 21. Results: The average age was 49.53 ± 11.24 and 54.38 ± 11.87 years for non-cardiac and cardiac patients. Whereas BMI of 28.16 ± 5.89 and 27.64 ± 4.18 was observed in diabetic patients with non-cardiac and cardiac diseases. A total of 73 (81.2%) were smokers with cardiac diseases, and 58 (64.4%) were smokers without cardiac disease. A total of 80% of cardiac and 57.7% of non-cardiac patients had a family history of diabetes. Significant high levels of Cholesterol, LDL-C, and Glucose were observed. However, significantly lower levels of HDL-C were observed between patients with and without cardiac disease. Conclusion:The results of the current study indicate that patients with diabetes having cardiovascular disease have a significant association with biochemical parameters. Those with diabetes are more likely to acquire hyperlipidemia. Keywords: Biochemical parameter, cardiovascular disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Cholesterol, Dyslipidemia