BackgroundIn Pakistan, the neonatal mortality rate is 41 per 1,000 live births and birth asphyxia is one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity. The goal of this study was to determine whether postnatal magnesium sulfate therapy can improve short-and long-term neurological outcomes in term or near-term neonates with moderate-to-severe birth asphyxia. MethodologyThis prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Neonatology Department of the Children's Hospital & The Institute of Child Health, Lahore. A total of 62 neonates (31 in each group) were randomized to receive either three doses of magnesium sulfate infusion at 250 mg/kg per dose, 24 hours apart (treatment group), or three doses of injection 10% distilled water infusion at 3 mL/kg, 24 hours apart (placebo group). Both groups received similar supportive care. The neurodevelopmental assessment was done at six months of age using the ShaMaq Developmental Inventory. ResultsDemographic data such as gestational age, mean weight, age at presentation, gender, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy grade, mode of delivery, and the presence of seizures at presentation were comparable between both groups. In the magnesium sulfate group, statistically significant results were seen in terms of early seizure control (p = 0.001), early initiation of feed (p = 0.002), and shorter duration of hospital stay (p = 0.003). Moreover, the magnesium sulfate group had lower mortality compared to the control group, though it was not statistically significant (p = 0.390). There was no significant difference in terms of cranial ultrasound findings between the two groups (p = 0.783) at the time of discharge. Regarding the neurodevelopmental delay, there was no significant difference between the magnesium sulfate and control groups (p = 0.535). ConclusionsPostnatal magnesium sulfate treatment improves short-term neurologic outcomes at discharge in term or near-term neonates with moderate-to-severe perinatal asphyxia. However, no difference was noted in the neurodevelopmental outcome at six months.

Background: The second most prevalent cause of disability and death worldwide, stroke is silently taking on the characteristics of an epidemic. Almost 85% of the all strokes are ischemic strokes. Objective: To assess the stress hyperglycemia as a prognostic factor in acute ischemic stroke at a tertiary care hospital. Design of the Study: It was a case control study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of medicine & Allied Services Hospital Lahore from March 2022 August 2022. Patients and Methods: Total 100 patients with Computerized Tomography (CT) Brain evidence of acute ischemic stroke who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. At admission, a thorough history was taken and clinical examination was performed. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS scale) was used to measure the patient’s neurological state. Fasting Blood sugar (FBS) and Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HBA1c) were performed. Patients' functional recovery was measured by comparing their NIHSS scores on the day of admission and after 7 days in the hospital. Results of the Study: Most of the patients enrolled in our study had age of 61 to 70 years. In study sample 56% of patients were male and 44% were female. Out of 100 patients 56 had stress hyperglycemia and 44 were without stress hyperglycemia. Functional recovery was greater in patients with normoglycemia than in patients with stress hyperglycemia (based on differences in NIHSS score on day one and day seven). The mortality was observed to be 9.2% in patients who had stress hyperglycemia. The mean NIHSS scores was 3.45±1.64 in patients with stress hyperglycemia and 4.50 ± 1.05 was in participants with normoglycemia. Practical Implication: The present study was carried out to know whether stress hyperglycemia can be a prognostic marker in patients of acute ischemic stroke. Conclusion: When compared to patients with stress hyperglycemia, functional recovery was better in patients with normoglycemia. This study demonstrates that patients with normoglycemia had greater functional recovery as compared to patients with stress hyperglycemia, as measured by the difference between the NIHSS scores. As a result, patients with normoglycemia had better outcomes than those with stress hyperglycemia. Keywords: Stress hyperglycemia, Normoglycemia, Acute Ischemic Stroke, Prognostic Factor, NIHSS

Objective: To see the impact of screen media usage on early childhood development. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of study: Developmental Behavioural Paediatrics Department, Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore Pakistan, from Oct to Dec 2020. Methodology: This study included 100 children with an age range between 15-36 months and divided into two groups. Group-1 was children with communication behaviour disorders (CBD) (n=50), and Group-2 was typically developing (TD)children (n=50). ShaMaq Developmental Screening Tool (SDST) was administered to children to screen their development.Childhood behaviours were rated on a scale of 0-10 on a Behaviour rating scale. Results: Children with CBD had poor eye contact, response to names, poor imitation, poor pointing and poor one-step command following (p<0.001) compared to typically developing children. Children with CBD had poor eating habits (p<0.01),were more restless (p<0.001), and had a developmental delay (p<0.001) on SDST as compared to the other group. In children with CBD, the extent of screen media exposure was significantly correlated with restlessness (p<0.05) and poor pointing(p<0.01). Conclusion: Exposure to screen media at an early age and prolonged use of screens can lead to adverse developmental outcomes and behaviour issues in children. This is more evident in children with CBD than in typically developing children.