OBJECTIVE: To explore the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis within a cohort of Pakistani postmenopausal women with respect to the lumbar spine and hip. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Shifa International Hospital Islamabad, Pakistan from September 2019 to Feb 2020. Study comprised of 237 postmenopausal females who visited the outpatient department of the hospital. The T-scores of Bone Mineral density (BMD) data was collected and arranged in three groups: normal, osteopenia and osteoporosis. Data was analyzed to explore the distribution of the data and correlation analyses using R software version 3.6.3. RESULTS:  Out of 237 females, majority were ranging in age from 61-70 years (n=110; 46.4%), followed by 51-60 years age group (n=60; 25.3%). Osteopenia was noted in 98 (41.4%) cases in lumber spine and hip area. Osteoporosis was found in 79 (33.3%) and 59 (24.9%) cases in lumber spine and hip region respectively. Mean T score was -1.775±-2.000 and median T score was -1.469 for lumber spine and hip. T-scores distribution of lumbar spine and hip indicated the highest proportion having a sore of -2 SD (n=60; 25.3% each), followed by -3 SD in 52 (21.9%) cases. Bone mass density was negatively correlated with age (p≤0.01). However, no significant difference was found among the BMD values of lumbar spine and hip region. CONCLUSION: Decreased bone density was a common occurrence affecting postmenopausal females and there is increase in degenerative bone loss with increasing age. Hip and lumbar spine region are equally affected by degenerative bone loss.

In Pakistan, the association of factors related to depression needs to be explored a little more because here when a woman discusses or shares her problems, her concerns are dismissed and turned down, the same reason women don’t express their feelings and seek help. Objective: To determine the association between postpartum depression and social support among women presenting at a hospital in Rawalpindi-Islamabad, Pakistan. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 310 women presenting to the obstetrics and gynaecology OPD, vaccination center and psychiatric OPD of Tertiary Care Hospital within postpartum phase. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling. The Structured questionnaire included demographics and gynaecological history. Edinburgh postpartum depression scale (EPDS) was used to classify patients at risk of postnatal depression. Social support was scored on multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Data analysis included descriptive statistics such as frequency & percentages and inferential statistics consisted of Pearson Chi-Square, independent samples t-test and Multiple Linear Regression. Statistical analysis done using IBM SPSS version-26. Results: The results indicated that the social support from significant other and family members is significantly associated with the development of postpartum depression (p-value <0.05). Furthermore, age of the mother, type of delivery, baby feeding habits, and history of being unwell during pregnancy did not present to have significant association with the development of postpartum depression. Conclusions: The findings of the study conclude that the development of postpartum depression is most importantly affected by lack of support from the family and husband after childbirth

Objective: To audit the radiology department of a health facility, focusing on contrast extravasations management pre- and post-implementation of a standard protocol. Methods: The audit was conducted at the Radiology Department of Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan and comprised reported computed tomography contrast extravasation incidents from January 2017 to December 2019 in the retrospective phase before the implementation of a standard protocol. Post-implementation, re-audit was done prospectively to assess compliance from January 2020 to May 2021. Overall score of >80% was chosen arbitrarily as a qualifying standard for adequate documentation. Results: Of the 49 total cases, 26(53%) related to the first phase and 23(47%) to the second. In the first phase, 2(20%) of the 10 parameters cleared the cut-off mark; 'study performed' 25(96%) and 'limb assessment by technician' 26(100%). In the second phase, 2(20%) parameters failed to clear the cut-off mark; site of cannula/extravasation' 18(78.3%) and 'volume of contrast' 15(65%). Conclusion: Lack of early identification and appropriate management, especially in cases of large-volume extravasation, may result in significant morbidity. Key Words: Contrast extravasation, Contrast-enhanced CT, IV contrast media.