Background: Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. IHD results from myocardial ischemia, and occurs whenever perfusion outgrows the demand. Though lethal, but can be prevented by modification of predisposing conditions, most important are diabetes and hypertension. Almost fifty percent of IHD patients are found hypertensive with or without being diabetic. The objective of the study was to determine association of diabetes and hypertension as risk factors for IHD patients Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study that included 199 IHD patients of 35-70 years age, visiting Civil Hospital Karachi, a tertiary care public sector hospital, from September 2017 to January 2018 by using non-probability convenient sampling technique. The patients were approached in the hospital and briefed about the purpose of the study. A pre-tested, structured close ended questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data entry and analysis were done by using SPSS version 20.0. A p-value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Out of 199 participants, 156 (78%) were males while 43 (22%) were females; 119 60%) were 56-65 years of age. Family history of ischemic heart diseases was unremarkable in 126 (63%) patients. In total, 122 (61%) were diabetic; among them, 24 were of less than 40years and 98 of more than 40years of age. The older age of the diabetics had a direct association with the risk of IHD (p-value <0.05). About 83% had a non-significant family history for diabetes; and 83% of the total study participants were having a sedentary lifestyle. Out of 199, 166 (83%) had never checked their blood pressures earlier. The lifestyle, diet, addiction, and duration of hypertension had a strong association with IHD (p-value <0.05). Conclusion: IHD occurs more frequently in males of 56-65 years age, with insignificant family history for IHD and diabetes. The IHD is associated with hypertension and diabetes along with sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet and smoking/tobacco addiction.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The pathology of acne is vaguely understood to date, current epidemiologic evidence in Eastern populations indicates that consumption of chocolate, milk intake, fatty products, and glycemic load may be involved. Previously little research has been conducted highlighting the possible relationship between diet and acne among patients in Pakistan. The objective of this study was to identify the association of acne vulgaris and dietary intake patterns. METHODOLOGY:  An observational study enrolled 246 participants, both genders, 16 to 40 years of age, diagnosed with Acne Vulgaris recruited from a tertiary-care hospital out-patient clinic in Karachi. The structured questionnaire consisted of various methods for assessing nutritional parameters.  Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS, the association of Acne was tested with dietary habits using Pearson-Chi Square test. Food items with a p-value less than 0.05 in the Chi Square test were considered in Binary logistic regression for estimating the risk for Acne with a 95% confidence interval (C.I.). RESULTS: Fifty-two percent of participants were found with mild acne, use of yogurt, ice cream butter, margarine, French fries, chocolate, bakery chips, white bread, vegetable, fruits, cake dates, and pickles give a significant association with severity of acne using Fisher's Exact test p<0.05. Logistic regression showed that butter gave more risk for acne with an odds ratio of 1.11 and 95% C.I. (1.0, 9.2).  CONCLUSION: It can be stated that dairy products, high glycemic index, and fatty foods are associated with acne aggravation in our population. As patients are always concerned about dietary advice, suggesting that they reduce these products would help them maintain their skin.

Striae gravidarum (SG) is a physiological skin change that many pregnant women experience during pregnancy. Striae gravidarum seems to be undesirable to many pregnant women but its impact on women’s life is unclear. It is a disfiguring change on the skin of pregnant women presenting atrophic linear scars. They may occur anywhere on the body, though the abdomen, breasts, hips and legs are common. This change has a deep impact on the psychology and quality of life (QoL) of women. The quality of life of pregnant women deteriorates with distressing body image, causing psychological problems.The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of striae gravidarum on the dermatology-specific quality of life (QOL) of pregnant women. Objectives:To evaluate the impact of Stria gravidarum on the dermatology - specific qualoty of life (QOL) among pregnant women.Method:A multi-disciplinary cross-sectional study was conducted among the pregnant women attending the outpatient department at Dow university hospital for antenatal visits in third trimester. Striae gravidarum was assessed by using Dave’s score. After taking informed consent, Skindex 16 dermatology specific QOL questionnaire was used to evaluate the QOL. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version -16. Using Mann Whitney level of significance <0.05.Study Design:A cross sectional study. Duration of Study: January 2016 till January 2017. Place of Study: Department of Dermatology and department of Gynecology, Dow University Hospital, Dow International Medical College (Ojha Campus), DUHS, Karachi.Result:Among 112 pregnant women striae gravidarum was present in 32(28.6%) in primigravida, and 80(71.4%) in multigravida.Severity of striae gravidarum was assessed by using Davey’s score. Pregnant women with severe striae gravidarum showed significantly higher scores on emotion of Skindex-16 compared with those with absent or mild striae gravidarum. Conclusion:It is concluded that due to Striae gravidarum, pregnant females worry more with greater concern regarding their appearance. Their interaction with others was found to be highly affected due to this disfiguring physical change. The symptoms, emotional well-being and functionality differed significantly when the women with mild SG were compared with those with severe SG, though no difference was observed when primiparae subjects were compared with multipara subjects.The occurrence and severity of striae gravidarum influenced their dermatology-specific QOL and it is important to prevent or reduce the severity of striae gravidarum.

Background: Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is one of the leading causes of liver disease worldwide. A healthy diet plays a significant role in the prevention of NAFLD. Few studies have been done in Pakistan to evaluate the dietary intake of patients suffering from NAFLD. This study aimed to look into the dietary intake of NAFLD patients being treated at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan Objective: To determine the nutritional status of NAFLD patients. Method: 118 NAFLD patients, aged 18 to 60, male and female, were enrolled. Patients with advanced liver or kidney failure, decompensated liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, acute flare, and chronic liver disease were excluded. This cross-sectional study used an interview-administered questionnaire to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, nutrition-related biochemical measurements, and dietary intake (24-hour diet recall and validated food frequency questionnaire). Data were analyzed using SPSS (VERSION) Statistics v26 RESULTS: Out of 118 subjects; 69% were female, Anthropometric data revealed that 41% were morbidly obese (BMI 29 >kg/m2). The average daily calorie and protein intakes were 2135 kcal and 64.2 gm, respectively. Dietary recall indicates a high consumption of saturated fat foods including paratha (34%), cake (16.9%), pizza (17.8%), banaspati ghee (11%), and consumption of high glycemic fruits like Mango (42%) and dates (32.2%). Practical implication: this study will benefit that healthy diet plays a significant role prevention of NAFLD,and can reduce the burden of obesity and its complication in later life. Low carbohydrate intake, limiting saturated fat and increased physical activity play a vital role in management of NAFLD Conclusion: Participants with NAFLD had insufficient dietary patterns. This may be associated with lower consumption of fruits and vegetables, and increased intake of high saturated fat and glycemic index foods; behavioral strategies should be implemented to change this patient's overall dietary intake. Keywords: Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, nutritional status, dietary intake, glycemic food