Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Nisar Ahmed.
This is a case series of three infants who presented with pallor, bruises, and rashes in first month of their life with non specific symptomatology and were diagnosed to have congenital leukaemia. All were of acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) M5-FAB type.
The aim of this study was to explore the reasons why patients and families are referred to specialist palliative care. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with patients and professionals from primary care and specialist palliative care services in the north of England. A content analysis of the transcripts was undertaken, key issues were identified and common themes grouped. Twelve professionals working in specialist palliative care, three GPs, six community nurses and thirteen patients were interviewed (n = 34). Five key themes are reported: reasons why patients are referred to specialist palliative care; reasons why patients are not referred to specialist palliative care; timeliness of referrals; continuity of care; and use of referral criteria. It was found that the professionals in primary care would like more training and education about how to refer patients to specialist palliative care and how to deal with issues of death and dying. The patients were generally satisfied with the service but wanted to be able to be supported at home in their final days. Further training and education may improve the knowledge of professionals who refer patients to specialist palliative care. There are currently no standardized criteria in the UK to determine when a referral should be triggered. The development of a set of standardized referral criteria may be useful in aiding a referral decision.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of various causes of non-traumatic paraparesis and tetraparesis in adults based only on the findings of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). DESIGN: Non-interventional descriptive study carried out from May 2001 to October 2002 at Radiology Department, CMH, Rawalpindi. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 100 adult patients who presented with non-traumatic paraparesis or tetraparesis, were studied. MRI spine of all the patients and MRI brain of selected patients, was carried out. Based on MRI findings alone causes of non-traumatic paraparesis and tetraparesis were categorized. RESULTS: Paraparesis was more frequent than tetraparesis. Cord compression was found in 72% cases. Neoplastic compression, infective spondylitis and non-compressive myelopathies were the main causes of paraparesis while spondylotic myelopathy was the main cause of tetraparesis. CONCLUSION: Based upon MRI findings causes of non-traumatic paraparesis or tetraparesis can be subcategorized into spondylotic, infective or neoplastic cord compression and non-compressive myelopathies. Further subcategorization of neoplastic lesions according to their compartment of origin can also be done.