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Biomedical subjects

S A Mujeeb

Publications and source records attributed to S A Mujeeb.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Emergency blood transfusion services after the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: On 8 October 2005, an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter Scale struck the Himalayan region of Kashmir and Hazara divisions, killing an estimated 73,000 people. Soon after, a situation and response analysis of the emergency blood transfusion services was carried out in the affected areas to ascertain specific needs and suggest appropriate measures to assist in the disaster plan. METHOD: A semistructured questionnaire, complete with a checklist and participatory observation method, was used to collect data between 12 and 20 October 2005. Study sites were Abbotabad, Mansehra and Muzzafarabad in Pakistan, and interviewees were surgeons and blood bank personnel. RESULTS: Of the seven major hospitals in the area, 3 (43%) had a functional blood transfusion service. Although supply of voluntary blood was abundant, shortage of individual blood groups was noted at each centre. Quality assurance standards were either non-existent or inadequate. Only three blood banks had refrigerators, but with limited storage capacities. A complete breakdown of infrastructure coupled with frequent power failures posed a serious threat to safety of the blood. The continued aftershocks added to the problems. Although initial estimates of blood requirement were high, actual demand noted later was much lower. DISCUSSION: Timely establishment of blood banks in disaster areas, is a challenging task. Mobile blood banks can be advantageous in such situations. Organisation at a national level for blood transfusion services and development of a minimum standard of quality assurance in normal times should ensure safe emergency blood transfusion services when disaster strikes.

Blood Banks↗
PubMed2003

Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in Karachi juvenile jail, Pakistan.

Jail inmates may be at increased risk of contracting tuberculosis (TB). We studied 386 detainees (mean age 17.7 years) in Karachi juvenile jail to determine the prevalence of TB and possible risk factors for contracting TB. We found a 3.9% prevalence of TB among the inmates, significantly higher than the estimated 1.1% prevalence in the general population of Pakistan. Positive family history of TB was a significant risk factor for TB. Poor adherence of previously diagnosed patients to anti-TB treatment was found. Our study highlights the vulnerability of inmates to TB owing to the presence of highly infectious cases, along with environmental conditions such as overcrowding and poor ventilation. This study strongly indicates the need for an effective treatment programme in the jails as well in the general community.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Diabetes mellitus is equally frequent in chronic HCV and HBV infection.

OBJECTIVE: To see the association of type 2 diabetes mellitus (Type 2 DM) in patients suffering from chronic HBV or HCV related liver disease. SETTING: Patients were selected from the gastroenterology OPD of the medical research centre, diabetic controls from private diabetes clinic and healthy controls from the blood bank of the hospital. METHODS: Patients with chronic liver disease had HBV, HCV tested using ELISA and blood sugar using a glucometer mostly as a 2 hour post prandial sample. Healthy controls had their sugar and ALT checked while donating blood and HBV, HCV were checked routinely. In diabetic controls, blood sample was taken as sera stored for HBV,HCV and ALT and later tested in batches. A random sugar of > or = 200 mg/dl was taken as diabetes. RESULTS: Of 400 patient with chronic liver disease 302 had HCV and 98 HBV infection. Diabetes was found in 24.5% HCV and 19.4% HBV related cases (not significant). Out of 410 healthy controls 18 were HCV and 17 HBV positive. Diabetes was found in only 1 (5.6%) HCV positive control and none of the HBV positive controls. Of 196 diabetics 10 (5.1%) were HCV positive and none HBV positive. Diabetes was more frequent in patients having liver cirrhosis than in those having chronic hepatitis (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Diabetes is equally frequent in both HBV and HCV related disease but is significantly more in those with chronic liver disease than in controls. The pancreatic damage secondary to extrahepatic viral replication appears to be the major cause but genetic factors also need to be explored.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Patients' perceptions of blood transfusion risks in Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the understanding of and attitudes toward risks of blood transfusions among transfusion recipients in Karachi. METHODS: One hundred forty-one transfusion recipients from 13 major Karachi hospitals were interviewed. Indications for transfusion were obtained by reviewing the patients' medical records. RESULTS: The most common indications for transfusion were surgical complications (n = 77, 55%), anemia (n = 34, 24%), and generalized weakness (n = 15, 11%). Most recipients (n = 103, 80%) had never heard of viral hepatitis, and 44 (31%) had never heard of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Ninety-four recipients (66%) believed that generalized weakness was a valid indication for blood transfusion. Sixty-nine recipients (49%) were not willing to pay an increased price for blood that was screened for blood-borne pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: Blood recipients in Karachi are unaware of the risks of transfusions, and the reasons given by the ordering physician for many of the transfusions were not consistent with international guidelines. Steps to educate the public about the risks of transfusions and practitioners about the indications for transfusion could prevent blood-borne virus transmission in Karachi.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2000

Geographical display of health information: study of hepatitis C infection in Karachi, Pakistan.

The prevalence of hepatitis C and other infections is increasing in urban areas of developing countries. Data on such diseases are often limited to facility-based information. However, even this is not available in a usable form to health care providers, health managers and policy makers. We present a simple technique for visually displaying facility based prevalence information on hepatitis C using basic geographic information system (GIS) techniques. We display the prevalence of hepatitis C for the city of Karachi, Pakistan for the first time. The distribution tends to indicate that there are areas of higher prevalence located in specific districts. There is also a trend of higher prevalence in less affluent urban areas. Such simple applications of mapping technology are useful for rapidly summarizing and displaying information in a contextually and spatially meaningful fashion, and its use should be encouraged for displaying health indicators in developing countries.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Exposer rate of hepatitis E (IgG) in a selected population of children and adults in Karachi.

AIMS: To see exposure rate of hepatitis E (IgG) in 100 apparently healthy children and adults. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sera from 100 healthy children aged 1 day to 10 years and 100 healthy adults aged 18-45 years were analysed for exposure to hepatitis E (IgG) using ELISA. RESULTS: Two samples from children were excluded from the study due to improper storage leaving 98 samples for analysis. Of 98 sera from children 19.4% were positive for IgG indicating previous exposure to hepatitis E. The exposure rate increased with age and was 10% in children below 1 year of age, 14% at 2 years, 19% at 3 years and 28% at 10 years. In adults overall exposure was 16%. There was no predominance of either sex in both the groups and all individuals belonged to middle to lower socioeconomic strata. CONCLUSION: An exposure of 19% in children and 16% in adults indicates high faecal contamination of drinking water and re-addressing of the issue of use of boiled water on individual level, supply of potable water on the government level and a need to produce a vaccine on international level.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, and syphilis and associated risk behaviours in male transvestites (Hijras) in Karachi, Pakistan.

In Pakistan, male sex workers are predominantly transvestites and transsexuals known as Hijras. In 1998 in Karachi, Pakistan, we studied the seroprevalence of HIV, HBsAg and syphilis and associated risk factors in Hijras. Study subjects were verbally administered a structured questionnaire that determined risk behaviours for sexually transmitted and blood-borne diseases and knowledge of AIDS/STDs. After pre-test counselling, verbal consent was taken for serological testing. The results were provided on a one-on-one post-test counselling session. Three hundred male transvestites were approached; all agreed to answer the questionnaire, 208 consented to blood testing. Of 300, 81% acknowledged commercial sex with men. Of 208, prevalence of syphilis was 37%; HBsAg 3.4%; HIV 0%. The prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) is low in transvestite sex workers but that of syphilis is high. Intervention programmes implemented at this stage can have an impact on HIV and STD prevention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Frequency of parenteral exposure and seroprevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV among operation room personnel.

A study was designed to determine the frequency of needle-stick injuries, immunization status for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and sero-prevalence of HBV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among operation room personnel. Self-assessment questionnaires were completed and blood tested for HBsAg, anti-HBc (total), anti-HCV and anti-HIV. Of 114 operation room personnel studied, the majority (58.8%) reported more than four needle-stick injuries per year, 36.8% one to three needle-stick injuries per year, while 4.4% reported no needle-stick injury in the last five years. Thirty-six percent of personnel had received a complete course of hepatitis B vaccination. There was serological evidence of hepatitis HBV virus and/or HCV infections in 31% of the studied population. Four percent were reactive for HCV infection, 7.5% for HBsAg infection and 25.43% for anti-HBc (total); none was HIV positive. Eighty percent of the HCV positive and 55% of the anti-HBc (total) positive personnel had more than four needle-stick injuries per year in the last five years, while 75% HBsAg-reactive personnel had received one to three needle-stick injuries per year. This study indicates a need for continued efforts to minimize the risk of blood-borne infection by enhancing the compliance of operation room personnel with HBV vaccination and adherence to infection control measures.

Adult↗