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Biomedical subjects

S Siddiqui

Publications and source records attributed to S Siddiqui.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Reducing ventilator-associated pneumonia rates through a staff education programme.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common nosocomial infection in patients on mechanical ventilation and results in increases in mortality, prolonged hospitalization and costs. Preventive measures for VAP are well-documented and evidence-based, yet remain poorly implemented in most intensive care units. We undertook an observational pre and post-intervention study to assess whether an educational programme focusing on preventive practices for VAP could reduce the incidence. Six hundred and seventy-seven adult patients, mechanically ventilated for >48 h were included in the study population. An evidence-based guideline for preventive practices at the bedside was developed and disseminated to the intensive care unit staff. VAP incidence rates before and after implementation of the educational programme were compared. VAP infection rates reduced by 51%, from a mean of 13.2+/-1.2 in the pre-intervention period to 6.5+/-1.5/1000 device days in the post-intervention period (mean difference 6.7; 95% CI: 2.9-10.4, P =0.02). A multidisciplinary educational programme geared towards intensive care unit staff can successfully reduce the incidence rates of VAP. Further studies will be needed to assess the impact on broader outcome measures such as costs or mortality.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

A parturient with severe bullous emphysema from intravenous drug abuse.

A parturient with severe talcosis-induced, bullous emphysema presented for urgent cesarean delivery. Respiratory effects of anesthesia, positioning for delivery and residual effects of postoperative analgesics all potentially affect the choice of anesthetic technique and drugs used in a patient with severe emphysema. This parturient was given epidural anesthesia for delivery and postoperative analgesia maintained with epidural infusion of bupivacaine and clonidine.

Journal Article↗
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↗
PubMed2001

Hypertension control in a community health centre at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to determine the degree of control of hypertension and the most commonly used drugs for hypertensive patients attending our community health center. METHODS: A cross sectional study carried out by randomly examining the case notes of patients attending our primary care clinics. RESULTS: Case notes of 3747 patients were examined, 2064 (55%) females (mean age 23.76 years) and 1683 (45%) males (mean age 24.63 years). Prevalence of hypertension was 3% (108 patients), 3% (63 patients) and 3% (45 patients) for females and males respectively. Majority of patients 16 (35%) males and 32 (51%) females had blood pressure of 141-160/90-100 mmHg. Seventeen (37%) males and 15 (24%) female patients had blood pressure < 140/90 mm Hg. Among 108 hypertensive patients, 29 (65%) males and 44 (69%) females were on single drug. The most commonly used drugs were ACE inhibitors (35%), calcium channel blockers (17.5%) and beta- blockers (14%). CONCLUSION: This study like some other studies shows that control of hypertension falls short of recommended goals. There is need to adopt a strategy that incorporates health education about life style and proper protocol as this has been found useful in other studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Smoking in a Saudi community: prevalance, influencing factors, and risk perception.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Smoking is a major preventable cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world, but little information is available about the prevalence of smoking in Saudi Arabia. This study determined the prevalence of and major factors influencing smoking in our community. METHODS: We used a questionnaire to determine smoking prevalence of males over age 12 attending a primary care clinic in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire included items about factors influencing the decision to start smoking, attempts to stop smoking, and awareness of the risks of smoking. RESULTS: Of 634 subjects, 34.4% (218) were current smokers, 16.4% (104) were ex-smokers, and 49.2% (312) were nonsmokers. The most common (66%) reason for starting smoking was friends' influence. About 75% had thought of stopping smoking, and 55% had actually attempted to stop. The most common (34%) reason reportedforfailed attempts to stop smoking was lack of willpower Awareness regarding the harmful effects of smoking was high (97.2%). More than 80% thought that a special smoking clinic would be helpful for quitting smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking prevalence is high in our community in Saudi Arabia. Most of the smokers know that smoking is dangerous and want to quit smoking but fail to stop for various reasons. Interventions are needed to decrease the prevalence of smoking in Saudi Arabia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Behind the counter: pharmacies and dispensing patterns of pharmacy attendants in Karachi.

BACKGROUND: There is little literature available on dispensing patterns and unsupervised sale of medicines from pharmacies in developing countries. OBJECTIVE: This study obtained background information on pharmacies, assessed the level of training, knowledge and dispensing patterns of pharmacy attendants in Karachi. METHODOLOGY: This is a descriptive cross sectional study with convenient sampling. A structured questionnaire was used to interview pharmacy attendants. RESULTS: Of the 219 pharmacies surveyed, 62% reported more than 50 customers daily and 20% also sold items of general provision. Mean operating hours were 13. Only 24 (11%) had a visible license. On an average 3 attendants were employed per pharmacy. We interviewed one in each. Amongst the 219 interviewed, 77 (35%) were intermediate qualified and only 26 (12%) pharmacologically trained. Correct frequency of ORS administration was not known by 167 (76%) and 21% incorrectly suggested an anti-diarrhoeal preparation for viral diarrhoea in children. The knowledge of those with pharmacological training was significantly better. For respiratory tract infection in children approximately 60% did not know the correct dose of Paracetamol and Amoxicillin. Only 13 (6%) knew that Propanalol was contraindicated in hypertensive asthamatics. For Cotrimoxazole, metronidazole and lomotil only 40%, 21% and 15% respectively, were aware that these could not be dispensed without prescription. CONCLUSION: In the absence of trained pharmacists existing pharmacy attendants should be trained to improve drug-dispensing patterns.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed2001

Profile of smoking amongst health staff in a primary care unit at a general hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: Smoking is a major health problem among healthcare personnel as in other parts of the community. The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of smoking along with influencing factors related to smoking among our staff in Alkharj Military Hospital. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire study. EPI-INFO statistical package was used for statistical analysis by calculating x(2) and p value < or = 0.05 as statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 230 completed questionnaires, 108 males and 122 females, were included with a response rate of 66%. The prevalence of smokers was (19%) ex-smokers (14%) and non-smokers (67%). Male smokers 31, (29%), x(2) =13.42, p< 0.001 were a significantly higher figure than female smokers. Smoking was significantly more among the group of employees with secondary school degrees, 6 (35.5%), p< 0.02. The majority of smokers were smoking 11-20 cigarettes per day (46.5%, x(2) = 14.80, p < 0.0001). Friends influenced, 30 (70%), p < 0.0001, smokers to start smoking, with relaxation being the most important reason 22, (51%), p< 0.001) for continuing smoking. Seventy six percent of smokers favored the establishment of a smoking cessation clinic. There was no significant difference regarding the knowledge of harmful effects of smoking among smokers, ex-smokers and non-smokers. The majority of smokers (70%) thought of stopping smoking and 58% attempted to stop smoking but most of the smokers failed due to social reasons or friends influences (44%). CONCLUSION: Smoking prevalence is considerably high among our hospital workers. It is not only dangerous for the smokers itself but for the patients who idealize the behavior of hospital staff. Most of the smokers know that smoking is harmful to them as well as others around them but they did not succeed in quitting smoking due to various reasons. Health education combined with help from general practitioners may help to increase the quitting rate among smokers and preventing new smokers from taking up smoking.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effects of acute, moderate ethanol consumption on human platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma and whole blood.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-inhibitory effects of alcohol potentially contribute to the reduced risk of coronary heart disease associated with moderate drinking. However, few studies have directly examined the effects of acute consumption of a moderate dose of alcohol on aggregation of platelets from healthy human subjects. In the present study, we examined those effects, with the use of multiple platelet agonists and two aggregation measurement techniques, as part of an ongoing series of studies that evaluate the actions of ethanol on platelet function. METHODS: Human subjects consumed alcohol at a dose equivalent to one drink (0.25 ml/kg) or two drinks (0.5 ml/kg). One hour after ingestion, anticoagulated blood was collected and agonist-induced aggregation of platelets was measured in both whole blood and in platelet-rich plasma. RESULTS: Inhibition of aggregation by ethanol consumption was observed in whole blood (measured as maximum change in impedance) and reached statistical significance (p < 0.05) in the 0.5 ml/kg alcohol group for two collagen concentrations (0.625 and 1.25 microg/ml) as well as for the highest concentration of adenosine diphosphate tested (p < 0.05). Inhibition was 15.4%, 22.6%, and 10.5%, respectively, for these three situations. In platelet-rich plasma, after consumption of 0.5 ml/kg ethanol, aggregation (measured as maximum change in optical density) in response to 1.25 microg/ml collagen was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05); no other significant inhibition was observed at either dose of alcohol in any other cases with platelet-rich plasma. In comparison of male and female subjects, there was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the degree of inhibition by ethanol consumption (0.5 ml/kg) of whole-blood platelet aggregation induced by collagen, whereby female aggregation was inhibited to a greater extent than male. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that alcohol, at physiologically relevant doses, below those investigated in most previous human studies, has a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation. Such an effect could potentially contribute to the beneficial effects of alcohol consumption against coronary artery disease. The inhibitory action is most readily measured with whole-blood platelet aggregometry, with the use of collagen as the agonist. This observation is consistent with the view that alcohol reduces platelet sensitivity to thrombotic stimuli by inhibition of arachidonic acid release and, therefore, subsequent thromboxane synthesis.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in a Saudi community.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective cross sectional study is to find out the prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus according to age and sex in the population attending the family and community medicine clinic in Al-Kharj Armed Forces Hospital. METHODS: Total eligible patients of Al-Kharj Military Hospital are about 100,000. The case notes in Medical Records were selected randomly and examined. Data was collected from 3747 case notes. They were divided into different age groups and also separated into male and female groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus in this study sample of 3747 (1,683 males and 2,064 females) was 2.55% in males and 5.32% in females. In the age group of 35 and above the prevalence in males was 8.52% and in females 19.48%. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus was noted in the population and particularly in females. There is need for comprehensive programs for the prevention of Diabetes Mellitus particularly in the adult population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of hypertension in patients attending Al-Kharj Military Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to ascertain the prevalence of hypertension in our community with a view to forming a baseline and planning strategies for prevention and control. METHODS: A cross sectional study carried out by collecting data from randomly selected case notes of 3747 patients (1683 males and 2064 females), regarding age, sex, blood pressure measurements and whether or not they were on treatment for hypertension. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension in the total population was 3.1% (females 3.05% and males 2.67%). With regard to age group, the prevalence was highest in 65-74 years in both males and females. CONCLUSION: There is a need for health education among our patients regarding the nature of hypertension and the relation between life style and hypertensive disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

A comparative study of omega-3-fatty acids obtained from marine fish and bezafibrate alone and in combination as hypolipidemic agents.

The fish oil and its constituents have been studied in detail with special reference to ailments. The discovery of omega-3 fatty acids led to a detailed investigation about its effect and role as anti-cholesterolemic agents. The effect of fish oil alone and in combination with acid derivatives was found to be a potent cholesterol and triglycerides lowering agent. Comparative studies of fish oils and bezafibrate led to the formulation of new therapeutic combination having lesser side effects and toxicity.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

A study on fatty acid composition of fish oil from two marine fish, Eusphyra blochii and Carcharhinus bleekeri.

Two species of marine fish found in coastal waters of Karachi (Pakistan) were studied, Eusphyra blochii (Hammer-headed Shark) and Carcharhinus bleekeri (Shark) for their fatty acid composition. The isolation, identification and characterization of these fatty acids were carried out by gas liquid chromatography (GLC) and a combination of TLC-GLC technique. A large variation was observed between hammer-headed shark liver oil and shark liver oil. Twenty five individual fatty acids from the oil of marine fish were analyzed among those the palmitic acid was a major saturated fatty acid while stearic acid was the other major constituent. Among unsaturated fatty acids monoenoic e.g. oleic and palmitoleic acids were the major constituents and traces of dienoic and trienoic fatty acids were also found. In addition medicinally important polyunsaturated fatty, acid eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids were also identified.

Journal Article↗