Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 53 in total

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  1. Amanullah I, Khan YH, Anwar I, Gulzar A, Mallhi TH, Raja AA
    Postgrad Med J, 2019 Nov;95(1129):601-611.
    PMID: 31434683 DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2018-136364
    The efficacy of vitamin E among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unclear. The current qualitative and quantitative analyses aimed to ascertain the efficacy of vitamin E on clinical outcomes of patients with NAFLD. A systematic search of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) was performed using databases (PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, EBSCOhost and Ovid) from inception to July 2018. Trials meeting the inclusion criteria were subjected to quality assessment using the Jadad Scoring. All trials meeting the prerequisites information for meta-analysis were subjected to quantitative synthesis of results. Nine RCTs (five in adults and four in children) were included. Four of the five RCTs on adults demonstrated significant improvements in alanine transaminase and other liver function surrogates in patients with NAFLD. On the other hand, only one of the four RCTs conducted on children showed significant improvements in liver functions with the use of vitamin E. Although quantitative synthesis of available data revealed insignificant differences between vitamin E and placebo, still the use of vitamin E improves the level of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase by -1.96 and -0.59, with heterogeneity of I2=67% and I2=0%, respectively. Adjuvant vitamin E therapy provides significant biochemical and histological improvements in adult patients with NAFLD, while paediatric patients showed insignificant efficacy compared with placebo. Lifestyle interventions along with vitamin E can provide much better results. Data, including the impact of vitamin E on hepatic histology, are still lacking. Moreover, the short duration of trials limits the conclusion on the safety and efficacy of proposed treatments.
  2. Amjad Z, Maryam I, Munir M, Salman M, Baraka MA, Mustafa ZU, et al.
    Vaccines (Basel), 2023 Apr 27;11(5).
    PMID: 37243008 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11050904
    COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy continues to be a widespread problem in Pakistan due to various conspiracy beliefs, myths and misconceptions. Since the hemodialysis population is at a higher risk of contracting infections, we sought to investigate the current COVID-19 immunization status and reasons for any vaccine hesitancy among these patients in Pakistan. This cross-sectional study was conducted among maintenance hemodialysis patients at six hospitals in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. Data were collected anonymously using a questionnaire. A total of 399 hemodialysis patients took part in the survey, the majority of them were male (56%) and aged 45-64 years. A calculated 62.4% of the patients reported receiving at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Of those vaccinated (249), 73.5% had received two doses and 16.9% had received a booster dose. The most common reasons for vaccination were "being aware they were at high risk" (89.6%), "fear of getting infected" (89.2%) and "willingness to fight against COVID-19-pandemic" (83.9%). Of the 150 patients who had not yet been vaccinated, only 10 showed a willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine. The major reasons for refusal included "COVID-19 is not a real problem" (75%), the "corona vaccine is a conspiracy (72.1%)" and "I don't need the vaccine" (60.7%). Our study revealed that only 62% patients receiving hemodialysis were partially or completely vaccinated against COVID-19. Consequently, there is a need to initiate aggressive approaches to educate this high-risk population in order to address their concerns with vaccine safety and efficacy as well as correct current myths and misconceptions to improve the COVID-19 immunization status in this population.
  3. Bukhsh A, Hussain S, Rehman IU, Mallhi TH, Khan YH, Khaliel AM, et al.
    Pak J Pharm Sci, 2019 Jul;32(4(Supplementary)):1789-1796.
    PMID: 31680074
    Seasonal influenza is a highly contagious viral respiratory disorder. Prior knowledge of flu among general community is of paramount importance in order to mitigate its growing burden. In a pandemic, young adults are more likely to be infected increasing the potential for universities to be explosive disease outbreak centers. In this context, current study aims to assess the knowledge and perception of flu among university students from health sciences (HS) and non-HS background. Questionnaire-based cross sectional (August-December 2015) study was conducted among students of 65 universities across Pakistan. The students willing to participate were requested to fill out the self-administered questionnaire and responses were recorded and descriptively analyzed by SPSS. A total of 1694 students (age: 21.12 ± 2.13 years), 95% which belonged to age group 18-25 years, participated in the current study. Most of the participants (91.7%) had suffered from influenza during their life but only 55.7% correctly answered virus as causative agent of flu, while majority of participants, primarily from non-HS disciplines were not aware of flu cause. Very few participants (8.1%) believed that flu can cause death. About 20% students, mainly from non-HS disciplines reported that antibiotic can kill viruses. Similarly, 47.1% respondents agreed on the effectiveness of antibiotic in flu. A large proportion of study population preferred self-medication for influenza. Only 20.1% students were aware of influenza vaccine while majority of students (79.9%) from both disciplines reported that there is no such vaccine. Awareness and health literacy regarding seasonal influenza is poor among university students, especially from non-HS disciplines. These findings necessitate dire need to appropriately structured awareness programs in educational institutes to curb the growing burden of influenza.
  4. Hamzah AA, Keow CK, Syazri A, Mallhi TH, Khan AH, Khan YH, et al.
    J Coll Physicians Surg Pak, 2017 Mar;27(3):S13-S15.
    PMID: 28302231 DOI: 238
    A bezoar is a concretion of foreign or indigestible matter in the alimentary canal and is usual cause of gastric obstruction. Bezoars can become fragmented and migrate downward leading to intestinal obstruction. Diagnosis of phytobezoar has become challenging in clinical practice due to lack of patient history and inability of patient to correlate preceding events with the episode of bowel obstruction. Bezoar associated small bowel obstruction rarely occurs and is usually found in patients with history of gastrointestinal surgery. Very few cases are reported of small bowel obstruction due to bezoar in healthy population without prior illness or surgery. We present a case of small bowel obstruction due to mushroom bezoar in a 62-year patient with no past history of medical illness or gastric surgery. Enterotomy was performed and a whole piece of undigested mushroom measuring 5 x 3 cm was successfully removed.
  5. Harmain ZU, Alkubaisi NA, Hasnain M, Salman M, Baraka MA, Mustafa ZU, et al.
    Healthcare (Basel), 2023 Aug 23;11(17).
    PMID: 37685412 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11172378
    There are typically lower COVID-19 vaccination rates among developing versus higher-income countries, which is exacerbated by greater vaccine hesitancy. However, despite the increasing evidence of safety, parents are still reluctant to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. This is a concern in countries experiencing successive waves, such as Pakistan. Consequently, the objective of this study was to gain better understanding and practice regarding parents vaccinating their children against COVID-19 in Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted to measure parents' attitudes towards vaccinating their children. In total, 451 parents participated in the study, giving a response rate of 70.4%; 67.4% were female, 43.2% belonged to the 40-49 years age group, and 47.7% had three children, with 73% of parents fully immunized against COVID-19. We found that 84.7% of parents did not consider COVID-19 to be a very serious issue, and 53.9% considered that their children were not at high risk of COVID-19. Overall, only a quarter of the study participants had currently vaccinated their children and 11.8% were willing to vaccinate their children in the near future. Parents who had a better knowledge of COVID-19, secondary or higher education, children who had chronic illness, and those parents whose children had been infected with COVID-19 were more likely to have their children vaccinated. The most common reasons for vaccine hesitancy were "my child is not at high risk of COVID-19" (61%) and "I am afraid to put/inject a foreign object inside my child's body" (52.2%). Overall, vaccine acceptance was low among the parents of the children. Those parents with higher education, chronic illnesses, greater knowledge of COVID-19 and its vaccines, and those whose children had been infected with COVID-19 were significantly (p < 0.001) inclined towards vaccinating their children. Effective campaigns as well as awareness sessions are needed to address misinformation and reduce vaccine hesitancy.
  6. Iqbal MZ, Qadir MI, Hussain T, Janbaz KH, Khan YH, Ahmad B
    Pak J Pharm Sci, 2014 Mar;27(2):405-15.
    PMID: 24577933
    Joint FAO/WHO expert's consultation report defines probiotics as: Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host. Most commonly used probiotics are Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria. There are other examples of species used as probiotics (certain yeasts and bacilli). Probiotic supplements are popular now a days. From the beginning of 2000, research on probiotics has increased remarkably. Probiotics are now day's widely studied for their beneficial effects in treatment of many prevailing diseases. Here we reviewed the beneficiary effects of probiotics in some diseases.
  7. Kaleem S, Ahmad T, Wahid A, Khan HH, Mallhi TH, Al-Worafi YM, et al.
    PLoS One, 2024;19(2):e0288834.
    PMID: 38300948 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288834
    The study aims to assess the health-related Quality of Life (HRQOL) and its association with socio-demographic factors among the Afghan refugees residing in Quetta, Pakistan. For this purpose, a cross-sectional, descriptive study design by adopting Euro QOL five dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D) for the assessment of HRQOL was conducted by approaching Afghan refugees from the camp and other areas of Quetta, Pakistan. Furthermore, this study also involved descriptive analysis to expound participant's demographic characteristics while inferential statistics (Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney test, P < 0.05) were used to compare EQ-5D scale scores. All analyses were performed using SPSS v 20. Herein, a total of 729 participants were enrolled and were subsequently (n = 246, 33.7%) categorized based on their age of 22-31 years (31.30 ± 15.40). The results of mean EQ-5D descriptive score (0.85 ± 0.20) and EQ-VAS score (78.60 ± 11.10) indicated better HRQOL in the current study respondents as compared to studies conducted in other refugee camps around the globe. In addition, demographic characteristics including age, marital status, locality, years of living as refugees, life as a refugee residing out of Pakistan, place of residence in Afghanistan, educational qualification, occupation, and arrested for crime were the statistically significant predictors (P < 0.05) of EQ-5D index scores. However, gender, living status, monthly income, preferred place of treatment were non-significant predictors (P > 0.05). The results of current study provided evidence for a model that correlated with participant's socio-demographic information and HRQOL. Moreover, this study also revealed a baseline assessment for the health status of Afghan refugees, interestingly, these results could be applied for improving HRQOL of the given participants. In conclusion, the HRQOL of Afghan refugees residing in Quetta, Pakistan can largely be improved by providing adequate healthcare facilities, education and employment opportunities, mental and social support, and providing adequate housing and basic necessities of life.
  8. Khalid SH, Liaqat I, Mallhi TH, Khan AH, Ahmad J, Khan YH
    J Pak Med Assoc, 2020 Dec;70(12(B)):2376-2382.
    PMID: 33475547 DOI: 10.47391/JPMA.370
    OBJECTIVE: Diabetes mellitus (DM) along with myocardial infarction (MI) carries increased burden on patients in terms of morbidity, mortality and cost. Current study was aimed to investigate the impact of DM on clinico-laboratory characteristics on in-hospital treatment outcomes among MI patients.o compare the outcome of mesh hernioplasty performed under local anaesthesia in relatively young and older patients regarding wound complications and urinary retention.

    METHODS: All MI patients admitted to the emergency department of Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology from April, 2016 to March, 2017 were recruited into the study. The clinico-laboratory profile and in-hospital outcomes of patients with and without DM were compared using chi-squared test or student t-test, where appropriate.

    RESULTS: A total 4063 patients (Mean age: 55.86 ± 12.37years) with male preponderance were included into the study. STEMI was most prevalent (n = 2723, 67%) type of MI among study participants. DM was present in substantial number of cases (n = 3688, 90.8%). Patients with DM presented with increased BMI, higher blood pressure, elevated levels of cholesterol, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen, when compared to the patients without DM (p<0.05). Out of 560 patients who were followed up, cardiogenic shock was frequent (n = 293, 52.3%) adverse outcome followed by heart failure (n = 114, 20.4%), atrial fibrillation (n = 78, 13.9%) and stroke (n = 75, 13.4 %). Moreover, in-hospital adverse outcomes were more prevalent among MI patients with DM than those without DM.

    CONCLUSIONS: MI patients with DM present with varying clinico laboratory characteristics as well as experience higher prevalence of adverse cardiovascular events as compared to patients without DM. These patients require individual management strategy on very first day of admission.

  9. Khan YH, Sarriff A, Adnan AS, Khan AH, Mallhi TH, Jummaat F
    Nephrology (Carlton), 2017 Jan;22(1):25-34.
    PMID: 26718476 DOI: 10.1111/nep.12713
    AIM: Despite increase global prevalence of End stage renal disease (ESRD) and subsequent need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), relatively little is known about disease progression and prognosis of earlier stages of CKD. Current study was conducted to examine rate of CKD progression, predictors of ESRD and death.

    METHODS: A total 621 patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 15-59ml/min/1.73m(2) (CKD stage 3 & 4) were selected and followed up for 10 years or until ESRD or death, whichever occurred first. Subjects who did not meet inclusion criteria were excluded (n=1474).

    RESULTS: Annual cumulative decline in eGFR was 3.01±0.40 ml/min/1.73m(2) . Overall disease progression was observed in 60% patients while 18% died. Among patients with CKD stage 3, 21% progressed to stage 4, 10% to stage 5ND (non-dialysis) and 31% to RRT while mortality was observed in 16% patients. On the other hand, 8% patients with CKD stage 4 progressed to stage 5ND, 31% to RRT and mortality was observed in 24% cases. Patients with CVD, higher systolic blood pressure, elevated phosphate levels, heavy proteinuria, microscopic hematuria and use of diuretics were more likely to develop ESRD. Advancing age, low eGFR, low systolic blood pressure, low hemoglobin and baseline diabetes were found to be significant predictors of mortality while being female reduced risk of mortality.

    CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that, in this CKD cohort, patients were more likely to develop ESRD than death. Prime importance should be given to mild forms of CKD to retard and even reverse CKD progression.

  10. Khan YH, Mallhi TH, Sarriff A, Khan AH
    Springerplus, 2013;2:463.
    PMID: 24083110 DOI: 10.1186/2193-1801-2-463
    OBJECTIVES: The objective of the current study is to analyze different approaches of pharmacists and general practitioners towards availability and use of osteoporosis prescreening tools and to find out reasons that explain non utilization of such tools in clinical practice.
    SETTINGS: Among General practitioners and Community pharmacists in Pulau Penang, Malaysia.
    METHODOLOGY: An explorative cross sectional study was carried out using convenience sampling approach. A pre-validated self- administered questionnaire was used to carry out the study. A total of 170 healthcare professionals participated in study.
    MAIN OUTCOME: Evaluation of awareness, use and opinions of healthcare professionals regarding osteoporosis prescreening tools.
    RESULTS: Response rate of study was 56%. The mean age of the participants was 39.00 + 7.89 years. Less than one third of participants were familiar with term prescreening tools or Clinical decision rules. The only osteoporosis prescreening tool that was recognized and used by majority of participants was FRAX. Participants agreed that low level of awareness regarding availability of prescreening tools poses hindrance in utilization of such tools in clinical practice. Majority of participants showed willingness to gain information and use such tools in future.
    CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study demonstrate an urgent need of implementation of osteoporosis prescreening tools educational and awareness programs among healthcare professionals.
  11. Khan YH, Sarriff A, Adnan AS, Khan AH, Mallhi TH
    Ther Apher Dial, 2016 Oct;20(5):453-461.
    PMID: 27151394 DOI: 10.1111/1744-9987.12406
    Hypertension is prevalent in 75-80% of hemodialysis patients and remains the most controversial prognostic marker in end stage kidney disease patients. In contrast to the general population where systolic blood pressure of ≤120 mm Hg is considered normal, a debate remains regarding the ideal target blood pressure in hemodialysis patients. Using the PUBMED and EMBASE databases, the research studies that evaluated the relationship between blood pressure measurements and mortality in hemodialysis patients were searched. Thirteen studies were identified from different regions of the world. Five studies reported low predialysis systolic blood pressure as a prognostic marker of mortality. Other studies showed varying results and reported postdialysis systolic blood pressure as well as ambulatory blood pressure as better predictors of mortality and emphasized their optimized control. One study in this review concluded that there is no direct relationship between mortality and blood pressure if the patients are on anti-hypertensive medications. The observed all-cause mortality varied from 12% to 36%, whereas the cardiovascular mortality varied from 16% to 60%. On the basis of studies included in the current review, a low predialysis systolic blood pressure (<120 mm Hg) is shown to be a widely accepted prognostic marker of mortality while ambulatory blood pressure best predicts CV mortality. Therefore, we recommend that apart from routine BP (pre, post and intradialysis) monitoring in centers, assessment of ambulatory BP must be mandatory for all patients to reduce CV mortality in hemodialysis patients.
  12. Khan YH, Sarriff A, Adnan AS, Khan AH, Malhi TH, Jummaat F
    J Coll Physicians Surg Pak, 2015 May;25(5):392.
    PMID: 26008675 DOI: 05.2015/JCPSP.392392
  13. Khan YH, Mallhi TH, Sarriff A, Khan AH, Tanveer N
    J Coll Physicians Surg Pak, 2018 Dec;28(12):960-966.
    PMID: 30501836 DOI: 10.29271/jcpsp.2018.12.960
    Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an asymptomatic disease associated with high morbidity and life-threatening complications that lead to decreased life expectancy. Worldwide prevalence of CKD is escalating at an alarming rate. Large population-based representative surveys have been reported in Western countries to estimate the prevalence of the disease. However, there is paucity of data as far as developing nations are concerned. Asia is the world's largest continent accommodating maximum number of under-developed and developing countries with an unclear picture of prevalence of CKD. Current review attempts to give an insight to the prevalence of CKD in this region by combining population-based surveys. This review will assist in estimating the burden of CKD in Asia, so that appropriate control measures could be designed.
  14. Khan YH, Sarriff A, Adnan AS, Khan AH, Mallhi TH
    Clin Exp Nephrol, 2017 Jun;21(3):488-496.
    PMID: 27402286 DOI: 10.1007/s10157-016-1303-7
    INTRODUCTION: The relationship between hypertension and fluid overload in pre-dialysis CKD patients need to be elucidated. Current study aimed to find relationship between fluid overload and hypertension along with prescribed diuretic therapy using bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS).

    METHODOLOGY: A prospective observational study was conducted by inviting pre-dialysis CKD patients. Fluid overload was assessed by BIS.

    RESULTS: A total of 312 CKD patients with mean eGFR 24.5 ± 11.2 ml/min/1.73 m2were enrolled. Based on OH value ≥7 %, 135 (43.3 %) patients were hypervolemic while euvolemia was observed in 177 (56.7 %) patients. Patients were categorized in different regions of hydration reference plot (HRP) generated by BIS i.e., 5.1 % in region-N (normal BP and fluid status), 20.5 % in region I (hypertensive with severe fluid overload), 29.5 % in region I-II (hypertensive with mild fluid overload), 22 % in region II (hypertensive with normohydration), 10.2 % in region III (underhydration with normal/low BP) and 12.5 % in region IV (normal BP with severe fluid overload). A total of 144 (46 %) patients received diuretics on basis of physician assessment of BP and edema. Maximum diuretics 100 (69.4 %) were prescribed in patients belonging to regions I and I-II of HRP. Interestingly, a similar number of diuretic prescriptions were observed in region II (13 %) and region IV (12 %). Surprisingly, 7 (4.9 %) of patients in region III who were neither hypervolemic nor hypertensive were also prescribed with diuretics.

    CONCLUSION: BIS can aid clinicians to categorize CKD patients on basis of their fluid status and provide individualized pharmacotherapy to manage hypertensive CKD patients.

  15. Khan YH, Sarriff A, Adnan AS, Khan AH, Mallhi TH
    Clin Exp Nephrol, 2017 Dec;21(6):1011-1023.
    PMID: 28271257 DOI: 10.1007/s10157-017-1397-6
    INTRODUCTION: Diuretic therapy has been the mainstay of treatment in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, primarily for hypertension and fluid overload. Apart from their beneficial effects, diuretic use is associated with adverse renal outcomes. The current study is aimed to determine the outcomes of diuretic therapy.
    METHODOLOGY: A prospective observational study was conducted by inviting pre-dialysis CKD patients. Fluid overload was assessed by Bioimpedance analysis (BIA).
    RESULTS: A total 312 patients (mean age 64.5 ± 6.43) were enrolled. Among 144 (46.1%) diuretic users, furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) were prescribed in 69 (48%) and 39 (27%) patients, respectively, while 36 (25%) were prescribed with combination therapy (furosemide plus HCTZ). Changes in BP, fluid compartments, eGFR decline and progression to RRT were assessed over a follow-up period of 1 year. Maximum BP control was observed with combination therapy (-19.3 mmHg, p 
  16. Khan YH, Sarriff A, Adnan AS, Khan AH, Mallhi TH
    PLoS One, 2016;11(7):e0159335.
    PMID: 27442587 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159335
    BACKGROUND: Despite promising role of diuretics to manage fluid overload among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, their use is associated with adverse renal outcomes. Current study aimed to determine the extent of renal deterioration with diuretic therapy.

    METHODS: A total 312 non-dialysis dependent CKD (NDD-CKD) patients were prospectively followed-up for one year. Fluid overload was assessed via bioimpedance spectroscopy. Estimated GFR (eGFR) was calculated from serum creatinine values by using Chronic Kidney Disease- Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation.

    RESULTS: Out of 312 patients, 64 (20.5%) were hypovolemic while euvolemia and hypervolemia were observed in 113 (36.1%) and 135 (43.4%) patients. Overall 144 patients were using diuretics among which 98 (72.6%) were hypervolemic, 35 (30.9%) euvolemic and 11 (17.2%) were hypovolemic. The mean decline in estimated GFR of entire cohort was -2.5 ± 1.4 ml/min/1.73m2 at the end of follow up. The use of diuretics was significantly associated with decline in eGFR. A total of 36 (11.5%) patients initiated renal replacement therapy (RRT) and need of RRT was more profound among diuretic users.

    CONCLUSIONS: The use of diuretics was associated with adverse renal outcomes indicated by decline in eGFR and increasing risk of RRT initiation in our cohort of NDD-CKD patients. Therefore, it is cautiously suggested to carefully prescribe diuretics by keeping in view benefit versus harm for each patient.

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