Abstract: Background: A neuropsychiatric condition with an unclear etiology is schizophrenia. Inflammation, infection, and genetic variables have all been found to contribute to the etiology of disease. The present study was conducted to assess cardiovascular disease risk in schizophrenia patients.

Materials & Methods: 48 patients of Schizophrenia diagnosed by DSM-IV criteriawere put in group I and controls in group II. Height (in metres) and weight (in kgs), BMI= Weight/(Height)2, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, serum lipid parameters and hs-CRP were measured.

Results: Group I had 22 males and 26 females and group II had 24 males and 24 females. In group I and group II, mean BMI was 28.3 and 27.5, waist circumference was 89.2 and 82.1, triglycerides was 119.8 and 97.5, HDL was 37.8 and 41.2, SBP was 126.5 and 120.3, DBP was 82.5 and 79.2, fasting glucose was 94.5 and 88.3, metabolic syndrome was seen in 14 and 4, total cholesterol was 152.6 and 142.8, LDL was 120.8 and 114.3, laboratory dyslipidemia was seen in 24 and 5 respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05).

Conclusion: Due to the high frequency of metabolic syndrome and dyslipidemia, individuals with schizophrenia are more likely to experience cardiovascular disease events. These patients should have their CVD risk factors routinely checked, and they should be promptly referred to a doctor for additional care.

Abstract: Background: Inflammation and oxidative stress exacerbate and raise the risk of CAD and its related diseases, including Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The present study evaluated the status of Glutathione S–transferase in coronary artery disease patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Materials & Methods: 64 coronary artery disease patients of either gender were selected. Based on whether these patients had diabetes or not, they were divided into group I and group II with diabetes and without diabetes respectively. Equal number of healthy controls were put in group III. Parameters such as serum GST activity, total antioxidant status, plasma GSH levels, serum MDA and lipid profile was assessed.

Results: Out of 64 patients, 40 were males and 24 were females. The mean GST level in group I was 140.3 IU/L, in group II was 125.8 IU/L and in group III was 62.4 IU/L. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). In group I, group II and group III, mean MDA (µmol/l) level was 8.3, 7.1 and 5.7 respectively. The mean GSH (µmol/gm of Hb) level was 8.8, 8.9 and 8.9 respectively. The mean TAS (mm/L) level was 0.1, 0.3 and 0.4 respectively. The difference was non- significant (P> 0.05).

Conclusion: Serum GST has been found to be a useful indicator of the level of oxidative stress present in both Type 2 Diabetes mellitus and CAD patients. One defense against elevated oxidative stress is elevated serum GST activity.

Abstract: Background: Chronic hepatitis C is a slowly progressive disease that can be classified as mild, moderate or severe according to liver histology. The present study was conducted to assess role of sonography in predicting steatosis and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Materials & Methods: 58 cases of HCV positive of either gender underwent USGtaken with SSA-250A system, Toshiba, Tokyo, Japan. A 3.75-MHz sector transducer without harmonic image was utilized for the conventional US study. All underwent a percutaneous liver biopsy to stage CHC prior to anti-HCV pretreatment assessment.

Results: Out of 58 cases, 32 were males and 26 were females.Hepatic steatosis grade 0 was seen in 38, I in 14, II in 6 patients. Inflammation-necrosis gradeI in 5, II in 42, III in 11 cases. Fibrosis stage I in 21, II in 33 and III in 3 patients. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV in patients with Steatosis > 5% found to be 72%, 73%, 59% and 83% respectively. In patients with steatosis > 30%, it was 86%, 61%, 13% and 94% respectively.

Conclusion: Gray-scale US cannot replace liver biopsy as the optimal diagnostic procedure for the prediction of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis.

Abstract: Aim: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of epidural anesthesia (EA) and general anesthesia (GA) in managing postoperative pain, opioid consumption, time to first analgesic requirement, incidence of adverse events, and hospital stay duration in patients undergoing elective abdominal surgeries.

Materials & Methods: This prospective, randomized controlled trial included 100 adult patients scheduled for elective abdominal surgery, with 50 patients each in the EA and GA groups. Epidural anesthesia involved administering 0.5% Bupivacaine at the T10–L2 level, followed by an infusion of 0.125% Bupivacaine with Fentanyl (2 μg/mL). General anesthesia included Propofol for induction and Isoflurane with intermittent Fentanyl boluses for maintenance. Postoperative pain scores were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours. Secondary outcomes included total opioid consumption, time to first analgesic requirement, adverse events, and length of hospital stay.

Results: The demographic and clinical characteristics were comparable between groups. Postoperative pain scores were significantly lower in the EA group at all time intervals (p< 0.001). Total opioid consumption (5.2 ± 1.8 mg vs. 12.4 ± 3.5 mg, p< 0.001) and the number of breakthrough analgesic doses (1.2 ± 0.5 vs. 2.8 ± 0.8, p< 0.001) were significantly lower in the EA group. Time to first analgesic requirement was longer in the EA group (6.8 ± 1.5 hours vs. 3.2 ± 1.0 hours, p< 0.001). The incidence of nausea and vomiting was significantly lower in the EA group (12% vs. 36%, p = 0.003). The EA group also had a shorter hospital stay (4.2 ± 1.1 days vs. 5.8 ± 1.4 days, p< 0.001).

Conclusion: Epidural anesthesia demonstrated superior postoperative pain control, reduced opioid consumption, prolonged analgesic duration, fewer adverse events, and shorter hospital stays compared to general anesthesia. These findings highlight the advantages of epidural anesthesia as an effective option for managing postoperative pain in abdominal surgeries.

Abstract: Background: In ENT, epistaxis is a frequent emergency. Active bleeding from the nose is the definition. Anterior epistaxis is most common type (around 90% of nosebleeds). It occurs when the blood vessels in the front of the nasal septum (the thin wall between the two nostrils) break.The present study was conducted to assess cases of epistaxis.

Material and Methods: 98 cases of epistaxis of both genderswere divided into 2 groups of 49 each. Group I patients were given conservative treatment consisting of admission for observation with bed rest, anterior nasal packing with BIPP (Bismuth Iodine Paraffin Paste) and posterior packing with Foley catheter. Group II patients were given surgical therapy consisting of endoscopy coagulation of sphenopalatine artery in patients who did not response to conservative management for 48 hours. All patients were evaluated for clinical presentation of epistaxis, possible causes of epistaxis, treatment, length of hospital stay.

Results: Out of 98 patients, 52 were males and 46 were females. Right side was involved in 29 and 26 and left side in 20 and 23 in group I and group II respectively. Causes were trauma in 17 and 19, idiopathic in 21 and 20 and malignancy in 11 and 10. Length of stay was <3 days in 41 and 6 and >3 daysin 8 and 43 in group I and group II respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05).

Conclusion: According to this study, patients who receive conservative treatment for epistaxis have shorter hospital stays. As a first line of treatment for intractable epistaxis, surgery is necessary for individuals who still bleed after receiving proper conservative care.