Shalamar Hospital hosted the US Consul-General Lahore
In light of breast cancer awareness month, Shalamar Hospital hosted the US Consul-General Lahore, Mr. William Makaneole, Ms. Kathleen Gibilisco of the US State Department, and the team. The visit focused on showcasing Shalamar’s women’s health initiatives and dedication to women’s health services across all clinical departments. The US Consul-General Lahore, the chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Shahid Hussain, and the COO of the hospital, Dr. Ayesha Nauman, spoke at the event. During his address, the US Consul-General expressed his astonishment to hear that 100 women in Pakistan die of breast cancer daily and voiced the need for more awareness. The Consul-General and team were pleased to learn about the ongoing project of Shalamar Hospital with Johns Hopkins Medicine International to create one of Pakistan’s first women’s centric health services. Shalamar Hospital and the US Consulate Lahore expressed a shared enthusiasm for future projects on the health and well-being of the Pakistani people. The addresses were followed by a tour of the hospital’s key health initiatives, given by hospital COO Dr. Ayesha Nauman. Dr. Sadaf Ishaque, head of One Stop Breast Clinic, briefed the team about the community services of the clinic. Currently, Shalamar Hospital is offering free mammograms for the month of October.
Flood Relief Work
Flood Relief Camp in Dadu With the support of its Donors, Pakistan Navy and Service Sales Corporation, Shalamar Hospital organized medical camps at different villages of District Dadu, Sindh. The medical camps provided free medical treatment to 2386 patients of all age groups. Hospital teams worked tirelessly to provide relief to the flood affectees. Pakistan Navy provided security and logistical support to ensure the safety and peace of the healthcare workers. Flood Relief Camp in District Rajanpur Shalamar Hospital conducted 3 Day Medical camps in Lal Gagh village, Noshrawast village and Drishak village of District Rajanpur. The Administration and Medical team of Shalamar Hospital Lahore worked tirelessly in collaboration with Services Sales Cooperation (SSC) to treat 1180 patients in the medical camps. The majority of the patients came with the complaints AGE, AFI, HTN, DM, resistant Scabies, Generalized weakness and malnourishment.
Breast Cancer: Symptoms and Self-examination
Every one in nine (1 in 9) women receives a breast cancer diagnosis during her lifetime; Pakistan has the highest disease incidence among all Asian countries. Therefore, it has become crucial to spread awareness among the general public to ensure early detection and save the precious lives of both men and women. Signs and Symptoms: Knowing any disease’s various signs and symptoms is essential because it marks the beginning of its detection process. However, it is crucial to understand that the symptoms of breast cancer can vary depending on its stage and type. Following are some of its common signs: Early breast cancer: A change in size and shape of the breast. Change in the appearance of the nipple. Nipple discharge (other than breast milk) Lumps or nodes that can be felt in or on the breast. Invasive breast cancer: Breast lump. Peeling of the nipple skin. Itchy breast. The breast is tender, warm, and/or hard to touch. Pitting the breast skin (like an orange: Peau d’orange appearance). Nipple retraction and discharge. ( later stage) Lump or swelling in the underarm lymph nodes. Inflammatory breast cancer: Heaviness and aching in the breast. Pitting of breast skin. Inverted nipple. The breast is red, itchy, and tender to the touch. Lump or swelling in the underarm lymph nodes. Metastatic breast cancer: If the lungs are affected: difficulty breathing, coughing, and chest pain. If the brain or spinal cord is affected: headache, seizures, pain, or blurry vision. If bones are affected: reduced alertness, pain, and fractures. If the liver is affected: nausea, fatigue, swelling, and jaundice. Male breast cancer: Symptoms experienced by men are similar to women, including: Painless lumps in the breast. Nipple discharge. Increase in size of the breast. Thickening of breast skin. Breast Self-examination: According to the John Hopkins Medical Centre, 40% of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, which emphasizes the significance of breast self-exams. Men and women should conduct the exam regularly because the condition, although uncommon in men, is just as fatal. How regularly should it be performed? It must be performed monthly, and the ideal time is between the 3rd and 5th day of your menstrual cycle or on the same day of every month for men (especially with a family history of breast cancer), post-menopausal women, or females with irregular menstrual cycles. Steps of the exam: Visual inspection: You must stand in front of a mirror with your breasts completely exposed and your hands by your sides. Look for any changes in breast shape, size, and color, as well as symmetry, skin dimpling and nipple retraction. Then raise your hands above your head and observe again. Finally, place your hands on your hips to flex your chest muscles and look for any changes. Make sure to observe and compare both breasts. Manual inspection while standing: For this procedure, you must use your right hand to examine your left breast and vice versa. You must use the pads of the 3 middle fingers of one hand to feel all parts of the breast in a circular motion. Also, apply different pressures and feel for any lumps or thickness. Then squeeze your nipple to check for discharge. Repeat this for the other breast. Manual inspection while lying down: For this step, first put a pillow under your right shoulder and flex your right arm. Then use the pads of the 3 middle fingers of your left hand to palpate your right breast and armpit. Repeat this procedure for the left breast and armpit. When to consult a doctor? If you find any of the aforementioned signs (lump, bloody nipple discharge, color change, or change in skin texture), make sure to visit your doctor so the underlying cause of the anomalies can be determined.
Dr. A. Raouf Wahab Ali Alotaibi, the Vice President, University of Science and Technology, Sudan, visited Shalamar Institute of Health Sciences (SIHS).
Dr. A. Raouf Wahab Ali Alotaibi, the Vice President, University of Science and Technology, Sudan, visited Shalamar Institute of Health Sciences (SIHS). Mr. Shahid Hussain, Chairman Board of Trustees, Prof. Zahid Bashir, Principal, Shalamar Medical & Dental College, and Dr. Ayesha Nauman, Chief Operating Officer, Shalamar Hospital, welcomed the guests and briefed them on the quality of medical, nursing, and allied health education and health services provided to patients at SIHS. The foreign guest discussed opportunities for collaboration with SIHS in curriculum development, student and faculty exchange & research. He also visited different institute departments and met with staff and students. Dr. Raouf said that SIHS is one of the leading institutes in Pakistan’s health services and medical education, meeting international standards.
SEMINAR ON CAREER COUNSELING BY SMDC ALUMNI
SMDC Alumni department organized a Seminar on Career Counseling and IMG’s Pathway to the UK (OET/PLAB, MRCP/MRCS) for Medical Students of SMDC and House officers of Shalamar Hospital. Dr. Nouman Zaib (Batch 2018) and Dr. Humdi Muzammil (Batch 2018) were the Guest Speakers at the Seminar. They are a part of SMDC UK Alumni who passed their PLAB exams, got GMC Registration, and working in the UK as junior doctors. Furthermore, SMDC UK Alumni also extended their support for medical students and future alums of SMDC by creating an Online Forum on social media for any queries related to OET, PLAB, MRCP/MRCS, MTI Pathway, GMC Registration, UK visa, and Job application process.
LUMS and Shalamar Medical and Dental College (SMDC) Collaboration
Background Shalamar Medical and Dental College (SMDC) has initiated a seven-star medical education plan similar to the ones offered internationally in renowned medical colleges. Accordingly, SMDC launched a 1+5 year MBBS program for their students of Medicine. The students who get admission at SMDC have an option to spend the first year of their medical education at LUMS and then continue their 5-year MBBS program at SMDC. During this year, selected students from SMDC will take courses at LUMS in the subjects of critical thinking and logic, basics of cell and molecular biology, and laboratory methods courses. Students will also learn to use the tools for modern molecular diagnostics. It is being proposed that initially, only twenty students will be given this option, and over time, as the program gains popularity, more seats will be added to it. This proposal for collaboration has been discussed in depth with: Dr. Sabieh Anwar (Dean SBASSE) Dr. Amir Faisal (Chair of Biology) Dr. Muhammad Tariq (Associate Professor in Biology) Dr. Arshad Ahmad (Vice Chancellor LUMS) Mr. Shahid Hussain (CBOT Shalamar and Rector LUMS) Program benefits This program will help strengthen the fundamental concepts of biology required to understand disease development, disease progression, and diagnostics. The benefits of such a course will develop our doctors to be globally competitive with international doctors. Graduates from this program will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to contribute more to research. The faculty of biology at LUMS is consider that this initiative will open up such avenues for other medical institutes in Pakistan to follow the same pattern. The program will contribute toward the much-needed long-term change in the field of Medicine. Imparting such knowledge and skills in MBBS students will help initiate quality research in medical colleges and universities. This will help Pakistan to contribute toward new knowledge generation and discoveries in Medicine. Fee Structure for the 1 Year Education at LUMS LUMS has waived the admission fee and the School of Science and Engineering fee. Mr. Shahid Hussain has offered that the Shahid Hussain Foundation (SHF) will pay the LUMS fees of the first batch of twenty students from Shalamar.
Moment of Pride
Dr. Saadia Shahzad, Associate Professor from the Community Medicine department of Shalamar Medical and Dental College; also holding the additional responsibilities of being Medical Educationist, and Bioethicist; made the organization proud by her achievement early this year. She presented her Bioethics Thought Paper in the International Chair in Bioethics 14th World Conference on Bioethics, Medical Ethics, and Health Law, in Porto, Portugal in March 22. Her Thought paper was titled: ‘Social inclusion and positive rehabilitation of children with Down syndrome is their basic human right: a thought paper in the contextual environment of Pakistani society’. This is a much needed work for our society where most of the time vulnerable population is not given their due basic human rights and social inclusion is denied to them. She was also invited as Chair Session, and chaired the session on ‘Human Rights ll’ in the said conference. It is a moment of pride that Dr. Saadia Shahzad as faculty of Shalamar Medical and Dental College represented this organization at an International platform.
10 WAYS OF LIVING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Health is one of God’s greatest blessings. A famous saying, “Health is Wealth,” makes it more comprehensible. With the emerging advancements in the modern era, mankind is in a constant race for money, luxuries, success, and adorations. No doubt he has reached the stars and has captured the galaxies in his pocket, but his health is on the verge of extermination. The new decade has brought the essential concerns into consideration. The majority of people are conscious of their health. To be prosperous, health needs to be our priority. Let’s see the ways by which we can make our lifestyle healthier: CHOOSE THE RIGHT FOOD Diet is the fuel for the human body. To save the body from deterioration, it’s cardinal to provide correct fuel. Always try to eat healthy foods that are obtained directly from nature, e.g., green fruits and vegetables Take a variety of food like meat, grains, dairy, and pulses. Take all portions of food in adequate quantity. Avoid salty and spicier foods, especially at night Prefer homemade food Prefer fresh food; try to avoid frozen meals BE A NATURE LOVER The closer we are to nature, the less we are prone to debilitation. To feel contentment, we should try to remain close to nature. View sunsets and sunrises Enjoy the chirping of birds Music of breezes The calmness in a noisy sea EARLY RISER By sleeping early and waking up early can be active and fresh, relaxed and competent. One can make use of their abilities to the maximum. A study proved that waking up close to sunrise boosts the release of happy hormones (endorphins) that reduce the risk of cardiovascular abnormalities and mental disorders. Early rising keeps our bodies in balance, preventing us from obesity, gastric issues, and other comorbidities. WALK Detoxification is essential to get rid of harmful toxins in our bodies. The toxins we are inhaling and polluting our bodies need to be pushed out. The best detox is to go for a walk for at least 25 minutes a day. Walking releases endorphins, burn fats, and helps in preventing diseases, e.g., diabetes, hypertension, mental and other metabolic syndromes AVOID PROCESSED FOOD The world around us is suffused with fascination. Foods with scrumptious tastes but no nutritional value causes debridement of health. Children are exposed to the vicious cycle of eating unhealthy foods, e.g., chocolates, fast foods, snacks, and candies, increasing the risk of comorbidities among children. In this modern busier world, all the advancements have made life easier, but this ease has pursued man to opt for comfort in every matter of life. Processed canned foods replace fresh foods to save time and add taste. Nonetheless, using processed foods has exposed humans to toxic agents escalating the risk of cancers, diabetes, etc. BE ACTIVE The food we eat and the habits we choose decide our way of living. Technological progress makes our lives easy while restricting our outdoor activities to almost none. This has trapped our growing minds in unhealthy bodies, leaving us at the mercy of heavy pills. Youth is suffering from hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and PCOS. It is alarming for the whole of the world. Sports and exercise nourish our body, mind, and soul, making us healthy, active, and energetic. This reduces the risk of diseases. Engaging ourselves in favorite sports, like badminton, cricket, etc., for 20 minutes at least twice a week can prevent cardiovascular diseases. TALK Our younger population is preoccupied with electronic gadgets and immersed in an imaginary world far away from their families and loved ones. As a result, the risk of depression and suicidal deaths is more among them. The emotional garbage and toxicities eating us inside need to be dumped out of our minds by either talking to some good friends or our loved ones. Mental health is as important as physical health. Sharing our exhaustion and getting our problems sorted out via talking plays a crucial part in one’s progress and integrity of mental health. Moreover, it diminished the risk of depression and anxiety attacks. AVOID SMOKING Smoking is hazardous and injurious to health. These trending words are only read by us but are not understood and implemented. Our youth, probably the one getting higher education working in companies and hospitals, uses smoking as their stress reliever. Indeed, these people are exposing themselves to tons of annihilating toxins, risking their lives being taken on hospital beds. Even one cigarette a day carries a risk of coronary, cerebral disease, stroke, etc. By passive smoking, one is not risking their life only but of their loved ones also. To be healthy, one has to use other ways to relieve stress and eliminate smoking to free the environment of pollution, hazards, and lung cancers. SELF HYGIENE Self-hygiene is half a part of our religion. By dressing neatly, taking a bath, properly cutting nails, washing hands before eating and after using toilets, after coming to the house, and after touching patients can prevent hundreds of infectious agents and diseases. An effort that takes less than 10 minutes but can make us healthy is not bad to adopt. It can help to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. Drink water Our body is made of 60 % water. All enzymes work in an aquatic environment. We need water for our survival. But as we are getting modernized, we have started loving fast foods; this practice has taken us far from getting a proper water intake. The foods we prefer don’t contain enough water to fulfill our body’s requirements. By choosing fruits and vegetables for our meals at least once a day and drinking 4 liters of water daily, we could provide our bodies a healthy environment to grow, heal and work properly. Water is essential to get rid of toxins and burn fats, this aids
USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HEALTHCARE
Put in very simple terms, ‘ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE’ is the ability of a computer or a robot to perform tasks usually done by a human. The cultivation of human intelligence and discernment into computers for use in medicine is in infancy at the moment but holds promise in the future. Regardless of the format medical data is provided in, and AI can store and standardize it all. It may also aid with seeking the data. Some other innovations are quick diagnostic decision aids, drug discovery platform, clinical research, radiology reviews, pathology reports, emergency case management and robotics(including CPR and surgery). THIS article, however, will only discuss the implication of AI in three main areas: Diagnosis, drugs, and robotics. HELPING WITH DIAGNOSIS When used as a case triage tool, AI enables radiologists or cardiologists to review images and scans, identify critical cases, avoid potential errors in reading electronic health records (EHRs) and establish more precise diagnoses. In hospitals short on diagnostic radiologists, development of some apps can reduce the need for these trained health professionals. For example, AI imaging tools can screen chest x-rays for signs of tuberculosis, often achieving a level of accuracy comparable to humans. This will enable even low-income, marginalized hospitals to diagnose accurately and provide efficient treatment. Further, seventy percent of all decisions in healthcare are based on a pathology result. Digital pathology and AI have the integrated opportunity to make these results more accurate and we can get to the right diagnosis sooner. AI Neural networks are able detect more than 50 types of eye disease, by analyzing 3D retinal scans. Combining the powers of these AI algorithms with the powers of the physicians, early radiological detection of diseases including cancer and retinopathies can be made possible. Artificial intelligence can be helpful when it digs down into forecasting some diseases. AI can combine present signs of a patient with previous patients of similar history leading to early prediction and treatment. For example, Acute kidney injury (AKI) can be difficult to detect by clinicians but can cause patients to deteriorate very fast and become life-threatening. Using AI here can reduce life-long treatment and the cost of kidney dialysis. Settling fulling into the definition of AI, Corti is a tool that does not search for particular signals, but trains itself by listening to many calls from emergency patients in order to detect crucial factors. Corti helps with recognition of myocardial infarction and alertsthe staff at ER of hospitals, minimizing the time delays for treatment. This may also open a way for provision of customized care to patients. PLATFORM FOR DRUG DISCOVERY AND RESEARCH Another implication of AI is seen in provision of platforms for drug discovery and reduction in cost of medicine development. Atom Net, an AI tool again, was able to predict the binding of small molecules to proteins by analyzing hints from millions of experimental measurements and thousands of protein structures. Convolutional neural networks then identified a safe and effective drug candidate from the database searched. This lead to production of time and cost effective drugs at industrial level. Artificial intelligence algorithms can also identify new drug applications, tracing. their toxic potential as well as their mechanisms of action. This technology enables the company to repurpose existing drugs and bioactive compounds. This again economizes the budgets for medicine production. To mention the use of AI again, in 2015, during the West African Ebola virus outbreak, Atomwise partnered with IBM and the University of Toronto to enable an AI data analysis to help produce a medicine against the virus. This AI analysis occurred in less than a day, a process that would have usually taken months or years. AI ROBOTIC IMPLICATIONS IN HEALTHCARE CPR ROBOT is a mechanical device that delivers high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) chest compressions consistently from the moment crews arrive on the scene and throughout a patient’s journey to hospital without interruption. Still in its very initial stages, robotic surgery may come as a breakthrough of AI in near future. For example, AI controlled robots can provide a three-dimensional magnification for articulation and perform with more precision and miniaturization. AI enabled robots can perform basic acts of precision:a quetioncutting and stitching. In 2017, surgeons used AI powered robots to stich up small vessels with diameter of 0.03 to 0.08 mm. AI is still a long way to go before we can witness an AI utopia where robots would replace surgeons or nurses. However, for now they are excellent helpers that can reduce outcome variability CONCLUSION Thus, integrating AI into the healthcare ecosystem will allow for automated tasking to deliver better, cost-effective treatments by improving workflows and operations, assisting medical and nonmedical staff with repetitive tasks, supporting clinicians in finding faster answers to inquiries, and developing innovative treatments and therapies but this still is a long long way to go. AI advancement will require enormous research, trials, and addressing ethical issues but MOST IMPORTANTLY, breaking trust barriers between AI and humans. Whether AI can completely take over some medical fields such as radiology and surgery remains a question to be answered by the future! MAH NOOR REHMAN MBBS,4TH YEAR.
Hepatitis: A Silent Killer
With the sixth highest population in the world, Pakistan is a developing country that is severely impacted by Hepatitis. According to WHO, 150,000 individuals in Pakistan succumb to the disease every year, making public education about it urgently necessary. Therefore, following are key facts to remember on World Hepatitis day: What is Hepatitis? It is an inflammatory disorder of the liver, one of the most vital organs of the body. Its healthy function is critically necessary for survival, and is severely compromised in this condition. Hepatitis can harm the liver to the point where it develops scarring even cancer, and ultimately leads to death. What are its root causes? The most common causes of the condition are infections of Hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D and E which lead to viral hepatitis. In addition, alcohol/drug toxicity and certain autoimmune disorders contribute significantly to its prevalence. How is the virus transmitted? Viral hepatitis is of 5 distinct types according to the agent causing it and consequently, each type gets transmitted in different ways. Hepatitis A: It is primarily transmitted by the fecal-oral route, but inadequately treated water and close physical contact with an infected person are also to be blamed for its spread. It is a self limiting disease with only supportive therapy given through the disease period. Hepatitis B: It is a potentially life-threatening type that can be transmitted from an infected mother to a child (at the time of delivery/perinatal transmission) or by exposure to infected body fluids (such as saliva, vaginal and seminal fluids) including blood (by any type of needle stick injury). Hepatitis C: It spreads through transfusion of unscreened blood/blood products, using of poorly sterilized medical equipment, and re-using needles. Infection with this type of Virus is usually chronic and damages the liver over months and years destroying the structure and function of the organ. Hepatitis D: A very significant component in its occurrence is the presence of hepatitis B virus in the body; hence needle stick injuries are typically the cause of hepatitis B and D co-infection. Hepatitis E: Its spread is essentially linked to poor hygiene. It also spreads via the faeco- oral route like Hepatitis A. Usually through contaminated drinking water. Infection with this type of virus is also usually self limiting with only supportive therapy given through the disease. What are its symptoms? Even though Hepatitis is of multiple different types, yet symptoms are quite similar overall. An infected person usually presents to the hospital with complaints of: Fever Abdominal discomfort Dark colored urine Jaundice Fatigue Nausea Loss of appetite which eventually leads to anorexia. How is it diagnosed? Clinically, similarities in signs and symptoms make it challenging to differentiate one form of viral hepatitis from another. However, several laboratory techniques, such as RT-PCR, RNA assays and testing blood for antibodies against a particular virus, are beneficial in this regard. Additionally, tests might reveal a person’s hepatitis immunity or the length of their infection. Is hepatitis treatable? Yes, the treatment depends upon the severity and type of infection. A mild infection only requires antiviral and symptomatic therapy, whilst a fulminant infection may potentially necessitate a liver transplant. Furthermore, dosage and duration of the therapy vary depending upon presence of any other health conditions, and it is advised to avoid certain medications (acetaminophen) and alcohol during the treatment. Hepatitis A and E: Symptomatic therapy is sufficient for these infections because they resolve on their own. Hepatitis B: It is advised to administer oral antiviral medications (including interferon alpha-2b and lamivudine). Hepatitis C: The medications used to treat chronic hepatitis C (pegylated interferon alpha-2a and 2b) are different from those used to treat acute forms of the infection (interferon alpha-2b). Hepatitis D: Pegylated interferon-alpha is used to treat its infection and it is crucial to maintain the therapy for 48 weeks regardless of patient’s response. How can we prevent hepatitis? In recent years, cases of hepatitis have been surging, especially in developing nations; therefore, it is crucial to take the right prophylactic steps on a personal and organizational basis. Several preventative measures include: The availability of clean drinking water Proper sewage disposal Blood screening Good personal hygiene Proper cleaning of wounds Avoid re-using needles. Availability of vaccines Vaccines are available only against hepatitis A and B viruses, which can be administered as a combination as well. Separately, Hepatitis B vaccine can be given within the first 24 hours of life while first dose of hepatitis A vaccine is typically given between the ages of 12 to 23 months. Considering the high rates of illness and morbidity, especially in pregnant women and infants, it has become essential to take rapid action for the control of hepatitis. Hepatitis – Basil Saleem, SMDC Literary Society