Ethnomedicinal uses of plants for various diseases in the remote areas of Changa Manga Forest, Pakistan

Abstract This study aims at reporting the indigenous knowledge of the medicinal flora from the inhabitants of surroundings of the World’s largest artificial planted forest “Changa Manga”, Pakistan. Data were collected by direct interviews and group meetings from 81 inhabitants including 32 local healers having information regarding the use of indigenous medicinal plants over a period of one year. Different statistical tools were applied to analyze the data including Frequency citation (FC), Relative frequency citation (RFC), Use Value, Factor of informants consensus and fidelity level. This study reported 73 plant species belonging to 37 plant families and 46 genera. The majority of plant species belong to compositae family. The most commonly used medicinal plants were P. hysterophorus L., P. dactylifera L., S. indicum L, P. harmala L., P. emblica L., and A. indica A.Juss. The greatest number of species was used to cure gastrointestinal disorders. The highest fidelity level (68.18%) was of E. helioscopia to cure gastrointestinal disorders. Maximum fresh uses (17) were reported by C. dactylon (L.) Pars. While the highest number of species reporting fresh uses in similar number was 13. In this study, five novel plants are being reported for the first time in Pakistan for their ethnomedicinal worth. Our data reflect unique usage of the medicinal plants in the study area. The statistical tools used in the study proved useful in pointing the most important and disease category specific plants. High use value plant and the new reported medicinal plants might prove an important source of the isolation of pharmacologically active compounds.

1575 Predictive Ability of Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio in Acute Appendicitis

Aim

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) predicts both diagnosis and severity of appendicitis. We aimed to evaluate accuracy of NLR to predict acute appendicitis and whether it can distinguish between uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis.

Method

Patients of any age and gender presenting with clinical history of acute appendicitis over a 4 month period were included. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy of NLR were evaluated considering the cut-off values of 4.7 for acute appendicitis and 8.8 for complicated appendicitis.

Results

A total of 54 patients were included. Thirty-eight patients had acute appendicitis of whom 21 (55.2%) had complicated appendicitis. NLR was associated with sensitivity of 89.4%, specificity of 81.2%, PPV 91.8%, NPV of 76.5%, and accuracy of 87.0% for acute appendicitis. Moreover, it was associated with sensitivity of 61.4%, specificity of 78.9%, PPV 76.5%, NPV of 65.2%, and accuracy of 70.0% for complicated appendicitis.

Conclusions

NLR has acceptable sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy to predict uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis with relatively better ability to predict the former. NLR can be utilised for prioritising cases for surgery, for monitoring conservatively treated patients and for patients who do not routinely undergo CT scan (pregnant or paediatric patients).

346 Meta-Analysis of Simultaneous Versus Staged Colorectal and Hepatic Resections for Colorectal Cancer with Synchronous Hepatic Metastases

Aim

To evaluate the comparative outcomes of simultaneous and staged colorectal and hepatic resections for colorectal cancer with synchronous hepatic metastases

Method

We conducted a systematic search of electronic information sources, and bibliographic reference lists. Perioperative morbidity and mortality, anastomotic leak, wound infection, bile leak, bleeding, intra-abdominal abscess, sub-phrenic abscess, reoperation, recurrence, 5-year overall survival, procedure time, and length of hospital stay were the evaluated outcome parameters. Combined overall effect sizes were calculated using random-effects models.

Results

We identified 41 comparative studies reporting a total of 12,081 patients who underwent simultaneous (n = 5,013) or staged (n = 7.068) resections for colorectal cancer with synchronous hepatic metastases. The simultaneous resection was associated with significantly lower rate of bleeding (OR: 0.60, p = 0.03) and shorter length of hospital stay (MD:-5.40, p < 0.00001) compared to the staged resection. However, no significant difference was found in perioperative morbidity (OR:1.04, p = 0.63), mortality (RD:0.00, p = 0.19), anastomotic leak (RD:0.01, p = 0.33), bile leak (OR:0.83, p = 0.50), wound infection (OR:1.17, p = 0.19), intra-abdominal abscess (RD:0.01, p = 0.26), sub-phrenic abscess (OR:1.26, p = 0.48), reoperation (OR:1.32, p = 0.18), recurrence (OR:1.33, p = 0.10), 5-year overall survival (OR:0.88, p = 0.19), or procedure time (MD:-23.64, p = 041) between two groups.

Conclusions

Despite demonstrating nearly comparable outcomes, the best available evidence (level 2) regarding simultaneous and staged colorectal and hepatic resections for colorectal cancer with synchronous hepatic metastases is associated with major selection bias. It is time to conduct high quality randomised studies with respect to burden and laterality of disease. We recommend the staged approach for complex cases.

98 Intracorporeal Versus Extracorporeal Anastomosis in Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy: Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

Aim

To evaluate comparative outcomes of intracorporeal (ICA) and extracorporeal (ECA) anastomosis in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.

Method

We conducted a systematic search of electronic databases and bibliographic reference lists. We applied a combination of free text and controlled vocabulary search adapted to thesaurus headings, search operators and limits in each of the above databases. Overall perioperative morbidity, anastomotic leak, surgical site infection (SSI), paralytic ileus, bleeding, postoperative pain within 5 days, conversion to an open procedure, length of incision and procedure time were the evaluated outcome parameters. Combined overall effect sizes were calculated using random-effects models.

Results

We identified 4 randomised controlled trials reporting a total of 399 patients evaluating outcomes of ICA (n = 199) and ECA (n = 200) in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. The ICA was associated with significantly shorter length of incision (MD:-1.82, P < 0.00001), lower postoperative pain score on day 2 (MD:-0.69, P = 0.0007), day 3 (MD:-0.80, P = 0.02), day 4 (MD:-0.83, P = 0.01) and day 5 (MD:-0.49, P < 0.00001) when compared to ECA. Moreover, it was associated with significantly shorter length of hospital stay (MD:-0.27, p = 0.03). However, there was no significant difference in overall perioperative morbidity (RR:0.79, P = 0.47), anastomotic leak (RR:1.29, P = 0.65), SSI (RR:0.61, P = 0.42), bleeding (RR:0.70, P = 0.71), ileus (RR:0.60, P = 0.45), conversion to open (RD:-0.02, P = 0.45), number of harvested lymph nodes (MD:0.82, p = 0.06), and procedure time (MD:16.04, p = 0.06) between two groups.

Conclusions

The meta-analysis of level 1 evidence demonstrated that ICA and ECA have comparable perioperative outcomes in laparoscopic right colectomy although the former may be associated with less postoperative pain probably due to shorter incision length.

Testicular abscess caused by Salmonella para-typhi

This case is the first report of a bacteriologically proven testicular abscess in a child caused by Salmonella paratyphi 'A' in Pakistan that clinically simulates a testicular tumour. The case also emphasises that a course of 2 weeks antibiotic is sufficient for testicular abscess if complete surgical debridement is done.