A Journey of Innovation: 40 years of Pioneering Medical Education at the Aga Khan University Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan.

This article presents an overview of Aga Khan University's (AKU) pioneering medical education initiatives over the past 40 years, exploring its impact on healthcare in the region and its commitment to advancing medical education and research in the developing world. Established in 1983 as the first private university in Pakistan, AKU has evolved into a global institution with a focus on improving healthcare standards and addressing healthcare needs in the developing world. The article also discusses the undergraduate and postgraduate medical education programs at AKU Medical College, Pakistan, highlighting their unique features and pioneering approaches to medical education. The institution's journey highlights its ability to adapt to the evolving healthcare landscape while maintaining a focus on quality and excellence, offering a model for other institutions striving to meet healthcare needs in low- and middle-income countries.

Sex distribution in clinical trials of radiologic contrast agents: A 27-year review.

PURPOSE: Clinical trials play a pivotal role in assessing the safety and efficacy of medical therapies. Addressing sex distribution among enrollees in clinical trials of radiologic contrast agents is essential for ensuring the generalizability of trial outcomes. Previous research has highlighted the influence of demographic factors, particularly sex, on treatment responses, emphasizing the need for equitable representation in clinical trials. Our study aim was to determine the sex distribution of enrollees in clinical trials of radiologic contrast agents. METHODS: Our retrospective study included a total of 65 clinical trials conducted between 1990 and 2017 identified on clinicaltrials.gov after a comprehensive review including searching individually for all FDA approved contrast agents. Data collected included the year of FDA approval, the number of participants, sex distribution, trial location, trial phase, and study type. Inter-rater validation ensured data accuracy. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed fluctuations in sex distribution of trial enrollees. Enrollment of males exceeded females in most years, with a shift towards a more equitable representation in recent trials. Trials conducted in the United States had a higher rate of enrollment by females. Phase I trials had the most balanced representation, whereas Phase IV trials had the highest sex disparity. CONCLUSION: Across all trials, females made up 47.3 % of enrollees [3316 out of 7016 total enrollees]. Enrollment of males exceeded females in 44 of the 65 trials studied, females outnumbered males in 19 trials, and enrollment was equal between the sexes in 2 trials. While the sex distribution observed across all trials represents an equitable representation of enrollees, the wide variance of sex distribution at the level of individual trials has the potential to limit the generalizability of results.

Bilateral pneumothorax in a patient with angiosarcoma of the scalp: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Angiosarcoma is a rare, vascular malignancy that arises from endothelial cells of blood vessels. This case report aims to create the awareness of its existence in the region and its mode of presentation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 63-year-old Pakistani man presented to the emergency department with sudden bilateral chest pain and shortness of breath for 2 days. On examination, a scalp lesion was seen which had been increasing in size over the last 6 weeks. The lesion was 8 × 10 cm in size with an irregular border, non-tender, violet and dome-shaped in elevation on the right occipito-parietal lobe of the skull. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed multiple cystic lesions on both lungs, patchy areas of ground-glass opacities, nodules of variable sizes and bilateral pneumothorax. Bilateral tube thoracostomy was performed which provided symptomatic relief for shortness of breath. His bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was negative for infection. He underwent biopsy of scalp lesion which was positive for aggressive angiosarcoma. CONCLUSION: Bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax can be the initial manifestation of aggressive cutaneous angiosarcoma and frequently leads to respiratory failure. Early recognition is essential to prevent delay in diagnosis and management.