Antimalarial drug efficacy and resistance in malaria-endemic countries in HANMAT-PIAM_net countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region 2016-2020: Clinical and genetic studies.

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization recommends regular monitoring of the efficacy of nationally recommended antimalarial drugs. We present the results of studies on the efficacy of recommended antimalarials and molecular markers of artemisinin and partner resistance in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. METHODS: Single-arm prospective studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of artesunate-sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (ASSP) in Afghanistan and Pakistan, artemether-lumefantrine (AL) in all countries, or dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) in Sudan for the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum. The efficacy of chloroquine (CQ) and AL for the treatment of Plasmodium vivax was evaluated in Afghanistan and Somalia, respectively. Patients were treated and monitored for 28 (CQ, ASSP and AL) or 42 (DP) days. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-corrected cure rate and parasite positivity rate at Day 3 were estimated. Mutations in the P. falciparum kelch 13 (Pfk13) gene and amplifications of plasmepsin (Pfpm2) and multidrug resistance-1 (Pfmdr-1) genes were also studied. RESULTS: A total of 1680 (249 for ASSP, 1079 for AL and 352 for DP) falciparum cases were successfully assessed. A PCR-adjusted ASSP cure rate of 100% was observed in Afghanistan and Pakistan. For AL, the cure rate was 100% in all but four sites in Sudan, where cure rates ranged from 92.1% to 98.8%. All but one patient were parasite-free at Day 3. For P. vivax, cure rates were 98.2% for CQ and 100% for AL. None of the samples from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen had a Pfk13 mutation known to be associated with artemisinin resistance. In Sudan, the validated Pfk13 R622I mutation accounted for 53.8% (14/26) of the detected non-synonymous Pfk13 mutations, most of which were repeatedly detected in Gadaref. A prevalence of 2.7% and 9.3% of Pfmdr1 amplification was observed in Pakistan and Yemen, respectively. CONCLUSION: High efficacy of ASSP, AL and DP in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum infection and of CQ and AL in the treatment of P. vivax was observed in the respective countries. The repeated detection of a relatively high rate of Pfk13 R622I mutation in Sudan underscores the need for close monitoring of the efficacy of recommended ACTs, parasite clearance rates and Pfk13 mutations in Sudan and beyond. Registration numbers of the trials: ACTRN12622000944730 and ACTRN12622000873729 for Afghanistan, ACTRN12620000426987 and ACTRN12617001025325 for Pakistan, ACTRN12618001224213 for Somalia, ACTRN12617000276358, ACTRN12622000930785 and ACTRN12618001800213 for Sudan and ACTRN12617000283370 for Yemen.

Predictive factors and prognostic value of candiduria in critically-ill patients with solid and hematological malignancies.

PURPOSE: To investigate the epidemiology of candiduria in critically-ill patients with solid/hematological malignancies and to assess its predictive factors and prognostic value. METHODS: All adult patients with confirmed solid/hematological malignancy admitted in the intensive care units (ICUs) for more than 48 h were retrospectively included. Urine cultures were sampled on admission and then whenever signs of sepsis were identified. Two groups were compared: (candiduria (+)) and (candiduria (-)). RESULTS: One-hundred-seventy-three patients were included. Solid cancer was the underlying oncological disease for 147 patients (85%) while 26 patients (15%) had hematological malignancies. Twenty-nine patients (16.8%) were diagnosed with candiduria, and 31 urinary samples grew Candida spp. Candida spp represented 55.8% of the total urinary isolates. Fourteen isolates (45.2%) of Candida albicans were identified. Among the 17 non-albicans isolates, Candida tropicalis was the most predominant (41.9%). Six patients (3.5%) had candidemia with no significant difference between candiduria(+) and candiduria(-) groups (respectively, 6.9% and 2.8%; p = 0.264). In multivariate analysis, previous exposure to quinolones (OR = 3.8, CI95% [1.4-8.3]; p = 0.008), mechanical ventilation (OR = 4.1, CI95% [1.1-14.7]; p = 0.034) and renal replacement therapy (OR = 3.5, 95%CI [1.2-9.7]; p = 0.017) were identified as independent factors predicting candiduria. Candiduria was associated with significantly higher ICU-mortality after adjusting for SAPSII score on admission (OR = 2.9 CI95% [1.3-6.8]; p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Candiduria is common in cancer critically-ill patients. We reported an increased rate of non-albicans species, over albicans species. Patients with candiduria had higher ICU mortality, probably related to higher frailty and clinical severity.

Multiple Pilomatricoma in a Middle-Aged Woman.

Pilomatricomas are rare skin tumors related to hair follicles. They typically present in children, and the most common locations are head and neck. Pilomatricomas are usually painless; however, they can cause cosmetic problems. Treatment is decided on an individual basis and involves local excision. However, caution should be taken if the lesion is malignant, as resection with safe margins (0.5-1.0 cm) is determinant of the overall outcome. Radiotherapy is indicated in cases of residual tumor tissue or recurrence. The role of chemotherapy in pilomatricomas is still undetermined. We report a 55-year-old female with multiple lumps on her shoulder and back. The sonographic features of these lesions were typically consistent with pilomatricomas. The patient decided to opt for excision due to cosmetic reasons and the histopathology features were suggestive of pilomatricoma.

Prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among emergency physicians in Libya after civil war: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify the prevalence of depression and anxiety among physicians working in the emergency departments of nine tertiary care centres in Libya. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. SETTING: Nine main tertiary centres in Libya PARTICIPANTS: Emergency department doctors were surveyed between December 2018 and February 2019. INTERVENTION: The standardised Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was selected as a measurement tool for analysing anxiety and depression symptoms; a HADS score of 8 indicated anxiety as well as depression symptoms. The primary outcomes were anxiety and depression, which were tabulated with independent sociodemographic variables. χ2 tests were conducted to compare the prevalence of anxiety and depression between the groups. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS V.25. RESULTS: A total of 108 out of 150 (72%) emergency physicians from all levels participated in the study and took the survey. The emergency physicians had a mean±SD age of 31.2±4.5 years, and were predominantly males (74 out of 108, 68.5%). Overall, 49 (45.4%) physicians reached the cut-off score to define both depression and anxiety (ie, a score ≥8). In terms of violence, 71 (65.7%) reported incidents of verbal violence, while 26 (24.1%) reported physical violence or abuse by militias. In addition, 28 reported being threatened by militias. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence rate of anxiety and depression is of concern, and the high rate of physical and verbal abuse highlights the range of abuse endured by doctors in Libya. Therefore, screening for anxiety and depression at regular intervals is needed to avoid the deterioration of mental health, which can increase the risk of suicide and dropping out, and decrease the level of healthcare for patients.

Antibiotic prescription patterns for treating dental infections in children among general and pediatric dentists in teaching institutions of Karachi, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotics are regularly prescribed by dental professionals in their practice, for the purpose of dental treatment as well as for the prevention of infection. The inappropriate use of antibiotics is a significant factor in the rise of antibiotic resistance. There is an immediate need for the advancement of prescribing guidelines and instructive polices to encourage the rational and appropriate utilization of medications especially antibiotics in dentistry. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the frequency of antibiotic prescription for treating dental infections in children among dentists in teaching institutions of Karachi, Pakistan and whether they are adhering to the prescribed international guidelines. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in three private and two public colleges of Karachi. After taking written informed consent and checking the inclusion criteria, a total of 380 participants were interviewed using a pre-designed validated questionnaire which included demographic profile and clinical case scenarios. Data were entered and analyzed on SPSS version 20. Inferential analysis was performed using chi-square test. The significance level was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Of the 380 subjects, a majority (71.3%) treated 15 or less children per month (n = 271) while 28.7% of dentists (n = 109) treated more than 15 children per month. Overall adherence to American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry guidelines was low from 26.1% to 44.2%. The difference between adherence of dentists with low and high volume of pediatric patients was significantly different for case scenarios 1, 3, 4 and 5 (p<0.001 for all) where dentists who treated 15 or less children per month were more likely to be adherent to standard antibiotic prescription guidelines than those who treated more than 15 children per month. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that majority of dentists, particularly dentists with high volume of pediatric patients lacked adherence to professional guidelines for prescribing antibiotics for treating dental infection in children. There seem to be a lack of harmony between the recommended professional guidelines and the antibiotic prescribing pattern of dentists. Regular updates and continuing medical education for the health professionals regarding comprehensible and specific professional guidelines may lead to improved adherence of antibiotics prescription amongst dentists.

Detection, quantification and genotype distribution of HCV patients in Lahore, Pakistan by real-time PCR.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is considered as "Viral Time Bomb" suggested by the World Health Organization and if it is not treated timely, it will lead towards cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present research is to study possible risk factors, frequent genotypes of HCV and its association with different age groups. METHODS: Suspected blood samples from HCV patients were collected from different hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. Out of 1000 HCV suspected samples, 920 samples were found HCV positive detected by Anti-HCV ELISA, CobasR. kit. The quantification of HCV load was determined by HCV quantification kit and LINEAR ARRAY KIT (Roche) was used for genotype determination by Real-Time PCR (ABI). Statistical analysis was done by using Microsoft Excel. RESULTS: Out of 920 subjects, 77 subjects (8.4%) were false positive and they were not detected by nested PCR. Three PCR positive samples were untypeable. Genotype 3 was predominant in Lahore which was 83.5%, whereas type 1 and 2 were 5.1% and 0.7% respectively. There were also mixed genotypes detected, 1 and 3 were 0.4%, 2 and 3 were 1.41% and 3 and 4 were 0.2% only. Male were more infected of HCV in the age <40 years and females >40years. CONCLUSION: The major risk factor for HCV transmission is by use of unsterilized razors/blades. It is necessary to spread awareness among the general population of Pakistan about HCV transmission risk factors. Regular physical examination at least once a year is recommended, so that early detection of HCV could be done.

A Rare Case of Malignant Mesothelioma Presenting with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Seropositivity: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

While malignant mesothelioma may initially present in a variety of ways, it is uncommon to present with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) seropositivity and thus obscuring its diagnosis. Our case involves a 75-year-old Caucasian male with a past medical history of essential hypertension, remote prostate cancer status post prostatectomy, and lifetime nontobacco use presenting with progressive shortness of breath over one month. After a negative cardiac assessment, a postcardiac catheterization chest X-ray (CXR) revealed a right-sided moderate-to-large pleural effusion that, on further workup, was found to be exudative. Effusion studies were negative for malignancy and bacterial growth. Recurrent accumulation of fluid after a thoracentesis one week prior prompted an autoimmune work up. Positive markers included antinuclear antibodies, anti-double stranded DNA antibodies, and anti-histone antibodies, while anti-Smith antibodies were negative. Although SLE was initially suspected based on serologies, no clinical signs or symptoms were present to fulfill the diagnosis criteria. A trial of oral prednisone resulted in decreased pleural effusion size with no further recurrence. Additional studies included a CT scan of the chest that showed pleural masses confirmed with biopsy to be epithelioid mesothelioma. Given the patient's age and new diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, we hypothesized that the presence of autoantibodies was likely false positives due to acquired autoantibodies with age, hyperactivity of the immune system from malignancy, and possible prior asbestos exposure.

Transient Asymptomatic Sinus Bradycardia and Sinus Pauses with Bevacizumab: Case Report and Literature Review.

Systemic side effects of anti-cancer therapy remain a major limiting factor for patients, even with targeted therapy. Bevacizumab is an example of targeted cancer therapy which targets the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) that has been approved for the treatment of various cancers and has been evaluated in metastatic urothelial carcinoma (MUC). We report a case of MUC on bevacizumab containing regimen who developed temporary asymptomatic sinus bradycardia with sinus pauses. That adverse event was thought to be related to the bevacizumab in her cancer regimen. Her Holter monitoring recording for a total duration of 28 days and 14 h after discharge did not show recurrence of sinus pauses. This case indicates the necessity for observation for the cardiac conduction defects as side effects in patients receiving bevacizumab, especially since they might be asymptomatic and transient.

Small Bowel Perforation Secondary to Esophageal Stent Migration: A Comparative Review of Six Cases.

Esophageal stent placement is used to treat benign strictures, esophageal perforations, fistulas and for palliative therapy of esophageal cancer. Although it is a safe and effective method, complications are increasing the morbidity and mortality rate. Small bowel perforation as a result of esophageal stent migration is a remarkably rare occurrence. We report one case from our clinical experience and undertake a review of the previously reported cases retrieved from the PubMed. A total of six cases were found accessible. Abdominal pain was the common clinical presentation. The mean time from stent placement to perforation was 3.4 months (range, two weeks to 12 months). The jejunum was the frequently perforated portion of the small bowel. Surgical intervention was the mainstay of treatment. This comparative review illustrates that clinicians should remain vigilant for small bowel perforation in patients with esophageal stent placement. Further studies are required to delineate the magnitude and scope of this association.

Primary Gastrointestinal Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma.

Primary gastrointestinal lymphoma is a rare neoplasm that accounts for less than 5% of all gastrointestinal malignancies. We present a case of a 37-year-old woman positive for human immunodeficiency virus who presented with abdominal pain and vomiting for three months. She underwent endoscopic biopsy and was found to have high-grade diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the jejunum. This report discusses her treatments and includes a brief literature review highlighting the rarity of this entity, the etiological agents implicated in its pathogenesis, and the lack of specific guidelines for treatment.

Primary renal angiosarcoma: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.

Primary renal angiosarcoma is an exceedingly rare and aggressive neoplasm. Although it may occur in youth, this tumour is frequently reported in the sixth and seventh decades of life. The clinical presentation is frequently varied. Pathogenesis remains largely unknown and it has overlapping features with other tumours of the kidney. Current treatment options include variable combinations of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Reports regarding the disease prognosis and natural history are limited. In this article, we chronicle the case of a patient with primary renal angiosarcoma presenting at an advanced stage as a widely metastasised tumour. Additionally, we undertake here a brief literature review highlighting the rarity and aggressiveness of this condition, its poor prognosis, and the lack of specific management guidelines.

Fatal Fulminant Hepatitis from Rituximab-induced Hepatitis B Reactivation in a Patient with Follicular Lymphoma: A Case Report and a Brief Review of Literature.

The objective of our study was to recognize hepatitis B reactivation as a complication of rituximab chemotherapy and to realize the importance of screening for prior Hepatitis B virus (HBV) exposure in all patients with hematologic malignancies who will receive rituximab as part of their therapy. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody targeting CD 20 receptors on the membrane of B cells. In this case report, we described a 79-year-old man who presented to our department with nausea, fatigue, and jaundice. Two months ago, he had received the last dose of the chemotherapy regimen containing rituximab for follicular B cell lymphoma. Ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scan of abdomen did not show any focal lesions. Liver function tests showed worsening hepatic failure and viral serology demonstrated active HBV infection. Antiviral therapy with entecavir and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate failed to improve his symptoms, and he died of fulminant hepatic failure. Rituximab targets CD 20 receptors positive B cells. It can destroy both cancerous and normal B cells. A decline in immune function can activate occult HBV infection. Prior to initiation of rituximab therapy, screening should be conducted in all cases for HBV associated serological markers. Patients with active or occult HBV infection must be started on appropriate antiviral therapy to prevent any severe outcomes with rituximab-containing regimens.

Primary Esophageal Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Comparative Review of 15 Cases.

Primary esophageal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an extremely rare clinicopathologic entity. We report one case from our clinical experience and undertake a review of the previously published cases. A systematic literature search of the medical databases PubMed and Google Scholar was conducted. A total of 15 cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The data on patients' characteristics, epidemiology, clinical features, HIV status, gross appearance of the lesion, esophageal location, treatment, and outcome were collected and analyzed. Primary esophageal DLBCL was more common among males, primarily in the fifth and sixth decades of life. Dysphagia was the most common initial clinical presentation. Tissue biopsy with immunohistochemistry was an indispensable diagnostic modality. The mainstay of treatment was chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and prednisone regimen, in addition to anti-CD20 antibody rituximab, with or without radiotherapy. This review serves to outline our current understanding of the epidemiology of and risk factors for primary esophageal DLBCL, the pathophysiology of this disorder, and currently available approaches to diagnosis and management.

Hemosuccus Pancreaticus: A Great Masquerader in Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Hemosuccus pancreaticus is a rare but life-threatening cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding through the main pancreatic duct. This clinical entity is a difficult diagnosis due to its rarity, intermittent nature of the hemorrhage, and peculiar clinical presentation. It is still considered a surgical problem but advances in medical therapy may enable clinically stable patients to undergo less-invasive angiographic embolization. We chronicle here a unique case of hemosuccus pancreaticus in a patient presenting with melena who could not be diagnosed on multiple standard forward-viewing esophagogastroduodenoscopies and computed tomography angiography. Eventually, side-viewing duodenoscope identified the intermittent bleeding through the ampulla of Vater. This paper illustrates that clinicians should be vigilant for this etiology, especially in patients with intermittent crescendo-decrescendo abdominal pain, acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and elevated serum lipase levels. A multidisciplinary team approach with the centralization of gastrointestinal bleed services and a well-established management protocol is of paramount importance to reduce the morbidity and mortality of this disorder. Additionally, this article serves to outline our current understanding of the epidemiology of and risk factors for hemosuccus pancreaticus, the pathophysiology of this disease, and currently available approaches to diagnosis and treatment.

Trajectory of cause of death among brought dead neonates in tertiary care public facilities of Pakistan: A multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Considering the fact that Pakistan is amongst the countries with very high neonatal mortality rates, we conducted a research study to determine the possible causes and characteristics of neonates presenting dead to the emergency department of tertiary public health care facilities of Pakistan using verbal autopsies. METHODS: A descriptive case series study was conducted in emergency department/pediatrics ward/neonatal ward/nursery unit of ten tertiary care public health facilities, situated in seven major cities of Pakistan from November, 2011 to June, 2013. Precoded verbal autopsy proforma was used to collect information regarding cause of death, family narratives and other associated risks accountable for pathway to mortality. RESULTS: We identified 431 neonates presenting dead to the emergency department (238 males and 193 females). Sepsis (26.7%), birth asphyxia (18.8%) and persistent pulmonary arrest (17.2%) were main primary causes of brought death. Around 72% brought dead neonates were referred from doctors/health care facilities and more than 28% caregivers mentioned that they were not informed about the diagnosis/ailment of their deceased newborn. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of our study suggest that infectious disease remains the main primary cause of neonatal mortality. Underweight in newborns (64%) was estimated as a leading associated risk. Delays in referrals to respective health care facility enlightened the concern of sub-standard prerequisites of neonatal care that could be one of the major contributing risk factor of high mortality rates.

Efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapies for the treatment of falciparum malaria in Pakistan (2007-2015): In vivo response and dhfr and dhps mutations.

Artesunate+sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (AS+SP) and artemether+lumefantrine (AL) are the first- and second line treatments, respectively, for the treatment of falciparum infections and dihydroartemsinin+piperaquine (DHA+PPQ) is a potential candidate in case AS+SP or AL fails in Pakistan. The therapeutic efficacies of AS+SP (5 sites in 2007, 2 sites in 2011 and 2 sites in 2012), AL (2 sites in 2012) and DHA+PPQ (2 sites in 2015) were evaluated in seven sentinel sites. Clinical and parasitological outcomes were evaluated among eligible patients. Mutations of the P. falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) and dihydropteroate synthase (dhps) genes were investigated. After PCR correction, a 98.5-100% adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) for AS+SP and a 98.8-100% ACPR for AL were observed by day 28, as well as a 100% ACPR by day 42 for DHA+PPQ. The prevalences of mutants dhfr S108N (100%) and C59R (98%-100%) reached or were near fixation. The double dhfr (C59R/S108N) mutant was dominant (96%-100%) at all sites. The triple dhfr (N51I/C59R/S108N) mutant was rare (1.1%-2.3%). The prevalence of dhps A437G varied between 38% and 70%. A combination of triple dhfr/dhps (C59R/S108N+A437G or N51I/S108N+A437G) mutants was observed (38%-69%). A quadruple dhfr/dhps (N51I/C59R/S108N+A437G) mutation was very rare and no quintuple (N51I/C59R/S108N+A437G/K540E) mutations were detected. AS+SP remains highly effective in Pakistan. However, molecular data indicate that SP resistance is being established, although mutations that confer a high risk of SP treatment failure are rare or non-existent. This underscores the need for close monitoring of both in vivo AS+SP efficacy and dhfr and dhps mutations to inform national treatment policy. Trial registration numbers: ISRCTN21926128 (2007), ACTRN12611001244998 (2011), ACTRN12612001090808 (2012), ACTRN12615001248550 (2015).

Report on short course in educational methodology for university teachers in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) disciplines - a pilot study conducted at Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka, India.

BACKGROUND: There is a growing awareness among teachers in the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) disciplines that a formal training in educational methodology can improve their performance as teachers and student evaluators. The Training of Trainers programs conducted by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka, in the previous years have brought about a transformation among the teachers who attended those programs. Also the teachers were witness to a changing perception among students towards teachers who adapt innovative teaching/assessment strategies. This report illustrates an innovative training activity that was adapted to design a reference model that can be developed as an operational model for large-scale execution. METHODS: Teachers who are under the affiliated CAM Institutions in Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka, participated in a three-month 'Short Course in Educational Methodology'. This program was delivered on distance learning mode. The course was organised into four modules. Study material was provided for each of the module in the form of a study guide and related reference articles in electronic form. There were three contact programs - Induction and Introduction that also addressed overview of entire course and the subject matter of Module 1, and this was at the beginning of the course, first contact program to address the learner needs of Modules 2 and 3 and second contact program for the contents in Module 4. The participants were engaged during the entire course duration with interactive contact programs, self-study and application of concepts in their teaching/assessment practices, submission of assignments online, and microteaching presentation and peer review. RESULTS: The documentation and raw data generated during the course of training were used to generate an operational model for training of university teachers of health sciences faculty in general and teachers of CAM disciplines in particular. CONCLUSIONS: Establishing a model of training for university teachers who are engaged in health sciences education provides a strong platform to realise the roles of teacher, evolve as a conscientious and committed teacher and infuse their learners with passion and commitment to become competent in their professional performance.

Comparing the efficacy of intravenous adenosine and verapamil in termination of acute paroxysmal supra ventricular tachycardia.

BACKGROUND: Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) has always been a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the cardiologists. There are many modalities to treat the problem. Of the available pharmacological treatment, the role of verapamil and adenosine is under debate. This study was carried out to detect and compare the efficacy of both drugs. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of intravenous adenosine and verapamil in termination of PSVT. METHODS: This experimental study was carried out in the Emergency department of Chauhdry Pervaiz Elahi Institute of Cardiology, Multan from to August 2008 to February 2010. A total of 120 patients with PSVT were divided in two groups. Patients in group A were treated with adenosine and group B patients received verapamil. RESULTS: The efficacy of adenosine was proven among 56 (93%) patients, while verapamil in 43 (71%) patients. The results were statistically significant (p-value <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although, both the drugs have high efficacy, adenosine is more effective than verapamil for termination of PSVT.