Methanol poisoning is a severe public health issue that causes disease and death, particularly in developing countries. Exposure can occur intentionally or unintentionally through several industrial products such as cleansers, solvents, antifreeze, perfumes, and paints. The toxic dose of methanol is approximately 1g/kg, emphasizing its potent toxicity. Methanol intoxication is chiefly caused by the harmful metabolites which are formed during its breakdown. These metabolites encourage metabolic acidosis. Formic acid, a methanol breakdown product, troubles mitochondria, distressing cytochrome oxidase and ATP production. Methanol-related problems include neurological disorders, vision problems, liver impact, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson's. Key lab tests, including osmolality and anionic gap, aid in recognizing alcohol harm. Furthermore, detecting a faint smell of methanol in the breath, observing visual disturbances, and altered sensory neurons, seeing a history of abdominal pain, and conducting routine checkups support the early diagnosis of methanol poisoning. Treatment using prompt gastric lavage, sodium bicarbonate given intravenously, management with ethanol, folate-dependent folate systems suggest, dialysis, competent ADH inhibitor “pyrazole”, specific antidote “Fomepizole” can be used to treat methanol poisoning. Regular toxicologist check-ups are critical in such cases. Definite symptoms like basal ganglia issues and eye problems require consultations with neurologists and ophthalmologists. For cases needing hemodialysis or liver tissue recovery, consulting a nephrologist is essential. It is suggested to immediately act to prevent harm, especially for industrial workers, rural alcohol sellers, those with alcoholism, and vulnerable youth vulnerable to methanol poisoning.

The purpose of this paper was to examine the trend of self-medication, evaluating its use, drawbacks and motivations behind its use. People were questioned about their background and conditions for which they used drugs/medicines in several studies. Complicated lifestyles, hectic routines, cultural norms, expensive medication, over-confidence, lack of education, selling non-prescriptive pharmaceuticals, and the absence of government checks contribute to the trend of self-medication. People largely relied on self-diagnosis and only went to professional doctors when they had serious problems. Over-the-counter medications were preferred for basic ailments such as fever, headache, flu, etc. People with greater education were more likely to self-medicate because they relied on their own expertise and had easy access to the drug markets. The countermeasures for self-medication involve the services of Professionals and Pharmacists, promoting the responsible use of self-medication and spreading awareness about its risks are the key steps to reduce adverse impacts of self-medication.

Medical students are driven by interest and influenced by factors like early exposure, training, environment, teaching, role models, rewards, appreciation, patient feedback, and mentorship. Gender also impacts specialty choices. Students' career choices shape the future workforce. Objective: To explore interests and factors influencing specialty choice among post graduate trainees and final year students, aiming to guide informed career decisions and address inadequate recruitment in specialties. Methods: This study was an observational cross-sectional study conducted at Fatima Memorial Hospital and college. Data were collected from 163 participants via online questionnaire using non-convenience sampling. Analysis was conducted using SPSS software, including frequencies, percentages, averages and t-test to assess statistical significances. Results: Study finds strong preference for clinical subjects among final year and postgraduate students. Divergence among specialty selection was seen as final year students favor general surgery, while postgraduate trainees lean towards pediatrics medicine. Prestige and social responsibility were common influential key factors, with salary benefits impacting more the final year students and specialty prestige, social responsibility and research opportunities weighing on postgraduate trainees were seen. The research also explores that family influence for final year students and teachers and senior doctors for postgraduate trainees in specialty selection. Conclusions: In conclusion, final year and postgraduate trainees prefer clinical specialties like general surgery and pediatrics, driven by considerations of future salary, working hours, and social responsibility. Family, teachers, and senior colleagues play crucial roles in specialty selection decisions.

Background and Objective: Plastic surgeons face challenging conditions when dealing with soft tissue injuries or defects involving the lower part of the leg and the proximal part of the foot. The objective of the current study is to compare single-staged reverse sural artery flaps with two-staged interpolated flaps in distal lower limb injuries. Methods: It was a prospective study carried out at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital, Sialkot, Pakistan, over 5 years from 2015 to 2020. Sixty-eight (n = 68) patients with distal lower limb soft-tissue defects were enrolled and randomly allotted a two-stage interpolated flap design (group A) or single-stage reverse sural artery flap design (group B). The measured outcomes included the frequency of flap-tip necrosis, epidermolysis, partial or total flap loss, and additional procedures needed for managing these complications. Results: Out of all the patients, 72% were of male gender and 28% were females with a mean age of 38.38 ± 10.76 years. In group A, there were 6% of the cases where tip necrosis was the only impediment as compared to 17% in group B. In patients of group A, epidermolysis was seen in 12% as compared to 35% in group B whereas only 6% of patients in group A required secondary procedures for flap tip necrosis as compared to group B (47%). Paired t-test was used to calculate the statistical significance of the outcome between the two groups (p-value of 0.0491). Conclusion: The two-staged interpolated flap procedure results in fewer complications as compared to a single-staged reverse sural artery flap procedure. However, the shorter hospital stay in single-staged flap design is satisfying for the patients who did not report any complications with this procedure.

Background: To evaluate the outcomes of using intraoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) during retinal detachment surgeries and to determine whether it influenced surgical outcomes. Methods: A case series of fifteen patients underwent retinal detachment surgery utilizing the Leica Enfocus microscope with integrated intraoperative optical coherence tomography (IOCT). The study assessed the impact of IOCT on surgical decision-making. It was conducted at the Layton Rahmatullah Benevolent Trust (LRBT) Eye Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Data were collected using a questionnaire as a tool for analysis. Results: Fifteen patients with a mean age of 35.33 ± 8.27 years (95% confidence interval) underwent retinal detachment surgery and were included in the study. The questionnaire revealed that the surgeon altered their decisions in four cases (26%). Intraoperative OCT was instrumental in identifying critical structures such as sites of vitreomacular traction, thick epiretinal membranes, and various interfaces. Conclusions: The application of intraoperative OCT proved to be highly beneficial in retinal procedures. Its use enhanced the surgeon's confidence and influenced decision-making in specific cases, demonstrating its value in improving surgical outcomes.