A Welcome Message from The Editor

It is with profound pleasure that we write this editorial to welcome you to the new journal, “Pakistan Biomedical Journal” (PBMJ), an interdisciplinary international journal. PBMJ has successfully completed its first volume and now its the second volume. We greatly appreciate the response of scientists who have contributed previously and are still contributing to this new journal. The subject of the journal is interesting and we try to address the health related concerns of public and improve the understandingof scientific phenomenons by researchers. Research discoveries are happening at a fast pace, in all the fields and PBMJ provides an ideal forum for exchange of scientific knowledge in terms of full length papers, surveys, reviews, case studies, letters to editor and systematic analysis. PBMJ is committed to publishing all manuscripts receiving a high recommendation from reviewers. The intention of PBMJ is to create space for generation of new knowledge, debate, collaborations among national and international scientists. Our vision is to promote research that will be helpful for knowledge sharing, new discoveries, development of critical thinking among the upcoming scholars, guidance for policy makers, awareness among the concerned community and ultimately benefitting the general population in improving health and fitness at large. It is a matter of pride for us to haveexcellent editorial board members from renowned institutes. We aim to have the best standards of quality of the published manuscripts. With every issue, we are continuously trying to improve the standards. We look forward for more exciting researches and scientific studies from all over the world. We would like to extend a very warm welcome to the readers of PBMJ and hope you will join us as authors, reviewers and editors in future.

Evaluation of Pyeloplasty Among Children With Pelvouretric Junction Stenosis at French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children, Kabul, Afghanistan

Introduction: PUJO is one the most common pathology in paediatric urology. It is the most common cause of Hydronephrosis that may progress to irreversible damage to the kidney if not resolved. Aim: The study is to evaluate outcome of pyeloplasty and find out the association of demographic characteristics and clinical factor on outcome of pyeloplasty among children at FMIC, Kabul, Afghanistan. Methodology: A hospital based retrospective Case Series study design was conducted at French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children, Kabul, Afghanistan. Records of 150 participants who were admitted at surgery department under diagnosis of UPJO reviewed from first January, 2010 till last December 2015, among them 110 patients based on inclusion and exclusion criteria enrolled in the study. Chi square, one way ANOVA and paired t- test were run to determine the association of factors with outcome of Pyeloplasty. Results: Our study findings have identified that among 110 patients, 90 (88.1%) were males. Most of patients had problem on left side 79 (71.8%), right kidney in 23 (20.9%) and bilateral involvement in 8 (7.3%), all except one who diagnosed prenatally were diagnosed in postnatal period. The diagnostic tools used in this study were US and IVU. The most common complaints reported were flank pain 45.5%. Around 9 (8%) of patients had associated anomaly; most common obstructive cause were narrow ureter 86 (78.1%). Urinary tract infection was identified in 13 (11.8) patients. Hydronephrosis grading was according SFU grading system as Grade 1 (1) grade 2 (13) Grade 3 (58) and grade 4 (44) patients. Out of 110 patients, 90 had undergone Pyeloplasty procedure, while 20 patients with complete destroyed kidney had undergone nephrectomy. Patients were divided into two groups (< 2 years and > 2 years) according to their age. The follow up modality were US parameters (anteroposterior diameter of pelvis and percentage of improvement in pelvis diameter. PI more than 15 was considered as successful outcome. The overall success rate of Pyeloplasty procedure was 82%. This study revealed the factors that affect the outcome of Pyeloplasty included: degree of hydronephrosis before operation and presence or absence of UTI. Conclusion: UPJO is one of the most common pathology in paediatric urology; in chronic case, it may progress to irreversible damage of kidneys, Aarly operation causes better outcome, as this study finds out, it improves the renal function, which approved this finding by improved in creatinine clearance level. Perusing international literature