PAKISTAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

INTRODUCTION: PAKISTAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES (Pak J Med Sci)

is a peer reviewed journal. It is published quarterly and we practice open peer review system. It has controlled circulation.Objective: The journal aims at promoting the art and science of medicine to improve healthcare besides being a useful source of CME for healthcare professionals offering healthy, balanced and constructive debates on controversial issues that effect medicine, keeping up the professional ethics in medical journalism. We accept original research, review articles, guest editorials, case reports, short communications, drug trials and letters. Complimentary copies are sent to all the medical libraries, teaching institutions and otherimportant medical centres in the country. Others can have the copy by sending a crossed Bank Draft/Money Order for Rs. 400/- in the name of “PAKISTAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES”. Minimum publication charges for articles, manuscripts is Rs.3,000/- (in case of overseas US$ 100/- ) up to 4 printed pages in the journal. Rs.500/- extra will be payable for each additional page. Charges for photograph, films and illustrations are additional. Publication charges are payable in advance once the manuscript has been accepted for publication by the Editorial Board after peer review. Those who cannot afford to pay the publication charges can request for financial assistance and the management will manage it from the special fund created for this purpose. Main author will be sent one copy of the journal. Additional reprints can be obtained from online edition which contains all the published manuscripts in PDF format. Authors and coauthors can order additional copies at a concessional price of Rs.300/- per copy at the time of returning computer print out after proof reading. (For detailed instructions to authors visit our website pjms.com.pk)
Payment should be made either throughPay Order, Bank Draft or Money Order
Business & Editorial Offices:
Professional Medical Publications,Room No. 522, 5th Floor, Panorama Centre, Bldg. No. 2,Raja Ghazanfar Ali Road, P. O. Box 8766, Saddar, Karachi, Pakistan.Phone: 5688791, 5689285. Fax: 5689860.
E-mail: pjms@pjms.com.pkOnline edition ISSN 1681-715XAbbreviated key title: Pak J Med SciWebsite: www.pjms.com.pk

PRICE PER COPY RS. 400/-
Annual Subscription
Pakistan Rs.2000/-, India, Bangladesh & SAARC Countries US$ 100UK £ 100, USA & other countries US$ 175
Note: Please send all remittances through Pay Order, Bank Draft or Money Order in the name of "Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences", Karachi.
Desk Top Publishing: Zahid Hussain
Circulation: Shahnaz Perveen
Published by Shaukat Ali Jawaid for Professional Medical Publications and printed at Punjab Printing Press Karachi, Pakistan
CURRENT ISSUEApril - June 2009 (Part-I)Volume 25, Number 2


PAKISTAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES is a peer reviewed journal. It is published quarterly. It has controlled circulation. We accept original research, review articles, guest editorials, case reports, short communications, drug trials and letters.

Recognized by Higher Education Commission, Government of Pakistan

CHIEF EDITORCHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARDMaqbool H. Jafary
MANAGING EDITORShaukat Ali Jawaid
ASSISTANT EDITORMasood Jawaid
PRODUCTION EDITORMubarak Ali -
Editorial Board
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A. Samad, KarachiAzam Samdani, KarachiEjaz Ahmed Vohra, KarachiH. R. Ahmad, Karachi Iftikhar Ahmad Jan, IslamabadInayatullah Padhiar, Karachi Jehan Ara Pal, KarachiMahmood Ali Malik, LahoreMahfooz ur Rehman, Lahore
Mohammad Perwaiz Iqbal, KarachiNazeer B. Khan, KarachiNoshin Wasim Yusuf, LahoreRasheed Jooma, KarachiSaleem Sadiq, KarachiTasnim Ahsan, KarachiTahir Saeed Haroon, Lahore Waris Qidwai, KarachiWaqar H. Kazmi, Karachi
INTERNATIONAL advisors
1
Ahmed Jamal, BahrainFarrokh Habibzadeh, IranHAM Nazmul Ahasan, BangladeshM. Afzal Javed, UKMohammad Bagher Rokni, IranBalwant Singh Gendeh, Malaysia
M.N. Amin, BangladeshAzar Khosravi, IranM. Waqar Azeem, USAOluwafemi Oguntibeju, West IndiesIsam Hamo Mahmood, Iraq
Editorial Board in PDF format

Professional Medical Publications
Professional Medical Publications is the premier medical publishing house in Pakistan. Its founders have been active in the filed of medical journalism since 1966. It has two renowned publications to its credit: “PULSE” International, a fortnightly medical Views-paper and “PAKISTAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES” (PJMS), a peer reviewed quarterly medical journal now in its 20th year of publication. Both the publications have online editions, regularly updated soon after the publication of each issue. Their respective websites are:
· www.pulsepakistan.com
· www.pjms.com.pk
“Pulse” International
“PULSE” International is Pakistan’s most widely read medical Views-paper published every fortnight. It is edited by Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid, the senior most medical journalist of the country with almost forty years of experience in medical journalism. “PULSE” International was previously known as ‘DOCTOR’ International till December 31st 1999.
“PULSE” has a print order, which varies from 7 to 8 thousand copies every fortnight and its multiple readership runs into thousand of healthcare professionals all over Pakistan & abroad. Apart from the healthcare professionals, copies of PULSE are sent regularly to executives in the Pharma industry in different departments i.e. Medical, Marketing, Production, Quality Control, dealers in laboratory instruments, electro medical equipment, officials in Provincial Health Departments and Federal Health Ministry. We have an efficient mailing network whereby healthcare professionals in important medical institutions in the public sector as well as Army Healthcare facilities, the tertiary care institutions are provided copies through courier service and special distribution network. Rest of the copies are mailed to the members of the medical profession all over Pakistan on rotation basis. About one hundred copies are also mailed to important medical personalities, institutions in UK, USA, Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, Bangladesh, India, Sir Lanka & Egypt besides WHO offices. We concentrate on detailed, accurate and complete coverage of scientific proceedings of seminars, symposia and medical conferences held in Pakistan keeping up professional ethics. On special invitation many important international medical conferences are also covered for the benefit of our readers to keep them abreast with latest developments in medicine & healthcare. This distinguishes us from other medical periodicals because we have a professional approach; hence we are a bit different.
“Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences”
It is a peer reviewed medical journal published regularly for the last 20 years. It was previously known as quarterly “SPECIALIST” till December 31st 1999. It publishes original research articles, review articles, current practices, short communications & case reports. It attracts articles not only from within Pakistan but has started attracting manuscripts from several countries abroad.
Copies of PJMS are sent to all the import medical libraries in UK, USA, India, Bangladesh, Iran, WHO EMRO Region countries and Far East. Eminent members of the medical profession at home and abroad regularly contribute their write-ups, manuscripts in our publications. We pursue an independent editorial policy, which allows an opportunity to the healthcare professionals to express their views without any fear or favour. That is why many opinion makers among the medical and pharmaceutical profession use this publication to communicate their viewpoint.
Our Mission
We have always remained at the forefront taking up controversial issues which effects health services in general besides undergraduate, postgraduate medical education, teaching and training in particular. n-depth study of issues connected with the health sector and investigative medical reporting is our specialty. These reports are regularly published in “PULSE”. Often our constructive criticism, critical reports have achieved their desired objectives. Our efforts are appreciated by all those who want to know nothing but the whole truth behind all that is happening in the health sector. Our patrons who recognize and value merit have helped us to further improve and set new standards in the field of medical journalism in Pakistan. We are also determined to make “PAKISTAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES” a leading peer reviewed medical journal from this region.
The Editorial Team
Our Chief Editor Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid has a rare distinction of being one of the well-respected & recognized professional in the field of medical journalism. His credentials include:
· Founder President of Pakistan Medical Journalists’ Association
· Member, British Medical Journalists’ Association
· Member of National Bio-Ethics Committee, Government of Pakistan
· General Secretary, Pakistan Aspirin Foundation
· Vice President at large Eastern Mediterranean Association of Medical Editors (EMAME)
He is frequently invited as a guest speaker and facilitator at workshops & seminars by various medical institutions and specialty organizations. He has authored and co-authored numerous books on different topics which are:
1. The Whole Truth
2. Beyond The Whole Truth
3. The Naked Truth
4. Conscience Calls
5. Keeping the Conscience Alive
6. Aspirin: The Life-saving miracle drug
7. Medical Ethics in the Contemporary Era
8. Medical Men and Women of Pakistan
9. Medical Writing
10. What Editors Demand and What Authors Want to Know
11. Conscience Speaks
12. REFLECTIONS: Case Histories of interaction between Medical Press and the Pharma Industry.
13. Why Create Ripples?
We in the Professional Medical Publications are fortunate to have the guidance of our Honorary Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Maqbool H. Jafary, an eminent Physician with special interest in Cardiology and author of numerous books. He is former Vice-President of Asia-Pacific Society of Cardiology, former President of Pakistan Society of Physicians & Pakistan Association of Pharmaceutical Physicians. His deep insight & interest in all areas of healthcare including pharmaceuticals remains a great source of strength for the editorial team at Professional Medical Publications.
We are supported by eminent medical personalities in the medical profession nationally & internationally as members of our editorial board. Their advice & wise comments for the improvement of the standard of “PAKISTAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES” is a continued source of strength.
Our reviewers & referees do a commendable job to help us improve scientific standards of the contents of the articles. They are there because of their experience, active participation & willingness to devote time. We are indebted to them for their efforts.
Dr. Masood Jawaid Assistant Editor is In charge of Internet Editions. He maintains online editions of “PULSE” International as well as “PAKISTAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES”. Mr. Mubarak Ali looks after the production of both these publications & is also In charge of the logistics as well as circulation network in which he is ably assisted by Mr. Zahid. Mr. Zahid Hussain’s expertise at the computer network ensures that both our publications are printed on time. He also maintains meticulous records of all the manuscripts received from authors for publication in PJMS besides maintaining an up-to-date track record of manuscripts sent to reviewers & referees for peer review.
The Recognition
Our services in the field of medical journalism have been widely recognized and appreciated not only by the Government authorities but a large number of professional specialty organizations as well who have honored us with commemorative Shields and Awards on different occasions. We have the honour of being the recipient of the National Award in Medical Journalism offered by National Academy of Medical Sciences in 1996.