Psychological stress associated with aphthous ulcers and temporomandibular disorders

Objective: To assess the prevalence of stress as an etiological factor for aphthous ulcers and temporomandibular disorders

Study Design: Cross sectional descriptive study

Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry Rawalpindi, from Oct 2015 to May 2016

Material and Methods: Two groups of patients were selected. Group I included 119 patients presenting with Aphthous Ulcers while group II had 64 subjects with complaints of temporomandibular disorders [TMDs]

After a thorough history, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS] was used to assess stress in the patients. A HADS-A score of 7 was taken as significant anxiety while a HADS-D score of 7 depicted significant depression

Both groups were then subjected to laboratory examinations. Serum cortisol levels were assessed for both groups while Serum Folate, Ferritin and Vitamin B12 level for group I only. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 to calculate descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviations as well as frequencies and percentages

Relationship between HADS score and serum cortisol levels was assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient

A p-value<0.05 was considered significant

Results: For TMDs, 53 [82.8%] patients were found positive for stress while for aphthous ulcers, 61 [51.3%] were positive for stress. The correlation between HADS score and serum cortisol levels was found significant for both groups at a p=<0.001

Conclusions: Patients showed a high prevalence of stress as an etiological factor for aphthous ulcers and temporomandibular disorders in a local setting

Surgical closure of ASD's and concomitant procedures needed in adults: a 3 year cardiac centre experience

Objective the study aims to evaluate the surgical closure of Atrial Septal Defect [ASD] and concomitant surgical procedures needed at Cardiac Care Centre

Introduction an ASD is a hole of variable size in the atrial septum. A patent foramen ovale that is functionally closed by overlapping of limbic tissue superiorly and the valve of the fossa oval inferiorly [in response to the normal left-to-right atrial pressure gradient] is excluded. ASDs generally permit left-to-right shunting at the atrial level. Partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection [PAPVC] is a condition in which some but not all pulmonary veins connect to the right atrium or its tributaries, rather than to the left atrium

Methodology a prospective cohort study was done at Tabba heart institute. 115 consecutive patients were reviewed and investigated. All the patients with surgical closure of ASD and concomitant surgical procedures who returned for follow-up from June 2011 to May 2016 in the study were included as population sample

Results total ASD repair only patients were 80 and patients who needed concomitant procedures too were 35. The size of the defect ranged from 3mm to 58mm, with a mean of 26.96+/-11.02mm. The relative frequencies of different ASDs were secundum 57 [80.2%], primum 4 [5.6%], and sinus venosus 10 [14.08%]. Major post-operative complications by Age group and by procedure were evaluated and presented

Conclusion it was concluded from our results that surgical repair of atrial septal defects and its variants is associated with very low morbidity in different age groups due to its excellent results

Human papilloma virus and oral lesions in Gutka eating subjects in Karachi

To determine the frequency of HPV in eaters of Gutka [betel, areca, lime and tobacco concoction], presenting with oral lesions. A descriptive study. Ziauddin University Research Laboratory, from February to July 2010. Subjects munching Gutka fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Samples were collected in the form of 20 - 40 ml oral rinse from 262 subjects who were habitual eaters of Gutka after an informed consent. Gentle brushings from the lesion were taken from subjects with the help of a brush at the other end of dental floss and the oral rinse was stored at 4[degree sign] C until DNA extraction. DNA was extracted and PCR was performed using HPV consensus primers Gp5+/Gp6+. Oral cavity was examined for the presence of ulcer, trismus, sub-mucosal fibrosis, leukoplakia and/or warts. Out of 262 subjects, 42 were females and 220 males with an average age of 27 +/- 10 years. HPV was positive in 47 subjects [17.9%]. HPV frequency was 2.7% greater in chewers with more than 10 years of habit compared to less than 10 years. Examination of oral cavity showed 78% presenting with more than one complaint including oral ulcers [25%], rough mucosa [62%], sub-mucosal fibrosis [24%], leukoplakia [20%] and erythroplakia [10.6%]. Highest frequency of HPV was observed in erythroplakia [25%]. Association between presence of symptoms and HPV shows an ODDS RATIO: ad/bc= 4982/430=11.6. Oral lesions caused by constant exposure to Gutka are associated with high frequency of HPV infection, which may be a risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. People should be educated about the consequences of Gutka abuse

Endoscopic evalution of acute dysphagia due to mechanical obstruction

To find out the common causes of mechanical dysphagia in South Punjab and determine the endoscopic features of benign and malignant stricture to decide for either therapeutic intervention [endoscopic dilatation/stunting] or biopsy. This descriptive study was conducted in Medical Unit-1, Gastroenterlogy Nishtar Hospital Multan Pakistan during the period from September 2004 to December 2005. A total 50 patients were included in the study. Foreign body in esophagus, was seen in 3 patients [6%] 2 female and one male. Two patients [4%] had esophageal web, both patients were female and upper part of oesophagus was involved in both of them. Benign stricture was the commonest abnormality. Lower third of oesophagus was the commonest site of involvement [62.5%], middle one third was involved in 31.25% of cases while upper third was involved in only 1 patient [6.25%]. Carcinoma oesophagus was predominantly found in males and lower one third was the commonest site [71.4%]. No patient had involvement of upper third while middle third was involved in 28.6%. Mean age of the patients was 42; age range was 14 to 63. Duration of dysphagia ranged from one day to 35 days; mean duration was 18 days. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is a safe and valuable procedure in individuals of all age groups with dysphagia and often leads to positive therapeutic intervention even in quite frail subjects. Benign esophageal stricture, esophagitis and esophageal carcinoma, are the commonest causes of dysphagia in South Punjab