Effect of maternal anemia on placental ratio

To determine the effect of maternal anemia on placental ratio. Cohort study. Unit-1, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 1, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore from August 2002 to August 2003. One hundred pregnant women, 50 anemic and 50 having normal range of Hb were included in the study. After delivery, weight of the new born and weight of placenta was recorded. The fetoplacental ratio was calculated for both groups and compared. The mean weight of the newborn [+/-SD] in anemic group was 3.12 +/- 0.45 kg and 3.18 +/- 0.35 Kg in control group. The difference was statistically non-significant [P=0.445]. The mean placental weight of anemic groups was 0.58 /- 0.13 Kg and that of control group was 0.52 +/- 0.088 Kg showing a significant increase [P<0.009]. Feto-placental ratio was 0.193 +/- 0.035 [Mean +/- SD] in anemic patients and 0.166 +/- 0.024 in control group. FP ratio of anemic patients was significantly higher than control group [P<0.001]. This study confirms that anemia during pregnancy is associated with significantly large placental weight and a high fetoplacental ratio

study of hepatocellular carcinoma in relation to different occupational exposures

This study was conducted to determine the probable occupational exposures and to estimate the risk of occupational exposure in hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]. The index group included 53 patients of HCC, while, the control group included 53 patients matched for age and sex. All individuals were subjected to a questionnaire [sociodemographic characteristics, medical and occupational history] and medical examination. The results revealed the following: Past history of either schistosomiasis or jaundice was a significant risk factor for HCC in the univariate analysis [OR= 2.35 and 3.45, respectively] but not in the multivariate analysis; the presence of occupational exposures in general and exposure to pesticides in particular was a risk factor for the development of HCC [OR= 3.48 and 5.53, respectively, in the univariate analysis as well as 1.87 and 2.55, respectively, in the multivariate analysis]; also, the risk for HCC increased for persons with both exposure to pesticides and history of jaundice [OR= 8.88 in the univariate analysis and 3.34 in the multivariate analysis] compared to persons with either of them alone. It was concluded that the exposure to pesticides is a risk factor for HCC and this risk increases with the concomitant presence of history of jaundice. Furthermore, schistosomiasis may have an association with HCC. It was recommended that the use of pesticides should be restricted to the minimal possible extent and further studies were advised to explore the effect of pesticides and serologically diagnosed viral hepatitis on the occurrence of HM

Role of thyroid scan and FNAC in evaluation of solitary thyroid nodule

The study was carried out from May 1990 to November 1995 in the departments of surgery and pathology of a teaching hospital. The role of thyroid radioisotope scan and fine needle aspiration and cytology [FNAC] was studied in 172 patients with clinically solitary thyroid nodule [STN], all of whom underwent surgery. These patients were divided into two groups, Group A [72 patients] which underwent thyroid scan without FNAC and Group B[100 patients] which was subjected to both. Thyroid scan turned out to be dispensable except in hyperthyroidism where it had 100% sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in diagnosing hyperfunctioning thyroid adenoma. FNAC reaffirmed its superior value by low false negative [1.4%], high specificity [97.5%] and accuracy [96.5%]. FNAC however is liable to be overruled by clinical data especially when dealing with the cytologically "indeterminate" subgroup

Delayed diagnosis of renal stores in children

Between April 1982 and April 1993, 46 children below the age of 13 years with urinary stones were evaluated and treated at the Hamad General Hospital in Doha, Qatar. In 24 children [57%], the diagnosis was delayed. Reasons for the delay included failure to investigate asymptomatic urinary abnormalities by the primary care physician and prompt referral to urologist or nephrologists

Small intestinal disaccharidase activities in normal and abnormal Jordanian children

The diasaccharidase enzyme activities of the small intestinal mucosa and fluid were assessed in 31 Jordanian individuals. The group investigated comprised eight normal subjects and 23 patients with gastrointestinal disorders with an age-range of four months to 11 years. A significant reduction in enzymatic activity was observed in certain Intestinal disorders as contrasted from the normal. The enzymatic reduction was found to correlate well with the structural changes in the intestinal mucosa. The present investigations confirm the reliability of enzyme assessment in the intestinal fluid in replacement of the more hazardous intestinal biopsies. The method employed can be used both in paediatric research and in diagnosis of patients with malabsorption. It is for the first time that such investigations have been carried out in Jordan. Such diagnostic aids are of low cost and are free of complications

Renal oncocytoma: a review of the literature and report of a case associated with rectal carcinoma

A case of twin tumor in a 70-year old female is reported. The patient presented with rectal bleeding for which investigations revealed adenocarcinoma of the rectum. The other tumor was incidentally disclosed and proved to be renal oncocytoma. It is the first time that renal oncocytoma has been reported in Jordan and has never so far been reported in association with rectal adenocarcinoma in the world literature. Review of the literature on oncocytoma is presented. Oncocytoma of the kidney is a rare tumor of tubular origin with a predominantly benign behavior and good prognosis after surgical removal. Contrary to the classical renal cell carcinoma, oncocytoma is characterised by its tan color, central fibrous scarring, large esinophilic granular cells and ultrastructural abundant mitochondria. The tumor is least rare in males past middle age; yet several cases have been reported at a wider age range and in both sexes. The overwhelming majority of renal oncocytomas are solitary tumors, a small minority, however, present as multicentric masses

Peripheral nerve tumor involving maxillary sinuses: a case report and review of the literature

Nerve sheath tumors of the paranasal sinuses are uncommon. Those confined to the maxillary antrum are rare, four only being on world record. We present an additional case with review of the literature. First described by Verocay[1] in 1910 under the term neurinoma, schwannoma [neurolemmoma] has frequently been reported in many anatomical locations wherever Schwann cell wrapping of a nerve occurs. Among other sites the tumor was reported to occur in the thorax[2-3], oral cavity, middle ear and orbit[4], breast[5] and bone of which the most common sites of involvement have been the mandible, scapula and ribs[6-7] though rare sites such as the femur have also been reported. However, up to 45% of schwannomas develop about the head and neck[9]; comprising the highest proportion in an anatomical body location. Yet, the tumor rarely involves paranasal sinuses. In this report we describe a case of solitary schwannoma developed in the left maxillary sinus, an extremely rare site of occurrence according to the English literature. The present case is the first to be reported in Jordan

Pharyngeal schwannoma

A 17 year old male patient was found to have a pharyngeal schwannoma. It was enucleated through oral surgical approach. Transient local edema of the sympathetic chain developed and resulted in Horner's syndrome. Complete recovery ensued a few weeks later

Cytological diagnosis of breast lesions from needle aspirates

Breast cancer is the commonest malignant tumor among Jordanian women accounting for 22% of total female malignancy[1]. The relatively high percentage of breast cancer seen in Jordanian women younger than 35 years of age [23%] contrasts with similar data reported in other countries[2,3]. This calls on the need for the application of a quick and reliable method of screening and so early detection of breast cancer