Cancer esophagus Karachi 1995-2002: epidemiology, risk factors and trends

To study the trends of cancer esophagus in Karachi South during 1995-2002 and identify risk factors. Incident esophageal cancer cases recorded at the Karachi Cancer Registry for Karachi South, during 1st January 1995 to 31st December 2003 were reviewed. For maximum completion of data, incident cases registered from 1st January 1995 to 31st December 2002 were included for final analyses. The Age Standardized Incidence Rates [ASIRs] of cancer esophagus in Karachi South for males were 6.5/100,000 [1995-1997] and 6.4/100,000 [1998-2002]. In females the observed rates were 7.0/100,000 [1995-1997] and 8.6/100,000 [1998-2002]. In the moderately high incidence, cancer esophagus zone of Karachi, the ASIRs in males remained stable during the last decade, but in females, an upward trend was observed suggesting a progressively higher exposure to risk factors in the latter. The potential risk factors in Karachi are use of all forms of tobacco, areca nut, infrequent consumption of raw fruits and vegetables and diet deficiencies. There is a necessity to actively control the proven risk factors and address the existence of other risk factors. The primary recommended strategy for the control of cancer esophagus would therefore be legislation against tobacco and areca nut in Pakistan and public health education. The risk factors of cancer esophagus identified in this article need to be further confirmed

Breast diseases: a histopathological analysis of 3279 cases at a tertiary care center in Pakistan

To know the frequency of breast diseases in Pakistani females. A retrospective analysis of 3279 breast specimens received over a period of 4 years [1993-1996] at the department of pathology, the Aga Khan University Hospital. Out of a total of 3279 breast specimens, common breast lesions included infiltrating duct carcinoma 37%, followed by fibro adenoma 16.95%, fibrocystic change13.96%, mastitis 6.83% and duct ectasia 5.33%. Majority of the cases of infiltrating duct carcinoma were encountered in the 5th and 6th decades of life. Tumour size was 2 or >2 cms. in 93% of cases and 40% of them showed 3 or >3 positive lymph nodes. Grade I tumours were 11.38%, grade II 59.17% and grade III tumours 29.47%. Correlation of grade with lymph node metastases [3 or >3+ve nodes] showed 15 cases [1.53%] of grade I, 178 cases [18.25%] of grade II and 68[6.97%] cases of grade III tumours. This study shows that in Pakistani females, the most commonly encountered lesion in carcinoma of the breast followed by the benign lesions such as fibro adenoma, fibrocystic disease and others. Breast carcinoma occurs at a younger age group with predominance of high-grade lesions and with frequent lymph node metastasis

Is carcinoma breast a different disease in Pakistani population?

Carcinoma of the breast tends to be different in coloured and white races. Is this pattern also expressed in Pakistani population

LH response diminishes following increasing dosage of estradiol

Four - day cyclic female rats were ovariectomized in the morning of day 1 of diestrus and injected on this and the following two days at 09.00 h either with constant or with increasing doses of estradiol benzoate [EB]. The serum concentrations of LH and estradiol - 17 beta were determined 4 h after the last injection. Significant inhibition of LH secretion resulting from three injections of 0. 25 micro g EB/100g b. w. was completely prevented when 0.75 micro g EB/100g b. w. were administered at increasing dosage. Markedly higher serum concentrations of estradiol were found after the administration of 0.05, 0.10 and 0.25 than after three injections of 0.13 micro micro g EB/100 g b. w; but the circulating LH level did not differ between both groups. Even the total amount of 4.0 micro g EB/100 g b. w. did not inhibit LH secretion when increasing dosage was applied. Although preliminary, the data indicate a hitherto unknown action of estrogens in the control of LH secretion which may be of importance for the therapeutic use of these hormones

Influence of various doses of progestins on prolactin [PRL] levels in female rhesus monkeys

Changes in prolactin [PRL] levels were studied in female rhesus monkeys which had been given various doses of cyproterone acetate [CPA], levonor-gestrel [LN], chlormadinone acetate [CMA] and progesterone [PRO]. It is seen that when the doses were comparable to those employed in humans for contraception [HCD], there seemed to be no change in the levels of PRL over a period of 12 weeks but that the levels of PRL were increased when the doses of CMA + PRO were 1000 x HCD. In case of LN the higher dose did not increase the PRL level

short profile of spironolactone with some experimental data in rats and guinea pigs and some comments

Attempts have been made here to evaluate the mechanism by which spironolactone [Sp] exerts antiandrogenic effects in guinea pigs and rats. As a result of competitive antagonism to androgens at hypothalamic receptors sp. caused stimulation of LH in rats resulting in increased production of testosterone. The dose and duration used may have of greater bearing on results. The threshold of sp. appears to depend on the status of circulating hormones and possibly the hypothalamo-hypophysial system of the individual