ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and shape of torus palatinus and to assess its gender and age-related differences in the population of Karachi, the metropolitan city of Pakistan
Methodology: This was a cross sectional study with non-probability convenience sampling method conducted at Bahria University Medical and Dental College [BUMDC], Karachi. The presence of tori was observed by clinical examination and palpation. The shape was also investigated by presence or absence and classified as flat, spindle and nodular shaped tori. The data was analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Science version 23. The Chi-square test was used to test for group differences of sex and age association with the prevalence of tori. Difference between groups with P <0.05 was considered significant
Results: A total of 1203 patients were screened in which torus palatinus was found in 141 [11.7%] patients. Present study findings showed torus palatinus was more prevalent in males 76 [53.9%]. It was dominant in 31-60 years of age group [47.5%] with significant P=0.000. Shapes of torus palatinus were compared with gender in which flat shape was more frequent in both male and female with significant P-value of 0.015
Conclusion: Torus Palatinus is a rare bony exostosis of the oral cavity. Even though, it is an asymptomatic anatomical variation it expresses itself in unique shapes and patterns. The prevalence varies with respect to age and gender
ABSTRACT
Objective: To compare the efficacy of Gabapentin with carbamazepine in Trigeminal Neuralgia
Material/Method: The study was conducted in Agha Khan University Hospital and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for four months. 19 patients of TN were collected through purposive convenience sampling. DN4 questionnaire was used to differentiate between Somatic and Neuropathic pain. Numeric Pain Rating Scale was used to assess the severity of pain
Results: Nine patients of Trigeminal Neuralgia refractory to carbamazepine were put on Gabapentin with male to female ratio of 4:5. All showed favorable response on 800-1600 mg Gabapentin on Numeric Pain Rating Scale. All patients were pain free in three weeks with no side effects. There was significant difference between pain response to carbamazepine and Gabapentin at P< .05. Four patients [44%] had pain relief on 900 mg Gabapentin, three [33%] on 1200 mg, one responded on 800 mg and one on 1600 mg
Conclusion: Gabapentin is effective as first line treatment in Trigeminal Neuralgia
ABSTRACT
Age related cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world today and cataract extraction is the most often performed surgery. If a practical large scale intervention could slow the onset of cataract by ten years, the need for cataract surgery would be reduced by 45%. The causes of cataract are multiple, with nutrition playing a definite role. The usually high concentration of zinc in the ocular tissue, along with zinc deficiency being an established cause of Age Related Macular Degeneration, has led to an increasing interest in this trace element's potential role in Age related cataractogenesis. This study was conducted in The University of Health Sciences in collaboration with The Institute of Ophthalmology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore and The University of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Lahore. The sample size was 50 patients with senile cataract. Serum of 35 age and sex matched controls were taken. These patients were undergoing trabeculectomy for glaucoma. Zinc levels were measured in the serum, by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results supported the hypothesis that zinc deficiency could be one of the factors responsible for the development of senile cataract. Significant difference was observed in serum zinc levels of patients and controls [P < 0.001] showing that the patient serum zinc levels [0.896 +/- 0.202 vs. 0.478 + 0.278.] are significantly lower than the serum zinc levels of controls