ABSTRACT
Background: Anti-streptolysin O titer is related to rheumatic heart disease
Objective: To assess anti-streptolysin O titer in rheumatic heart disease patients at Punjab Institute of Cardiology Lahore
Methodology: It was a cross-sectional study, 130 consecutive patients of rheumatic heart disease admitted at Punjab Institute of Cardiology Lahore between 1[st] January to 31[st] December, 2014, fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled. Their laboratory findings were taken; CRP and ESR levels were measured. ASO titer was measured by latex agglutination test. ASO Titer more than 200IU/ml was taken as significant
Results: It was found that 81[62.31%] patients of rheumatic heart disease has ASO levels more than 200IU/ml and 49[37.69%] patients has ASO less than 200IU/ml. Fifty two percent study subjects were female and 60% were between 4-15 years of age
Conclusion: Majority of the patients admitted with RHD has raised level of ASOT
ABSTRACT
Rheumatoid arthritis is categorized as a systematic autoimmune disease which causes chronic disabilities exclusively in bones that are aligned with synovium. RA etiology is still unknown but previous studies have coined that several number of factors play a significant role e.g. environmental and genetic factors. Cellular signaling pathways orchestrate the inflammatory response that regulates various cellular functions like cellular progression, proliferation, death and secretion of signaling molecules [pro and anti inflammatory cytokines] in response to genetic and environmental stimuli. These regulatory pathways are tightly controlled and naturally activated by ligands that attach to their respective receptors on the cell surface. In diseased state, these signaling pathways escape the normal control mechanisms resulting in intensification of cytokines and chemokines, transcription factors and mediatory proteins that disrupt normal cell processes and might bring about auto-destructive consequences such as in the case of rheumatoid arthritis. The review highlights multiple levels of targeting molecules in signaling pathways that may be potential diagnostic markers and also attempts to underline potential therapeutic targets
ABSTRACT
To find out the factors which influence delayed presentation of breast cancer. A prospective study. The study was conducted in the department of surgery at Allied Hospital Faisalabad for a period of one year from 01-11- 2008 to 30-11-2009. With an informed consent, study was conducted on 75 patients of breast cancer who presented late in Allied Hospital Faisalabad for their treatment. Diagnosis of breast cancer in all the patients was established by tissue biopsy. Every patient was interviewed on a structured questionnaire to find out the determinants of delayed presentation from the date of first symptom recognition to the start of treatment. Extent of delayed presentation in our study ranged from 3 to 18 months with mean duration of 8 months. Patient delay showed a major influence on delayed presentation and its determinants were painless lump breast, negative family history of breast cancer, negative history of benign breast disease, increasing age above 40 years, lack of awareness about breast cancer, poor economic class, psychosocial and cultural beliefs, rural background, number of siblings 4 or above, lack of female doctors and illiteracy. Pre-hospital system delay showed a minor attribution to delayed presentation and it was associated with delayed or non-referral to consultants, mal-treatment by health care providers other than breast surgeons, false negative/misinterpretation of mammograms and false negative results of fine needle aspiration cytology. Locally advanced breast cancer [LABC/Stage III] was found in 62.7% patients, while, 12% patients had metastatic breast cancer [MBC/Stage IV]. Rest of the 25.33% patients had early breast cancer [EBC/stage I and II]. Delay of more than 6 months was found in 48 [64%] patients and out of them 60% had advance stage, while only 4% patients were observed in stage II [EBC]. Delay of 3 to 6 months was noted in 27 [36%] patients and among them 3 [4%], 13 [17.3%] and 11[14.7%] patients had stages I, II and III respectively. Delayed presentation of breast cancer is mainly attributed to patient delay rather than the system delay and longerd elays in presentation adversely influence the stage of breast cancer