[ ten-year study of oral squamous cell carcinoma cases in the Guilan province]

Oral carcinoma is among the most common cancers and one of the top-10 causes of death worldwide. Oral squamous cell carcinoma [OSCC] has the highest incidence and the lowest survival rate among oral cancer cases. The study of OSCC epidemiology, incidence rate, and its association with age and gender among the patients could provide the oral and maxillofacial specialists as well as health officials and policy workers with valuable information. Analysis of OSCC incidence rate and its association with sex and age among the oral cancer patients in the Guilan province during the 1378-87 period. This descriptive and prospective study was done by reviewing 12686 files of the cancer patients recorded by the Guilan Cancer Registry Center during 1377-87. Medical information including age, gender, the type of cancer, and anatomical location of the tumor were extracted from the patients' records. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software and chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis. Among the total number of files studied, 2364 [18.6%] were diagnosed as head and neck carcinoma cases, of which 1152 [48.7%] were recorded as SCC, with a male to female ratio of 1.7:1 and a mean age of 63.41 +/- 15.41 years.The most involved areas were tongue with 35.2% cases and buccal region with 24.4% cases. The 70-80 year age group had the largest number of 37patients [28%] with OSCC. Our results show that the incidence of OSCC is significantly higher in the 8th decade of life. We also found that the most common risk site of the tumor in young patients is the tongue

Medical students style

One hundred fifty six medical students [90 female, 66 male] of the Gulf Medical College, Ajman 77 of them from 4th year and 79 from 5th year; participated totally in a series of learning style investigation consisting of the Gregorc style delineator. The R. Felder index of learning style and the Long/Dziuban learning style inventory were used; the sample consisted of 18 different nationalities, and the mean age of the students was 22.3 years. There was no significant difference in learning style type of the medical students in the Gregorc style delineator and R. Felder index of learning style, demonstrating a great diversity in their learning style and showing the necessity of individualization of the students training. Female medical students demonstrated meaningful aggressive dependent general behaviour [P<0.03] in Long/Dziuban learning style inventory. Also 21, 22 and 23 years old students showed a significant aggressive dependent behaviour in the same inventory [P<0.005]. The medical students did not show any significant auxiliary trait in the Long/Dziuban learning style inventory. The female medical students' reason for choosing medicine was significantly due to knowledge acquisition, obtaining degrees and career development [P<0.005]. U.A.E., Indian and Pakistani students selected Gulf Medical College because of quality of courses. Subgrouping the students to 4th and 5th years did not change the statistical results of the study

Home - based physical therapy for throacic outlet syndrome

Diagnosis and treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome [TOS] are controversial. Surgical treatment has proved no excellent outcome. The results of physical therapy are variable and even disappointing. To find the results of a home-based physical therapy for improvement of TOS symptoms. Method: 65 patients who had a clinical diagnosis of TOS were studied consecutively in a one year period [1998-1999] at the Iranian Hospital-Dubai, United Arab Emirates. For the treatment, no anti-inflammatory medicine was used to find out the exact effects of the home-based physical therapy. The physical therapy and postural correction consisted of three main parts. All patients learned the exercises in the orthopaedics clinic. The results were studied based on a 10-grade pain rating scale. The mean age of the patients was 36.2 years. 33 patients were men and 32 were women. The duration of the patient's symptoms ranged from less than one month to more than one year. Right upper extremity was affected in 27.7%, left side in 44.6% and both sides in 27.7%. 47% of the patients had C7 long transverse processes on their anteroposterior neck X-rays and 2 had cervical ribs. 95.4% of the patients felt better with this treatment and 33.8% had improvement more than 50% [P<0.001]. The home-based physical therapy is objectively effective on TOS and if supplemented by anti inflammatory medicine is a suitable protocol for patients who have no easy access to physiotherapy wards. It is economical and time-saving

anatomical sources of pain in the knee joint osteoarthritis

To find the anatomical sources of pain in the knee joint osteoarthritis. Patients 16 patients who had stage II or III of the tibiofemoral joint osteoarthritis were studied consecutively in a one year period. Method: The knee joint tissues were stimulated by different stimuli [cutting, stretching, pressing, pinching, piercing, cauterization, twisting, hitting and injection] through a plane by plane local anesthesia. The awake patients were asked about painful sensation and whether this pain resembled their osteoarthritis pains. 9 patients were women [58%] and 7 were men [42%]. The mean age for women was 61 and for men was 64 years. The mean weight of the patients was 71 kg [71.5 for women and 69.4 for men]. 50% of the tested joints were right knees and 50% were left ones. 12 knee joints were in stage III of tibiofemoral joint osteoarthritis and 4 were in stage III. Subcutaneous adipose tissue pains had no significant relation to osteoarthritis pains. Pressing on the knee joint capsule produced a pain similar to the osteoarthritis pains [p<0.02]. Other stimuli had no significant relation to osteoarthritic pains. Synovial membrane was resistant to painful stimuli and no relation was found with osteoarthritis pains. Joint cartilage was rather insensitive to painful stimuli and no relation was found with osteoarthritic pains. Pressing of the subchondral bone could produce 25% of pains similar to osteoarthritis but this relation was not significant. Other stimuli had no relation to osteoarthritis pains. Metaphysis was very sensitive to normal saline injection [p<0.01] and the pain was similar to osteoarthritis pains. The joint capsule and metaphysial bone were sensitive to pressing and injection respectively and experienced pains similar to osteoarthritis pains. So for the treatment of the knee joint osteoarthritic pains, these two sources of pain should be regarded as responsible ones