Assessment of the quality of life in maxillectomy patients: A longitudinal study

PURPOSE: To longitudinally assess the quality of life in maxillectomy patients rehabilitated with obturator prosthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six subjects were enrolled in the span of 16 months, out of which six were dropouts. Subjects (age group 20-60 years) with maxillary defects, irrespective of the cause, planned for definite obturator prosthesis, were recruited. The Hindi version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Head and Neck version 1 of Quality of Life Questionnaire was used before surgical intervention and one month after definitive obturator. Questionnaire includes 35 questions related to the patient's physical health, well being, psychological status, social relation and environmental conditions. The data were processed with statistical package for social science (SPSS). Probability level of P<.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The quality of life after rehabilitation with obturator prosthesis was 81.48% (+/-13.64) on average. On item-level, maximum mean scores were obtained for items problem with teeth (1.87 +/- 0.94), pain in mouth (1.80 +/- 0.92), trouble in eating (1.70 +/- 0.88), trouble in talking to other people (1.60 +/- 1.22), problems in swallowing solid food (1.57 +/- 1.22) and bothering appearance (1.53 +/- 1.04); while minimum scores were obtained for the items coughing (1.17 +/- 0.38), hoarseness of voice (1.17 +/- 0.53), painful throat (1.13 +/- 0.43), trouble in having social contacts with friends (1.10 +/- 0.40) and trouble having physical contacts with family or friends (1.10 +/- 0.31). CONCLUSION: Obturator prosthesis is a highly positive and non-invasive approach to improve the quality of life of patients with maxillectomy defects.

Carboxypeptidase-beta from Bubalus bubalus pancreas: purification, properties and MALDI-TOF monitored activation of proinsulin

Carboxypeptidase-B [E.C 3.4.17.2] catalyzes the hydrolysis of peptides and esters at C-terminus of arginine and lysine residues. Our study describes the large scale purification, N-terminal sequence analysis and physiochemical properties of pancreatic enzyme from river buffalo [Bubalus bubalis]. The enzyme was purified up to 71 folds by anionexchange chromatography with 21% final recovery. Purified enzyme displayed two bands on SDS-PAGE with molecular weights of 9 kDa and 26 kDa respectively, the N-terminal sequence of later was EFLDKLDFYV. The enzyme has shown optimum activity at pH 9.0 and 40°C. The K[M], Kcat and K[cat]/K[M] values of purified carboxypeptidase-B with Hippuryl-LArg are 30 micro M, 72sec[-1] and 2.4x10[5] M[-1] sec[-1] respectively. A computer based model for the structure of enzyme was proposed by chromatographic studies of component fragments and N-terminal sequence. The enzyme purified in the present study was free of carboxypeptidase A and endoprotease contamination. It was efficiently used in the processing of recombinant buffalo proinsulin, in combination with trypsin. Activation of proinsulin was monitored by MALDI-TOF analysis of peptides before and after the action of enzymes

Thyroid disorders in Peshawar Pakistan-one year experience

This study reports on 124 cases of thyroid disorders from Peshawar treated with radioiodine during 2008. The aim of this study was to analyze the cancer registry record of patients from the district of Peshawar in order to obtain an insight about thyroid disorders for use in proposrng future health plans. The patient data has been collected from the Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine [IRNUM] Peshawar. Patients with thyroid disorders were confirmed by clinical examination, thyroid scintigraphy [Thyroid scan], blood tests [T[3], T[4], TSH] and histopathalogy tests and then treated with radioiodine. Of all 124 patients with thyroid disorders [Median age; 45.5 years. Range: 16-77 years] 20% were male and 80% were female. The final diagnosis was Toxic Multi Nodular Goiter [TMNG] in 56 [45.1%] cases, Diffuse Toxic Goiter [DTG] in 30 [24.2%] cases, Thyrotoxicosis in 14 [11.3%] cases while 7 [5.7%] patient showed thyroid carcinoma. All these patients were treated with radioiodine. For females, the most affected age group was 11-40 years with 31.3% cases of the total female cases followed by 21-30 age groups. No strict predominance has been observed in any age group of males. This preliminary study will provide an insight to the thyroid disorders and its treatment with radioiodine in Peshawar. Insufficient health care facilities, poor educational market [especially] in the rural areas are the most important probable factors leading to thyroid disorders. This study may be used as a base line for future planning strategies for improving the health standards in Peshawar

Common bile duct ascariasis

To assess the advantage of palpation of CBD during exploratory laparotomy in patients with acute abdomen. Material and A prospective study was conducted from July 1998 till December 2002 at Tehsil Head Quarter Hospital Matta, District Swat, Saidu Group of Hospitals Swat and DHQ Hospital Timergara District Dir Lower. Eleven patients, 5 male and 6 female [mean age 9.8+2.6 years] were included in this study. All the operations were performed under general anesthesia. Four patients were diagnosed preoperatively by abdominal ultrasonography and subjected to operative extraction of worms on next operation list. Seven patients presented with acute abdomen and turned out to have biliary ascariasis on palpating the CBD during exploratory laparatomy. T tube was inserted in 10 patients to drain the CBD, while in one patient primary repair was done. Their postoperative course was smooth and uneventful. Biliary ascariasis though not a common problem must be considered as a possibility in patients presenting with acute abdomen in endemic areas especially when no other cause for the patient's symptoms is apparent