Burden of Oral Precancer and Cancer among an Indigenous Tribal Population of South India – An Evaluative Study

Context: Oral cancer is of major concern in the Indian subcontinent and is found to be high among low socioeconomic groups. One such high?risk group is considered to be the tribal people, who are economically and socially marginalised. Aims: The aim of the present study is to assess the prevalence of oral cancer and precancer lesions among the Narikurava population in Puducherry state, India. Methods and Material: A total of 329 Narikurava tribal people were included in this study. Data was collected by clinical examination of the oral cavity by door?to?door screening. The oral cavity was examined for white/red lesions, ulcerative changes, leathery changes and tissue growths. Statistical Analysis Used: Prevalence was calculated in terms of percentages. Descriptive statistics included the calculation of percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Results: The prevalence of precancer in the population is 48.3%. The majority of the lesions were observed in the buccal mucosa: 41.6% had white lesions, 9.1% had red lesions, 0.3% had ulcerations or growth, and 28.3% had leathery changes followed by the labial mucosa: 0.6% had white lesions, 0.6% had red lesions, 0.3% had ulcerations or growth and 16.4% had leathery changes. Conclusions: The present study observed a high prevalence of precancerous lesions among the Narikurava tribe. The main reason for the high prevalence is attributed to tobacco and tobacco?related habits. Hence, cancer control activities should be prioritised. Designing a model to detect precancer and cancer early and to constantly monitor the detected cases in such populations is of utmost importance

Functional Outcome of Internal Fixation of Fibula by Closed Tens Nailing in Addition to Tibia in Distal Both Bone Leg Fractures

Introduction: Treatment of adult tibiofibular fractures, especially severely comminuted fractures, is technically challenging dueto the lack of reduction markers and difficulty in restoring the alignment. Fixation of the fibula can facilitate the reduction of thetibia fracture and restoration of the lower extremity alignment.Aim: This study aims to study the functional outcome of internal fixation of fibula by closed tens nailing in addition to tibia indistal both bone leg fractures.Materials and Methods: Patients with distal both bone leg fractures for whom fibular fixation was done in addition to tibia nailing inGovernment Rajaji Hospital, Madurai from July 2016 to September 2018 with a minimum 1-year follow-up were included in the study.Results: In this study among 15 patients, 9 patients did not have any angulation, 6 patients had varus angulation with mean varusof 2°, and none of the patients had valgus angulation. The mean range of movements in patients with fibula fixation was 96%. Themean time of union in these patients was 5 months (minimum of 4 months and a maximum of 7 months). Johner and Wruch’s criteria:Among the 15 patients, 12 patients (80%) had excellent results and 3 (20%) had good results. There were no fair and poor results.Conclusion: Treatment of distal third both bone leg fractures by fixation of fibula by closed tens nailing in addition to the tibia isuseful in anatomical reduction of tibia and reduced malalignment of tibia with good ankle functions. Further randomized controlstudies are needed to assess the long-term functional outcome in these patients.

Design and evaluation of fast dissolving tablets containing diclofenac sodium using fenugreek gum as a natural superdisintegrant

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To formulate diclofenac sodium as fast dissolving tablets (FDTs) using fenugreek gum as a natural superdisintegrant which also possess anti-inflammatory activity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An attempt was made to extract the fenugreek gum and evaluated it for various physicochemical characterizations. The swelling index and viscosity of fenugreek gum was 221% and 293.4 mpa.s respectively. FDTs of diclofenac sodium was formulated by direct compression technique using different concentrations (1%-6%, w/w) of fenugreek gum as a natural superdisintegrant and compared with renowned synthetic superdisintegrants like sodium starch glycolate and croscarmellose sodium. The anti-inflammatory activity of a formulation was evaluated with carrageenan induced experimental rats.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The formulated tablets were evaluated for various physical tests like weight variation, friability, hardness and results complied with the limits. The drug release from all the formulations ascertained first order kinetics. Among all the formulations F3 containing fenugreek gum with the concentration of 6% produced least disintegrating time 21 seconds resulting in higher drug release rate 93.74% at the end of 25 min. Hence, it was considered as optimized formulation. The present study revealed that the fenugreek gum as a natural superdisintegrant showed better disintegrating property than the most widely used synthetic superdisintegrants like sodium starch glycolate and croscarmellose sodium in the formulations of FDTs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results suggested that the fenugreek gum act as a good super disintegrating agent and it showed promising additive anti-inflammatory activity with diclofenac sodium.</p>

A study on the clinical manifestations and the incidence of benign and malignant tumors in a solitary thyroid nodule.

Tumors are either benign or malignant. The thyroid nodule, which is usually a clinical manifestation of most of the thyroid disorders, is one among them which has been the subject of controversies with divergent opinions and views. Clinical presentation of thyroid nodules varies widely ranging from solitary nodules to benign and malignant tumors. Thyroid nodules accounts up to 8% of the adult population having palpable nodules. However studies on its incidence in the population residing near seacoast are limited. Hence, the present study is carried in an aim to evaluate the clinico-pathological correlation of solitary thyroid nodule and the incidence of malignancy in the population residing at sea coast. The study is conducted in the Narayana Medical College & Hospital (NMCH), which is situated within 10-15 km radius of the seacoast in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, India. In this study, 73 subjects were selected who presented with thyroid swelling which was clinically confirmed as solitary thyroid nodule. Out of 73 cases, 12 cases (16.5%) were found to have malignant lesions with remaining 61 cases (83.5%) being benign lesions. The incidence of malignancy among solitary thyroid nodule subjects is up to 16.5% in the population residing near seacoast. Thus the present study warrants people to consult surgeons for early diagnosis and adequate treatment without being passive as most of these swellings are asymptomatic for long duration.