Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma is the commonest head and neck malignancy which accounts for approximately 20% of the cancer burden in Asian countries. Frequencies and incidence rates of site specific head and neck squamous cell carcinoma have been reported regularly in different studies from various parts of the country

Methods: It was a descriptive study including 84 biopsy proven cases of squamous cell carcinoma from head and neck region reported to ENT unit-1 Allied Hospital Faisalabad by Pathology lab during January 2014 and December 2015. Data was acquired from hospital and pathology lab and analysed using SPSS version 18. Inclusion Criteria: Primary cases, mucosal disease. Exclusion criteria: congenital tumors, children, mentally retarded

Objective: The objective of the study was to identify the sites of cancer in head and neck along with their risk factors so that community education may be performed for better prevention of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Results: Mean age of the patients was 53.71 +/- 14.3 [median: 55] years. Mean age of females was 51 +/- 13.28 [median: 50] years. Mean age of male patients was 56 +/- 15.1 [median: 55] years. 53% of patients belonged to rural areas [n=53]. 37% [n=31] of patients came from urban areas. The commonest risk factor was smoking. The commonest site was hypo-pharynx

Conclusions: head and neck squamous cell carcinoma has a peak age incidence in 5th decade. Males and females are equally affected. Smoking is the commonest risk factor in Faisalabad. Most of the patients have moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Hypo-pharynx is the commonest site involved

Oral health and general health in children having intellectual disabilities: a cross sectional study

This study aimed to assess the correlation between oral health and general health in children having intellectual disabilities. Cross-sectional, questionnaire based study. This study was conducted at Step to Learn School, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, fromMay to June 2014. A sample of 88 children were selected from two branches of 'Step to Learn, a special school for children with intellectual disabilities. Body Mass Index [BMI] was used to assess general health, while oral health was measure by the Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth [DMFT] index. Dental surgeons and dental students conducted the examination. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to compare the correlation between BMI and DMFT. The data was analyzed using the software SPSS [v 17.0]. Out of 88 children, data of 85 [96.59%] was recorded. No significant correlation was found between oral health and general health [r = -0.06]. The general health of children with intellectual disabilities does not impact their oral health. Subsequent oral and general health educational initiatives should be conducted separately

Efficacy of 5-(2-aroyl)aryloxy methyl-2-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles as antibacterial and antifungal agents.

Research and development of potent and effective antimicrobial agents represent one of the most important advances in therapeutics; the main aim of these efforts is not only control the serious infections, but also prevention and treatment of some infectious complications of other therapeutic modalities. A series of 5-(2- aroyl)aryloxy methyl-2-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles were screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities. Anti-bacterial activity against B. cereus, S. aureus, B. subtilis, S. aureus (MRSA), E. aerogenes, M. luteus, K. pneumonia, P. aeruginosa, S. typhimurium, E. coli, paratyphi-B, P. vulgaris bacterial strains and anti-fungal activity against C. albicans, A.niger, F.solani, A.flavus, B.cinerea, C.krusei, M. pachydermatis, C.parapsilosis, F.moniliforme, C.gloeosporioides fungal strains were carried out. The bioassays indicated that most of the synthesized compounds showed potential antibacterial and anti-fungal activity.

Predictors of treatment interruption in pulmonary tuberculosis patients

Tuberculosis [TB] is a common and deadly infectious disease caused by mycobacterium, mainly mycobacterium tuberculosis.1 The World Health Organization declared TB a global health emergency in 1993.2 This is a cross sectional descriptive study. To identify factors predicting treatment interruption in pulmonary tuberculosis patients under DOTS [Directly Observed Treatment Short Course] strategy in District Lahore. It is conducted on 421 pulmonary tuberculosis patients under DOTS, in district Lahore, Pakistan in 2006 - 07. At the end of the treatment period, the treatment interrupters were 31 / 421 [7.4%]. Among them 25 / 421 [5.9%] were defaulters, while 6 / 421 [1.4%] were non-compliers. Analysis showed a significantly increased risk of treatment interruption among those who need to travel in order to get medicine [p < 0.0001], those who need to travel a distance of more than 30 minutes walk to get medicine [p < 0.0001], those who occasionally need to buy medicine [p = 0.024] and those patients who were directly observed by health care provider [p < 0.0001]. The issue of treatment interruption in tuberculosis patients and the factors identified in the study, need to be addressed, so the compliance can be improved

Assessment of socio-economic status of patients

To determine whether or not doctors assess the socio-economic status of their patients in order to customize treatment and improve compliance. A cross-sectional Jinnah Hospital and Shalimar Hospital Lahore. From March to June 2005 Ninety-three patients were included from each of the two randomly selected tertiary care hospitals [one public, one private] of Lahore. Doctor-patient encounters were observed. No assessment was made for 134/186[72%] patients. 51/186[27.4%] received an inadequate assessment. Only 01/186[0.5%] patient received a thorough assessment of his socioeconomic status. Doctors in the private hospital made better effort to assess the socioeconomic background of the patient [albeit inadequately], compared to those in the public hospital [p: < 0.0001]. Doctors should be regular and meticulous in patients' socioeconomic status assessment