Bronchogenic carcinoma; smoking habits in patients

The Connection between smoking and lung cancer is now generally accepted. The objective of this study was to observe smoking habits among different histological types of bronchogenic carcinoma. Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. April 2000 to March 2003. This was a simple descriptive study comprising of 30 consective histopathologically / cytologically confirmed cases of bronchogenic carcinoma that were admitted in different medical units of Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. History regarding smoking was taken in detail including type of smoking, quantity of tobacco smoked and duration of smoking in years. Smoking patterns were observed with their age, gender, living conditions and type of bronchogenic carcinoma. Among eighteen cases of squmous cell carcinoma, history of smoking was present in all males. Only one female who belonged to a village was non- smoker. Cases with small cell carcinoma were six in total and all were males with five smokers, three urban areas and two rural areas. Only one was a non- smoker with a rural background. Three females and one male had adenocarcinoma. One male from city and one female from a village were smokers, while remaining two females were non-smoker and lived in urban areas. Two men suffering from large carcinoma were smokers residing in urban areas. Cigarette smoking is present in 87% of all bronchogenic carcinoma especially with squamous cell, and large cell varieties. The involvement of smoking cases of adenocarcinoma has been found to be the least common

Chest radiographic findings in bronchogenic carcinoma in Pakistani population

To observe the common radiographic findings in histologically confirmed cases of bronchogenic carcinoma. This descriptive study comprised of 35 consecutive histopathologically / cytological confirmed cases of bronchogenic carcinoma that were admitted from January 2000 to April 2003 in Bahawal Victoria hospital Bahawalpur. Plain chest radiographs were obtained in all cases. Two radiologists blinded to the cell types were asked to interpret the radiographs. Hilar mass was the major manifestation in 62.8% cases. Chest radiographs showed 7 different types of lesions in four cell varieties in 35 cases, these included hilar mass in 62% cases of squamous cell carcinoma. Cavitation and rib erosion were found exclusively in squamous cell type carcinoma. In small cell carcinomas, hilar involvement was present in 83.3% cases. Half of large cell carcinomas and one case of adenocarcinoma presented with a peripheral mass. Hilar mass was seen in 50% cases with adenocarcinoma. Wide mediastinum was seen only in cases with small cell carcinoma. The chest radiograph findings in brochogenic carcinoma has more or less a standard patterns which can help the physician in better suspicion and diagnosis

Safety and efficay of repaglinide compared with glibenclamide in the management of type 2 diabetic Pakistani patients

To evaluate the safety and efficacy [glycemic control] provided by repaglinide compared with glibenclamide in newly diagnosed type 2 [non-insulin dependant] diabetic patients. Diabetic clinic in medical outdoor of Mayo Hospital, Lahore. Randomized prospective study. This single center study of one year duration was carried out in 100 patients between 30-70 years, all diagnosed to have type 2 diabetes mellitus recently and were not on any treatment. They were randomly categorized into two groups, repaglinide [test] and glibenclamide [control] groups. The study consisted of an initial induction day followed by follow-up visits after every fortnight. Repaglinide was given pre-prandial up to three times a day and glibenclamide was administered once or twice daily. Dosage was adjusted after every visit according to blood glucose level. Fasting blood glucose level, two hours postprandial blood glucose, weight and blood pressure were recorded on every visit, while glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] was estimated thrice during the study [at the beginning, at six months and at the end of one year]. Of the hundred randomized patients [50 in each groups], all showed a decrease in fasting blood glucose level, two hours postprandial blood glucose and HbA1c. Mean reduction in fasting blood glucose in repaglinide group was 64+53 mg/dl and those by glibenclamide group was 34.7+53 [P=0.007]. The mean reduction in two hours postprandial blood glucose was 119+66 in repaglinide group, while 87.6+74 was observed in glibenclamide group [P=0.02].HbA1c mean reduction in both repaglinide and glibenclamide groups was 1.1+0.3 and 0.7+0.5 respectively [P=0.00]. No statistically significant weight change was observed and no hypoglycemic events were recorded in both the groups. The results suggest that repaglinide and glibenclamide both were effective in lowering fasting glucose level, two hours postparandial blood glucose level and HbA1c if used regularly for one year. The effect of repaglinide in lowering HbA1c was impressive as compared to glibenclamide. Both the drugs were well tolerated and weight change was minimal in both the groups