Prevalence of dengue fever in Rawalpindi, Islamabad - a cross sectional study

Dengue is an important vector borne viral disease of public health significance. Dengue fever is on the rise in Pakistan with considerable morbidity and mortality in recent outbreaks. We undertook the study to analyze the prevalence of Dengue fever in Rawalpindi and Islamabad region. The object of our study was to estimate the burden fever in Rawalpindi and Islamabad region. Another aim of our study was to evaluate and if possible alleviate the anxiety associated with dengue fever. We wanted to find out the factual prevalence of the disease. We aimed to determine the most common age group and gender of the illness as well. Cross Sectional Study. This study was conducted in Benzair Bhutto Hospital [BBH] and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences [PIMS] in Rawalpindi and Islamabad from 1[st] September to 15[th] November 2011. People of all ages and both sexes with suspicion of Dengue were included in the study. A total of 16616 people turning up at these hospitals were tested for dengue virus. Only 2269 were positive for disease [13.6%]. Male to female ratio came out to be 2.1:1 and maximum number of cases belonged to age group 21-30 years. The number of cases turning up with Dengue suspicion is out of proportion to actual disease burden. Thus we need to alleviate the anxiety associated with the disease. There is a genuine need for strict adherence to preventive control measures and research needs to be undertaken in order to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with the Dengue

Frequency of endoscopic gastric neoplasms in five years at JPMC

Gastric cancer is among the most common malignancies in Pakistan. The aim of our study are i] to document different histological types of gastric malignancies as per age and sex ii] discuss its possible association in patients who underwent endoscopy and iii] compare our data with local and abroad studies. Retrospective study. This study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Basic Medical Science Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan, from 1[st] January 2003 to 31 December 2007. A total of 740 cases of gastric endoscopic biopsies were received for histopathological evaluation at the Department of Pathology, Basic Medical Science Institute, JPMC, Karachi. Out of these cases, a total of 70 gastric neoplasms were separated, analyzed and classified according to the WHO classification system and their relative frequencies were recorded. Gastric adenocarcinoma was the commonest neoplasm with male predominance in 5th to 7[th] decade of life, account for 88.57% [62/70] of all gastric neoplasms. Gastric lymphoma was the second common with 8.57%[06/70] and gastric carcinoid was least common with 1.43%[1/70] of all gastric neoplasms. This study highlights that adenocarcinoma is the most common gastric malignancy seen in most high risk group includes elderly males followed by lymphoma with no gender difference. So we advise regular endoscopic biopsies surveillance at least in high risk age group for the early detection of cancer

histopathological pattern of ovarian teratomas at a tertiary care centre

To determine the frequency and types of various ovarian teratomas amongst various age groups, and 2] To compare the results with other workers. Study Design: Retrospective study. The study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute[BMSI], Jinnah Post graduate medical centre [JPMC], Karachi from 1[st] January 2001 to 31[st] December 2005. 1128 cases of ovarian biopsies were received for histopathological examination at the Department of Pathology, Basic Medical Science Institute, JPMC,Karachi.Out of 365 cases of ovarian neoplasms teratomas were separated, analyzed and classified according to the WHO classification system 1994 and their relative frequencies were recorded. Teratomas account for 14.52% [53/365] of all ovarian neoplasms. Mature cystic teratomas were the most common i.e 86.80% [46/53].Immature teratomas were 9.43% [05/53] followed by special subtypes 3.77% [02/53]. Mature cystic teratomas are the most common germ cell neoplasms of ovary. Immature teratomas are rare above 30 years of age

Immunohistochemical localization of keratin in 100 cases of squamous cell carcinoma

The keratinizing tumors are less radiosensitive and non-keratinizing are more radio responsive. This study was carried out to detect the presence of keratin in apparently non- keratinizing poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas by immunoperoxidase staining. It is a cross sectional and descriptive study conducted at King Edward Medical College, Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore. A total of 100 patients suffering from squamous cell carcinomas were included in the study. Both H and E and immunoperoxidase staining were performed. The results of both types of staining were compared for each case. Four groups were identified. Forty nine cases showed obvious keratinization on both H and E and immunoperoxidase staining. Twenty cases had doubtful keratinization on H and E but showed more obvious keratinizaton on immunoperoxidase staining. Ten cases were non-keratinizing on H and E as well as on immunoperoxidase analysis. Cytokeratin can be used as a tumour marker for squamous cell carcinoma. The immunohistochemical technique can help us in revising and modifying our H and E impression of a squamous cell carcinoma