Anaplastic thyroid cancer: a retrospective analysis of 120 cases

Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer [ATC] is one of the most lethal malignancies with very short survival and extremely poor treatment outcome. ATC accounts for 2-5% of all thyroid cancers worldwide with an annual incidence of about 2/million. To review the natural history and treatment outcome of ATC patients treated at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre [KFSH and RC] located at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Retrospective review of 120 Saudi cancer patients collected from registry data at KFSH and RC from 1976-2008. Search key words included: thyroid cancer, anaplastic, undifferentiated and not otherwise specified. Search was not restricted to particular age, gender, treatment or tumor size. Demographic information, baseline patient characteristics including date of diagnosis, type of treatment and date of death were obtained from KFSH and RC registry data and Saudi death registry. A total of 120 cases were identified at our cancer centre from 1976 to 2008. Of these total, 73 were females [60.8%] and 47 were males [39.2%]. The average age at diagnosis was 63.34 +/- 12.8 years. Thirty-four patients underwent surgery [28.3%], 52 had a palliative radiation treatment [43.3%] and only 5 had chemotherapy [4.2%]. The median survival was 53 days [0-457]. Our review proves that ATC is rapidly fatal cancer and is unresponsive to currently available therapeutic options. More research is needed to understand the tumor biology and novel treatment options

Mini-implant supported overdenture in a patient with down syndrome: a case report

The presence of macroglossia, a tendency towards poor cooperation and the inability to adapt to compl~te dental prostheses due to motor and mental deficiencies makes the oral rehabilitation of Down Syndrome patients difficult. This article reports on the use of mini implant supported overdenture to rehabilitate a Down Syndrome patient who had difficulty adapting to his new mandibular complete denture. The patient's ability to cooperate during treatment as well as the maintenance of an optimal oral hygiene practice enabled mini-implants to be inserted and maintained 20 months post insertion as evidenced by clinical and radiological findings. To the author's knowledge, this is the first reporting of a successful mini implant supported overdenture in a Down Syndrome patient.

Association of ABO and Rh blood group systems with blood pressure in a population sample from Peshawar, NWFP, Pakistan

Abundant literature is available on the association of blood groups to various diseases. It was thus hypothesized that similar linkage may also exist between blood groups and Hypertension, which prompted me to work on this project. This study was carried out from June 2001 to September 2003 on 1304 subjects out of which 756 were male and 548 were females. Age ranged from 18-65 years. The blood groups and blood pressure were determined in PMRC Research Center KMC Peshawar, by using standard methods. Out of 1304 subjects distribution of blood groups was such that blood group B [30.1%]> O [29.7%] >A [28.5%]>AB [10.1%]. No significant difference in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was found among the all groups. However significant differences existed between the two sexes within blood group B and O for systolic BP and A and O groups for diastolic BP. Significant differences in systolic BP were found between A+ve and O+ve phenotypes only. A-ve males had lower systol ic BP than O-ve males. Substantially more conspicuous Rh factor associated differences became evident among the ABO phenotypes. Nearly similar trends were evident for systolic and diastolic blood pressure as age of both genders of the A, B and AB phenotypes advanced. Statistically significant [P<0.05] increase above the age of 16-20 years group was noticed at least as far as the 41-50 years age groups. Especially highly significant increase in systolic and diastolic Blood pressure in Group A [both males and females] and in Group B and AB [females only] was noticed. It is advisable that the males having blood group O-ve and females having AB-ve should be aware of their blood pressure and maintain it with in the normal limits especially by changing their lifestyle

Feeding practices among the infants presenting with acute diarrhoea

To study various feeding practices in children who present with acute watery diarrhea. The objective of the study was not only to study the feeding patterns but also draw an association between different feeding patterns and acute diarrheal episodes Outdoor and indoor unit of Department of Paediatrics Jinnah Hospital affiliated with Allama lqbal Medical College Lahore. Two hundred and fifty patients with acute watery diarrhea of less then 14 days between the ages of I month to I year were included in the study. It was a case control cross sectional study. The data related to 250 patients was collected. The required information was obtained from inother/ attendant of the infant in the questionnaire. All the questionnaire were filled by the doctors. The majority of the infants with acute diarrhea were between 4 months to 1 year 195 [78%]. Forty two [17%] were exclusively breastfed while 78 [310/,] exclusively bottle-fed. Fifty five [22%] had both breast feeding as well as bottle feeding. A large number of mothers 112 [44.8%] gave the teason of insufficient milk for the baby. Majority of the infants with acute diarrhea episodes was between and 12 months when either breast milk is being replaced by bottle milk or improper weaning practices are being used. A large number of infants with acute diarrhea were either mixed fed or bottle fed. Because of increased mixed and bottle feeding there is high incidence of diarrhea in our community

Complications of acute diarrhea in malnourished children

In a developing country like Pakistan malnutrition is a serious health problem. Diarrheal diseases and malnutrition are inter-related. Hence it is worth studying not only diarrhea itself but also the incidence of acute diarrheal complications in malnourished children. A total of 150 malnourished children with acute diarrhea, 50 patients in each 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree of malnutrition were included in the study to see the frequency of complications. Their ages ranged from 1 month to 4 years. Majority of the patients [44.68%] were between 6 months and 1 year. The incidence of complications was highest in the youngest age group [1 month to 1 year]. The majority of the complications like acidosis, shock and septicemia were seen in children with 3rd degree malnutrition. Metabolic and electrolyte derangements were seen again in majority of the patients with 3rd degree malnutrition. The duration of hospital stay was directly related to the degree of malnutrition

Feeding practices among the infants presenting with acute diarrhoea

To study various feeding practices in children who present with acute watery diarrhea. The objective of the study was not only to study the feeding patterns but also draw an association between different feeding patterns and acute diarrheal episodes. Outdoor and indoor unit of Department of Paediatrics Jinnah Hospital affiliated with Allama Iqbal Medical College Lahore. Two hundred and fifty patients with acute watery diarrhea of less then 14 days between the ages of 1 month to 1 year were included in the study. It was a case control cross sectional study. The data related to 250 patients was collected. The required information was obtained from mother/ attendant of the infant in the questionnaire. All the questionnaire were filled by the doctors. The majority of the infants with acute diarrhea were between 4 months to 1 year 195 [78%]. Forty two [17%] were exclusively breastfed while 78 [31%] exclusively bottle-fed. Fifty five [22%] had both breast feeding as well as bottle feeding. A large number of mothers 112 [44.8%] gave the reason of insufficient milk for the baby. Majority of the infants with acute diarrhea episodes were between 8 and 12 months when either breast milk is being replaced by bottle milk or improper weaning practices are being used. A large number of infants with acute diarrhea were either mixed fed or bottle fed. Because of increased mixed and bottle feeding there is high incidence of diarrhea in our community

Assessment of knowledge of acute respiratory infection among postgraduate medical students at College of Community Medicine, Lahore

Administered open ended interviews were conducted with 25 diploma students at college of community medicine Lahore. The aim of this research was to discern levels of knowledge about WHO guidelines for management of ARI in children. The study revealed that students had very poor levels of knowledge about the new method of management of ARI. Since the new method promoted by the WHO and the national ARI control program of Pakistan are known to reduce morbidity and mortality amongst children suffering from ARI, the conclusion of this study is that further research and training needs to be undertaken