Breast cancer awareness and breast self-examination in Northern Saudi Arabia. A preliminary survey

To elicit knowledge of breast cancer, perception of occurrence, and behavior in relation to breast self-examination [BSE]. A cross-sectional survey was carried out at the Department of Pathology, Medical College, University of Hail, Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for local occupants from Hail city and its rural neighborhood between September 2010 and February 2012. A personal interview-administered descriptive questionnaire and both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. A total of 1000 participants agreed to be involved, out of which 87.7% were females, 7.2% were males and 5.1% had undisclosed gender. The age range for participants was 12-66 years. Out of all participants, 44% did not know that breast cancer is an abnormal growth and 78% failed to recognise its multi-factorial nature, with "Increased age" being the least recognised single risk factor 4.8%. Scores showed that 61.5% had a low level of breast cancer related knowledge. Out of the participants who knew of someone who had breast cancer 73%, 50.1% said the disease was discovered at a "Late stage" mainly by "Chance". Data for BSE indicated that 50.1% of female participants >16 years old did not practice BSE, and "Fear" was the main declared perceived reason. This study demonstrates a low level of fundamental knowledge of breast cancer and fear to practice BSE

Superoxide dismutase phenotypes in duodenal ulcers: A genetic marker.

Background:Cu-Zn superoxide dismutases are antioxidative defensive enzymes that catalyze the reduction of superoxide anions to hydrogen peroxide. Aim:The study focuses on the association of electromorph of superoxide dismutase with duodenal ulcers, which result due to an imbalance between aggressive and defensive factors. Materials and Methods:Endoscopically confirmed 210 duodenal ulcer patients and 185 healthy individuals for comparative analysis were considered for the present study. Phenotyping of superoxide dismutase was carried out by subjecting the RBC membranes to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, using appropriate staining protocols. Results:Statistical analysis of SOD phenotypes revealed a significant increase of SOD A*2 allele and Superoxide dismutases (SOD) 2-2 phenotype in duodenal ulcer group. Among these individuals, a predominance of Helicobacter pylori infection was observed. The increased preponderance of homozygotes can be explained on the basis of reduced and altered enzyme activity, which may lead to disturbance in homeostasis of antioxidant/oxidant culminating in high lipid peroxidative gastric mucosal tissue damage and ulceration. No variation in the distribution of SOD phenotypes with respect to Helicobacter pylori indicates the role of Mn-SOD rather than Cu-Zn SOD in the Helicobacter pylori infected cases as reported earlier. Conclusions:Superoxide dismutase as a genetic marker / gene modifier, encoding for an antioxidant enzyme in maintaining tissue homeostasis of the gastric mucosa is discussed.

Solitary thyroid nodule: a study of 100 cases.

One hundred cases of solitary thyroid nodules attending the thyroid clinic, Institute of Postgraduate Medicine & Research, Dhaka (IPGMR) and the Institute of Nuclear Medicine (INM) were included in a prospective study. Thyroid ultrasonography (USG), scintiscanning, radioactive iodine (I131) uptake (RAIU), estimation of serum total T3, T4 & TSH and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) were performed in all cases. Surgical resection with histopathologic study was performed in selected cases. Extra-nodular part of the thyroid gland was normal in 68 and diffusely enlarged in 32, RAIU was normal in 62, high in 36 and very low in two subjects. Nodules were solid at USG in 67 subjects, cystic in 16 subjects and of mixed consistency in 17 subjects. Goitrous subjects had significantly lower T4 (p < 0.001) and higher T3 (p < 0.01) and TSH (p < 0.001) than non-goitrous ones. Colloid nodule was the commonest pathology occurring in 41 cases, followed by thyroid cysts (26), follicular adenoma (23), adenoma with cystic change (7), subacute thyroiditis (2) and papillary carcinoma (1). Colloid nodules were more common in goitrous subjects which could hint at iodine deficiency as the major cause of such nodules. Hyperfunctioning follicular adenomas occurred exclusively in non-goitrous subjects. Carcinoma appeared to be uncommon in patients with solitary nodules. It gives an opportunity to our physicians to be more conservative in selecting patients with solitary thyroid nodules for surgical treatment.

Role of radioiodine in management of thyroid cancer: experience with 70 cases.

Results of 70 cases of differentiated thyroid carcinoma managed with I131 and surgery have been reported. These results add to the body of knowledge that already exists in the field of treatment of thyroid cancer with radioactive iodine. These results also indicate that the success of radioiodine therapy depends on adequate surgical removal of the thyroid tissue.