ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), vital post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to prevent cardiovascular events (CVEs) via aspirin and P2Y12 receptor antagonists, faces controversy when combined with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) due to potential impacts on bleeding risk and antiplatelet efficacy, prompting the need for further research to determine optimal co-administration practices. This work evaluated the effects of PPIs on CVEs and inflammatory factors in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) undergoing DAPT after PCI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 166 patients who underwent PCI and developed UGIB while on DAPT from April 2021 to April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were rolled into two groups: those who received PPI treatment and those who did not, namely, the PPI and non-PPI group, respectively. Clinical data from these patients was analyzed, intending to provide relevant theoretical evidence for clinical practice. Furthermore, the occurrence of CVEs and the levels of inflammatory factors of patients in all groups were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Melena was the most common clinical symptom observed in all UGIB patients. The incidence of CVEs in the PPI group was not greatly different from that in the non-PPI group (P>0.05). The distribution of CVEs occurrence among different PPI drugs also exhibited no obvious difference (P>0.05). The PPI group exhibited greatly lower C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) based on the non-PPI group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Melena was the most frequent clinical manifestation in UGIB patients. The use of PPIs did not increase the risk of CVEs, and different PPI drugs did not affect the occurrence of CVEs. Furthermore, PPIs lowered CRP and TNF-α levels in serum of these patients.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To analyse the epidemiological characteristics, clinical presentations, and histopathological as well as immunological characteristics of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of breast. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from January 1997 to January 2017. METHODOLOGY: Data of all patients, diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma of breast over defined period of time, were collected and analysed with respect to their clinical presentation, histopathology and receptor status. Year-wise cases of SCC of breast were separated. RESULTS: Thirty patients, diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma of breast, were identified over a period of 20 years. There was an increase in number of cases diagnosed after 2007 as compared to before 2007. Moreover, 12 (40%) cases were hormonereceptor positive while 18 (60%) were of unknown status. Out of the total, 10 (33%) cases were well differentiated, 17 (57%)were moderately differentiated, while 3 (10%) were poorly differentiated. Seventeen (57%) cases presented as breast masses, 10 (33%) had skin ulceration in addition to breast mass, while 3 (10%) cases presented as fungating masses along with chest wall involvement. CONCLUSION: There is an increased incidence of SCC of breast which can be due to better diagnostic facilities and more awareness amongst doctors about different varieties of breast cancers and their impact on the prognosis of disease.
