Prevalence of Myths related to dental health among the medical and dental students of Karachi-Pakistan

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of myths related to dental health, among medical and dental students of Karachi

Study Design: Cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at three Medical and Dental colleges of Karachi [Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Ziauddin University and Dow university of Health Sciences] from August 01, 2015 to August 31,2015

Materials and Methods: A questionnaire consisting of close-ended questions on prevalence of myths about oral health was distributed among 300 medical and dental students of three different colleges of Karachi. Students from all levels i.e. from the first year till the final year were questioned. Convenient sampling was done. Students who did not consent to participate in the study were excluded from the study. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis

Results: The prevalence of myths regarding extraction of teeth was found out to be 5.6% and scaling was found out to be 26% .Dental students tend to believe more in these myths as compared to medical students despite their educational background. However, the incidence of belief in dental myths decreases with the increase in the level of education

Conclusion: Dental myths are prevalent among all levels of medical and dental students more so among dental students

Effect of half adult dose of oral Rifampicin [300mg] in patients with idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of half adult dose of oral Rifampicin on mean change in best corrected visual acuity and central macular thickness in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy

Methods:Thirty-eight eyes of 31 patients with idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy [CSCR] were registered. Unaided Visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity was documented and detailed slit lamp examination along with dilated ophthalmoscopy was performed. All subjects were treated with oral Rifampicin 300 mg [half adult dose] daily for 03 months. Patients underwent a complete ocular and systemic examination as well as central macular thickness [CMT] measurement by optical coherence tomography [OCT] every month after starting treatment until four months. Fundus fluorescein angiography [FFA] was performed in recurrent cases. Liver function tests were carried out prior to the treatment and during follow up period

Results:A total of 38 eyes of 31 patients [24 males, 07 females] were included in the study. Mean age of patients was 36.16+/-3.19 years [range 30-44]. Mean best corrected visual acuity [BCVA] before treatment was 0.56+/-0.11 and improved to 0.47+/-0.14 at 04 weeks [P<0.001] of treatment. The mean CMT at the time of presentation was 494.39+/-96.29 um and was decreased to 306.90+/-50.71 um after 04 weeks of treatment [P<0.001]. The mean induced reduction in CMT was 187.48+/-122 um [P<0.001] while that in BCVA 0.41+/-0.16 at 04 weeks of treatment [P<0.001]. Liver function tests were within normal range before and after the treatment

Conclusion:Half adult dose rifampicin [300mg] is effective and safe in treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy without causing any systemic imbalance

Frequency and clinical presentation of various malignant maxillary tumors

Objectives: To determine the frequency of various malignant tumors of maxilla and to determine the various clinical features of these pathologies at the time of presentation

Study design: A descriptive, Cross sectional study

Place and duration: Joint Study of ENT - Head and Neck Surgery and Maxillofacial Department Isra University Hospital Hyderabad. 02 years from 1[st] January 2011 to 31[st] December 2012

Methodology: Fourteen patients were selected from Out Patient department [OPD] of E.N.T. and Maxillofacial department. Demographic data like age, and sex, clinical presentation like nasal obstruction, epistaxis, cheek swelling, displacement of eye ball and bulging of hard palate were recorded on purposely designed proforma. Biopsy was taken from all patients through endoscope

Results: Out of 14 patients, nine patients [64.3%] were male and five patients [35.7%] were female. Eight patients were diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma which comprised [57.2%] followed by sarcoma [35.7%] and B-cell lymphoma [7.1%]. Nasal obstruction and epistaxis were most common complaint i.e. 85.7% followed by anosmia, midfacial swelling and altered check sensation 71.4% respectively. 42.8% patients were suffered from exophthalmos and 35.7% were found bulging of hard palate

Conclusion: Among the malignant tumors of maxilla, commonest is Squamous cell carcinoma but other rare entities like sarcomas and lymphomas are not uncommon in our experience

Chronic granulomatous inflammation of the abdominal wall after laparoscopy: a look at high level disinfection

Port site infections after laparoscopic surgery are a known complication and take away a lot of benefits attributed to the minimal access approach. Detecting the flora responsible is essential and atypical mycobacteria must also be considered. This case series is a compilation of the accounts of ten different patients with chronic granulomatous inflammation of the anterior abdominal wall presenting with port site discharging sinuses and lumps after laparoscopic surgery. Atypical mycobacterial infections must be considered in patients with persistent wound infections after laparoscopic surgery and warrants a revision of the high level disinfection [HLD] process.

In vitro availability of metformin in presence of H[2] receptor antagonists

Metformin is a guanidine derivative used for the treatment of NIDDM. As it is used for a long-term therapy, it may be coadministered with other drugs. Present paper deals with the in vitro availability studies of metformin in presence of commonly used H2 receptor antagonists. The later drugs compete with histamine for H2 receptors and block gastric acid secretion and some cardiovascular effects of histamine. These studies were carried out in simulated gastric juices, simulating empty and full stomach, simulated intestinal juice and buffers of pH 7.4 simulating blood pH at 37°C on a B.P. 2003 dissolution test apparatus. Commonly prescribed H2 receptor antagonists like cimetidine, ranitidine and famotidine were used in these studies. The present study clearly indicated that availability of metformin can be altered in presence of most of the H2 receptor antagonists studied except in presence of famotidine at pH 4 where the drug concentration remains unaltered. The availability of metformin was increased in simulated gastric juice, pH 7.4 and pH 9 [except ranitidine at pH 9] whereas the decrease in availability was observed in presence of cimetidine and ranitidine at pH 4 and ranitidine at pH 9. On the basis of these results, it is can be suggested that metformin should be coadministered with care along with H2 receptor antagonists especially in case of ranitidine; although chances of adverse reactions are rare but decrease availability of metformin may result in delayed effect. On the other hand, increase in metformin concentration may result in hypoglycemic effects