ABSTRACT
Background/objectives In patients receiving concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) as a treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), cytological changes were seen not only in neoplastic epithelial cells but the non-neoplastic epithelial cells are also affected, resulting in cytopathological atypical changes. The present study was designed to observe oral epithelial atypical cytopathologic changes induced in contralateral normal buccal mucosa in OSCC patients receiving CCRT. Methods The study included 150 patients with OSCC treated by CCRT whose details were collected from the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Lahore (INMOL) Hospital Lahore. Cytological smears were obtained from the contralateral normal buccal mucosa of OSCC patients. The serial scrape smears were taken before, immediately after, on the 17th day (mid of treatment), and at the end of CCRT, whereas 20 patients were taken as normal healthy controls and were not exposed to CCRT. The smears were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Papanicolaou stain. SPSS version 20 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.) was used for statistical analysis and p > 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results CCRT-induced oral epithelial atypical cytological changes were predominantly noted at end of therapy (19.7%) in the contralateral normal buccal mucosa. Nuclear atypia features were higher on the 17th day and end of treatment; whereas, epithelial atypia was mainly observed on the 17th day of CCRT (40%). A highly significant association was observed between epithelial atypia and radio-chemotherapy dose (p = 0.045), between CCRT-induced epithelial atypical cytological changes and days of treatment (p = 0.001), and between days of CCRT and nuclear atypia (0.000) accordingly. Atypia was not observed in any control group. Conclusion Varying degrees of oral epithelial atypical cytological changes may occur in otherwise normal contralateral mucosa of the patients receiving CCRT.
ABSTRACT
Background Oro-facial clefts (OFCs) are formed due to a combination of genetic factors and environmental factors. Treatment is usually extensive and lasts till adult age. The treatment also includes a large portion of dental rehabilitation. Objective This study aims to look at the different dental anomalies associated with OFCs. Methods A total of 100 participants with OFCs were randomly selected from Clap centre Lahore. They were categorized into cleft lip (CL), cleft palate (CP), and both. Dental anomalies were recorded clinically and family history for OFCs was also recorded. Results Out of the 100 participants, 15 had CL only, 37 had a CP, and 48 had both CL and CP. Missing teeth and hypodontia were significantly associated with all OFCs (p-value > 0.05). Supernumerary teeth were only significantly associated with CP (p-value: 0.04). Other dental anomalies were not significant for OFCs. Conclusion OFCs in all its three forms are associated with dental irregularities. They can either be missing teeth or extra teeth. There is a strong need for dentists to be a part of the treatment planning of OFCs and to treat dental anomalies alongside the clefts.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the misconceptions and attitude regarding HIV transmission and prevention among antenatal mothers, with regards to mother-to-child-transmission (MTCT) in three tertiary care hospitals of Karachi. METHODS: A cross-sectional study comprising 350 pregnant females was conducted at three tertiary care hospitals in Karachi for 4â¯months, in 2018. A structured questionnaire covering knowledge about MTCT, prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) and attitudes about HIV transmission was used and all collected data entered and analyzed via SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) software version 25, owned by the IBM Company. PRINCIPLE RESULTS: Of the 350 pregnant females participating, around 66.7% (Nâ¯=â¯232) were urban residents, lying in their mid-twenties and over 86% (Nâ¯=â¯303) were Muslims. Over 14.3% (Nâ¯=â¯52) of the participants had full knowledge regarding MTCT of HIV, with only 6% of the respondents having full knowledge related to PMTCT of HIV. Significant associations were found between knowledge about MTCT and residence (pâ¯=â¯0.001), education level (pâ¯=â¯0.001) and expected response from the partner (pâ¯=â¯0.001). While only 17% (60 out of 350) women agreed to invite their partner for testing, 84% showed an interest in looking after an HIV infected family member and 49% believed that all pregnant females should be tested for HIV. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that majority of the pregnant women in Karachi are unaware of MTCT and PMTCT and they are reluctant towards routine HIV testing. Thus, we see the need for collective and focused efforts for educational programs and further research.
