Correlation between allergic rhinitis or hay fever and lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The association between allergies and cancer is contradictory, whereas some forms of cancer have inverse associations with allergies. Allergic rhinitis (AR) is the most prevalent form of allergy, and lung cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer with the highest mortality rate. Recent studies have reported a positive association between asthma and lung cancer; however, this association is inconclusive. Furthermore, AR is positively associated with asthma; therefore, our research question was to explore whether there is any correlation between AR and lung cancer epidemiologically. METHODS: After a rigorous search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, 7 eligible articles were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis, including 4724 cases and 9059 controls, 5 from the USA, and one each from Canada and Germany. RESULTS: Pooled analysis (OR, 0.55; 95% CI: 0.45-0.68; P value < .00001) showed a strong inverse relationship between AR and lung cancer. CONCLUSION: The current meta-analysis suggests an inverse relationship between AR and lung cancer; however, new epidemiological studies are required to observe the current scenario more comprehensively.

Disseminated Infection with Multiple Cold Abscesses Caused by Rhizopus Arrhizusin an Immunocompetent Girl.

Although infections with fungi, such as Rhizopus species,usually occur in diabetics or immunocompromised patients, they can also rarely affect immunocompetent individuals. We present a case of disseminated infection with multiple cold abscesses in a 13-year, otherwise healthy girl caused by Rhizopus arrhizus.

Awareness of Hepatitis 'B' Among People of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan.

Hepatitis B virus is causing serious health concerns in countries like Pakistan. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, 0.6 milion people were estimated to be infected with this virus in 2008. The authors aimed to assess knowledge regarding vaccination, testing and routes of transmission of hepatitis B virus among people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as such knowledge among masses will help limit the infection. People belonging to 12 different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province were interviewed over a period of 5 months from October 2013 to February 2014. Apre-tested questionnaire was used and in-person survey of randomly selected 1,938 people was carried out throughout the province. Ninety-nine percent people said they knew about hepatitis B virus and 42% said they had got tested for it too. Out of them, 63.2% knew that a vaccine is available for hepatitis B virus. The proportion of respondents, who said hepatitis B virus can spread by sharing razors, toothbrush, syringes or sexual contact, was 97.94%, 95%, 99.3% and 77%, respectively. Only 28.7% knew, it can also spread vertically from mother to child during childbirth. People were quite aware of the routes of transmission of this disease, but they lacked knowledge regarding vaccination and prevention of this menace. Settings should be set up where routine preventive care and immunization services are provided.

Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of Common Cold And Its Management Among Doctors Of Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic misuse for upper respiratory tract infections such as the common cold is widespread in clinical practice. Excessive prescription of antibiotics by doctors has resulted in increased antimicrobial resistance. This led to our objective of determining the percentage of doctors in Pakistan prescribing antibiotics for the treatment of common cold and to know about their knowledge in preventing the spread of this disease. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study, conducted in 9 cities of Pakistan including Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Multan and D.G. Khan over a period of 03 months -from October to December, 2013. Questionnaire regarding the disease spread and its treatment was distributed among 300 randomly selected doctors in nine cities of Pakistan from both public and private sector. RESULTS: Eighteen percent of the doctors prescribe antibiotics for common cold. Only 113 (37.7%) doctors correctly responded that mean incubation period for common cold was 1-2 days. Two hundred and nine (69.7%) answered correctly that cold weather increases susceptibility to common cold. Only 84 (28%) responded correctly by choosing that regular and frequent hand-washing with good quality soaps was the most effective way to prevent spread of this disease in day-to-day life. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotics are being prescribed for treatment of common cold by a large proportion of doctors. There is insufficient knowledge among our doctors regarding the factors which aggravate or alleviate common cold symptoms as well as the methods by which these infections can be prevented.