An impending cancer crisis in developing countries: are we ready for the challenge?

Cancers affect all communities worldwide. There are, however, marked differences in the prevalence and types of cancers among communities. While the total cancer burden remains the highest in affluent societies, less developed economies are closing the gap very rapidly.

Pakistani urban population demonstrates a poor knowledge about cancers: a pilot survey.

Background: This cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the perceptions and level of knowledge of a Pakistani urban population regarding presentations, risk factors, and screening of cancers.

Methods: From 4 tertiary care hospitals, 439 subjects were recruited through convenient sampling method and interviewed using a standard questionnaire.

Results: More than 90% of subjects demonstrated poor knowledge.

Problem-based versus conventional curricula: influence on knowledge and attitudes of medical students towards health research.

Background: Medical education curricula in developing countries should emphasize training in health research. This study compares the knowledge and attitudes towards health research between undergraduate medical students undertaking Problem Based Learning (PBL) versus conventional Lecture Based Learning (LBL).

Methods: Two groups comprising 66 (LBL) and 84 (PBL) 4(th) and 5(th) year students from the medical college of Aga Khan University were administered a structured and validated questionnaire.

Characteristics of acute transverse myelitis at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.

Objective: To determine the presenting features and etiological classification of acute transverse myelitis (ATM) at Aga Khan University Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.

Methods: Twenty consecutive patients of ATM (1996-2003) fulfilling a preset criterion were analyzed for demographic features, clinical presentation, laboratory investigations and neuro-imaging.

Results: Half of the patients were males and their median age was 29 years (range 6-73 years).

Knowledge and attitudes about health research amongst a group of Pakistani medical students.

Background: Health research training is an important part of medical education. This study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge and attitudes regarding health research in a group of Pakistani medical students at Aga Khan University, Karachi.

Methods: It was a cross-sectional pilot study conducted among a group of Pakistani medical students.

Dilemma of cancer screening in Pakistan.

In the scenario of limited resources for implementation of screening programmes in Pakistan, the only practical option for early detection is through mass education about cancers, their risk factors, screening modalities and presentation symptoms.

Association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene G894T polymorphism with essential hypertension in an adult Pakistani Pathan population.

This retrospective, case-control study was carried out to find putative correlations of eNOS G894T polymorphism with essential hypertension (EHT) amongst adult Pakistani Pathans. We investigated a sample population of 332 (154 men, 178 women) comprising groups of 146 hypertensives (HTs) and 186 normotensives (NTs) by assays based on polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction endonuclease analysis. The distribution of the genotypes or alleles was not statistically different in hypertensive and normotensive groups.

Socio-demographic correlates of betel, areca and smokeless tobacco use as a high risk behavior for head and neck cancers in a squatter settlement of Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: Head and neck cancers are a major cancer burden in Pakistan. They share a common risk factor profile including regular consumption of products of betel, areca and tobacco. Use of paan, chaalia, gutka, niswar and tumbaku is acceptable in Pakistan and is considered a normal cultural practice.

Chewing of betel, areca and tobacco: perceptions and knowledge regarding their role in head and neck cancers in an urban squatter settlement in Pakistan.

The link of betel, areca and chewable tobacco with head and neck cancers is clearly established. Fifty eight percent of the global head and neck cancers occur in South and Southeast Asia, where chewing of betel, areca and tobacco are common. This study was carried out to establish the pattern of use of Paan, Chaalia, Gutka, Niswar, Tumbaku and Naas among population of squatter settlement of Karachi and to determine the perceptions and knowledge regarding their role in the etiology of head and neck cancers.

Preventing the oral cavity cancer epidemic.

Bhurgri Y (2005) have studied the time trends in the site specific oral cancer incidence in the Karachi South, a sample population of Pakistan with a representation of all ethnic and socio-economic groups of the country. Oral cancer ranks 6th world-wide. However, 58% of the cases are concentrated in South and Southeast Asia (Nair et al; 2004).

Prescription pattern of benzodiazepines for inpatients at a tertiary care university hospital in Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the point prevalence of benzodiazepine prescriptions for inpatients at a tertiary care university hospital in Pakistan and to correlate it with prescription patterns of various specialties, indications and demographic variables of the patients.

Methods: This 24-hours point prevalence study was done at The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. By convenient random sampling, 208 inpatients were interviewed.