A quantitative and qualitative comparative analysis of collagen fibers to determine the role of connective tissue stroma in oral squamous cell carcinoma using special stains and polarized microscopy.

Background: Solid tumors such as oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are composed of malignant epithelial cells and the stroma in which these cells are dispersed. As the tumor progresses, the extracellular matrix undergoes dramatic morphological and architectural changes. Special stains make analysis easy and less erroneous by highlighting the area of interest and can be used to study these changes.

Quantitative analysis of tumor-associated tissue eosinophils and tumor-associated blood eosinophils in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Stromal response to cancer is usually characterized by intense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. However, recently, the attention has shifted to tumor-associated tissue eosinophils (TATE). Tumor-associated blood eosinophils (TABE) are rare in solid cancers; however, carcinoma of the head and neck shows its prevalence.

Revisiting the "leading edge" of hospital privacy curtains in the medical intensive care unit.

Background: Privacy curtains within medical intensive care unit (MICU) rooms are a potential contributor to health care associated infections. The "leading edge" of a hospital curtain, estimated to be the edge most frequently touched, likely plays a role in health care associated infections at hospitals. The aims of this study were to (1) compare the bacterial load of the edge vs the middle of curtains in the MICU, and (2) determine the identity and distribution of relevant pathogens colonizing them.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation discussions with patients admitted to acute oncology wards: A national audit of current practice.

Objectives: To map current practice regarding discussions around resuscitation across England and Scotland in patients with cancer admitted acutely to hospital and to demonstrate the value of medical students in rapidly collecting national audit data.

Methods: Collaborators from the Macmillan medical student network collected data from 251 patient encounters across eight hospitals in England and Scotland. Data were collected to identify whether discussion regarding resuscitation was documented as having taken place during inpatient admission to acute oncology.

Oral lichen planus in an 8-year-old child: A case report with a brief literature review.

Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic autoimmune condition of uncertain etiopathogenesis and usually affects the skin, oro-genital mucosa, nail and scalp appendages. LP is primarily seen in middle-aged individuals, and oral lesions of LP in children are relatively uncommon. Herewith, we report a case of oral LP in an 8-year-old boy, which regressed well with the treatment modality.

Cell cannibalism in oral cancer: A sign of aggressiveness, de-evolution, and retroversion of multicellularity.

Background: According to Darwin's theory of evolution, complex creatures evolve from more simplistic ancestors. Dollo's law of irreversibility states that evolution is irreversible. However, cancer cells tend to follow anti-Dollo's law.

Variability in the Calculation of Time in Therapeutic Range for the Quality Control Measurement of Warfarin.

Time in therapeutic range (TTR), a well-recognized performance metric of oral anticoagulation, measures the time when patients' international normalized ratios (INRs) are within the desired range. The TTR value can vary significantly depending on the type of method used and can be a skewed indicator of the overall quality of anticoagulation. As such, the present study was designed to compare three methods for TTR calculation (cross-sectional, traditional, and Rosendaal) to quantify their differences, biases, and trends.

Aberrant DNMT3B7 expression correlates to tissue type, stage, and survival across cancers.

Cancer cells are known for aberrant methylation patterns leading to altered gene expression and tumor progression. DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are responsible for regulating DNA methylation in normal cells. However, many aberrant versions of DNMTs have been identified to date and their role in cancer continues to be elucidated.

An Immunohistochemical and Polarizing Microscopic Study of the Tumor Microenvironment in Varying Grades of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Invasion of epithelial cells into the connective tissue brings about massive morphological and architectural changes in the underlying stroma. Myofibroblasts reorganize the stroma to facilitate the movement of tumor cells leading to metastasis. The aim of this study was to determine the number and pattern of distribution of myofibroblasts and the qualitative and quantitative change that they cause in the collagen present in the stroma in various grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Keratinizing pleomorphic adenoma: An unusual case report.

Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common benign tumor of major or minor salivary glands. PA exhibits a great histological diversity, such as differentiation into oncocytic, sebaceous, mucinous, squamous, chondroid, osseous or adipose cells. Squamous metaplasia rarely results in the formation of extensive keratin-filled cyst lined by squamous epithelium.

Efficacy of pre-incisional peritonsillar infiltration of ketamine for post-tonsillectomy analgesia in children.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of pre-incisional peritonsillar infiltration of two doses of ketamine on postoperative analgesia compared with peritonsillar normal saline in children undergoing tonsillectomy.

Study Design: Double blind, randomized controlled trial.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Anaesthesiology, Surgical Intensive Care and Pain Management, Civil Hospital, Karachi, Dow University of Health Sciences, from August 2008 to January 2009.

New single use supraglottic airway device with non-inflatable cuff and gastric tube channel.

Objective: To assess ventilatory characteristics and airway complications associated with the use of I-gel in patients undergoing gynaecological surgeries.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Anaesthesiology, Surgical Intensive Care Unit and Pain Management, Civil Hospital, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from July 2008 to June 2009.

Massive pulmonary embolism and acute limb ischaemia in a patient of hereditary spherocytosis and patent foramen ovale.

Paradoxical embolism accounts for 2% of patients who present with acute arterial embolism of extremities. We report a case of a 41 year-old male with hereditary spherocytosis who presented to the emergency department with acute limb ischaemia and pulmonary embolism. On further evaluation, he was found to have patent foramen ovale (PFO) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), leading to paradoxical embolism.

Recovery profile - a comparison of isoflurane and propofol anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Objective: To compare the recovery profile in terms of time of extubation, eye opening, orientation and mobility and frequency of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) between propofol and isoflurane based anesthesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy with prophylactic antiemetic.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Anesthesia, Civil Hospital and Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from January to April 2007.

Single dose caudal tramadol with bupivacaine and bupivacaine alone in pediartic inguinoscrotal surgeries.

Objective: To determine the postoperative analgesic effect of Tramadol when given with caudally administered Bupivacaine in children undergoing inguinoscrotal surgeries.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Anaesthesia, Dow University of Health Sciences and Civil Hospital Karachi, from July 2005 to March 2006.