Sorafenib-induced tumor lysis syndrome in a patient with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.

Tumor lysis syndrome is a potentially lethal complication of chemotherapy, usually associated with aggressive hematologic malignancies. We describe the case of a young patient with metastatic hepatocellular cancer who developed rapid and fatal tumor lysis syndrome following initiation of sorafenib therapy. Although rare with sorafenib therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma, tumor lysis syndrome is serious complication.

Violence and abuse faced by junior physicians in the emergency department from patients and their caretakers: a nationwide study from Pakistan.

Background: Across the globe, physicians in the emergency department (ED) are subject to violence by patients and visitors. This has been shown to have negative effects on patient care and physician performance.

Study Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the magnitude of the problem in a developing country, to examine the effects of ED violence on physician satisfaction and performance, and to identify underlying etiologies and potential solutions.

Comparison of different treatment modalities in advanced laryngeal hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To compare outcome of patients with advanced laryngeal hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated surgically or with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

Study Design: Observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2000 to December 2005.

Developing counseling skills through pre-recorded videos and role play: a pre- and post-intervention study in a Pakistani medical school.

Background: Interactive methods like role play, recorded video scenarios and objective structured clinical exam (OSCE) are being regularly used to teach and assess communication skills of medical students in the western world. In developing countries however, they are still in the preliminary phases of execution in most institutes. Our study was conducted in a naïve under resourced setup to assess the impact of such teaching methodologies on the counseling skills of medical students.

Breast cancer screening practices and awareness in women admitted to a tertiary care hospital of Lahore, Pakistan.

Objective: To assess the awareness and practices of women with regard to breast cancer and its different methods of screening.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the inpatient wards of Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore. By convenience sampling, 200 female inpatients were selected.

Cervical esophagotomy for an impacted denture: a case report.

We present the case of a 46-year-old woman with an impacted denture and an impending esophageal perforation. Her family physician initially missed the diagnosis but during a subsequent visit reviewed her x-ray and was able to see the shadow of the denture's wire attachment in her esophagus. The patient was then referred to a tertiary care hospital, where esophagoscopy confirmed the location of the denture, but the surgeon there was unable to remove it.

Patients' perception and actual practice of informed consent, privacy and confidentiality in general medical outpatient departments of two tertiary care hospitals of Lahore.

Background: The principles of informed consent, confidentiality and privacy are often neglected during patient care in developing countries. We assessed the degree to which doctors in Lahore adhere to these principles during outpatient consultations.

Material & Method: The study was conducted at medical out-patient departments (OPDs) of two tertiary care hospitals (one public and one private hospital) of Lahore, selected using multi-stage sampling.

Perceptions and practices of a pakistani population regarding cervical cancer screening.

Cervical cancer is among the three leading causes of cancers among females worldwide. It is also among the three most common causes of cancer deaths among females, about 80% of which occur in less developed countries. The present cross-sectional knowledge, attitude and practice survey was carried out to determine the perceptions and practices of a Pakistani female population regarding cervical cancer screening.

Medicinal importance of grapefruit juice and its interaction with various drugs.

Grapefruit juice is consumed widely in today's health conscious world as a protector against cardiovascular diseases and cancers. It has however, been found to be an inhibitor of the intestinal cytochrome P - 450 3A4 system, which is responsible for the first pass metabolism of many drugs. The P - glycoprotein pump, found in the brush border of the intestinal wall which transports many of these cytochrome P - 450 3A4 substrates, has also been implicated to be inhibited by grapefruit juice.

Patients' satisfaction and opinions of their experiences during admission in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan - a cross sectional study.

Background: It is often felt that developing countries need to improve their quality of healthcare provision. This study hopes to generate data that can help managers and doctors to improve the standard of care they provide in line with the wishes of the patients.

Methods: It was a cross sectional study carried out at a major tertiary care hospital of Karachi.

Use of smokeless tobacco among groups of Pakistani medical students - a cross sectional study.

Background: Use of smokeless tobacco is common in South Asia. Tobacco is a major preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. Doctors make one of the best avenues to influence patients' tobacco use.

Liaison psychiatry and depression in medical inpatients.

Objective: To assess the frequency of depression among hospitalized patients, the socio-demographic variables associated with depression and the number of cases referred by physicians to Psychiatry.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi. An anonymous Urdu version of the WHO-developed self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ) was administered to inpatients meeting the inclusion criteria.

Iatrogenic insertion of impression mould into middle ear and mastoid and its retrieval after 9 years: a case report.

The magnitude of hearing loss in Pakistan is enormous. One in twelve children of Pakistan suffers from some form of hearing impairment. Many of them are unable to afford surgical procedures and resort to the use of cheap hearing aids fitted by untrained individuals or people lacking the required expertise.