Prevalence and prognostic relevance of BrafV600E mutation in colorectal carcinomas from Kashmir (North India) valley.

Molecular studies have implicated mutant B-type Raf kinase (BRAFMut) of MAP-kinase signalling pathway in the pathogenesis of several cancers including colorectal cancer. Recently, the prognostic and therapeutic relevance of the most frequent BRAFV600E mutation also has been highlighted in colorectal carcinomas (CRC). Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of BRAFV600E mutation and to determine the correlation between this mutation and indicators of poor prognosis and outcome in patients with CRCs from Kashmir, North India.

Dietary deficiency of vitamin A among rural children: A community-based survey using a food-frequency questionnaire.

Background: Overt vitamin A deficiency has been controlled in most parts of India, but prevalence of subclinical deficiency may still be high, which may enhance susceptibility to infections, reduce growth potential and also lead to higher mortality. We aimed to: (i) assess the consumption pattern of vitamin A-rich foods in children 1-5 years of age in rural Jammu; and (ii) estimate the dietary deficiency of vitamin A leading to risk of subclinical vitamin A deficiency in cluster- villages of the study area.

Methods: In 2011, we conducted a survey of 750 children by selecting 50 from each of the 1 5 clusters.

Study of Surgical Emergencies of Tubercular Abdomen in Developing Countries.

To study the various modes of presentation, diagnosis, and management of surgical emergencies of tubercular abdomen. This prospective study of surgical emergencies of tubercular abdomen was conducted in 50 patients who attended our surgical emergency from 2006 to 2008. Patients were evaluated thoroughly with history, physical examination, routine investigations, and special investigations such as ELISA, PCR, barium studies of gastrointestinal tract, and diagnostic laparoscopy as required and managed with medical and surgical treatment as necessary.

Primary aneurysmal bone cyst of talus.

Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) of the talus is an extremely rare lesion; less than 20 cases have been reported in PubMed till 2012. We report a primary ABC of the talus in a 20-year-old male that was managed by extended intralesional curettage with phenol as an adjuvant and autologous cancellous iliac crest bone grafting. The patient had excellent functional outcome and there was no recurrence at 2 years of follow-up.

Single screw-rod anterior instrumentation for thoracolumbar burst fractures with incomplete neurological deficit.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of single screwrod anterior instrumentation for thoracolumbar burst fractures with incomplete neurological deficit.

Methods: 16 men and 5 women aged 22 to 55 (mean, 34) years underwent single screw-rod anterior instrumentation for thoracolumbar burst fractures with incomplete neurological deficit. The vertebrae involved were T10 (n=2), T11 (n=2), T12 (n=7), L1 (n=8), and L2 (n=2).

Clinicoepidemiological analysis of female breast cancer patients in Kashmir.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the demographic features, reproductive history and stage at disease presentation among the female breast cancer patients.

Design And Setting: The present prospective hospital-based study was conducted in Department of Radiation Oncology, University Teaching and Tertiary Referral Hospital.

Materials And Methods: After approval from the Institute's ethical committee, 132 female breast cancer patients surgically treated either by mastectomy or breast conserving surgery (BCS) and then referred to the department of radiation oncology for further management and/or follow-up as per the hospital protocol, were enrolled in the study (January 2010 to December 2011) after obtaining a written informed consent from the patients.

Quality of life assessment in survivors of breast cancer.

Aim: The aim was to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and its temporal variation at first visit and subsequent visits among breast cancer patients.

Design And Setting: The prospective study was carried out in Outpatient Department of Radiation Oncology, University Teaching and Tertiary Referral Hospital.

Material And Methods: After clearance from the ethical committee and EORTC group, 81 surgically treated female breast cancer patients referred to the Outpatient Department of Radiation Oncology for chemoradiation and hormonal therapy were included in the study after informed written consent, irrespective of the age and stage of disease.

Cabergoline-induced tricuspid regurgitation: Case report and review of literature.

The increased risk of cardiac valve disease in patients treated for Parkinson's disease with cabergoline has raised concerns about the safety of treatment with ergot-derived dopamine agonists in patients with endocrine diseases, especially prolactinoma. Concern is raised because the use of cabergoline was associated in one study with an increased prevalence of moderate tricuspid regurgitation, and in two other studies with mild tricuspid regurgitation. Furthermore, the use of cabergoline was associated with increased frequencies of valvular thickening, calcifications, and increased mitral tenting area.