The Use of Trimodality Treatment in Patients With Locally Advanced Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Experience From a Large Cancer Centre in Pakistan.

Introduction Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery is the standard treatment for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Pathological complete response (pCR) after surgery is associated with better outcomes in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival.

Clinical Significance Of Dermal Backflow On Lymphoscintigraphy In Patients With Lower Limb Edema.

Chronic blockage of the lymphatic system due to functional or anatomical causes results in lymphoedema which results in swelling due to accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the soft tissue. Lymphoedema commonly affects the upper and lower limbs but may be seen in the neck, chest wall, abdomen and genitalia. Lymphoscintigraphy is non-invasive and maps the lymphatic channels thereby indicating location of blockage along the lymphatic pathways.

Calcium channel blockers for preventing cardiomyopathy due to iron overload in people with transfusion-dependent beta thalassaemia.

Background: Beta-thalassaemia is an inherited blood disorder that reduces the production of haemoglobin. The most severe form requires recurrent blood transfusions, which can lead to iron overload. Cardiovascular dysfunction caused by iron overload is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassaemia.

The mortality of COVID-19 in CML patients from 2020 until 2022: results from the EPICOVIDEHA survey.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an overall improvement in patient mortality. However, haematological malignancy patients continue to experience significant impacts from COVID-19, including high rates of hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and mortality. In comparison to other haematological malignancy patients, individuals with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) generally have better prognosis.

The new wave of Congo virus in Pakistan: emerging threat.

Congo virus, or Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), is a tick-borne disease caused by a single-stranded RNA virus (genus nairovirus, Bunyaviridae family). It spreads through infected ticks' bites or contact with viremic individuals or livestock. Factors supporting its spread include hot, humid climates, limited pesticide use, poor animal control, inadequate irrigation during monsoons, and vector control deficiencies.

Congenital erythropoietic porphyria presenting with recurrent epistaxis: a case report.

Background: Congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP), also known as pink tooth or Gunther disease, is a rare hereditary disorder caused by an enzyme mutation in the heme biosynthesis pathway, which leads to the accumulation of immature and non-physiological protoporphyrin rings in various tissues. CEP is characterized by sun-exposed bullous skin lesions, hemolytic anemia, red/brown urine, and teeth staining.

Case Presentation: We present a unique case of a 10-year-old Asian boy with CEP who presented with recurrent epistaxis, an unusual presentation for this condition.

Prevalence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline variants in an unselected pancreatic cancer patient cohort in Pakistan.

Background: BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) are the most frequently investigated genes among Caucasian pancreatic cancer patients, whereas limited reports are available among Asians. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of BRCA1/2 germline variants in Pakistani pancreatic cancer patients.

Methods: One hundred and fifty unselected and prospectively enrolled pancreatic cancer patients were comprehensively screened for BRCA1/2 germline variants using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution melting analyses, followed by DNA sequencing of the variant fragments.

Survival Outcomes and Patterns of Failure in Maxillary Alveolus Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

 Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the maxillary alveolus is a relatively rare disease. There is lack of data on this subsite as compared with other sites. The factors that affect survival in cases of maxillary alveolar SCC are tumor stage, local and cervical metastases, histological grading, and the margin status.

Survival Outcome in True Carcinoma of Unknown Primary (tCUP) with p16 + Cervical Metastasis.

 Age and lymph node ratio have been attributed as independent predictors for survival and recurrence in carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP).  The purpose of this study was to analyze the prognostic value of p16 overexpression for CUP in the absence of true primary (TP).  The study involved 43 patients who underwent therapeutic lymph node dissection (LND) from 2000 to 2015 after all the diagnostic work up for CUP.

Lytic Bony Lesions On 18 F-FDG PET-CT Versus 99m Tc MDP Bone Scan.

With rising incidence of breast carcinoma in Asian population, staging workup remains a crucial entity in disease management and outcome. Bone scintigraphy for detection of osteoblastic metastasis has remained a convenient choice. However, in the presence of underlying lytic bony lesions sensitivity of 99mTc-MDP bone scan is questionable when compared to 18 F-FDG PET-CT scan.

Prophylactic Use Of Levofloxacin During Induction Of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia In Children-Experience From Pakistan.

To assess whether prophylactic use of Levofloxacin would reduce the number of febrile neutropenia episodes during the induction phase, a single-centre, case-control study was carried out. Data was collected prospectively of patients who received Levofloxacin prophylaxis during the induction chemotherapy from September 2019 till October 2020. The cases were compared with historical controls who did not receive antibiotics prophylaxis.

Limb Salvage Surgery in a Voluminous Malignant Quadriceps Tumor.

It is uncommon for soft tissue sarcomas to develop after adenocarcinoma of the rectum. In a treated rectal adenocarcinoma patient, we encountered a huge malignant quadriceps tumor as leiomyosarcoma and salvaged the limb. A 49-year-old male known case of treated moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the rectum presented in the Orthopedic Clinic with a new swelling in his left thigh.

Determination of Normal Anal Position Using the Anal Position Index in Pakistani Neonates.

Introduction: Anterior displacement of the anus (ADA) is recognized as a common congenital abnormality of the anorectal region and is often associated with constipation. It is diagnosed through a physical examination by measuring the Anal Position Index (API) at birth.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing non-probability consecutive sampling of all patients presenting with ADA at our institute over a six-month period.

Association Between Pharmacotherapy and Sleep Quality in Patients with Chronic Orofacial and Chronic Body Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: Sleep impairment is associated with many chronic pain disorders. While there is an association between chronic pain and sleep disturbances, little is known about the influence of pharmacotherapy for chronic pain conditions, particularly chronic opioid therapy, on sleep. This study aimed to 1) compare the sleep quality (SQ) in patients with two different pain conditions-chronic body pain and chronic orofacial pain; 2) assess the correlation of SQ and pain intensity; and 3) evaluate the association between pharmacotherapy and SQ.

Hepatic Haemangioma: A Diagnostic Dilemma With An Easy Solution.

Hepatic Haemangioma is the most common benign liver tumour. There are two types of haemangiomas: capillary haemangioma and cavernous haemangiomas. The term"giant haemangioma"isreserved for lesionslarger than 5 cm.

Pan Drug-Resistant Salmonella Serovar Typhi Septicaemia In A Child: A Case Report.

Typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, is a common cause of febrile illness, especially in lower middle-income countries. The only known reservoirs of this infection are humans, and it is prevalent in areas with limited availability of clean drinking water and sanitary conditions. Lately, extensively drug-resistant Salmonella ser.

prediction of non-synonymous variants and their impact on binding affinity to Fresolimumab.

TGF-β1 is a potent immunoregulatory cytokine that plays diverse roles in development, bone healing, fibrosis, and cancer. However, characterizing gene variants is challenging because the structural and functional consequences of these variants are still undetermined. In this study, we aimed to perform an analysis of non-synonymous variants and their pathogenic effects on the TGF-β1 protein.

Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Trends in Pakistan: Activity Survey from Pakistan Bone Marrow Transplant Group.

Pakistan is the fifth most populous country with a population of 225 million and has health expenditure accounting for only 2.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Accordingly, there are a limited number of haematology-oncology and transplant centers in the country.

Developing an Allogeneic Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Transplant Service in a Resource-Limited Country: Challenges and Outcomes.

Introduction Allogeneic stem cell transplant has curative potential for many hematological disorders. Building an allogeneic hematopoietic progenitor cell transplant (HPCT) unit requires huge investment, infrastructure, equipment, medical supplies, and training of health care professionals. The key objective of this study is to share our experience of developing an allogeneic HPCT service at our tertiary care cancer hospital in a low-middle-income country.

Significance of CMV reactivation in non-allogeneic stem cell transplant patients with cancers: experience of single tertiary care cancer institute.

CMV reactivation is rare in hematological as well as solid organ malignancies in non-allogeneic stem cell transplant settings. An increasing number of patients undergoing active treatment or follow-up and diagnosed with CMV reactivation in recent years prompted us to investigate the risk factors and outcomes of CMV reactivation or disease. This was a hospital-based retrospective study that included 174 cancer patients suspected of CMV reactivation.

REPCAN: Guideline for REporting Population-based CANcer Registry Data.

Background: The objective of this study was to develop a guideline on how to report result of a population-based cancer registry. Methods: The guideline's development involved a core working committee and a scientific committee comprising experts from diverse domains. The process comprised three steps: 1) a comprehensive review of existing tools and guidelines and the development of the initial draft of the guideline based on a review of literature, 2) refinement items through several rounds of focus group discussion among the core group, and development initial draft, and 3) Evaluation of the initial draft by scientific committee members.