Awareness regarding female breast cancer in Kashmiri males - A study

Breast cancer is a major killer disease in females globally and in developing regions, where the early cancer detection facilities are unavailable, prognosis is even worse. Awareness about this disease can lead to early detection and thereby decrease the morbidity and mortality. A self designed questionnaire was used to study the level of awareness regarding breast cancer among males. The questionnaire had 15 questions and on the basis on score attained, the subjects were classified as having poor, average or good breast cancer awareness. Out of 624 participants, 555(89%) had poor breast cancer awareness and 47(7.5%) had average awareness. Only 22 (3.5%) had good awareness about breast cancer. The level of awareness regarding female breast cancer in Kashmiri males is very low. Measures need to be taken to spread awareness about this disease in males so that they can play a vital role in early detection of this disease

Missed foreign bodies in the hand: an experience from a center in Kashmir

Introduction: Penetrating hand injuries are common and improper assessment can result in missed foreign bodies. These bodies can result in a wide range of complications. Aim: The aim of our study was to study the profile of patients reporting with missed foreign bodies in the hand. Materials and methods: All the cases treated in the Department of Surgery, Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (medical college), Kashmir, for missed foreign bodies in hands from June 2003 to May 2009 were studied retrospectively. Results: A total of 61 cases with missed foreign bodies of different nature were treated over the period of six years. Wooden splinters were the most common foreign bodies missed. Preoperative localization was accomplished with plain radiographs and ultrasonograms. Most of the cases were treated on outpatient basis. Conclusions: Foreign bodies should be suspected and ruled out in all cases of penetrating injuries of hands. Missed foreign bodies need to be removed after proper localization by imaging.Keywords: foreign body; radio-opaque; splinter; exploration; complicatio

Adult Umbilical Disorders in Surgical Practice – An Experience from Kashmir.

Umbilical disorders form an important part of general surgical practice. The disorders may be congenital or acquired and manifest in both genders and affects all age groups. This article analyses the profile of adult umbilical disorders as seen in a surgical division of a medical college in Kashmir valley over a period of two years

Breast Cancer Awareness among Females in a Developing world- A Study from Kashmir

Background: Breast cancer is a major health issue and in developing regions, where the early cancer detection facilities are unavailable awareness about this disease can lead to early detection and thereby potentially decrease the morbidity and mortality.Methods: A self designed questionnaire was used to study the level of awareness regarding breast cancer among 864 Kashmiri females. The questionnaire had 18 questions and on the basis on score attained, the subjects were classified as having poor, average or good breast cancer awareness.Results: Out of 864 participants, 703(81.37%) had poor breast cancer awareness and 103(11.92%) had average awareness. Only 58(6.71%) had good awareness about breast cancer.Conclusion: The level of awareness regarding breast cancer in Kashmiri females is very low and there is a need to spread awareness about this disease among the general population

COVID-19: Is There Evidence for the Use of Herbal Medicines as Adjuvant Symptomatic Therapy?

Background: Current recommendations for the self-management of SARS-Cov-2 disease (COVID-19) include self-isolation, rest, hydration, and the use of NSAID in case of high fever only. It is expected that many patients will add other symptomatic/adjuvant treatments, such as herbal medicines. Aims: To provide a benefits/risks assessment of selected herbal medicines traditionally indicated for “respiratory diseases” within the current frame of the COVID-19 pandemic as an adjuvant treatment. Method: The plant selection was primarily based on species listed by the WHO and EMA, but some other herbal remedies were considered due to their widespread use in respiratory conditions. Preclinical and clinical data on their efficacy and safety were collected from authoritative sources. The target population were adults with early and mild flu symptoms without underlying conditions. These were evaluated according to a modified PrOACT-URL method with paracetamol, ibuprofen, and codeine as reference drugs. The benefits/risks balance of the treatments was classified as positive, promising, negative, and unknown. Results: A total of 39 herbal medicines were identified as very likely to appeal to the COVID-19 patient. According to our method, the benefits/risks assessment of the herbal medicines was found to be positive in 5 cases (Althaea officinalis, Commiphora molmol, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Hedera helix, and Sambucus nigra), promising in 12 cases (Allium sativum, Andrographis paniculata, Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea purpurea, Eucalyptus globulus essential oil, Justicia pectoralis, Magnolia officinalis, Mikania glomerata, Pelargonium sidoides, Pimpinella anisum, Salix sp, Zingiber officinale), and unknown for the rest. On the same grounds, only ibuprofen resulted promising, but we could not find compelling evidence to endorse the use of paracetamol and/or codeine. Conclusions: Our work suggests that several herbal medicines have safety margins superior to those of reference drugs and enough levels of evidence to start a clinical discussion about their potential use as adjuvants in the treatment of early/mild common flu in otherwise healthy adults within the context of COVID-19. While these herbal medicines will not cure or prevent the flu, they may both improve general patient well-being and offer them an opportunity to personalize the therapeutic approaches

Status and Trends of Physical Activity Surveillance, Policy, and Research in 164 Countries: Findings From the Global Observatory for Physical Activity—GoPA! 2015 and 2020 Surveys

Background: Physical activity (PA) surveillance, policy, and research efforts need to be periodically appraised to gain insight into national and global capacities for PA promotion. The aim of this paper was to assess the status and trends in PA surveillance, policy, and research in 164 countries. Methods: We used data from the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) 2015 and 2020 surveys. Comprehensive searches were performed for each country to determine the level of development of their PA surveillance, policy, and research, and the findings were verified by the GoPA! Country Contacts. Trends were analyzed based on the data available for both survey years. Results: The global 5-year progress in all 3 indicators was modest, with most countries either improving or staying at the same level. PA surveillance, policy, and research improved or remained at a high level in 48.1%, 40.6%, and 42.1% of the countries, respectively. PA surveillance, policy, and research scores decreased or remained at a low level in 8.3%, 15.8%, and 28.6% of the countries, respectively. The highest capacity for PA promotion was found in Europe, the lowest in Africa and low- and lower-middle-income countries. Although a large percentage of the world’s population benefit from at least some PA policy, surveillance, and research efforts in their countries, 49.6 million people are without PA surveillance, 629.4 million people are without PA policy, and 108.7 million live in countries without any PA research output. A total of 6.3 billion people or 88.2% of the world’s population live in countries where PA promotion capacity should be significantly improved. Conclusion: Despite PA is essential for health, there are large inequalities between countries and world regions in their capacity to promote PA. Coordinated efforts are needed to reduce the inequalities and improve the global capacity for PA promotion

Necrotizing fasciitis of breast

Necrotizing fasciitis is an uncommon and rapidly progressive, life-threatening soft tissue infection. Necrotizing fasciitis of breast is even rarely encountered. We managed one such 32 years old nondiabetic, obese lady who developed necrotising fascitis of right breast after lumpectomy. Management involved wide debridement, antibiotics and wound care

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Not Availablehe present study was carried out at experimental farm of ICAR-CITH, Srinagar to investigate influence of two different planting densities (2.5 m × 2.5 m and 3.0 m × 3.0 m) on tree growth, fruit quality and yield attributes of four peach/nectarine (Fantasia, Crest Heaven, Red Globe & Gloheaven) during five year period (2009-2013). The results of current study clearly indicated that maximum trunk crosssectional area (TCSA) of tree (51.96 cm2 ), higher number of flowers (428.32), fruit number per plant (257.66), fruit length (54.77 mm), fruit weight (82.88 g), fruit pulp thickness (22.66 mm), fruit shape index (1.02), yield (21.84 kg/tree, 35.12 t/ha) and yield efficiency (21.73 kgcm-2 ), TSS (15.34 oB) and TSS/acidity (50.92) were recorded at wider spacing 3 m × 3 m. Whereas, titratable acidity (0.320%) and ascorbic acid content (6.65 mg/100g) was maximum in closer plant spacing (2.5 m × 2.5 m). Among variety, maximum trunk cross-sectional area, yield and yield efficiency was recorded in Gloheaven, maximum number of flowers, fruits, TSS/acidity and lowest acidity in Red Globe, maximum fruit length and diameter in Fantasia, maximum fruit pulp thickness, fruit weight, TSS and ascorbic acid was recorded in Crest Heaven. The spacing and varietal interaction was also found significant for no. of flower, fruit per plant, fruit length, diameter, weight, yield, yield efficiency, TSS, acidity and ascorbic acid.Not Availabl