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INTRODUCTION: Cancer is a second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimate 9.6 million deaths or one in six in 2018 according to WHO factsheet. This study aimed to assess the awareness regarding cancer and its associated factors among adults of Maharajgunj Municipality of Kapilvastu. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Community based, cross-sectional study design was conducted to assess the awareness regarding cancer and its associated risk factors and warning signs from January 2023 to July 2023, on a total of 400 participants in the age range of 20-90 years. Participants were enrolled in the study using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire from consented participants. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used for further analysis. The level of significance was set at p-value <0.05. RESULTS: This study revealed that only 32.5% of participants were aware of symptoms and 32.8% of participants were aware of the risk factors associated with cancer. Significant associations were found between cancer awareness of risk factors and socio-demographic variables such as occupation (p=0.049), education (p-value=0.02), religion (p-value=0.033), and ethnicity (p-value= 0.016). However, this study showed statistically significant association only between level of education and cancer awareness of symptoms. CONCLUSION: The study findings indicate that approximately one-third of the participants had awareness regarding cancer risk factors and symptoms. These findings emphasize the urgent necessity for increased awareness of cancer among the community. Therefore, it is imperative to implement effective strategies to enhance community engagement in cancer-related health education programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is a highly aggressive type of cancer and has several subtypes, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which accounts for 25% of morbidity related to breast cancer. miRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate 60% of human genes. Dysregulated expression of miRNA in liquid biopsy of TNBC patients has the potential as a minimally invasive diagnostic biomarker. The Association of miRNA with TNBC was evaluated using in-silico analysis. Highly enriched miRNAs were selected for functional analysis to evaluate the role of miRNA in the progression of TNBC. The qRT-PCR-based expression analysis of miRNA was performed in 190 serum samples (139 TNBC and 51 healthy). Revealed the elevated expression of miRNA-155 and miRNA-21 in TNBC compared to control samples (P < 0.0001), while miRNA-205 was significantly downregulated in TNBC (P < 0.0001). The combined diagnostic value of the miRNA-205, miRNA-155 and miRNA-21 in cohort-I, cohort-II, and cohort-III was AUC of 96.1% (P < 0.0001), 94.9% (P < 0.0001), and 97.1% (P < 0.0001), respectively. Our study revealed that dysregulated expression of miRNA could be used as an independent indicator for discriminating TNBC from healthy patients. In addition, the combined predictive value of miRNA-205 + miRNA − 155 + miRNA-21 has higher AUC, sensitivity, and specificity in the diagnosis of TNBC in all three cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To report a 45 year old lady presenting with proximal jejunal gangrene due to invasive Aspergillosis. The patient was undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy for advance carcinoma of breast (Stage IV). Methods: The patient was referred to our surgical emergency for acute abdominal symptoms for 6 hours. Histopathology revealed bowel wall necrosis and vascular invasion by Aspergillus Fumigatus. Postoperative recovery was uneventful and the patient received Amphotericin-B (1 mg/kg/day) for invasive aspergillosis. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis was confirmed by isolating Aspergillus Fumigatus from bronchoalveolar lavage and by a positive circulating galactomannan test (ELISA Assay). Results: Detailed history revealed dry cough and two episodes of haemoptesis for 2 weeks. Haemogram and counts revealed anemia and neutropenia. Plain X - ray of the abdomen showed multiple air fluid levels and ultrasound of the abdomen revealed distended bowel loops. On exploration small bowel was found to be gangrenous. The patient was successfully managed by supportive treatment and conventional intravenous Amphotericin-B for 2 weeks. The lady was discharged one week after completion of antifungal therapy and one month later she underwent toilet mastectomy. The lady came to follow up for 1 year and she is currently under hormone therapy. Conclusion: With the emergence of new and powerful immunosuppressive, anticancer drugs and potent antibiotics the survival of transplant and critically ill patients has remarkably increased but it has shown a significant rise in the incidence of invasive opportunistic fungal infections. We conclude hat the diagnosis of invasive gastrointestinal aspergillosis may be considered in a neutropenic patient with acute abdominal symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]