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Objective: To identify the frequency and types of prescription errors, assess adherence to WHO prescribing indicators, and highlight the gaps in current prescribing practices of Junior dental practitioners in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2021 to March 2021. The study included the prescriptions by house surgeons and junior postgraduate medical trainees for walk-in patients visiting the dental outpatient department. A total of 466 prescriptions were evaluated for WHO core drug prescribing indicators. The prescription error parameters were prepared by studying the WHO practical manual on guide to good prescribing and previous studies. Prescription errors, including errors of omission related to the physician and the patients, along with errors of omission related to the drug, were also noted. The statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 25. Descriptive analysis was performed for qualitative variables in the study. Results: The average number of drugs per encounter was found to be 3.378 drugs per prescription. The percentage of encounters with antibiotics was 96.99%. Strikingly, only 16.95% of the drugs were prescribed by generic names and 23.55% of drugs belonged to the essential drug list. The majority lacked valuable information related to the prescriber, patient, and drugs. Such as contact details 419 (89.9%), date 261 (56%), medical license number 466 (100%), diagnosis 409 (87.8%), age and address of patient 453 (97.2%), form and route of drug 14 (3%), missing drug strength 69 (14.8%), missing frequency 126 (27%) and duration of treatment 72 (15.4%). Moreover, the wrong drug dosage was prescribed by 89 (19%) prescribers followed by the wrong drug in 52 (11.1%), wrong strength in 43 (9.2%) and wrong form in 9 (1.9%). Out of 1575 medicines prescribed in 466 prescriptions, 426 (27.04%) drug interactions were found and 299 (64%) had illegible handwriting. Conclusion: The study revealed that the prescription writing practices among junior dental practitioners are below optimum standards. The average number of drugs per encounter was high, with a significant percentage of encounters involving antibiotics. However, a low percentage of drugs were prescribed by generic name and from the essential drug list. Numerous prescription errors, both omissions and commissions, were identified, highlighting the need for improved training and adherence to WHO guidelines on good prescribing practices. Implementing targeted educational programs and stricter regulatory measures could enhance the quality of prescriptions and overall patient safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Oral Cancers are considered the most commonly occurring cancers which contribute to (20%) of mortality around the globe. It is one of the diverse diseases which attacks the human body's immune system. This study aims to evaluate Oral Cancer's frequency, proportion, and trends and its specifications on gender. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre which is a public tertiary care hospital in Karachi. This survey was conducted from (2013 to 2018) following the process of IRB approval (No.F.2-81- IRB/2019-genl/33057/JPMC). The data was collected from the oncology department of JPMC and it includes all demographic variables with ethnicities and occupations of eligible patients. We enrolled all participants under this eligibility criteria and excluded participants not belonging to the Sindh province and who were directed from different hospitals in Sindh. RESULTS: Mainly, Oral Cancers were reported and common among Pakistani males. The average age of cancer patients was (50± 7). Out of all reported cases, only a few had a positive family history but the majority were habitual of taking Cigarettes and Poly ingredients like Pan and Gutka. Buccal cancer (38.49%) was the most common type of cancer found between 2013-and 2018. CONCLUSION: Oral Cancers are one of the most prevalent types of cancers among the Pakistani population, with a predominant occurrence observed in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the pattern of assault related maxillofacial injuries at a tertiary care hospital during COVID-19 pandemic. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Dentistry, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, from Mar 2020 to May 2020. Methodology: The study was conducted for a period of two months. Patients reported with assault-related maxillofacial injuries due to interpersonal violence during lockdown period, seeking legal advice for dental/ maxillofacial treatment were selected for the study. A well-structured Performa comprising of two sections; the first section addressing the demographic information and second about the information related to maxillofacial injury. The data obtained was analyzed using the SPSS version 25. Results: Out of the total 41 patients, 11 (26.8%) belonged to a common age bracket of 20-24 years. In 32 (78%) cases, the attacker was known to the victim. Furthermore, direct blow with fist was the most common mechanism of the maxillofacial injury in 32 (78%) patients. Majority, 26 (63.4%) of the victims suffered injuries on the left side of the face. While 34 (82.9%) patients had injuries on the lower third of the face. Moreover on the basis of severity, 18 (43.9%) patients fall under grade 3 of trauma severity score. 32 (78%) patients were treated conservatively, whereas 9 (22%) underwent surgical interventions. Conclusion: Assault related maxillofacial injuries are most common amongst young adult males during COVID- 19 lockdown; this can be attributed to increase in violence in our society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maxillofacial fractures are one of the major public health issues, its impact is more in young adults of developing countries however they are quite prevalent throughout the globe. It is crucial to measure different cause, and pattern of maxillofacial trauma for better understanding, and planning a primary prevention strategy for a population of Karachi, Pakistan. Method: It was a five-year retrospective epidemiologic Analysis. Data was collected from Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi from 2014 to 2018.All those cases were included which had complete history, diagnosis and treatment. Data was displayed as numbers and percentages. A statistical analysis was done by using STATA. Result: Maxillofacial fractures were more prevalent among males. Nearly 65% of respondent with fracture were young individuals and was in their early or late twenties. Overall road traffic accidents were account for more than 73% of trauma. For site of fracture, mandibular fracture was prominent in more than 85% of study participants. Multiple bone fracture was common (31.5%) among young male adults. Conclusion: The present study concluded that maxillofacial fractures was most common in young males, the most affected site was mandible, and the most common cause of fracture was road traffic accident. Based on the finding of current study, it can be said that road traffic accidents are a serious concern for the said population, it is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Measures needs to be taken to avoid or decrease its prevalence, ideally through strategic primary prevention approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: This clinical case report with a 5-year follow-up period describes the successful prosthetic rehabilitation of a patient who underwent subtotal bilateral maxillectomy for mucormycosis; a serious but rare fungal infection. CASE PRESENTATION: A 65-year-old male presented with speech and eating difficulties post-maxillectomy due to mucormycosis. The consequential wide defect had involved the entire hard palate and most of the soft palate. A customized obturator, anchored by three zygomatic implants and one infraorbital rim implant, restored function and aesthetics. Precise implant placement and meticulous prosthetic design ensured optimal retention. Follow-ups showed sustained improvements in speech, chewing, and quality of life, with no complications. CONCLUSION: Despite anatomic deficiencies, the patient's aesthetic and functional demands were fulfilled. Zygomatic implant-retained obturators offered an effective solution for maxillary defects, enhancing oral health and patient satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This is a baseline study that will facilitate diagnosis and planning of oral health care services and further serve as a guide for future referrals and related studies in the local population. Methodology: This is an observational descriptive study with cross sectional design that involves analysis of 100 cases of oro-facial lesions diagnosed at the Department of Oral Maxillofacial and Dental Surgery at the Jinnah postgraduate medical training center Karachi (JPMC) from January 2014-October 2015. Results: Out of a total of 100 orofacial lesions, 56 were benign and 46 malignant with posterior mandible as the most affected site. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most prevalent pathology amongst them. The soft tissue lesion were prevalent in 40% males and 36% females of 4"1 5"' 6"' decades of life. These included pyogenic granuloma 15.0%, fibrous epulis 10.0%, squamous cell carcinoma (well differentiated) 31.0%, Conclusion: Oral squamous cell carcinoma presented the highest occurrence reported affecting the adolescence and elderly with posterior mandibular region being the most common site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to define the heterogeneity, spatial localization, and functional roles of immune cells in the mouse cornea using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and immunofluorescent staining., Methods: Enriched mouse corneal immune cells (C57BL/6 strain, age 16-20 weeks) underwent single-cell RNA sequencing library preparation, sequencing, and analysis with Seurat, Monocle 3, and CellChat packages in R. Pathway analysis used Qiagen Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software. Immunostaining confirmed cell distribution., Results: We identified 14 distinct immune cell clusters (56% myeloid and 44% lymphoid). Myeloid populations included resident macrophages, conventional dendritic cells (cDC2s), Langerhans cells, neutrophils, monocytes, and mast cells. Additionally, lymphocyte subsets (B, CD8, CD4, γδT, natural killer, natural killer T, and group 2 innate lymphoid cells) were found. We also found three new subtypes of resident macrophages in the cornea. Trajectory analysis suggested a differentiation pathway from monocytes to conventional dendritic cells, resident macrophages, and LCs. Intercellular communication network analysis using cord diagram identified amyloid precursor protein, chemokine (C-C motif) ligands (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 12), Cxcl2, Mif, Tnf, Tgfb1, Igf1, and Il10 as prominent ligands involved in these interactions. Sexually dimorphic gene expression patterns were observed, with male myeloid cells expressing genes linked to immune regulation (Egr1, Foxp1, Mrc1, and Il1rn) and females showing higher expression of antigen presentation genes (Clic1, Psmb8, and Psmb9). Finally, immunostaining confirmed the spatial distribution of these cell populations within the cornea., Conclusions: This study unveils a diverse immune landscape in the mouse cornea, with evidence for cell differentiation and sex-based differences. Immunostaining validates the spatial distribution of these populations, furthering our knowledge of corneal immune function.

Cell-based assay by immunofluorescence cytochemistry (CBA-IFC) has been shown to be the most accurate method to detect anti-aquaporin (AQP) 4 autoantibodies. Detection of anti-AQP5 autoantibodies is delicate, which depends on the proper expression of AQP5 on the plasma membrane. Here, we describe methods to determine anti-AQP5 autoantibodies by CBA-IFC. Both anti-AQP5 IgG and IgA can be detected by this method.