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Background: Hepatitis, a viral infection affecting the liver, can progress to cirrhosis or cancer. Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, distinct viral strains, induce acute or chronic liver inflammation. Individuals with chronic hepatitis face an elevated risk of extra-hepatic cancers. Various hypotheses explore the mechanisms of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in tumorigenesis. This study aims to ascertain the prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses among patients with malignancies in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi. Methods: We conducted as a cross-sectional study, data were collected from Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi, a tertiary care facility, between May 2020 and July 2020. Out of 257 cancer-diagnosed patients, informed about and assured of the questionnaire's confidentiality, data were collected and analyzed. Results: Among the 257 patients, 56.42% were females and 43.57% males, with a mean age of 47.5 years. Breast cancer was the most common type, identified in 20.2% of patients. Overall, 36.96% of patients had either HBV or HCV, with no instances of coinfection. Positivity rates were 21.4% for HBV and 15.56% for HCV. No significant associations were observed between cancer types and Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) or Anti-Hepatitis C Antibodies (Anti-HCV Ab). Conclusion: Close surveillance of cancer patients is crucial, monitoring HBV antibody titers, and enrollment in hepatitis B immunization programs are recommended. Additionally, monitoring Anti-HCV status is advised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the frequency of depression in Hepatitis-C patients and its association clearance of HCV. Methods: It is cross sectional study that was conducted between 1st July to 31st December, 2020, at National Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (NILGID), Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS). Both male and female patients aged 18 to 60 years presenting with Hepatitis-C PCR positive or had received DAA for three months and became PCR negative were included in this cross sectional study. Depression was analyzed by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Mean and standard deviations were calculated and analyzed. Results: Total 210 patients were included in this study, with mean age 36.06±10.11 years. Depression was present in 118 (56.2%) patients. Among patients with HCV PCR positive depression present in 63 (30.0%) patients while in HCV PCR negative 55 (26.0%) patients. Similarly, depression in HCV PCR positive male patients, aged ≤40 years 80 (38.1%) and in HCV PCR negative 56 (26.7%) patients. Conclusion: Patients with chronic Hepatitis-C commonly suffer from depression. However, our study found no significant difference with change in PCR status at 12 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary incontinence can be distressful and may affect the quality of life to a great extent. Common types of UI are stress incontinence, urge incontinence and mixed incontinence. UI is more prevalent in older people and more frequently diagnosed in females than males. Efforts are made to investigate the primary disorder which causes incontinence, as UI is mostly secondary to an underlying medical condition. This study included patients diagnosed with UI and was conducted during one year period extending from February 2013 to January 2014. The data also constituted of a self-administered questionnaire to access the patient's knowledge regarding their disease. Ethical consent was obtained from the hospital where data were collected and oral and written consents were taken from all the participants prior to their participation. The study included 332 patients with a response rate of 73.7%. Overall, 254 males and 278 females participated. 64.9% of the male participants had urge incontinence followed by 26.6% having stress incontinence, while only 8.44% of the males were diagnosed with mixed incontinence. In females 77.2% had stress incontinence followed by urge incontinence (15.1%) and only 7.3% had Mixed urinary incontinence. 24% of males and 44.3% of females believed that pelvic exercises can prevent or treat UI. 34.6% of the total participants (40% females, 27.9% males) had an understanding that weak anatomy contributes to the development of UI. Stress incontinence is more common in women, while the dominant type in men is urge continence. All patients, especially pregnant women should be provided information regarding UI in order to efficiently cope up with the condition if encountered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to determine the association of trait impulsivity and alcohol related aggression among university students of Pakistan. The study design was a cross-sectional with a convenient sample of 209 university students, 47 females and 162 males, age group 17-26 with a mean age of M=21.95 years (SD=2.414) was obtained. AUDIT, HADS, BIS-11, BUS, TFLB and ARAQ scales were utilized to assess aggression, alcohol intake, and impulsivity in social drinkers. This study was conducted during the time period of January' 2010 till December'2011. The data was analysed using SPSS 17. Cognitive dimension of impulsivity was statistically associated with alcohol related aggression. A linear predictive capacity of alcohol consumption with aggression was also observed. The total score on the ARAQ scale was found to be significantly correlate with most of the variables at p<0.0005 with the exception of gender at p<0.01 and age, which was not found to significantly correlate with the ARAQ score. All four ARAQ subscales significantly correlated with all of the BIS and BP subscales at p<0.05. Gender was found to significantly correlate with the ARAQ total score [N=, r = 0.134, p<0.03 (one-tailed)]. Alcohol related aggression is associated with cognitive component of impulsivity among a representative sample of university students. An immediate need to identify and treat impulsivity among individuals consuming alcohol is imperative and may help to control harmful aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]