Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal

Immunohistochemical expression of BerEP4, CK7 and EMA in basal cell carcinoma of the skin

2020-01-28T13:11:57+00:00

The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression status of BerEP4, EMA and CK7 in cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and to find out whether there is some difference in the expression pattern related to the anatomic location of lesions. Biopsy specimens from 32 cases of BCC of the skin were enrolled. All samples were immunohistochemically stained for EpCAM (clone BerEP4), EMA (clone E29), and CK7 (clone OV-TL 12/30). All cases (32/32; 100%) were strongly positive for BerEP4, while the vast majority of tumors (28/32) were completely negative for EMA. Four BCCs (12.5%) exhibited a focal staining for EMA, but it was only sporadic and did not exceed 5% of tumor epithelium. Cytoplasmic expression of CK7 was found in 19 cases (19/32; 59.4%). Comparing both, the chronically sun-exposed and the intermittently sun-exposed anatomic locations, the percentages of CK7-positive BCCs were 47.8 and 88.9%, respectively. In conclusion, all lesions showed a strong expression of BerEP4, the use of this marker is helpful especially in individuals suspected of having multifocal BCC with many microlesions, morpheic BCC, or BCCs with mixed histomorphology.

Dhaka stress scale-adolescent: A scale for assessing psychosocial stressors among adolescents

2020-01-28T13:11:56+00:00

This study was aimed to produce a culturally validated scale to determine the presence of stressful life events among adolescents in Bangladesh, and formulate the relative life change units for each event. The study used qualitative research, including a focus group and questionnaire, and quantitative analysis in the validation process. Researchers first developed a provisional stress scale that was translated in Bangla through a translation exercise. Using an open-ended question along with this provisional scale on a school sample of 449 (228 rated on imagination and 221 on actual experience) adolescents, researchers developed Dhaka stress scale– adolescent with 56 items and predictive interpretation of the overall score was made. Content validity was found excellent as item level content validity index was around 1 and the scale level validity index was 0.93. The correlation coefficient was 0.72 between this scale and adolescent life events stress scale. For reliability, Cronbach’s alpha values were ranged from 0.83 to 0.97. The scale is simple to administer to assess stress in adolescents and usable in both clinical and research settings.

Intralesional steroid and ultrasound therapy in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome

2020-01-28T13:11:55+00:00

The study aimed to compare the effects of intralesional steroid injection and ultrasound therapy for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. A total 130 patients divided into 2 groups: a) One group (n=65) received intralesional corticosteroid injection along with wrist splint, exercise, naproxen sodium 500 mg tablet and omeprazole 20 mg capsule twice daily for 2 weeks; b) Another group received (n=65) ultrasound therapy (10 min/day, 3 days/week for 4 weeks) along with Wrist splint for 4 weeks, exercises for 4 weeks, naproxen sodium 500 mg tablet and omeprazole 20 mg capsule twice daily for 2 weeks. The patients were followed-up 2 weekly for 4 weeks. The visual analogue score, symptom severity scores and functional status scores were significantly improved within each group at week 2 (p<0.05) and week 4 (p<0.05) except for the symptom severity score at (p>0.05). The improvement in symptom severity scores and functional status scores in the intralesional steroid group was more than in the ultrasound therapy group after 4 weeks.

Induction of reparative dentin by calcium silicate-based material as direct pulp capping agent

2020-01-28T13:11:54+00:00

This study was performed to examine whether calcium silicate could induce reparative dentin formation without eliciting any adverse effect in direct pulp capping of premolar teeth. Twenty participants who need extraction of their 4 healthy permanent premolar teeth for orthodontic reasons were included in this study. Following the surgical procedure, the exposed pulp tissue was treated either with calcium silicate or covered with calcium hydroxide paste. On day 3, 7, 14 and 28, the experimental teeth was extracted and examined using light microscopy and histometric analysis to observe the inflammatory changes and the amount of reparative dentin formation. The results showed that in the calcium silicate treated teeth, substantial amounts of dentine-like tissue was formed on day 14 and mostly located on the exposure site. It was also observed in the calcium hydroxide treated teeth but dentin-like tissue located at a distance from the exposure site. The total amount of reparative dentine formed in the calcium silicate-treated teeth was significantly higher (p<0.005) than in the calcium hydroxide-treated specimens. In conclusion that the calcium silicate indices pulpal wound healing and reparative formation in the exposed teeth without affecting the normal function of the remaining pulp.

A 50-year-old female, diabetic patient with chest pain and dizziness

2020-01-28T13:11:53+00:00