Post Graduate Medical Institute

Abstract Background: Accurate staging is the cornerstone of management in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC). The 8th edition of the AJCC/UICC TNM staging system introduced Depth of Invasion (DOI) and Extracapsular Extension (ECE) to refine prognostic stratification. However, significant discrepancies often exist between pre-operative clinical staging (cTNM) and post-operative pathological staging (pTNM). This study evaluates the magnitude and clinical impact of this discordance in a real-world cohort. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 52 patients with biopsy-proven Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity and oropharynx treated at a tertiary cancer center. Patients underwent standard clinical staging followed by definitive surgical resection and neck dissection. Clinical (cT) and pathological (pT) stages were compared to calculate concordance rates, sensitivity, and specificity. High-risk pathological features, including DOI, Worst Pattern of Invasion (WPOI), Perineural Invasion (PNI), and Lymphovascular Invasion (LVI), were correlated with staging upgrades. Results: The overall concordance between cT and pT staging was only 23.0%. A profound "upstaging" phenomenon was observed, with 45.0% of patients receiving a higher pathological stage than determined clinically (e.g., cT2 to pT3). The primary driver of upstaging was the underestimation of DOI on clinical examination and imaging, which demonstrated a moderate negative correlation with Disease-Free Interval (DFI) (r = -0.35). Despite the high rate of pathological upstaging, adjuvant Chemoradiation (CRT) effectively neutralized the risk, resulting in comparable DFI between high-risk and low-risk cohorts (Mean DFI: 4.2 vs. 4.0 years; p > 0.05). Conclusion: Clinical staging significantly underestimates the extent of disease in nearly half of oral cancer patients, primarily due to the "invisible" nature of deep invasion (DOI). This "silent upstaging" underscores the critical need for advanced pre-operative imaging protocols (e.g., MRI with specific DOI sequences) and supports the routine use of adjuvant intensification in pathologically upstaged patients.

Objective: This study primarily aims to examine the different varieties of palatal rugae in our population, focusing on gender differences and their role, generally and in forensics in particular. Palatal rugae are biometric tools that can be used in addition to other identification tools for human recognition, as they are considered unique and stable. The study aims to observe the prevalence of palatal rugae in our population, as subject specialists should encourage and pave the way, facilitate its search, research, and create avenues for future studies.Study Design: Cross-sectional study.Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Oral Biology, Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI), Lahore, Pakistan, from 1st September 2021 to 31st August 2022.Methods: In this study, a total of 320 willing individuals were randomly selected to record their palatal rugae from Islamabad, Lahore, and the peripheries. 160 males and 160 females participated voluntarily, with informed consent, and their biometric records, primarily palatal rugae, were documented. The palatal rugae were recorded with the help of alginate impression material, which was then recorded by pouring the casts. Palatal rugae were studied and analyzed for their types, predominance, and gender variation.Results: Differences were observed in the palatal rugae of all individuals. The predominant pattern of palatal rugae was wavy and curved in males and females, respectively.Conclusion: Our study shows that males and females can exhibit different types of palatal rugae. Wavy patternsof palatal rugae are significant in males compared to curved patterns in females. How to cite this: Rasheed K, Ilyas MS, Umer S, Malik AA, Hussain M. Prevalence of Palatal Rugae as Biometric Markers in Population ofLahore and Islamabad: A Cross-Sectional Study. Life and Science. 2026; 7(1): 80-86. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.977

Capivasertib is capable of precipitating lethal diabetic ketoacidosis in patients with or without a history of diabetes.Early hyperglycemia after drug initiation should be considered a medical emergency and treated

Machines are thinking, but do they actually know they are thinking? That’s what Alan Turing says. Today's machines working in the human world make us think about different aspects of human existence. With the emergence of Generative AI & its radical transformation, human interactions with Artificial Intelligence have consequently increased. These increased interactions lead the users to tend to “humanize” or attribute “human-like” traits/qualities to AI tools, termed as Anthropomorphism. The present study aimed to explore whether explicitly informing users that ‘AI lacks consciousness’ can alter the already existing view of Anthropomorphism among them. The study is grounded in the concept of “Psychological Reactance”, suggesting that when told ‘AI lacks consciousness’, it paradoxically heightens the perceptions of Anthropomorphism, Likeability & Perceived Intelligence in AI among them. For this, data was collected from people ranging from ages 18 to 30 years, regularly using AI and randomly assigning them to two groups: Group A, told explicitly that ‘AI lacks consciousness’ and no such warnings to Group B. The Godspeed Questionnaire Series (Bartneck et al.) sub-scales, specifically Likeability, Perceived Intelligence & Anthropomorphism, were used to measure the differences of perception between the two groups. The findings of the study are expected to contribute to a better understanding of how the provision of explicit information or ‘warnings’ affects perceptions of people towards AI.

ABSTRACT The cultivation of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] has potential for expansion in Northeastern Brazil. However, irregular precipitation, associated with high evapotranspiration rates, is a limiting factor for agricultural development. In this context, the use of water-retaining polymers stands out as a promising alternative due to their capacity to retain water and ensure favorable conditions for plant growth. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of a water-retaining polymer on the growth, production, and fruit quality of okra under different water replacement levels. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at CCTA/UFCG, Pombal Campus, PB, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized block in a 5 x 4 factorial scheme, corresponding to five water replacement levels (40, 60, 80, 100, and 120% of the actual evapotranspiration - ETr) and four doses of a water-retaining polymer (0, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 g L-1), with three replications. A water replacement level of 80% ETr resulted in the greatest growth and production of okra cv. Carcará. Both deficit and excess water replacement caused growth inhibition and a decrease in the number of fruits. The application of the water-retaining polymer at a dose of 3.0 g L-1 had a beneficial effect on the growth, fresh mass, and mean diameter of the fruits, being indicated for okra cultivation in semiarid areas. Irrigation with 40% ETr combined with a 1.3 g L-1 of the water-retaining polymer increased the ascorbic acid content in the fruits of okra cv. Carcará.

Background: Neurological disorders are among the leading causes of long-term disability worldwide and impose a disproportionate burden on low- and middle-income regions. In Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, limited epidemiological data and constrained health-system capacity hinder effective planning for prevention, rehabilitation, and long-term care. Understanding local patterns of neurological disability is essential to inform evidence-based health policies, optimize service delivery, and address unmet rehabilitation needs in underserved populations. Objective: To evaluate the disability status, demographic trends, and distribution of neurological disabilities among patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Quetta, Balochistan, in order to inform healthcare planning and policy development. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta, from January 2024 to August 2025. A total of 238 residents of Quetta District with confirmed neurological disabilities were enrolled using purposive consecutive sampling. Diagnoses were established and verified by senior consultants using the International Classification of Diseases, Eleventh Revision (ICD-11), with functional assessment guided by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using a structured proforma. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, with descriptive statistics expressed as frequencies and percentages, and associations assessed using chi-square tests at a 95% confidence level. Results: Of the 238 participants, 158 (66.4%) were male and 80 (33.6%) were female, while 217 (91.2%) were unmarried. The most represented age groups were 1–10 years (33.2%) and 11–20 years (25.2%). Cerebral palsy was the most frequent diagnosis (36.1%), followed by cognitive disabilities (23.1%) and stroke (20.2%). Stroke and autoimmune neurological conditions were relatively more common among adults aged 21–30 years. No statistically significant association was observed between diagnosis and gender (p = 0.536) or age group (p = 0.345). Conclusion: Neurological disabilities represent a substantial and predominantly early-onset health burden in Quetta. The findings highlight critical gaps in preventive care, early diagnosis, and long-term rehabilitation services, underscoring the need for strengthened surveillance systems and integrated, community-oriented neurological care in Balochistan.

ABSTRACTBackground and Objective:Primary Intracranial Rhabdomyosarcoma (PIRMS) represents a rare and poorly understood entity within brain tumours. The objective was to evaluate the clinicoradiological presentation and optimal management strategies for PIRMS.Methodology:A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed Central and Google Scholar from 2000 to 2024. Only English-language, open-access articles with confirmed human PIRMS cases were included. Quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs tools, and data synthesis followed PRISMA guidelines, registered with PROSPERO with registration number CRD42024507092. A total of 176 articles were screened, and finally, 27 were included, comprising data on 39 patients.Result:About 22 (56.41%) patients were adults, and 17 (46.59%) were pediatric, with a male predominance of 23 cases (58.67%). Most patients (25) were Asians (64.1%). Headache, facial nerve palsy, and nausea/vomiting in 58.97% (23), 28.21% (11) and 25.64% (10) were the most common findings. Imaging showed ventriculomegaly and haemorrhage, in 10.26% (4) each on computed tomography, and hyperintensities on T1WI in 20 cases (51.28%). About 17.95% (7) of lesions were in the pineal region. Gross-total resection was performed in 15 cases (38.46%). On histopathology, rhabdomyoblasts and round cells were found in 25.64% (10) and 38.46% (15). The mean follow-up of 28 patients was 14.39 +- 17.68 months.Conclusion:Despite limitations, PIRMS remains difficult to diagnose preoperatively, with histopathology as the gold standard. Treatment response varies, but adjuvant chemoradiotherapy and gross total resection improve outcome.

Background: Antibiotic resistance in community-acquired infections (CAIs) has emerged as a major global health challenge, diminishing the effectiveness of empirical antimicrobial therapies. Despite numerous regional investigations, a consolidated global assessment of resistance patterns over the past decade remains limited. Objective: This systematic review aimed to synthesize global evidence on antibiotic resistance trends among key bacterial pathogens responsible for CAIs from 2014 to 2024. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library identified observational studies reporting quantitative resistance rates in community-acquired urinary, respiratory, and skin and soft tissue infections. Eligible studies were screened, data extracted on pathogen profiles and resistance patterns, and risk of bias assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) appraisal tools. Results: Eight studies comprising 45,820 isolates met inclusion criteria. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli exhibited high resistance, with third-generation cephalosporin resistance ranging from 28% to 42%, and fluoroquinolone resistance surpassing 40% across multiple regions. Streptococcus pneumoniae demonstrated macrolide resistance at approximately 28%, while community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) prevalence ranged from 12% to 25%. Conclusion: Rising resistance trends in common CAIs underscore a critical need for strengthened global surveillance, optimized empirical guidelines, and expanded antimicrobial stewardship initiatives. Investment in rapid diagnostic strategies within community healthcare settings is essential to mitigate this growing threat