Crystal Journal of Medical Research - Article In Press

Articles in Press

Authors: Sami A. Al-Haidari*, Mansour A. Al-Taj, Abdulkareem A. Nassar, Yahia A. Raja’a, & Tawfik Al-Khateeb

Published Date: 21 March, 2025

Cite: Al-Haidari SA, Al-Taj MA, Nassar AA, Raja’a YA, Al-Khateeb T. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices about trachoma in four evaluation units of low endemic areas, in Yemen: Implications for prevention and control. Cryst J Med Res. 2025;1(1): 01-12.

Abstract
Background: Trachoma is a bacterial infection that causes blindness worldwide and affects impoverished communities disproportionately. Despite these interventions, Yemen has made strides towards trachoma elimination.

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding trachoma and its associated factors among rural communities in six districts within four Evaluation Units (EUs) of Hodeidah and Ibb governorates in, Yemen.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in six districts from four Evaluation Unites (EUs) of the Hodeidah and Ibb governorates in January 2025. Bivariate analysis (chi-square) identified variables for multivariable logistic regression (p < 0.25). Multicollinearity was addressed by excluding relevant variables from each model.

Results: Among the 1164 interviewed participants, 38.8% (435) exhibited good knowledge, 19.1% (222) demonstrated good attitudes, and 46.5% (541) practiced good hygiene related to trachoma prevention. Significant associations were observed between KAP and several factors: Age of the head of household: Inversely associated with adequate knowledge (AOR = 0.13, 95% CI 0.08-0.22, P < 0.001), good attitudes (AOR = 3.12, 95% CI 2.23-4.36, P < 0.001), and good practices (AOR = 0.26, 95% CI 0.18-0.39, P < 0.001). Mother's literacy status: Significantly and positively associated with adequate knowledge (AOR = 102, 95% CI 47.7-219.4, P < 0.001), good attitudes (AOR = 3.60, 95% CI 2.50-5.17, P < 0.001), and good practices (AOR = 170, 95% CI 82-358, P < 0.001).Father's occupational status: Significantly and positively associated with adequate knowledge (AOR = 43.6, 95% CI 22.2-85.5, P < 0.001) and good practices (AOR = 3.67, 95% CI 2.35-5.73, P < 0.001), but inversely associated with good attitudes (AOR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.31-0.61, P < 0.001).Household size: Inversely associated with adequate knowledge (AOR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.40-0.99, P < 0.001) and good attitudes (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI 1.33-2.50, P < 0.001).Wealth index: Significantly and positively associated with adequate knowledge (AOR = 6.47, 95% CI 3.94-10.62, P < 0.001) and good practices (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.03-2.40, P < 0.001).Gender of the head of household: Male-headed households were less likely to have a good knowledge than female-headed households (AOR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.37-0.96, P < 0.001).

Conclusions: This study found significant disparities in KAP related to trachoma prevention, influenced by factors like the age of the household head, parental literacy, and household wealth.

Keywords
Trachoma, Evaluation Unites, KAP

Authors: Tommaso Di Ieso*, Rosamaria Matano, & Beatrice Bosco

Published Date: 16 June, 2025

Cite: Di Ieso T, Matano R, Bosco B. Management of postoperative pain in the child in otorhinolaryngology. Cryst J Med Res. 2025;1(1): 01-04.

Abstract
Background: Effective intraoperative analgesia is crucial for patients who cannot verbally communicate pain, such as children undergoing adenoidectomy, adenotonsillectomy, and/or tonsillectomy.

Objective: This study aims to demonstrate that adequate intraoperative analgesia significantly improves postoperative pain management in pediatric patients.

Methods: We administered Tramadol and/or Xylocaine spray to pediatric patients to reduce pain. Patients were divided into three groups, and pain levels were assessed using the NRS/VAS and WONG-BAKER scales.

Results: The group that received both Tramadol and Xylocaine spray demonstrated the most significant reduction in both postoperative pain and agitation.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that the combination of topical anesthesia with tramadol is an effective approach for managing pain in young patients, resulting in a statistically significant reduction in pain perception of approximately two points.

Keywords
Children, Adenotonsillectomy, Otorhinolaryngology, Pain, Wong-Baker, Tramadol

Authors:  Hazari T J, Saba S*, Ferdous J N, Tahira U Q, Rahman S, Adhikary L, & Adhikary P

Published Date: 18 July, 2025

Cite: Hazari TJ, Saba S, Ferdous JN, Tahira UQ, Rahman S, Adhikary L, Adhikary P. Association of Gleason grading of prostatic
adenocarcinoma with serum PSA. Cryst J Med Res. 2025;1(1): 01-08.

Abstract
Background: As the second most common cancer globally and the fifth greatest cause of cancer-related death for older men, prostate cancer is the most common visceral cancer in men. The illness is mostly managed using standard clinical indicators, such as the clinical stage, serum PSA level, and Gleason grade. These are directly related to the patient's outcome and have prognostic importance.

Aims and Objectives: This study includes grading of prostatic adenocarcinoma by modified Gleason grading and observe the association with serum PSA at a tertiary hospital in Bangladesh.

Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study. The study population were the patients who undergone prostatic core needle biopsy or transurethral resection of the prostate and diagnosed as prostatic adenocarcinoma in the Department of Pathology at Sir Salimullah Medical College and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. A total 70 cases were selected and among these 70 cases 61 cases were core needle biopsy and 9 were transurethral resection of prostate (TURP). Demographic and histopathological variables (age, grading of tumor and PSA value) were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed on the tabulated data by ANOVA and Chi Square test.

Observation and Result: Among 70 patients, the majority (57, 81.4%) of the patients belonged to 61-80 years age group. The mean age of the study patients is 69.97±8.1 (SD) years varied from 40 to 85 years. Fifty-nine (84.3%) patients had reported the presence of lower urinary tract symptoms, while 11 (15.7%) patients did not exhibit these symptoms. Twenty-eight patients (40%) presented with serum PSA value >50 ng/ml. Forty-two (60.0%) cases exhibited perineural invasion (PNI). 18 (25.7%) of the cases had grade III, followed by 17(24.3%) grade IV, 16(22.9%) grade V, 12(17.1%) grade II and 7(10.0%) had grade I Prostatic Adenocarcinoma. Statistically significant association (p<0.05) was found between PSA (ng/ml) level and grade group of tumors. PSA was progressively raised with increasing grade group of the tumor.

Conclusion: The study concluded that there is significant association between PSA level and grade group of Prostatic Adenocarcinoma. Therefore, high-risk patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma can be categorized using the Gleason grade group and its correlation with serum PSA value, which have substantial prognostic significance.

Keywords
PSA, Prostatic Adenocarcinoma, Gleason’s Scoring System

Authors: Saha N, Poddar A R, Poddar O R, Adhikary L, Rahman S, Chowdhury G, Saba S*, & Pal N K

Published Date: 07 August, 2025

Cite: Saha N, Poddar AR, Poddar OR, Adhikary L, Rahman S, Chowdhury G, Saba S, & Pal NK. Association of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression with histological grade and other parameters in gastric carcinoma. Cryst J Med Res. 2025;1(1): 01-08.

Abstract
Background: Globally, one of the most common types of cancer in humans is gastric carcinoma (GC). Even if different early detection techniques are currently applied in medical practice, it is still a major public health issue. The histopathologic grade is a commonly recognized prognostic factor. Nevertheless, it is expected that more immunohistochemical indicators of GC's biologic behavior will improve the targeted treatment and forecast the patient's outcome. Finding the importance of angiogenic factor (VEGF) as an adjunct to GC histopathological features was the aim of this investigation.

Objective: To determine the immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in gastric cancer (GC) in relation to tumor grade and other histopathological parameters.

Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in the Department of Pathology, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh and BSMMU, Dhaka over the period of March 2021 to February 2023. Total 50 samples (29 resected specimen that underwent partial or total gastrectomy in the Department of Surgery, MMCH & 21 paraffin embedded gastric tissue collected from BSMMU) were studied. Tumor grading was done and immunohistochemical staining for VEGF was performed.

Results: In this study, majority of lesion were 34 (68.0%) intestinal type while remaining 16 (32.0%) were diffuse varieties. Majority of lesion 29 (58.0%) were in grade II (moderately differentiated). While 18 (36.0%) were in grade III (poorly differentiated), from where 8 cases were intestinal type and 10 cases were diffuse type. Only 3 (6.0%) were in grade I (well differentiated). Lymphovascular invasion was present in 18 (36.0%) patients while 10 (20.0%) patients had perineural invasion. All the patients with grade I carcinoma 3(100%) had negative or weak VEGF expression while patients with grade II carcinoma 21 (72.4%) cases had positive VEGF expression and patients with grade III carcinoma 13 (72.2%) cases had positive VEGF expression. Chi square and Fisher’s exact test were done. No statistical association were observed between VEGF expression and histological grade and other parameters.

Conclusion: The study was carried out to evaluate the expression of VEGF in gastric carcinoma. It was observed that VEGF expression was not associated with histological grade, lymphovascular and perineural invasion.

Keywords
Gastric Carcinoma (GC), Angiogenesis, VEGF, Immunohistochemistry