Muhammad Luqman

Risk factors for lung cancer in the Pakistani population.

BACKGROUND Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies in the world and both incidence and mortality rates are continuing to rise in Pakistan. However, epidemiological studies to identify common lung cancer determinants in the Pakistani population have been limited. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this retrospective case-control study, 400 cases and 800 controls were enrolled from different hospitals of all provinces of Pakistan. Information about socio-demographic, occupational, lifestyle and dietary variables was extracted by questionnaire from all subjects. Odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. and dose-response associations were also assessed for suitable factors. RESULTS Strong associations were observed for smoking (OR=9.4, 95%CI=6.9-12.8), pesticide exposure (OR=5.1, 95%CI=3.1-8.3), exposure to diesel exhaust (OR=3.1, 95%CI=2.1-4.5), red meat consumption (OR=2.9, 95%CI=1.8-4.7) and chicken consumption (OR=2.8, 95%CI=1.7-49). Other associated factors observed were welding fumes (OR=2.5, 95%CI=1.0-6.5), sedentary living (OR=2.0, 95%CI=1.6-2.6), family history (OR=2.0, 95%CI=0.8-4.9), wood dust (OR=1.9, 95%CI=1.2- 3.1), tea consumption (OR=1.8, 95%CI=1.2-2.6), coffee consumption (OR=1.8, 95%CI=1.1-2.8), alcoholism (OR=1.7, 95%CI=1.1-2.5) and asbestos exposure(OR=1.5, 95%CI=0.5-4.4). Consumption of vegetables (OR=0.3, 95%CI=0.2-0.4), juices (OR=0.3, 95%CI=0.3-0.4), fruits (OR=0.7, 95%CI=0.5-0.9) and milk (OR=0.6, 95%CI=0.5- 0.8) showed reduction in risk of lung cancer. Strongest dose-response relationships were observed for smoking (?2=333.8, p≤0.0000001), pesticide exposure (?2=50.9, p≤0.0000001) and exposure to diesel exhaust (?2=51.8, p≤0.0000001). CONCLUSIONS Smoking, pesticide exposure, diesel exhaust and meat consumption are main lung cancer determinants in Pakistan. Consuming vegetables, fruits, milk and juices can reduce the risk of lung cancer risk, as in other countries.

The pattern of gynecological malignancies in 968 cases from Pakistan

The pattern of gynaecological malignancies is different in various geographical areas. It is said that cervical cancer is one of the leading cancers in women worldwide second only to breast cancer; 80% of new cases occur in developing countries. In African and Indian studies as well it is cervical cancer that is the most frequent of gynaecological malignancies. In most studies from Pakistan cervical cancer is not the top gynaecological malignancy; ovarian tumors are more frequent. In the previous tumour registry data analysis from our institute ovarian tumors were also more frequent than cervical cancer. The histological pattern particularly of ovarian tumors is also slightly different than that reported in different studies as is the age distribution of cases. The purpose of this analysis was to find the pattern of gynaecological malignancies in our population and to compare it with other national and international studies. (excerpt)