Abstract. Gynaecological malignancies contribute significantly to cancer burden and have a higher rate of mortality and morbidity. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the pattern of gynaecological malignancies identified between January, 2000 and December, 2011, at the Centre for Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy (CENAR). At CENAR 5,072 female patients were registered with different malignancies, of which 632 cases were gynaecological malignancies. Ovarian cancer (47%) was the most common gynaecological malignancy, followed by cervical cancer (29%), uterine cancer (14%), vulvar and vaginal cancer (6%), and gestational trophoblastic neoplasm (4%). Of the ovarian cancer cases, 72.5% had epithelial while 26.5% had non-epithelial cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma was 75.9% in cervix and 87.8% in vulva and vagina while endometrial carcinoma (75.9%) was more frequent in uterus. For gestational trophoblastic neoplasm, 69.2% of patients had choriocarcinoma. Ovarian cancer was the most common type for the age range of 50-59 years. In the case of cervical and gestational trophoblastic neoplasm the majority of patients presented at the ages of 40-49 and 30-39 years while uterus, vulvar and vaginal tumor presented in the elderly (>60 years). Thus, ovarian cancer is the leading gynecological malignancy in Pakistan.

This study presents a model that is associated with medication adherence among T2DM patients, with disease-related knowledge as a significant predictor of likely adherence. Results of the current study revealed that improved diabetes related knowledge plays a significant role in improving medication adherence. Healthcare practitioners and the system should formalize and acknowledge patient education as a key component to treat patients with T2DM. This should include a greater role for pharmacists and other professionals.

The current study aimed to rationally develop and characterize pH-sensitive controlled release hydrogels by graft polymerization of gelatin (Gel) and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) in the presence of glutaraldehyde (GA) using quetiapine fumarate for the treatment of schizophrenia. The prepared hydrogels discs were subjected to various physicochemical studies including: swelling, diffusion, porosity, sol-gel analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. Three different pH values (1.2, 6.8 and 7.4) were used to determine shape, transition, and controlled release behavior of prepared hydrogels. Various kinetic models including zero order, first order, Higuchi model and Power Law equation were applied on drug release data. The optimized hydrogels were subjected to in vivo studies using albino rabbits. Swelling and release results were found to be insignificant (p < .05) evidencing that there was no significant difference in swelling and drug release rate of hydrogels in different pH mediums. Swelling, porosity, gel-fraction, and drug released (%) were found to be dependent on concentrations of Gel, HPMC, and GA. Kinetic models revealed that QTP-F release followed non-Fickian diffusion. In-vivo studies contributed significantly higher plasma QTP-F concentration (C max), time for maximum plasma concentration (T max), area under the curve (AUC0–inf) and half-life (t 1/2) as 18.32 ± 0.50 µg/ml, 8.00 ± 0.01 hrs, 6021.2 ± 5.09 µg.hrs/ml and 10.06 ± 0.43 hrs, respectively, for test-hydrogels when compared to reference market brand (Qusel® 200 mg, Hilton Pharma, Karachi, Pakistan) QTP-F tablets. It might be concluded that QTP-F loaded pH-sensitive hydrogels were developed successfully with reduced dosing frequency for schizophrenia.

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