A toddler presented with a 5-month history of recurrent episodes of cough, wheezing and fever. Before referral, the toddler had been initially diagnosed as having bronchial asthma and later as having pulmonary tuberculosis. On examination, the patient was febrile and had severe respiratory distress. Chest radiograph and high-resolution CT of the chest revealed collapse of the entire left lung w...

Smokeless tobacco (SLT) is associated with many heath hazards including oral cancer. Its use is more common in South Asian countries. The current paper aims to systematically review the South Asian studies to assess the association of SLT and oral cancer. Detailed automated literature searches of PubMed, Medline, EMBASE and ISI Web of Science from January 1980 to July 2015 were conducted using ...

Tobacco is being used in various forms including cigarette, shisha, cigar and bidi smoking and smokeless tobacco. Smokeless tobacco constitutes various forms of tobacco i-e paan/ betel quid, tobacco with lime, naswar, gutka, qiwam, tobacco tooth powder, minpuri, areca nut (supari) [1,2]. Qiwam consists of thick paste of boiled tobacco mixed with powdered spices such as saffron, cardamom, anisee...

microRNA (miRNA) dysregulation contributes widely to human cancer but has not been fully assessed in oral cancers. In this study, we conducted a global microarray analysis of miRNA expression in 40 pairs of betel quid-associated oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) specimens and their matched nontumorous epithelial counterparts. Eighty-four miRNAs were differentially expressed in the OSCC specim...

A case of oral submucous fibrosis in a 12-year-old girl discusses its etiopathogenesis, clinical features, and histopathologic findings of the condition and highlights strong association of areca nut chewing as the potential factor in the etiology of this condition. Cessation of the areca nut chewing habit and submucosal administration of aqueous extract of healthy human placental extract (Plac...

Data from household surveys conducted between 1985 and 1990 were used in a regression model to estimate the impact that changes in household incomes have on the demand for each of 36 major foods, beverages, betelnut and tobacco within urban areas of Papua New Guinea. Locally produced crops that should be in high demand in future, if urban incomes rise, include betelnut, fresh vegetables, sweet ...

The genotoxicity of the ethanolic extract betel nut was evaluated using sarcoma 180 tumour bearing mouse considering sperm motility, viability, biochemical estimation fructose in seminal fluid and head morphology assays. Sperm studied by H-E staining Toluidine blue method. But method is a reliable to evaluate DNA damage sperms. Ethanolic BNE (betel extract) can suppress percentage viability lev...

Inhaled or chewed tobacco is equally addictive and harmful and used daily by over 1 billion people. In addition to increased rates of coronary artery disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancers, tobacco is the leading preventable cause of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. In addition to tobacco, consumption an...

Betel nut (BN), betel quid (BQ) and products derived from them are widely used as a socially endorsed masticatory product. The addictive nature of BN/BQ has resulted in its widespread usage making it the fourth most abused substance by humans. Progressively, several additives, including chewing tobacco, got added to simple BN preparations. This addictive practice has been shown to have strong e...