Background: Headache disorders represent a major public health problem globally. It is more so in developing countries with rising trend in young adults affecting negatively their quality of life. There has been very little information on the epidemiology of headache disorder in Kashmir India which has witnessed prolonged and large scale militancy related disturbance. A prospective population based study was undertaken in Srinagar district of Kashmir to determine the prevalence of headache disorder. Methods: The study was a cross sectional survey using cluster sampling with a culturally adapted version of pretested questionnaire translated into local language, in Hazratbal Community Block of Srinagar. In the first phase households were screened. Individuals with headache were then examined by a senior neurologist for migraine and non migraine disorder. Results: The overall prevalence of headache was 66.2 % with female preponderance. Occurrence of headache was as high as 79.90 % in adults of 19-45 years. The prevalence rate declined after the age of 45 years in both the genders. Women had higher prevalence rate than men in all age groups and for all headache categories. Age distribution showed prevalence rate of migraine of 45.69% in young adults of 19-45 years; females 55.44% and males 32.79 %. Non migraine headache was more common than migraine type, and was more prevalent in young age group in both the genders, highest in adolescents (74.20 %). Conclusion: The high prevalence rate of headache both migrainous and non migrainous in Kashmir may be related to the stress the community has been subjected to from militancy related conflict since 1990.
Headaches

Objective: This case control study was undertaken to ascertain the frequency of subclinical and overt hypothyroidism in patients with various types of primary headache disorders in Kashmir, North India. Methods: The study was conducted in a tertiary care (university of Kashmir) hospital of North India. The study subjects consisted of 250 patients with primary headache disorders. This was compared with an age-sex matched control of 500 subjects. Thyroid function tests were performed by new automated immunochemiluminometric assay. Results: Among patients with primary headache disorders, subclinical hypothyroidism was present in 22% and overt hypothyroidism in 7.2%. On the other hand, subclinical hypothyroidism was observed in 11.2% and overt hypothyroidism in 1.2% of cases in the control group, the differences between primary headache and control group was statistically significant (p<0.05). Frequency of hypothyroidism was more in chronic headache disorders (chronic tension-type headache and migraine). The frequency of hypothyroidism in patients with primary headache disorders was higher among females than males, but this was not statistically significant (p> 0.05). Conclusion: Hypothyroidism is found to be a co-morbidity or predisposes to the development of chronic headache (tension-type headache and migraine) in this North Indian study.
Headache Disorders ; Hypothyroidism ; Migraine Disorders

Background: Globally, ischemic stroke outnumber hemorrhagic strokes. However, it was observed that hemorrhagic stroke is more common in Kashmir valley. The present study was conducted to substantiate this notion, and to identify the possible risk factors. Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 6,906 patients with fi rst ever stroke admitted to S. M. H. S. Hospital, an associated teaching hospital of the Government Medical College, Kashmir, from January 1996 to June 2009. Other than clinical history, examination and routine biochemistry, cranial CT scan (non-contrast) was performed in all the cases within three days of the stroke onset. MRI brain, CSF analysis, screening for cardiovascular disorders, prothrombotic states and collagen profi le were performed wherever deemed necessary. Results: There was predilection of stroke among the males and rural population. Eighty three percent of patients developed fi rst-ever stroke in sixth and seventh decade. Fifty four percent of cases had a Glasgow coma score of >10 on admission. Intracerebral hemorrhage was observed in 64.7% patients with male preponderance. Putamen (53.5%) was the most common, site of hemorrhage, followed by thalamus (29.7%). Hypertension, smoking and multiple risk factors were observed in 92.3%, 70.3% and 67.9% cases respectively. Poor antihypertensive medication compliance was observed in 55.9% cases. Conclusions: Intracerebral hemorrhage was the commonest stroke-type observed in Kashmir accounting for close to two third of strokes with male preponderance.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome, also known as herpes zoster oticus is usually caused by reactivation of preexisting varicella zoster virus in the geniculate ganglion. Here we report a case of herpes zoster oticus masquerading as lateral pontomedullary syndrome occurring during the pre-eruptive phase of chicken pox. The case is being reported for its rare and unusual clinical presentation.

Purpose: This study was aimed to assess the feasibility of laparoscopic rectal surgery, comparing quality of surgical specimen, morbidity, and mortality. Methods: Prospectively acquired data from consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer, at 2 minimally invasive colorectal units, operated by the same team was included. Locally advanced rectal tumors were identified as T3B or T4 with preoperative magnetic resonance imaging scans. All the patients were operated on by the same team. The 1:1 propensity score matching was performed to create a perfect match in terms of tumor height. Results: Total of 418 laparoscopic resections were performed, out of which 109 patients had locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and were propensity score matched with non-LARC (NLARC) patients. Median operation time was higher for the LARC group (270 minutes vs. 250 minutes, P=0.011). However, conversion to open surgery was done in 5 vs. 2 patients (P=0.445), reoperation in 8 vs. 7 (P=0.789), clinical anastomotic leak was found in 3 vs. 2 (P=0.670), and 30-day mortality rates was 2 vs. 1 (P>0.999) between LARC and NLARC, respectively. Readmission rate was higher in the NLARC group (33 patients vs. 19 patients, P=0.026), due to stoma-related issues. There was no statistically significant difference in the R0 resection between the 2 groups (99 patients in LARC vs. 104 patients in NLARC, P=0.284). Conclusion This study demonstrates that standardized approach to laparoscopy is safe and feasible in LARC. Comparable postoperative short-term clinical and pathological outcomes were seen between LARC and NLARC groups.

Objective: To enumerate the diversity of important medicinal plants used traditionally by the local populace in biodiversity rich temperate Himalayan ranges of Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Methods: Methods used to explore the plants with medicinal value and to record associated ethnomedicinal knowledge included semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and walk-in-the-woods with local knowledgeable persons, traditional practitioners called "Bhoeris" and tribals (Gujjars and Bakkerwals). Results: During plant exploration in this floristically rich Himalayan region, a very interesting and less-known species of the genus Prenanthes L., (Asteraceae) was recorded. On examination, the species was identified as Prenanthes violaefolia Decne., which represents a first report from Kashmir Himalaya, India. Conclusions: Prenanthes violaefolia could serve as an important source of new potent compounds provided that it is subjected to thorough phytochemical and pharmacological investigations.

Purpose: Laparoscopic approach to colonic tumor requires skill set and resources to be established as routine standard of care in most centers around the world. It presents particular challenge in country like Pakistan due to economic constrain and lack of teaching and training opportunities available for surgeons to be trained to deliver such service. The aim of this study is to look into changing practice of our institution from conventional approach of open to laparoscopic surgery for right colon cancer. Methods: Consecutive patients between January 2010 to December 2018 who presented to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre with diagnosis of right colon (cecum, ascending and transverse colon) adenocarcinoma and underwent surgical resections were included in this study. Results: A total of 230 patients with adenocarcinoma of the right colon underwent curative resections during the study period. Of these, 141 patients (61.3%) underwent laparoscopic surgery while open resection was performed in 89 patients (38.7%). Five-year disease-free survival (DFS) of patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage III (80.9% vs. 54.8%, P = 0.021) was significantly better if these patients underwent laparoscopic surgery while a trend toward better DFS (96.7% vs. 84.1%, P = 0.111) was also observed in AJCC stage II patients, although this difference was not significant. Conclusion This study demonstrates the adoption of a laparoscopic approach for right colon cancer over 10 years. With a standardized approach and using the principle of oncological surgery, we incorporated this in our minimally invasive surgery practice at our institution.