Background: Ego defense mechanisms are unconscious psychological processes that help an individual to prevent anxiety when exposed to a stressful situation. These mechanisms are important in psychiatric practice to assess an individual’s personality dynamics, psychopathologies, and modes of coping with stressful situations, and hence, to design appropriate individualized treatment. Our study delineates the relationship of ego defense mechanisms with anxiety, depression, and academic performance of Pakistani medical students.Methods: This cross-sectional study was done at CMH Lahore Medical College and Fatima Memorial Hospital Medical and Dental College, both in Lahore, Pakistan, from December 1, 2014 to January 15, 2015. Convenience sampling was used and only students who agreed to take part in this study were included. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: 1) Demographics, documenting demographic data and academic scores on participants’ most recent exams; 2) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); and 3) Defense Style Questionnaire-40 (DSQ-40). The data were analyzed with SPSS v. 20. Mean scores and frequencies were calculated for demographic variables and ego defense mechanisms. Bivariate correlations, one-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression were used to identify associations between academic scores, demographics, ego defense mechanisms, anxiety, and depression.Results: A total of 409 medical students participated, of whom 286 (70%) were females and 123 (30%) were males. Mean percentage score on the most recent exams was 75.6% in medical students. Bivariate correlation revealed a direct association between mature and neurotic ego defense mechanisms and academic performance, and an indirect association between immature mechanisms and academic performance. One-way ANOVA showed that moderate levels of anxiety (P < .05) and low levels of depression (P < .05) were associated with higher academic performance.Conclusion: There was a significant association between academic performance and ego defense mechanisms, anxiety, and depression levels in our sample of Pakistani medical students.

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Objective: The association between thyroid disease and breast cancer risk remains unclear. A cross-sectional study was carried out to find the association between hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and breast cancer. Materials and Methods: The study included 71 diagnosed cases of breast cancer patients belonging to stage III of the disease. The mean age of controls and patients was 43-45 years. Their level of thyroid hormones was estimated. On the bases of high and low levels of thyroid hormone, women were divided into group one (hypothyroidism n= 56) and group two (hyperthyroidism n=15). Levels of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and hematocrit were estimated by the SWISS MAX analyzer. The level of thyroid hormones, TSH, 8OHG, Isoprostane, and 4-HNE was estimated by the technique of ELISA. The level of MDA was estimated spectrophotometrically. Results: It was observed that body weight was high in hypothyroid females (group 1) Levels of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes were significantly higher in group 1 of the breast cancer afflicted women, as compared to the controls and group 2. The level of thyroid hormones FT3, FT4, and TSH was also higher in group 1. The level of MDA, isoprostane, and 4-HNE was significantly high in both women with hypo and hyperthyroidism as compared to controls. Conclusions: We found an increased risk of breast cancer in women with hyporhyroidism and a slightly decreased risk in women with hyperthyroidism indicating an association between thyroid function level and breast cancer risk. Key Words: breast cancer, hypo, and hyperthyroidism, MDA, HNE, and Isoprostane

Background: In response to oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species aggravate and activate different signaling mechanism and stimulate the release of different inflammatory mediators, and provoke the generation of oxidative stress, all of which can promote the development of acute coronary syndrome. Methodology: The study sample comprised of 76 ACS patients and 76 healthy controls. Blood samples of ACS patients and controls were collected to determine the serum concentration of antioxidants, and the serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers. Spectrophotometric method and ELISA kit method was used to measure these variables accordingly. Results: The results indicated a significant rise in the levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, MMP-11, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in ACS patients compared to controls whereas significant decrease was recorded in GSH, CAT, SOD, GRx and HDL levels in patients with ACS compared to controls. Conclusion: The present study indicated that the increased serum concentration of inflammatory cytokines and antioxidant reduction may influence the pathogenesis of ACS. Keywords: Acute coronary syndrome, oxidative stress , antioxidants