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Aims:Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) primarily occurs in older age group. However, in the recent years, incidence of oral cancer in young people has been on rise worldwide. Towards this end, we sought to analyze the clinical and histopathological characteristics of OSCC in patients less than 45 years of age.Materials and Methods:The clinical and histological features of patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity at two hospitals in the coastal Karnataka region of South India between 1996-2012 were reviewed. The tabulation and descriptive statistics of the study were carried out.Results:A total of 420 patients were treated for OSCC in the 17-year period (1996-2012), of which 86 (20.5 %) patients were under 45 years of age. The most common site of involvement among the young was tongue (29.07%) and buccal mucosa (27.9%) respectively. A total of 47 (54.65%) patients were either habitual chewers, smokers, or alcoholics. Pathological grading of cases classified tumors into well differentiated (34.88%), moderately differentiated (46.51%) and poorly differentiated (4.65%).Conclusions:The data from this study reveals that a significant proportion of the OSCC cases are observed in patients of 45 years or younger. Additionally, our study also indicated an increase in the usage of tobacco and pan chewing in young adults in comparison to older individuals in the two hospitals of South India. The data obtained from this analysis emphasizes the need for screening programs that are tailor-made for individuals at high risk of developing oral cancer and warrants tobacco awareness programs in the community.

Projection of load of cancer mortality helps in quantifying the burden of cancer and is essential for planning cancer control activities. As per our knowledge, there have not been many attempts to project the cancer mortality burden at the country level in India mainly due to lack of data on cancer mortality at the national and state level. This is an attempt to understand the magnitude of cancer mortality

The results of this study indicated that the occlusal plane was found parallel to a line joining the ala of the nose and the inferior part of the tragus in a slight majority of the participants.

Background:Antibiotic overuse is a major public health challenge worldwide. Data from India related to physician antibiotic prescribing patterns are limited.Aims:We assessed antibiotic prescribing knowledge, attitudes, and practices among physicians in Mangalore, South India.Materials and Methods:Using a cross-sectional descriptive study design, physicians at academic tertiary hospitals completed an anonymous on-site survey. The survey items incorporated Likert scales, and data were analyzed using SPSS version 15.0.Results:Of the 350 physicians approached using a convenient sampling method, 230 (66%) consented and interviewed. The physician's knowledge of resistance patterns of common bacteria was related to receiving periodic updates on resistance patterns of bacteria (P = 0.019) and participation in courses on antibiotics (P = 0.026). Individuals with more number of years of experience (mean of 11 years) were less likely to justify antibiotic use for uncomplicated bronchitis (P = 0.015) and acute gastroenteritis (P = 0.001). Most respondents (n = 204, 89%) believed that physicians overprescribed antibiotics in routine clinical practice. Forty-five percent (n = 104) stated that their hospitals did not have an infection control policy in place.Conclusions:This study provides some understanding of physician's antibiotic prescribing patterns from teaching hospitals in India. Judicious antimicrobial use through educational and antimicrobial stewardship programs remains critical to control the spread of antibiotic resistance.