Objective: To determine the expression of BRAF V600E in tissue samples of colorectal carcinoma and to correlate it with various clinico-pathological parameters. Study design and setting: Cross-sectional study was conducted at department of Pathology, Pakistan Navy Station Shifa hospital Karachi from 1st March 2016 to 28th February 2019 Methodology: Total of 51 cases of colorectal cancer were analyzed for immunohistochemical staining using BRAF antibodies on representative tissue blocks. Clinical and pathological records were retrieved for data collection. The results of immunohistochemical analysis were correlated with the recorded clinico-pathological parameters. Results: In this study 51 cases of colorectal cancer were analyzed for immune expression of BRAF V600E. The age of the patients ranged from 14 to 85 years with the mean age of 60.96 years. Among the 51 cases, 37(72.5%) cases were males and 14(27.4%) were females. 37(72.5%) were localized to left side colon and 14(27.4%) were found in the right colon. For BRAF V600E, positive expression was seen in 20(39.2%) cases, whereas 31(60.7%) cases showed negative expression of BRAFV600E. No significant association was seen between BRAF V600E expression and histological variants like age, gender, tumor location and glandular carcinomas. Conclusion: BRAF V600E immunosuppression was seen in 39.2% of colorectal carcinoma in this study. No significant association was seen in BRAF V600E expression and histological variants

Objective: To assess the awareness of mammographic screening among women visiting the breast clinic at a tertiary care facility in Karachi. Study Design and Setting: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre Karachi over one month period from 1-10-2019 to 31-10-2019. Methodology: After receiving ethical approval, relevant information from patients coming to the breast clinic over the study period, regarding age, level of education, family history, diagnosis and awareness regarding mammographic screening was recorded on specially designed proformas and was statistically analyzed on SPSS 23. P value </= to 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Out of the 100 participants included in the study 68 patients had malignant lesions, 18 had a benign diagnosis while 14 patients were undiagnosed. Only 42 had at least some knowledge of mammographic screening of breast cancers and only 15 patients actually had a screening mammogram performed. Of those aware of the screening majority were informed regarding the procedure by health care professionals or through media sources. Only 4 out of 17 participants with a positive history of breast cancer in the family had the screening done. 12 patients diagnosed with malignant breast lesions were under the age of 40 years. Conclusion: Awareness of mammographic screening for breast cancer among females in our setup is still unsatisfactory and calls for improvements in the awareness programs for breast cancer screening. An early age at diagnosis for malignant breast lesions should prompt the concerned to revise the recommended lower age limit for commencing mammographic screening