CORRELATION OF MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINTS WITH UPPER LIMB DISABILITY IN POST MASTECTOMY FEMALES IN PAKISTAN

Aims of Study: The objective was to correlate myofascial trigger points and upper limb disability in post-mastectomy females. Methodology: This six-month duration study included 45 participants aged 18 or older, using non-probability convenience sampling, who had undergone mastectomy at least six months prior. Numeric pain rating scale, Simon’s trigger point criteria and a disability questionnaire were used to assess disease complications. Results: A study involving 45 female participants (mean age 42.8±6.754) found that 33.3% had mild pain, 55.6% had moderate pain, and 11.1% had severe pain. Additionally, 46.7% had mild disability and 53.3% had moderate disability. There was a significant correlation between myofascial trigger points and upper extremity disability. Limitations and Future Implication: The limitations include the small sample size used in study and limited generalization of findings due to cultural and contextual factors. Further research is needed to explore interventions and understand the long-term impact of myofascial trigger points on upper limb function. Originality: This research is original in its focus on the correlation between myofascial trigger points and post-mastectomy upper limb disability. Conclusion: This study concluded that there is a highly significant relation between trigger points in muscles and disability of upper extremity in female patients after mastectomy.

Isolation, Modification, Characterization, Pharmaceutical Applications of Hydrogel from Seeds of Cydonia Oblanga

Extraction of Quince hydrogel (QH) was accomplished from seeds of Cydonia oblonga M (Quince) by hot water extraction method. Characterization of QH was accomplished by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetic analysis (TGA). Swelling of QH was carried out in deionized water, buffer solutions of pH 1.2, 6.8 and 7.4 by using gravimetric analysis, inferring that QH showed high swelling capacity in deionized water and buffer solutions of pH 7.4 and 6.8 while minor swelling was noticed in acidic buffer of pH 1.2, indicating QH as a potential biomaterial for fabrication of targeted drug delivery. Kinetic models were also applied to the swelling data acquired from swelling studies. It was concluded that swelling of QH in deionized water and phosphate buffers of pH 6.8 and 7.4 followed second order swelling kinetics. Responsiveness of QH to concentration of electrolytes was also ascertained by carrying out swelling of QH in different molar concentrations of NaCl and KCl solutions (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 M). The QH was deduced to be responsive to concentration of electrolytes, showing a decrease in swelling capacity with increasing molar concentration of electrolytes. Swelling deswelling (on-off) response of QH was also evaluated in water and ethanol, water and normal saline and phosphate buffer of pH 7.4 and acidic buffer of pH 1.2. When water swollen QH was immersed into saline and ethanol, deswelling of QH was noticed however, deswelling in ethanol was abrupt as compared to deswelling in saline solution. Similar swelling deswelling response was noticed in phosphate buffer of pH 7.4 and acidic buffer of pH 1.2. These findings prove QH to be stimuli sensitive biomaterial with potential to be used in developing stimuli responsive drug delivery system.