Pattern of primary pulmonary malignancies in central Punjab

Three hundred patients of primary malignancies of the lung from Gulab Devi Chest Hospital and other hospitals of Lahore were studied. The history of the patients and their clinical findings were recorded. The sections of the tissues were stained with haematoxylin and eosin whereas all large cell carcinomas were stained with Alcian Blue-Periodic Acid-Schiff [AB-PAS] stain. There were 255 males and 45 females with a male to female ration of 5.7:1. The age ranged from 10-90 years with a mean age of 54.17 +/- 3.46 years. Different tumours were significantly more [p<0.001] in males than in females. The mean age in squamous cell carcinoma cases was significantly high [P<0.001] as compared to adenocarcinoma. Small cell carcinoma cases had significantly low [P<0.02] mean age as compared to squamous cell carcinoma. The difference of mean age in cases of adenocarcinoma approached significant level [0.1> P>0.05] as compared with small cell carcinoma

Intra-cranial space occupying lesions a morphological analysis

The purpose of this study was to provide preliminary data on morphological patterns of intracranial space occupying lesions [ICSOL] in central Punjab province. This is a cross-sectional prospective study on 100 consecutive cases of intra-cranial space occupying lesions admitted to both the neurosurgery units of Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. The biopsy materials were examined histologically using paraffin sections. Eighty nine [89] patients had neoplasms, while eleven [11] had non-neoplastic lesions. Neuroepithelial tumours comprised 41% of all the neoplasms, followed by meningiomas being 23%, schwannomas 11% and metastatic tumours 6%. Males were affected slightly more than females [1.17:1]. Tuberculomas constituted 3% of the lesions. It was concluded that age and sex distribution were generally comparable to the other published literature. Similarly neuroepithehal tumours formed majority of the lesions. However meningiomas had a higher frequency as compared to the western literature; moreover tuberculomas should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of such lesions in this part of the world

Bacteriological quality of drinking water in punjab: evaluation of H2s strip test

OBJECTIVE: To assess bacteriological quality of drinking water in Punjab and to evaluate usefulness of H2S strip test in comparison with multiple tube test. METHOD: Samples of water were tested using H2S strips and multiple tube test. Maximum bacterial contamination was observed in water from domestic pumps [95.83%]. Followed by tap water in rural areas of Punjab [91.30%] and tap water in Lahore [42.85%]. Bacterial contamination was significantly higher [p < 0.001] in rural areas as compared to urban areas. Comparison of results of testing water samples by H2S strip test and multiple tube test revealed that H2S strip is 87.24% sensitive and 100% specific for detection of bacterial contamination with a positive predictive value of 100%. It was also observed that 100% water samples negative for total coliforms were also negative by H2S strip method. Moreover, with increase in number of total coliforms in the water samples, positivity by H2S strip method also increased [samples with more than 10 total coliforms/100 ml were 100% positive by H2S strip method]. Therefore, H2S strip test can be used as alternative to multiple tube test for detection of bacterial contamination of water supplies. It is concluded that bacterial contamination of water is a significant problem in Punjab. It can be improved by regular monitoring of water supplies. For this purpose use of H2S strip test is advocated at house hold level

Abdominal tuberculosis: a clinico-morphological study

Fifty one cases of intestinal tuberculosis were found in a total of 200 ressected intestinal specimens studied at PGMI, Lahore. Maximum number of cases were in 20-29 years age group, showing a female preponderance. Pain was the commonest presenting complaint. Haemoglobin estimation revealed anaemia in 82.35% cases and ESR was raised in 90.32% cases Ileum was the commonest bowel segment involved in cases of intestinal tuberculosis. Mean length of ressected specimens in these cases was 26.6 +/- 16.31 cm. Hypertrophic lesions and enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes were the commonest findings on gross examination. On fluorescent [Auramine - Rhodamine] staining 40 [78.43%] cases were AFB positive

Risk of diabetes mellitus in offspring of diabetic parents

Diabetes Mellitus is believed to be genetically transmitted in families and, hence, termed as a hereditary disease. The sufferings of the disease with succeeding periods of time is a grave experience. The present study was, therefore, aimed at determining potential for the disease in families [offspring] with single/both parents diabetic [confirmed in the laboratory] so as to make them cautious of the disease inflictions before hand. The results reveal that greater the potential for diabetes from the parents, more of their offspring were found to have been affected. That is more offspring in both parents diabetic families appeared to be diabetic or inclined to become diabetic [abnormal] in future, than those in single parent diabeticjnan-diabetic parents families. Furthermore, normal offspring is diabetic parents[s] families also showed a positive trend to become abltnormal / diabetic sometimes in future. The results are alarming and, therefore, offspring with family history of diabetes must be cautioned at an earlier age so that they may adopt prophylactic measures against the disease