Screening extended families for a genetic X-linked disorder, glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency

To test an alternative approach to population based program for identifying Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase [G6PD] deficient Individuals in Pakistan where consanguineous marriage is common. This study was conducted at Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Rawalpindi and Pathology Department Government Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. Five large families from Northern Pakistan, 03 with an index case of G6PD deficiency, 02 without such history [control] were screened for G6PD deficiency. All apparently healthy members of the families, both male and female of all ages, of the last three generations were included in the study. A commercial qualitative screening kit from Sigma Chemical Co. Ltd England was used for screening the individuals for G6PD deficiency. In the control families, no individual with G6PD deficiency was found among 101 individuals tested out of 159 living members. In the 03 families with an index case of G6PD deficiency 155 were tested out of 229 family member and 52 [33.5%] were found G6PD deficient. While in population screening out of 800 apparently healthy adult male subjects screened for G6PD deficiency, 47 [5.9%] were found glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficient. Testing extended families is feasible and highly cost effective way of screening for X- linked genetic disorder like Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase deficiency in communities in which consanguineous marriage is common

Utility of immunilogical marker CD14 is identifying monocytic component in acute leukaemia

To assess the usefulness of immunological marker CD 14 in identifying malignant cells of monocytic lineage Eight thin smears each from peripheral blood and bone marrow of seventeen acute leukaemia patients were obtained. Romanosky dye [Leishman] and cytochemcial stains [Peroidase, Periodic acid Schiff, non specific esterase] were applied. Two bone marrow smears were then treated with immunological marker CD 14. CD14 reacted with malignant monocytic lineage cells in 16/17 [94.11%] acute leukaemia cases and that no reactivity was observed in other cells of myeloid as well as lymphoid lineage. Addition of immunological marker CD14 to the battery of morphocytochemical diagnostic tools has increased diagnostic efficacy from 82.35% to 94.11%, highlighting the usefulness of CD14 immunological marker. CD14 surface marker is a useful tool for identifying monocytic component in neoplastic cells of acute leukaemia patients

outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a village of district Dir, N.W.F.P.

To study the frequency of cutaneous leishmaniasis at a village inundated by s and fly.A leishmaniasis diagnosis camp was arranged at village Wattangi, district Dir. All patients with suspected cutaneous leishmaniasis having active lesion were recruited in the study. Data of the patients e.g. name, age, sex and site of lesions were entered into a register. Smears were prepared from the sides of the lesions with sterile lancets, fixed with absolute alcohol, stained with Geimsa stain and examined under microscope. Out of 40 examined patients, 37 were positive for Leishmania Tropica [L.T.] bodies. The most common site involved was face and the most common age group affected was less than 10 years. The frequency of cutoneous leishmaniasis is quite high at Watangi village of distt. Dir, due to infestation by s and flies, lack of medical education and low socio economic status in the area

Bone marrow changes in human malaria: a retrospective study

The bone marrow reports of 1966 patients admitted to a provincial teaching hospital between January, 1992 to April, 1995 were retrospectively analyzed. Twenty-six [1.3%] bone marrows showed the presence of malarial parasites. Sixteen [62%] patients had Plasmodium falciparum 9 [34%] Vivax malaria and one [4%] mixed infection. All these patients gave a history of prolonged illness and had low parasite counts. Plasmodium vivax malaria was not associated with any significant pathology in the bone marrow, except iron deficiency anaemia. The bone marrows with Plasmodium falciparum malaria showed myeloid hyperplasia, erythroid hyperplasia, megaloblastosis and hypoplasia in different proportions. No evidence of dyserythropoiesis was found in this series. The possible mechanisms producing these changes and the factors responsible for the discrepancy in bone marrow findings in different geographical areas are discussed