Peak Expiratory Flow Rates Among Gujjar and Non-Gujjar Population of Kashmir Valley

Peak expiratory flow rates of 506 healthy adults from a rural area of Kashmir consisting of 252 Gujjars and 254 non-Gujjars are reported. There is paucity of literature an ventilatory measurements of such populations living at high attitudes and this study is first of this kind from Kashmir valley. Gujjars were found to have lower peak expiratory flow rates than non-Gujjars. Role of domestic smoke pollution (measured as time spent near fire place) and smoking in lowering the peak expiratory flow rates has also been documented.

Smith - Lemli - Opitz Syndrome

This is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder characterised by short stature, microcephaly,low set ears, hypospadias (in males), pyramidal signs in addition to several other features as described.

Transient complete heart block complicating acute rheumatic fever.

First-degree heart block is a common electrocardiographic manifestation of acute rheumatic fever and is included in Jones' diagnostic criteria. Other electrocardiographic changes such as sinus tachycardia, bundle branch blocks. nonspecific ST-T wave changes, atrial and ventricular premature complexes have been reported with variable frequency. However, complete heart block is an exceptionally rare manifestation of acute rheumatic fever. We report the clinical course of a 16-year-old boy with acute rheumatic fever who had prolonged P-R interval in the electrocardiogram on admission which subsequently progressed to complete heart block. The patient regained normal sinus rhythm within a few minutes without any pharmacologic or electrical intervention.

Cockayne syndrome.

We report four cases of Cockayne Syndrome in a family of seven children. Apart from the usual clinical and laboratory features, sparse eye lashes and high arched palate in two patients, conjunctival and corneal edema in one, and proximal muscle weakness in one patient were noticed as additional findings.

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia with intracerebral haemorrhage.

A 65-year-old male was admitted for evaluation of severe anaemia, recurrent epistaxis, axillary lymphadenopathy, and hepatomegaly. The diagnosis of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia was made on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings. The patient developed intracerebral haemorrhage without associated hypertension and with normal coagulation profile.