Health of people working/living in the vicinity of an oil-polluted beach near Karachi, Pakistan

A short-term study was conducted after the oil spillage from the tanker Tasman Spirit to analyse seawater and sand samples taken from Karachi beach for hydrocarbon/organic contents. Blood samples were collected from people who were working or living in the vicinity of the beach. Lymphocyte and eosinophil levels were slightly increased. About 11 people had raised serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, but this was not significant. Such steps are vital to ensure that there are no long-term hazardous effects of oil on human health

Serum cholesterol level and cancer of the oral cavity

Recent findings have raised questions about the relationship of low serum cholesterol to cancer of various sites, that of the oral site in particular. Present study was planned to establish a relationship between serum cholesterol and cancer of oral site in 50 middle aged men and women. An attempt has also been made to identify the levels of serum phospholipid, total lipid, triglyceride and lipoproteins. The 50 patients chosen for the study consisted of 30 men and 20 women. Serum cholesterol, phospholipid, total lipid and LDL-cholesterol were significantly decreased, but no significant difference was observed in either sex. Serum LDL-cholesterol level was increased in both male and female patients but no significant difference was observed when compared with control subjects. From this study we observed that an inverse association existed between serum cholesterol level and oral cancer