Use of AgNOR index in grading and differential diagnosis of astrocytic lesions of brain

This study was conducted to see the importance of AgNOR staining in grading and differential diagnosis of Astrocytic lesions. It was a descriptive and prospective study conducted in Department of Pathology King Edward Medical University, from June-December 2002. AgNOR staining was performed on 60 randomly selected brain specimens of Astrocytic lesions including Astrogliosis and Astrocytoma. AgNOR count, size and dispersion were normal in Astrogliosis, low in Pilocytic Astrocytoma, high in grade II, higher in grade III and highest in grade IV. AgNOR counts of different grades of astrocytoma [2.97 +/- 0.96, 3.97 +/- 0.43, 6.01 +/- 2.74 and 8.01 +/- 3.56] were significantly [P< 0.01] greater as compared with counts of normal brain [0.40 +/- 0.01], and reactive gliosis [0.60"0.01]. There was no statistical difference in normal brain tissues and inflammatory lesions of the brain. AgNOR size and dispersion were of higher grade in significantly greater proportion in malignancy as compared to benign conditions. [P <0.05]. AgNOR size and dispersion were normal in Astrogliosis. Typing of AgNOR count, size and dispersion was found to be an important marker in grading and differential diagnosis of Astrocytic lesions, especially in Astrogliosis and low grade Astrocytoma

Prevalence of parasites in house-files from diffrent areas of Lahore

The Presence of a large number of. house-flies is a direct indication of the poor sanitary conditions of a particular locality. In the insanitary localities the usual features have been found to be the presence of heaps of refuse and filth scattered here and there due to indiscriminate defaecation, open kitchen wastage, open latrines, meat shops and slaughter houses. In the present study 14,400 house-flies were collected from six insanitary and six sanitary areas of Lahore over a period of one year. The frequency from insanitary and sanitary areas was 21% and 13.98% for the cysts and 16.66% and 10.75% for ova respectively. The frequency of the cysts and ova was found to be significantly higher [P<0.001] in the insanitary areas. It is recommended that sanitary conditions should be improved to minimize the population of house-flies in Lahore

Clinicopathological and immunological study of brain tumours at L.G.H. Lahore

Thirty one patients with different types of brain tumors at LGH Lahore were studied .Age, sex, ethnic background and date of diagnosis were recorded. Children below the age of 15 years were 30%. Preopendrance was notable. Most common syndromes were headache, cranial nerve involvement, vomiting, papilloedema and behavioural changes. Gliomas constitute 38%, followed by neurinoma 22%, medulloblastoma and meninginoma, CSF glucose, total protein, CSF cytology, abumin, I[g]G, I[g]A and I[g]M were setermined. CSF glucose was not affected, while total protein, albumin, I[g]G, I[g]A and I[g]M were higher in brain tumour. I[g]G and I[g]A were significantly higher in malignant tumours than benign ones. Increased concentraton of immunoglobulins in CSF suggest humor immune response of brain against neoplasm

Diabetes mellitus, serum and immunoglobulins

Ninety subjects, 60 diabetic patients and 30 healthy controls were included in this study. Total serum proteins, protein fractionation by electrophoresis and immunoglobulins by immunoelectrophoresis were done in all the subjects. The mean +/- SD values of total proteins, albumin, and globulins in diabetics were comparable [P>0.1] with those of controls. However, the immunoglobulins depicted variable pattern in diabetics thereby suggesting that humoral immune mechanism may be implicated in diabetes mellitus, as indicated by the above Results

Serum lactate dehydrogenase levels in acute leukaemias

Serum total lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] levels were examined in 40 patients with acute leukaemia and 20 healthy individuals were taken as controls. In 24 patients of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia [ALL], the range of serum LDH was 406-3098 U/L [mean value of 1495.29 + 781.03 U/L]. In 16 patients of acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemia [ANLL], the range of Serum LDH was 327-2548 U/L [mean value of 1170.81 +/- 670.34 U/L]. In the control group, the level of LDH was 260-432 U/L [mean value of 347.50 +/- 46.41 U/L]. Statistically significant difference was noted in serum LDH levels in both types of acute leukaemia when compared with the control group [ANLL P < 0.001, ALL < 0.001] but when serum LDH level in ANLL was compared with ALL, statistical significant difference was noted [P > 0.1]. This observation led us to believe that the measurement of serum LDH in acute leukaemias is of little value in classifying the type of acute leukaemia

Immunoglobulin classes G,A,M in brain tumours

Serum of 37 brain tumour patients was studied for, Total protein, Protein electrophoresis, IgG, IgA, and IgM in an attempt to ascertain humoral immune response. Findings were compared with 20 healthy subjects, matched for age, sex and socioeconomic status. There was significant rise in alpha-ll globulin, while IgG was suppressed in tumour patients. Decrease of IgG was more marked in patients with malignant tumours. Immunoglobulin A was low in children when compared with adults. Immunoglobulin M remained unchanged

Liver function in heroin addicts

To ascertain whether non-parenteral heroin ingestion would have undesirable effects on liver in persons with no previous history of liver disease, tests for liver function were carried out in 90 heroin addicts. The tests were normal but alkaline phosphatase was found significantly elevated. This study shows that heroin has no direct toxic effect on hepatocellular function

Renal disfunction in heroin addicts

Renal function was evaluated in ninety heroin smokers. who were admitted to drug dependence units with the conventional kidney function tests. Proteinuria was found in 57.8% of the addicts and seventy one addict [78.8%] had low creatinine clearance when the lowest normal was taken as [95 ml/min]. This study suggests an impaired renal function in heroin addicts

Immunological status of the patients with brain tumours

To study the humoral immune response of the patients with brain tumours, estimation of glucose, immunoglobulins [lgG, lgA, IgM] and proteins electrophoresis was carried out on the sera of 37 patients of brain tumours. The findings were compared with the results obtained from 20 healthy controls matched for age, sex and socioeconomic status. There was no significant difference in levels of glucose, proteins and its fractions between patients and controls. Only Alpha-2 was higher among patients as compared to controls [P<0.05]. lgG and IgA were higher in controls than patients but the difference was not significant. However, all immunoglobulins were significantly high among patients with benign tumours as compared to those with malignant tumours. Our finding of suppressed serum lgG suggests that the malignant tumours of brain have some immunosuppressive effects

survey of malarial parasites in Islamabad

Two villages in the periphery of the City of Islamabad were screened for malaria cases during the post-monsoon and spring malaria transmission seasons. The parasite prevalence rate was found to be 3.08%, 2.69%, 2.03% and 1.11% during the months of September, 1988, October, 1988, March 1989, and April, 1989, respectively. Considering the prevalence rates of malarial parasites and the vector species in the area under study, control measures have been suggested

Long acting thyroid stimulator in Grave's diseases

Fifty eight patients suffering front Graves Disease [GD] and 30 normal healthy controls were studied to evaluate some of the immunological aspects of etiopathogenesis of Graves' Disease. Patients of GD included 14 first reported patients 22 hyper thyroid patients on drgus and 22 euthyroid patients in remission GD patients were diagnosed on the basis of clinical history, physical examination and laboratory investigations such as Radio Active Iodine Uptake .[RAIU] Serum Tri-iodothronine [T3] and Serum Thyroxine [T4] by Radio-immunoassay and thyroid scintigram. Mckenzie. Mouse Biological Assay was performed to detect and estimate Long Acting Thyroid Stimular [LATS] in GD -orients. Sixty four percent first reported and 54% hyperthyroid patients on drugs were LATS positive. LATS-Response Index [LATS-RI] was calculated in all LATS positive patients. This study, first of its kind in Pakistan, confines the presence of auto-antibodies in GD patients and is expected to stimulate further work in auto-immune thyroid disease in country