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

Study of risk factors in coronary heart disease

Study of risk factors was conducted in 92 patients suffering from acute attack of myocardial infarction, admitted to Coronary Care Unit, Mayo Hospital, Lahore. The diagnosis of infarction was based on clinical history, ECG findings, enzyme and isoenzyme studies. Among the major risk factors smoking was at the top and 67per cent of patients were smokers. Hypercholestrolaemia was found in 30 per cent, Hypertension in 16 per cent and Diabetes mellitus in 14 per cent of patients. The role of minor risk factors like age, sex, occupation, genetics and stress was also studied. The age range was 20-89 years

Study of lipoprotein profile in myocardial infarction

Serum cholesterol and lipoprotein levels were measured in thirty patients of myocardial infarction [23 males and 7 females] admitted to a coronary care unit Mayo Hospital Lahore. The patients were divided into two main groups, which were further classified in various subgroups according to age. The results were compared with eighteen healthy males and five female subjects. The serum cholesterol was higher in all age groups in patients than in normal controls. The HDL cholesterol concentration was lower in patients with different age groups of either sex when compared with healthy controls. The inverse relationship of HDL cholesterol in patients with myocardial infarction was evident