Haematological and electrocardiographic variations during menstrual cycle

Menstruation coupled periodic bleeding from the blood vessels, at the time of shedding of the uterine mucosa has directed interest, more especially in the haematological changes during different phases of menstrual cycle. The present study was carried out on 30 healthy female medical students in the age group of 18 to 23 years with the normal menstrual cycle of 30 +/- 3 days. The various haematological parameter and electrocardiography were studied on the 2[nd], 11[th], 14[th] and 22[nd] day of menstrual cycle. The study reveals that the total leukocyte count and total platelet count significantly increased [p<0.001] around mid-cycle, however total eosinophil count significantly decreased [p<0.05] during the same period. Differential leukocyte count, bleeding time, clotting time, heart rate, P-R interval and Q-T interval did not show any significant change during different phases of menstrual cycle, although some mild changes were observed. This study was a moderate attempt to determine regular variation in the different haematological parameters and ECG during the different phases of menstrual cycle in normal healthy females and evaluate conflicting reports on the subjects

Pulmonary function tests in three wheeler diesel taxi drivers in Bikaner city

Pulmonary Function Tests [PFTs] including spirometry give an important clue in terms of respiratory chronic airway disorders and can predict early damage to pulmonary system. The present study was carried out in 100 diesel taxi drivers [Study group] of Bikaner city and compared it with 100 healthy medicos [control group] in the age group of 20 to 50 years by computerized spirometer. The pulmonary function tests included FVC, FEV[1], FEV[1]/FVC, FEF[25-75%] and PEFR. All subjects were divided into non-smokers and smokers so that influence of smoking on lungs can be studied. The restrictive impairment was found in 87% of study group, of which 50% were smokers and 37% were non-smokers, mixed pattern [both restrictive and early obstructive impairment] was found in only 13% of study group, of which 7% were smokers and 5% non-smokers. When all the above five parameters were taken together, they were indicative of mixed pattern [both restrictive and obstructive] lung impairment