Clinical presentations of acute leukemia

To document the clinical presentation and epidemiology of various types of acute leukemia with their respective referral source at a tertiary level centre in Peshawar. An observational study. Department of Pathology, Hayatabad Medical Complex [HMC], Peshawar, from January 2011 to May 2012. A total of 618 bone marrow biopsy reports were reviewed. All biopsy reports labeled as acute leukemia were reviewed for age, gender, address, referring unit, diagnosis on bone marrow examination, presenting complaints, duration of illness and findings of clinical examination. Ninety-two patients were diagnosed as suffering from acute leukemias [15%]. ALL was most prevalent [46%], followed by AML [38%] and undifferentiated acute leukemia [16%]. Males were affected more compared to females [60% vs. 40%]. ALL and AML were predominant in pediatric [64%] and adults [77%] patients respectively. Patients from Afghanistan accounted for 33% of all cases followed by Peshawar [14%]. Fever [77%], pallor [33%] and bleeding disorders [23%] were the main presenting complaints. Enlargement of liver, spleen and lymph nodes together was associated with ALL compared with AML [p = 0.004]. ALL-L1 and AML-M4 were the most common sub-types. Fever, pallor and bleeding disorders were the main presenting complaints. Enlargement of liver, spleen and lymph nodes was more frequently associated with ALL compared to AML

Influence of vitamin C administered after radiation

Postradiation administration of vitamin C was evaluated for its possible effects on reducing or reversing the effects of radiation. Stomach, duodenum, testes and bone marrow of male guinea pigs were examined for the effects of radiation e.g. degeneration, necrosis and cellularity. There was no significant difference in the effects of radiation between animals that received vitamin C and those that did not. The study, therefore, showed that vitamin C when given after exposure has no influence on the effects of radiation

Actinomycosis and actinomycetoma

Case reports of six cases of actinomycosis and actinomycetoma, treated at district Headquater Hospital, Abbottbad during 1984-85 are presented. Clinical feature and mode of treatment has been discussed