Lipid profile in smokers and tobacco chewers--a comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to evaluate lipid profile in cigarette smokers and tobacco chewers and to see whether tobacco chewing causes same degree of alteration in lipid profile as done by smoking. METHODS: Serum lipid profile was studied in 30 smokers (Group A), 30 tobacco chewers (Group B) and 30 controls i.e., non-smokers and non-tobacco chewers (Group C). RESULTS: High density lipoprotein-cholesterol was lower both in smoker (P < 0.01) as well as in tobacco chewers (P < 0.001) than the controls. Both smokers and tobacco chewers had higher values of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and, triglycerides as compared to non-smoker, non-tobacco chewer group whereas the differences in levels of lipids in smokers and tobacco chewers were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Though different mode of addictions, smoking and tobacco chewing have an equal and comparable adverse effects on lipid profile and therefore raising cardiovascular risk in same proportion.

Multigated radionuclide ventriculography during in-hospital phase of acute myocardial infarction.

Global and regional left ventricular performance was assessed by multigated radionuclide technique in thirty patients sustaining acute myocardial infarction on two occasions during in-hospital phase. Thirteen (76.5%) of the seventeen patients with anterior infarction had depressed initial left ventricular ejection fraction compared with seven (53.8%) of the thirteen patients with inferior infarction. From initial to discharge study, change in ejection fraction was statistically insignificant in either group of infarctions. All except three (10%) patients had regional wall motion abnormality on initial evaluation with little subsequent alteration. Our data demonstrates that ejection fraction changes variably during the course of illness, and location of infarction has profound effect upon degree of left ventricular dysfunction. Assessment by non-invasive radionuclide technique may have prognostic implications.