Correlation between pulmonary function abnormalities and sputum cytological finding in cigarette smokers

To evaluate the relationship between changes of lung function parameters and sputum cytology among smokers with or without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and non-smoker healthy controls, sixty nine male cases were studied. Thirty two patients were in smokers' group [n=22 COPD, mean age + SD, 41+5 years old, n=10 without COPD, mean age + SD, 61+11 years old] twenty nine in ex-smokers group [n=23 COPD, mean age + SD, 61+11 years old, n=6 without COPD, mean age + SD, 41+5 years old] and eight in non-smokers healthy group [mean age + SD, 40+7 years]. Spirometric measurements FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio were noted and sputum processed and cell counts were performed by a blinded observer. There was a negative correlation FEV1/FVC ratio and increasing age [r=-0.72, p<0.001], same with duration of cigarette smoking [r=-0.66] and also with pack-year cigarette smoking [r=-0.66]. Neutrophil counts were significantly increased in smoker and ex-smoker groups as compared to non-smokers group [p<0.005]. There were significant differences in the number of macrophages, pigmented macrophages, neutrophils, mucus spirals and columnar epithelial cells [p<0.001]. This study concludes that cessation of cigarette smoking could reduce number of inflammatory cells and my improve airway obstruction

Effect of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis on EDP in chronic renal failure: a comparative study

In the body, fibrinogen is broken down by plasmin, to produce high molecular weight polypeptide fragments X and Y and low molecular weight fragment D and E. Concerntration of serum fibrin degradation products [FDP] has been found to reflect to reflect the activity and severity of renal lesions. Sixty confirmed cases of chronic renal failure [CRF] were included in this study. Half of them were on peritoneal dialysis, while other half on regular hemodialysis. Pre-dialysis samples in 26 patients [43.3%] and post dialyses samples in 17 patients [28.3%] showed raised FDP. In peritoneal dialysis group the pre-dialysis samples of 15 patients [50%] and post-dialysis samples of 13 patients [43.3%] showed raised FDP. In hemodialysis group the pre-dialysis samples of 11 patients [36.6%] and post dialysis samples of 04 patients [13.3%] showed raised FDP. In this study FDP were high in 43% of patients. dialysis caused a significant reduction in their level. Hemodialysis seems to be more efficient then peritoneal dialysis in lowering the levels of FDP

Review of bone marrow examinations at sandman teaching hospital, Quetta

Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan and has only one teaching hospital in Quetta, which serves people from all over the province, and also from Afghanistan. As yet there is no reported incidence of prevalence of "Bone Marrow disorder" in this part of the country. The present analysis is of 191 bone marrow examinations done in 1 1/2 year in this hospital, included 128 males [67%] and 63 females [33%]. Out of these 113 [59%] were adults and 78[41%] childen. Leukemias were the most frequent diagnosis in our patients. The total number was 40 [21%] which included 20 cases of ALL [L1=6, L2=11, L3=3] and 7 cases of AML [M1=1, M2=1, M3=1, M4=3 M6=1]. There was no case of M5 and M7. All the 27 cases of acute leukaemia presented with anemia; 25 showed thrombocytopenia and in only 2 cases platelets were normal. Leucocytosis was found in 8 cases, leucopenia in 12 and TLC was normal in 7 cases. Twelve [44%] patients presented with pancytopenia. Out of 40 there were 11 cases of CML and 2 cases of CLL. Two patients of CML later went into blast crisis. In all the cases of malaria, Gametocytes of P.falciparum were found in Bone marrow and out of them, 5 had negative P/Smear for MP. All cases of Kala-azar presented with pancytopenia. In Aplastic anemia, myelofibrosis and metastatic disease of Bone marrow, diagnosis was made after doing bone marrow Trephine. Metastasis was from Ca prostate. Both patients of essential thrombocythaemia had platelet count of more than 1 million. Of the 2 cases of myelodysplastic syndrome one was RAEBt and other was RAEB