Invasive infection in a young immunocompetent soldier caused by scytalidium dimidiatum

Scytalidium dimidiatum is mainly responsible for human skin and nail infections but the mould has also been reported for invasive infections in immunocompromised individuals. We report a young immunocompetent individual diagnosed with invasive non-traumatic Scytalidium dimidiatum infection involving the left orbital cavity and maxillary sinus

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is an intermediate grade malignant neoplasm of vascular origin. The tumor involves the liver and lungs, but other organs are affected too. The key to the diagnosis is identification of cells of endothelial origin containing Factor VIII R antigen. Surgical resection of isolated lesions is the treatment of choice; with unpredictable results reported for chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and resection of multiple lesions. The prognosis is very variable, and ranges from few months to more than 25 years

Clinicopathological analysis of ovarian tumours

To study the relative frequency and histological pattern of ovarian tumours in various age groups. The study was carried out in the Histopathology department, AFIP Rawalpindi from Jan 2002 to Jun 2003 One hundred and ninety four specimens of ovarian tumours were received in Histopathology department, AFIP Rawalpindi. All the surgical specimens were fixed in 10% formalin and routinely processed. The sections were then cut and stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin. The histological typing of ovarian tumours was done according to WHO classification of 2003. The main bulk comprised surface epithelial tumours [73%]. Among them, 107 [75.33%] were benign neoplasms and 35 [24.09%] were malignant. There were 40 [21%] germ cell tumours, 10 [5%] sex cord stromal tumours and 2 [1%] metastatic tumours. The benign category comprised 88 cases of serous cystadenoma, 34 cases of mature cystic teratomas and 19 mucinous cystadenomas. In the malignant group, there were 15 serous cystadenocarcinomas, 10 endometrioid carcinomas, 7 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, 2 yolk sac tumours and 2 cases of granulosa cell tumour. Benign tumours were mostly diagnosed in 3rd and 4th decades of life, whereas malignant tumours were seen after 40 years, with exception of malignant germ cell tumours, which were mostly found in younger age groups. There were minor differences from local studies. The overall frequency of various tumour groups was very similar to that in the west with some difference in tumour types

Diagnostic significance of serum protein electrophoresis

Serum protein electrophoresis is a simple, reliable and specific method of separating different protein fractions. A study was carried out in 1556 symptomatic cases reported to Department of Chemical Pathology, Army Medical College fbr serum protein electrophoresis. Aims and objectives were to see the diagnostic significance of protein electrophoresis especially in comparison to other related investigations like serum protein estimation and albumin: globulin [A: G] ratio etc. Deluxe electrophoresis chamber and sample applicator were used. Gelman DCD-16 digital computing densitometer was used for quantification. Results revealed that protein electrophoresis was essential for diseases like paraproteinaemia, immunodeficiencies and a-antitrypsin deficiency. It is helpful along with other investigations in liver disease, nephrotic syndrome, collagen disease and malignancy. Three hundred and sixty five cases had subacute/ chronic infection, 340 had normal electrophoretic pattern, 250 cases were of congestive cardiac failure, 152 cases of nephrotic syndrome, 90 cases of hepatic cirrhosis, 53 cases of chronic renal failure and 25 cases of paraproteinaemia were identified Its sensitivity and specificity were more than serum protein estimation by dye methods. It is recommended that full use of this diagnostic technique should be made for better diagnostic sensitivity and specificity

Pattern of sudden deaths in armed forces personnel, postmortem study

This retrospective study was carried out in Pathology Laboratory, Combined Military Hospital [CMH], Lahore to analyse the pattern of sudden deaths in the Armed Forces for the last 2 years. The postmortem record of 1993/94 was scrutinised to find the data of 50 consecutive cases of sudden deaths for further study. The detailed postmortems of these cases had been carried out and gross features recorded. The histopathology of the various organs was done and chemical analysis of abdominal viscera carried out in all cases. The results revealed that sudden cardiac death was the most common cause of fatality [28%] in this series. Most of these cases were young Sepoy / Non Commissioned Officers [Sep / NCOs] [8/12] under the age of 40 years. There were 4 JCOs and only 2 Officers. The second commonest cause was accidents [24%] followed by electrocution [12%]. Brain haemorrhage accounted for 4 cases of sudden deaths, one of whom had oligodendroglioma. Some other causes of sudden deaths included drowning [6%], gun shot wounds [6%] and burns [6%]. In conclusion, a fairly high number of cases of sudden cardiac deaths occurring in young soldiers reveals a disturbing trend. Preventive measures like anti-smoking compaign need to betaken to curb this trend in the Armed Forces. Road traffic accidents, drowing and electrocution are preventable causes of sudden deaths which take a heavy toll of trained manpower. An analysis of data of sudden deaths on yearly basis in the Armed Forces is proposed

Clinical experience with oral sultamicillin in internal medicine

Oral sultamicillin, 375mg to 750mg twice daily, was given for 7 to 14 days to 38 adult patients suffering from respiratory tract infection and skin and soft tissue infections. Results at the end of study demonstrated clinical cure or improvement in 37 [97%] patients and bacteriological cure in 35 [95%] of the 37 bacteriologically evaluated patients. Sultamicillin was well tolerated. There were only 4 [10.5%] patients who experienced side effects which were transitory in nature. Nausea and diarrhoea were reported by one patients, and skin rash by three patients one of whom was withdrawm from the study on his request. This study has confirmed the outstanding clinical and bacteriological efficacy of sultamicillin as well as its good toleration in the treatment of general medical infections. In these infections, the use of sultamicillin as a first line antibiotic seems logical and preferable, particularly considering the world-wide reports of increasing bacterial resistance to conventional beta-lactam antibiotics