Peak Expiratory Flow Rates Among Gujjar and Non-Gujjar Population of Kashmir Valley

Peak expiratory flow rates of 506 healthy adults from a rural area of Kashmir consisting of 252 Gujjars and 254 non-Gujjars are reported. There is paucity of literature an ventilatory measurements of such populations living at high attitudes and this study is first of this kind from Kashmir valley. Gujjars were found to have lower peak expiratory flow rates than non-Gujjars. Role of domestic smoke pollution (measured as time spent near fire place) and smoking in lowering the peak expiratory flow rates has also been documented.

Progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), carcinoma breast and valvular heart disease: an unusual combination.

Systemic sclerosis is a multi system disorder characterised by fibrosis of skin and internal organs. There are reports of relation between cancer and polymyositis/dermatomyositis, but no overall association with systemic sclerosis. Reports of the coexistence of cancer and systemic sclerosis, however, emphasise a close temporal relation in their occurrence. Cardiac involvement in the form of myocardial fibrosis and pericarditis occurs frequently in systemic sclerosis, while valvular involvement has been reported only sporadically. We report a patient, admitted for adenocarcinoma of left breast who was found to have features of systemic sclerosis, pulmonary hypertension, gangrene of toes, and stenotic mitral valve disease. The possible mechanisms of the coincidence of the three disorders are discussed.

Domestic smoke pollution and prevalence of chronic bronchitis/asthma in a rural area of Kashmir.

An increased prevalence of chronic bronchitis (12.21%) was observed in Gujjar females of a rural area of Kashmir valley in this study. Screening of adult population of two randomly selected village showed an overall prevalence rate of 7.7% for chronic bronchitis and 1.96% for asthma. This increased prevalence of chronic bronchitis was attributed to exposure to domestic smoke pollution, lower socio-economic status, illiteracy, poor housing conditions and overcrowding.