Nutritional status of primary school children in Abbottabad

In Abbottabad district, with the vast poverty stricken rural majority and 80% literacy rate, primary-level education faces great influx of students. This study was carried out to see the nutritional status of children 5-10 years of age attending primary schools of Abbottabad. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study carried out in June 2009 on 400 schoolchildren of 5-10 years of age from three randomly selected primary schools of Abbottabad. After informed consent by the parents/ teachers, a semi-structured Performa/questionnaire was filled for each child. Anthropometric measurements were recorded. Correlation of age of the child with height, and weight was calculated. The nutritional status of the study children was particularly optimum; 90% children were in optimal nutritional status and had sound skeletal growth irrespective of their socioeconomic background. There was a significant correlation of nutritional status and skeletal growth of children with parents' socioeconomic status. There was a direct correlation between height and weight of children, and their age. Anthropometric measurements indicate a high majority of children in healthy status despite the overall poor setup

Frequency and patient related risks for surgical site infection

To determine the frequency of surgical site infection [SSI] and its unknown risk factors in obstetrical and gynaecological procedures. Descriptive study. Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of Combined Military Hospital, Lahore from Oct 2009 to April 2010. Patients who had undergone their surgical procedures in obstetrics and Gynaecology from October 2009 to April 2010. A total number of 1199 procedures were performed. Only 23 [1. 92%] got SSI. Out of these 19 [82.6%] were lower segment cesarean section and 4 [17.4%] cases hysterectomies. In these infected cases, 19 [82.6%] were less than 40 years of age and 4 [17.4%] cases were more than 40 years of age. Six [26.1%] patients belonged to high and 17 [73.9%] to low socioeconomic class. Nineteen [82.6%] patients weighted more than 75 kg and 4 [17.4%] were less than 75 kg. Only 2 [8.7%] were diabetic and 21 [91.3%] were non diabetic. Surgical site infection remains the commonest complication of surgery and is a burden on health care resources. It can be prevented by identifying those at higher risk and modifying skills for their care. Increasing age, obesity, Diabetes and low socioeconomic class could be the risk factors for SSI

Pathology of chorionic villi in spontaneous abortions

Spontaneous abortions are quite common. While in a normal multiparous woman, one or two spontaneous abortions are not unusual, recurrent spontaneous abortions may pose serious problems for some couples. Many such abortions may have a background of genetic anomaly that is reflected in abnormalities of chorionic villi. It is therefore, important to study placenta for various pathological lesions in order to understand the etiology and pathogenesis of the abortion. The chorionic villi are the main fetal part and functional unit of placenta. In this study, we examined various pathological changes in chorionic villi in 64 cases of spontaneous abortion specimens. These included hydropic change, numbers of vessels, and patency of vessels, stromal fibrosis, and fibrinoid degeneration and Hofbauer macrophages. We observed that the villi were reduced in 97% of cases, 83% of villi had stromal fibrosis, 75% displayed fibrinoid degeneration, 75% contained reduced numbers of blood vessels while the patency of vessels was seriously affected in 66% of cases, and 67% cases had prominent Hofbauer macrophages. We conclude that vast majority of spontaneous abortions have abnormal chorionic villi and the most common abnormalities are marked fibrosis and severely compromised vasculature incompatible with fetal development and viability

Spectrum of morphological changes in tuberculous lymphadenitis

Introduction: tuberculous lymphadenitis is one of the most common causes of lymphadenopathy. Fine needle aspiration cytology is the most economical, quick and easy way of its diagnosis. Familiarity with cytological features of lymphadenopathy is essential in order to arrive at a correct diagnosis

Objective: the objective of the study is to describe the spectrum of morphological features seen on cytological smears of tuberculous lymphadenitis

Material and Methods: one hundred consecutive cases of tuberculous lymphadenitis, performed in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, from July 2003 to August 2004, diagnosed on fine needle aspiration, were reviewed

Results: the results of our study showed that in early lesions there is suppuration and caseation necrosis. As immunity increases first ill defined [in exuadative lesions] and then well defined granulomas are formed. Neutrophils as nuclear dust are present in early lesion and they are absent in late lesion when granulomas are well defined. Lymphocytes are maximum in late granulomas phase and in intense caseous phases they are absent. Plasma cells are present with well defined granulomas

Conclusions: tuberculous infection of a lymphnode follow a spectrum from early exudative to caseous to late fibrocalcification phases. Presence of neutrophils does not rule out tuberculosis and one most look for other features like epitheloid cells and caseation necrosis