BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) the third leading cause of death in the world, represents an important public health challenge that is both preventable and treatable. According to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), Spirometric tests, Forced Expiratory Volume in first second (FEV1) less than 80% of the expected value and forced expiratory volume in first second to the forced vital capacity ratio (FEV1/FVC) less than 70% is the diagnostic criteria for COPD. In COPD smoking is the major risk factor and smoking affects the lipid profile of COPD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spirometric parameters including FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio and lipid profile was studied in 100 cases of COPD patients admitted Government Fever Hospital, Guntur and 40 nonsmoker healthy subjects were selected as a control group. They were correlated using Pearson's correlation coefficient "r". RESULTS: Majority of the cases are males belonging to 50-60years age group and all of them are smokers. Majority of the patients had moderate airflow limitation (GOLD Stages II and III). The lipid profile in COPD patients showed significant elevation of LDL cholesterol levels when compared to controls (P<0.005). CONCLUSION: Spirometric parameters FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio is important to diagnose as well as to assess the severity of the disease. Smoking is an important risk factor for COPD and smoking effects the lipid profile of COPD patients. There was no correlation between lipid profile and severity of COPD. INTRODUCTION: According to WHO, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will be the third leading cause of death in the world by 2030, represents an important public health challenge that is both preventable and treatable. Globally the COPD burden is projected increase in coming decades because of continued exposure to COPD risk factors and aging of the population. (1) Inhaled cigarette smoke and noxious particles such as smoke from biomass fuels cause lung inflammation, a normal response that appears to be modified in patients who develop COPD. In COPD, smoking is the major risk factor and smoking affects the lipid profile of COPD patients. The plasma β-lipoprotein, cholesterol and triglycerides concentration are higher and HDL cholesterol is lower in smoker than in nonsmokers. (2) The clinical importance of hyperlipoproteinemia derives chiefly from the role of lipoproteins in atherogenesis. Abundant epidemiological evidence establishes the multi-factorial character of this disease and indicates that the effects of the multiple risk factors are at least additive. Hence an attempt was made to investigate the levels of total cholesterol (TCH), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoproteins (LDL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), high density lipoproteins (HDL) in COPD patients. Moreover, correlation of Forced Expiratory Volume in first second (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC ratio with lipid profile were carried out.

BACKGROUND:Smoking is the preventable risk factor for many non-communicable diseases like COPD, atherosclerotic diseases, stroke and many malignancies. Many smokers smoke their 1 st cigarette at early age due to various social factors. Many of the smokers doesn't know the harmful effects of the smoking on individual systems. METHODS: Prospective study conducted on 102 smokers attending to outpatient department of the Government fever hospital, Guntur. They were surveyed about their smoking preferences. After taking the preliminary details they are enquired about the level of awareness of harmful effects of smoking. RESULT: More than half the members (n=56,54.90%) smoke in their houses. They don't know about effect of second hand smoke on the health of the members. Only few members know the complication of the smoking like Skin diseases (17,16.66%), Cerebrovascular accidents (26,25.49%) and endocrine complications including diabetes (n=2, 1.8%). Most of subjects know risk of Carcinomas (92,90.19%), Cardiovascular diseases (34,33.33%) and Respiratory diseases (85,83.33%). People continue smoking inspite of awareness of complications of smoking due their addiction. CONCLUSIONS: Newer policies should raise towards educating the people about the exact impact of smoking on health. Policies should target the younger people that should stop smoking their 1 st cigarette or beedi.

BACKGROUND:A non-resolving opacity on chest X-ray despite intensive pharmacotherapy poses a diagnostic problem for the clinician. Transthoracic Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology is regarded as the most effective of the cytological methods for diagnosing lung cancer, in particular peripherally-located lesions including lung nodules of infective etiology. In this study we evaluated the role of ultrasound guided percutaneous Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in various peripheral pulmonary lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty one (81) Patients with peripheral lung lesions who were admitted in the Department of pulmonary medicine, Guntur Medical College/Government Fever Hospital, Guntur from January 2014 to March 2015. RESULTS: Out of 81 patients, diagnostic yield was obtained in 71 patients. In 71 patients, 45patients (55.5%) were with malignant and 26(32%) were with non-malignant lung lesions. Out of 45 malignant patients, Squamous cell carcinoma was seen in 27 patients (60%) followed by Adenocarcinoma in 10 (22.22%), Large cell carcinoma in 07(15.55%) and Metastatic carcinoma in 01 patient (2.22%). Out of 26 non-malignant lung lesions, 18 patients were with Tuberculosis (69.23%) and 08 patients were with pneumonia (30.76%). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound Guided Trans-thoracic FNAC of peripheral pulmonary lesion is, simple, safe, quick, acceptable, easily accessible, accurate and cost-effective procedure without radiation. It lessens the need of other procedures like BAL, FOB and cutting biopsy procedures etc. KEYWORDS: FNAC, Lung Cancer, Peripheral Lung Lesion, Pneumonia, Tuberculosis, Ultrasound. INTRODUCTION:A non-resolving opacity on chest X ray despite intensive pharmacotherapy poses a diagnostic problem for the clinician (1) . Radiographic features such as size, location of the lesion, margins, shape, growth rate and presence of calcification are helpful for the diagnosis, and are not confirmative. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is a well-established method of diagnosing both neoplastic and inflammatory conditions of the lung, has resulted in a decrease in the need of other procedures that are more invasive. Transthoracic Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology is regarded as the most effective of the cytological methods for diagnosing lung cancer, in particular peripherallylocated lesions including lung nodules of infective etiology. Trans-bronchial lung biopsy or brushings via Fibre Optic Bronchoscope and Per-cutaneous transthoracic aspiration under fluoroscopic guidance are the other alternatives. Diagnostic methods which are time consuming and not available in all centers. In such cases Ultrasound guided Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of peripheral pulmonary lung lesions using fine needle is the choice for establishing the diagnosis which is simple and safe. Real time B-mode ultra-sonography which is readily available in most centers is easy to perform and free from radiation, helps in the evaluation of pulmonary lesions and also the needle can be guided under vision and aspirates can be obtained from d...

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India is one of the high burden countries for tuberculosis as well as drug-resistant tuberculosis. Standardized treatment regimen (STR) for management of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) has been approved by RNTCP national DOTS-plus committee. OBJECTIVE: Study was done at Government fever hospital/Guntur medical college, Guntur, to know the effectiveness, adherence and the outcome of DOTS-plus. METHODOLOGY: A total of 106 patients who were confirmed to have MDRTB and came for pre-treatment evaluation were enrolled in to this prospective study conducted from October 2009 to March 2012. Patients were treated with DOTS-plus and were followed up mainly on out-patient basis. RESULTS: At the end of 3 rd month 61(57.5%) patients were culture converted and at the end of 6 th month 68(64%) patients were culture converted. At the end of treatment, 57 were cured, 25 defaulted, 13 failed, 11 died. 5 failure cases were converted to extensively drug resistant (XDR) TB during the treatment. 92 patients were complained of adverse drug reactions (ADR) and change of medication needed in 13(12%) patients with severe ADR. CONCLUSION: The treatment outcome results of patients treated with DOTS-plus was not up to the mark. Defaulters are main obstacle to the success of DOTS-plus. Patient as well as family counselling, close attention to the timely recognition and treatment of ADRs will improve the adherence to the treatment and thus the cure rate.