Abstract

Background: Enlarged palpable cervical lymph nodes as a primary presenting sign are very common and may be due to inflammatory lesions and tumors. Correlation between clinical findings and laboratory data is essential in arriving at a diagnosis. In patients presenting with cervical lymphadenopathy, excision biopsy provides material to establish an early diagnosis. We designed this study in our population for histological evaluation of cervical lymph node biopsies that might be important in the management of these patients. Objective: Histopathological evaluation of different diseases involving the cervical lymph nodes in relation to age and sex of the study population. Materials and Methods: It was a cross sectional study conducted in the department of Pathology, Enam Medical College & Hospital, Savar, Dhaka during the period from January 2006 to December 2010. A total of 107 patients were evaluated for specific cause of cervical lymphadenopathy in relation to age and sex. Lymph node biopsies of all patients of both sexes and all age groups were included in the study. Results: Among the 107 subjects 58 (54.2%) were males and 49 (45.8%) were females with a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. The age of the patients ranged from 2 to 85 years with a mean age of 32.68 ± 18.01 years. Of the 107 lymph node biopsies, 34 cases (31.8%) were reactive lymphadenitis, 41 cases (38.3%) were tuberculosis, 2 cases (1.9%) were non-caseous granuloma, 6 cases (5.6%) were Hodgkin lymphoma, 8 cases (7.5%) were non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 12 cases (11.2%) were metastatic neoplasm and 4 cases (3.7%) were other specific lesions. Conclusion: The commonest cause of cervical lymphadenopathy was tuberculosis, followed by reactive lymphadenitis, lymphoma and metastatic neoplasm

Background: Lymphadenopathy is a common manifestation of a large variety of disorders,both benign and malignant. It is essential to define the pattern of disorders presenting primarily as lymph node enlargement in a particular environment. Histopathological examination of the lymph node biopsies is a gold standard test in the distinction between reactive and malignant lymphoid proliferations as well as for detailed subtyping oflymphomas. We designed this study in our population for histopathological evaluation of lymph nodes that might be helpful for clinical management of these lesions. Objective: Histopathological evaluation of lymphadenopathy from excised specimen, in relation to ageand sex of the patients, and distribution of the lymph nodes. Materials and Methods: It was a retrospective cross sectional study conducted in the department of Pathology, Enam Medical College & Hospital, Savar, Dhaka during the period from January 2006 to December 2010. Lymph node biopsies of all patients of both sexes and all age groups were included.Metastatic lymph nodes associated with evidence of primaries elsewhere in the body were excluded from the study. Total 191 lymph node biopsies were selected for histopathological evaluation. Among these 90 (47.12%) were from males and 101 (52.88%) were from females with male to female ratio being 1:2.1. The age of the patients ranged from 2 to 85 years with a mean age of 35.73 ± 18 years. Results: Cervical lymph nodes were the most common (56%) biopsied group. Of the 191 cases 59 cases (30.89%) were reactive lymphadenitis, 64 cases (33.5%) were tuberculosis, 2 cases (1.05%) were non-caseous granuloma, 11 cases (5.76%) were Hodgkin lymphoma, 22 cases (11.52%) were non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 24 cases (12.57%) were metastatic neoplasm and 9 cases (4.7%) were other lesions. Conclusion: Tuberculosis was the most common cause of lymphadenopathy, followed by reactive lymphadenitis and the cervical group of lymph nodes was most frequently affected

Iron deficiency anemia is considered as one of the major public health problem in Bangladesh. Cardiac autonomic nerve dysfunction may present in iron deficiency anemia which increases the risk and further complications of this disease. Assessment of heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive technique to evaluate cardiac autonomic nerve function status. To assess the cardiac autonomic nerve function status by heart rate variability analysis, 100 female subjects with iron deficiency anemia aged 20-45 years were included in the study group. For comparison, age and sex matched 100 apparently healthy female were selected as control. The HRV parameters were recorded by a 4 active channels, Polyrite-D. Mean resting pulse rate, LF power, LF norm and LF/HF were significantly (p <0.0001) higher and total power, HF power, HF norm were significantly (p <0.0001) lower in subjects with iron deficiency anemia in comparison to those of control group. This study concludes that cardiac parasympathetic activity was reduced in female with iron deficiency anemia.Bangladesh Med J. 2014 Sep; 43 (3): 125-129

Background: Liver plays a major role in detoxification and excretion of many endogenous and exogenous compounds. Any injury may lead to severe liver damage and impairment of liver function. Harbal plants such as Terminalia chebula (Haritaki) may have free radical scavenging activity thereby can be used for the prevention and treatment of liver damage. Objective: To observe the effect of Terminalia chebula on paracetamol induced changes of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in Wister albino rats. Methods: This experimental study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from January to December' 2013. Total 44 rats with age 90 to 120 days, weighing between 150 to 200 gm were selected. After acclimatization for 14 days, they were divided into base line control (BC, n=11), paracetamol treated control (PC, n=11),Terminalia chebula pretreated and paracetamol treated (TCP-PCT n=11) and paracetamol pretreated and Terminalia chebula treated group (PCP-TCT, n=11). All groups received basal diet for 21 consecutive days. In addition to basal diet, rats of BC received propylene glycol (2ml/kg body weight, orally) and PC received single dose of paracetamol suspension (750mg/kg body weight, orally) on 21 st day. Rats of TCP-PCT received Terminalia chebula extract (200 mg/kg body weight, orally) for 21 consecutive days and paracetamol suspension (750mg/kg body weight, orally) on 21 st day. Again, rats of PCP-TCT received paracetamol suspension (750mg/kg body weight, orally) on the 1 st day and Terminalia chebula extract (200 mg/kg body weight orally) for 21 consecutive days. All rats were sacrificed on 22 nd day and then blood samples were collected. For assessment of liver function serum AST and ALT levels were estimated by using standard laboratory kits. The statistical analysis was done by one way ANOVA and post hoc Bonferroni test as applicable. Results: The mean serum AST and ALT levels were significantly (p<0.001) higher in PC in comparison to those of BC. Serum AST and ALT levels of all experimental groups were significantly (P<0.001) lower than PC group. Conclusion: From the results of this study, it may be concluded that Terminalia chebula may have some hepatoprotective effects in paracetamol induced liver damage in rats.