Chromium is widely used in the leather industry, and tannery workers are under constant threat of adverse health effects due to its excessive exposure. Our objective was to find out the toxic effects of chromium on tannery workers at Sialkot, Pakistan. A total of 240 males consisting of 120 workers from tanneries at Sialkot and equal number of controls were included. Blood complete counts, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, malondialdehyde and routine biochemical tests were carried out by routine procedures. Chromium levels in blood (BCr) and urine were analyzed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer Perkin Elmer analyst-200. Results revealed that all the workers were male with average age of 33 years and 15 (13%) had skin rashes, 14 (12%) had chronic bronchitis, 10 (8%) had gastritis and 4 (3%) conjunctivitis. The tannery workers had significantly raised median (interquartile range) of BCr 569 (377-726) nmol/L as compared to 318 (245-397) nmol/L in the control (p < 0.001). Sixty-five (54%) workers had BCr levels above the upper limit set by Agency for Toxic Substance and Drug Registry. The urinary chromium excretion was significantly high in workers 131 (46-312) nmol/L as compared to 13 (3-26) nmol/L in controls (p < 0.01). The workers had hematological, hepatic and renal function impairment because of oxidative stress on body systems. It is concluded that about half of the workers had excessive exposure to chromium in the tanneries at Sialkot. They had significantly raised chromium levels in their biological fluids and adverse health effects due to enhanced oxidative stress and inflammatory changes.

To determine the antibody levels at 6 months in SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated individuals in COVID-recovered versus non-infected groups to determine the need to administer booster COVID vaccine in each group. Prospective longitudinal study. Pathology Department, Combined Military Hospital, Lahore for a period of eight months from July 2021 to February 2022. Two hundred and thirty three study participants in both COVID recovered and non-infected groups (105 participants in infected group, 128 participants in non-infected group) were subjected to blood sampling at 6 months post-vaccination. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody test was done using Chemiluminescence method. Comparison of antibody levels between COVID-recovered and non-infected groups was made. Results were compiled and statistically analyzed using SPSS version 21. Out of 233 study participants, males were 183 (78%) while females were 50 (22%), mean age being 35.93 years ± 8.298. Mean Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S IgG levels among COVID-recovered group was 1342 U/ml and among non-infected group was 828 U/ml at 6 months post-vaccination. Mean antibody titers in COVID-19 recovered group are higher than in non-infected group at 6 months post-vaccination in both groups.

Objective: To establish efficacy of malaria prevention programs by screening troops returning from UN peacekeeping services in high risk areas in Africa for malarial parasites. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Kharian, from Jan 2017 to Jan 2019. Methodology: In this cross sectional study, individuals of regiments returning to Pakistan from high risk areasin Africa were screened for malarial parasites. A total of 1632 samples were analyzed during this time frame.Informed consent was taken at the individual and institutional level. Blood samples obtained from each participant were tested by both immuno-chromatographic techniques and peripheral blood films. Results: Total 1632 individuals were screened for malarial parasites. Peripheral blood slides were negative in allindividuals except one. Immuno-chromatographic techniques for detection of malarial parasites were positive in 17 individuals for Plasmodium falciparum antigen. Only one individual had both Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum positivity via both methods. All of them were asymptomatic at the time of screening, had a past history of high grade fever treated with anti-malarial drugs and were admitted for observation and follow up. Conclusion: Despite the high prevalence of malaria in Africa, the current prevention protocols prove to be highly efficacious in protecting UN peace-keeping forces from infection and lowering mortality rates.

Objective: To determine lipid derangements in HIV-positive patients receiving anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of study: Chemical Pathology Department, in cooperation with the Department of Virology at Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Mar 2019 to Mar 2020. Methodology: In this study, two groups were made. In Group-1, lipid profile estimation was done in HIV patients without treatment. In contrast, lipid profile estimation was done after one year of treatment with anti-retroviral drugs in Group-2. Results: One hundred and two HIV-positive subjects were included in our study. Of these patients, 88(86.27%) were males,and 14(13.73%) were females. Independent sample t-test revealed a statistically significant difference (p-value<0.05) in serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and very lowdensity lipoproteins (VLDL) between the two groups. Conclusion: Hyperlipidemia in HIV patients getting anti-retroviral therapy (ART) exposes them to a high risk of coronary artery diseases and myocardial infarction. Hence lipid profile of patients getting ART must be regularly monitored, and hyperlipidemia, if present, should be managed.