No abstract

Chloroquine (CQ) has been the mainstay of treatment of malaria for decades. This cost-effective and safe drug has become ineffective for treatment of falciparum malaria in many parts of the world due to development of resistance by the parasite. In addition CQ is not gametocytocidal for P. falciparum and thus cannot block transmission. The extent of problem of chloroquine resistance in P. falciparum is increasing every year. The study was done in period of 2 years. A total of 5653 specimens were examined for malarial infection by employing different diagnostic modalities. Four hundred and thirty-five were found to be positive for P. falciparum by using different diagnostic techniques. All positive specimens were cultured on RPMI 1640 medium; only 108 were found to be culture positive. Sensitivity of isolates to chloroquine was done using Mark III WHO sensitivity plates. The prevalence of malaria infection was found 9.54% in 2010. There were schizont formation at 8 pmol/liter or more of chloroquine concentration in 26 isolates. The emergence of chloroquine (CQ) resistance pattern in Aligarh isolates increases. Antimalarial agents should be used with caution; monotherapies should be avoided.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic disease of unknown etiology characterized by articular involvement, extra-articular involvement, and the presence of serum rheumatoid factor. Pulmonary involvement in RA is a common extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that confers significant morbidity and mortality. We undertook this study to determine the prevalence and spectrum of pulmonary abnormalities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from a North Indian town. 62 patients who met the American College of Rheumatology (formerly the American Rheumatism Association) 1987 classification criteria for RA were subjected to clinical examination of chest, X-Ray-chest (CXR), pulmonary function tests (PFT) and high resonance computed tomography (HRCT). 40.3% patients had some pulmonary symptoms with exertional dyspnoea in 21%, cough with expectoration in 17.7%, fine respiratory rales in 11.3%, patients X-ray chest bilateral lower zone haziness in 16% and prominent pulmonary vasculature in 3.2%. 43% had abnormal PFT-restrictive pattern in 29%, obstructive pattern 8% and mixed pattern in 6.4%. HRCT revealed abnormal findings in 33.8% commonest being ground glass pattern in both lower lobes 19.3%, sub pleural reticulations in 9.6%, pleural thickening in 3.2% and pulmonary vascular prominence in 1.6%. To provide optimal treatment, physicians must always consider the possibility of associated pulmonary manifestations when patients with RA are evaluated.