BACKGROUND Pancytopenia is a reduction in all three major series of formed elements of blood i.e. erythrocytes, leucocytes and platelets. Pancytopenia is not an uncommon condition encountered in day to day clinical practice. The underlying aetiology of pancytopenia determines the management and prognosis of patients. Bone marrow aspiration is a minimally invasive, out-patient procedure which provides definitive diagnosis in a case of pancytopenia. In developing countries like India, the causes of pancytopenia are not well defined, hence, we conducted this study in Bundelkhand region of India to evaluate causes of pancytopenia. We wanted to evaluate haematological findings in patients of pancytopenia, and to study bone marrow findings by bone marrow aspiration to understand the underlying aetiology of pancytopenia. METHODS This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Pathology at MLB Medical College, Jhansi, among 65 patients over a one and a half year period from March 2018 to September 2019, to evaluate the causes of pancytopenia. RESULTS We found that out of 65 cases, 32 cases were of megaloblastic anaemia (49.23 %), 20 cases were of dimorphic anaemia (30.77 %), 6 cases were of hypersplenism (9.23 %), 4 cases were of subleukemic leukemia (6.15 %), 2 cases of aplastic anaemia (3.7 %) and 1 case was of myelodysplastic syndrome (1.54 %). CONCLUSIONS Along with detailed clinical examination and complete blood count, bone marrow examination is indispensable to diagnose the aetiology of pancytopenia, thereby helping clinician in planning management of these patients. KEY WORDS Pancytopenia, Megaloblastic Anaemia, Dimorphic Anaemia, Bone Marrow Examination

Background: Despite the increasing evidence regarding the hazards of tobacco, its consumption continues to rise. Premature deaths and disabling illnesses, especially related to the pulmonary and cardiovascular system, caused by cigarette smoking, had now reached epidemic proportions and presented the most challenging problem to medical scientists. Tobacco smoke contains a number of substances which may exert an adverse effect on the whole body especially on the respiratory system. Spirometry is the most effective way of determining the severity of damage in lungs. Pulmonary Functions (Spirometry) and Chest X-ray imaging (Conventional and Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD)) were assessed on smoker (n=240) and nonsmoker (n=240) adult population in the Department of Physiology and Radiodiagnosis, S.M.S. Medical College and Attached Hospitals, Jaipur (Rajasthan). Significant (p<0.05) declines of pulmonary indices such as FVC (L), FEV1 (L) and FEV1/FVC (%) were observed in smoker as compared with nonsmoker. Significant improved quality and radiological findings (Emphysema, Hyperinflation, Calcification and Other Suspected Abnormalities) were observed in chest X-ray by CAD tool as compared to conventional method. Statistically significant lower values of pulmonary indices found suggesting that functioning of the lung is affected in the group of cigarette smoker than in nonsmoker group. A significant increase in the appearance of radiological findings and quality of chest X-ray in smokers by CAD tool ropes the contribution of image processing in the medical field.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to analyse the spectrum of bone marrow aspiration and biopsy results and their clinicohaematological profile. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective descriptive study was conducted from 1 st September 2017 to 31 st August 2018. All bone marrows examined during his period were included. Demographic profile including age, sex, clinical history etc. were analysed from the records available in the bone marrow register which is maintained in Pathology department, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal. A total of 94 bone marrows were included. Appropriate statistical analysis was applied. RESULTS Check marrows (25.88%) was the most common reason for bone marrow examinations. Acute leukaemias (18.82%) were the most haematological disorder encountered followed by nutritional dual deficiency anaemia (5.88%). CONCLUSION The results of this study will assist in future planning for installation of special tests such as flow cytometry and molecular laboratory. Finally bone marrow aspiration (BMA) and bone marrow biopsy (BMB) are two separate but complimentary techniques which are required for diagnosis of various haematological disorders.

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