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Complications occurring in 2,400 treadmill tests are reported, out of which 2107 (87.8%) were on males and 292 (12.2%) on females. The total number of patients with complications was 29 (1.2%) and the types were: acute MI in 2, ventricular tachycardia (sustained) in 3, nonsustained in 7 with ventricular couplets in 3 patients, atrial tachyarrhythmias in four of AVNRT in 2, EAT in 2, SVT with abberancy in 1, SVT (undifferentiated) in 3, bradyarrhythmias in form of sinus bradycardia in 4, hypotension in 4 and AV block in 2. There were no deaths. Only 8 (0.33%) patients required treatment-2 each of acute MI, sustained VT, AVNRT and hypotension, though only 4 of them were hospitalised (2 each of acute MI and VT) and subsequently discharged. Highest incidence of complications was seen in post MI patients (2.01%) followed by those with typical anginal pain (1.9%) and they had more serious problems in form of MI and sustained VT. 55.17% patients with complications were positive for provocative ischaemia as compared to 22.75% positivity in the total. Although 14 (38.2%) patients developed complications at workload of 4-6 METS but 2 achieved load of 10 METS also. Complications were seen mostly during exercise and also during recovery only.

Plasma lipoproteins in 30 patients of cortical infarction and 20 patients of lacunar infarction were estimated to study the relation of plasma lipids to the risk for ischaemic stroke by comparing clinical and biochemical characteristics of survivors. No significant differences were observed in the concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins, very low density lipoproteins in both the groups. However patients with lacunar infarction had higher concentrations of high density lipoproteins as compared to patients with cortical infarction. These data suggest that previously demonstrated differences in HDL concentration between patients with ischaemic stroke and control subjects without stroke may be true for patients with cortical infarction but not for patients of lacunar infarction.

A total of 45 cases of Aluminium phosphide poisoning were studied from December 1989 to November 1990. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) test was positive in gastric aspirate in all cases (100%) who took fresh tablets and negative in those who took exposed tablets. The test was also positive in breath but had a lower sensitivity. Majority of patients revealed ECG abnormalities.

Case reports of 2 patients who developed pancreatitis and hyperlipidemia while using oral contraceptives are presented. The 1st patient had been taking Ovulen for 2 years when severe abdominal pain suddenly developed. Initially cholecystitis was diagnosed. Symptoms subsided within 1 week but recurred 2 months later, when the white blood count was increased to 16,400/cubic mm. Serum was grossly lipemic with a triglyceride level of 3500 mg% and serum cholesterol 560 mg%. 3 days later triglycerides had fallen to 400 mg% and cholesterol to 270 mg%. Cholecystography was normal. The pain had subsided. Symptoms have not recurred since stopping use of Ovulen. The 2nd patient was admitted with severe abdominal pain of 48 hours duration. Similar attacks of pain had occurred previously but had been of short duration. She had been taking Ovulen for 3 years. White blood count was increased to 18,000. Serum was grossly lipemic. Serum glyceride concentration was 7000 mg% and cholesterol 1200 mg%. Afer 3 days triglycerides were 500 mg% and cholesterol 475 mg%. Pancreatitis was diagnosed. Therapy was Ryles tube suction, atropine, intravenous saline, and a broad spectrum antibiotic. Symptoms subsided in 10 days. The hyperlipidemia is thought to have been a primary condition causing the pancreatitis. [Patients known to have such a condition should avoid use of oral contraceptives.