Mega-dose vitamin C: is it harmful to the liver? biochemical and histological study in rats

To investigate if mega-doses of vitamin C would have deleterious effects on the liver in an animal model. A mega-dose of vitamin C [1000 mg/kg/day] was administered by oral gavage to male Wistar rats for 60 days. Both biochemical and histopathological measures were undertaken. The results showed that a mega-dose of vitamin C significantly elevated lipid peroxidation and transaminase activity level in addition to the significant suppression of antioxidant enzymes activities. These results were consistent with the presence of histological lesions. A mega-dose of vitamin C is not safe and can cause liver injury

Seroprevalence of measles antibodies in school going children in Pakistan

To determine the Seroprevalence of measles IgG antibodies in school going children [age 4 to7.5 years] and assess the need for second dose of vaccination. Study type, settings and duration: National study in randomly selected primary school children for a duration of 12 months. Subjects and Methods: A national representative sample of 6000 school going children between 5-7 years of age was taken out. As 500 children were already studied an year before in Islamabad, therefore, 2500 children from Punjab, 2000 from Sindh and 500 each from Khyber Pakhtonkhaw and Balochistan making a total of 6000 children. These children were selected from major cities of Pakistan that included Peshawar, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Karachi, Hyderabad, and Quetta. Consent was taken from the parents and principals of the schools for collection of blood samples. About 5 ml of whole blood was taken from which serum was separated and stored for testing. Measles antibody titres [serum IgG antibodies] were measured by enzyme-linked Immunosorbant assay [ELISA]. Antibodies concentration<200 m IU was considered negative [non-protective]; those having levels between 200-300 m IU were labeled as border line and>300 m IU as positive [protective]. For the purpose of analysis, ages of the children were divided into three groups

Association between workplace and housing conditions and use of pesticide safety practices and personal protective equipment among north carolina farmworkers in 2010

There are inconsistencies about the effects of farmworker housing and workplace conditions and use of self-protective behavior practices and personal protective equipment [PPE]. To investigate the association between workplace and housing conditions and farmworker use of pesticide safety practices and PPE. This study was conducted in 4 counties in North Carolina, USA, from July to October, 2010, during the agricultural growing season. Farmworkers working in agriculture aged 18 to 62 [n=187] were administered a structured questionnaire to collect self-reported measures on housing and workplace conditions. Use of pesticide safety and PPE were examined by asking questions about wearing gloves, wearing socks, and wearing a hat. Chi-square and multiple logistic regression analyses were used for statistical analyses. Farmworkers reporting availability of enough hot and cold water for bathing and doing laundry were 13.6 times more likely to use pesticide safety practices [adjusted OR: 13.6, 95% CI: 1.4-135.4], whereas, those who reported that soap for handwashing was always or usually available while doing agricultural work were 7.8 times more likely to use pesticide safety practices [adjusted OR: 7.8, 95% CI: 3.3-18.5]. Farmworkers that reported access to water to wash their hands with while performing agricultural work were more likely to use PPE [adjusted OR: 3.4, 95% CI: 1.3-9.2]. Some migrant farmworker labor camps are not supplying acceptable housing conditions such as 1 handwashing sink per 6 people [n = 10, 5.4%]. Use of pesticide safety practices and PPE is greater when farmers provide decontamination supplies. Improvement of housing and workplace conditions are crucial to increase use of pesticide safety practices and PPE

comparative study of renal size in newborn babies

In neonatal period usual presentation of renal anomalies is an increase or decrease in renal size. This study was conducted to assess renal size of normal newborn babies and to determine the best parameter against which kidney size should be associated and whether it is similar for small for gestational age and appropriate for gestational age babies. This was a hospital-based case-control study, conducted over six months at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center and National Institute of Child Health, Karachi. One hundred and twenty-eight newborn babies were included. Kidney length and depth were measured by ultrasound. Birth weight, body length and head circumference of babies were measured. Gestational age was assessed using Dubowitz method. Kidney size was compared to birth weight, length, head circumference and gestational age. Out of 128 children 59% were boys and 41% girls. Seventy-one [55.4%] were small for gestational age and 57 [44.6%] appropriate for gestational age. Birth weights of babies ranged from 1100-4200 grams, lengths 39-53 cm and head circumference 30-37 cm. There was a positive correlation of kidney size with birth weight, body length and gestational age, strongest in case of birth weight. Appropriate for gestational age babies had larger kidneys than small for gestational age babies. There is a strong correlation between kidney size and birth weight of newborn babies. Small for gestational age babies have significantly smaller kidneys as compared to appropriate for gestational age babies

Knowledge and attitude of school teachers regarding breast-feeding

Breast milk meets all the nutritional needs of the baby safely and adequately. In developing countries like Pakistan where malnutrition is common and infant mortality rate is high, all possible measures should be taken to support and promote breast-feeding. In this regard school teachers can play an important role because not only they bring up their own children, but also they can effectively impart knowledge about breast-feeding in an appropriate way to their students. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of school teachers regarding breast-feeding. A pre-tested questionnaire in urdu with 27 open ended questions was administered to each respondent individually who completed it under supervision. Participants: 375 female school teachers, 125 each from upper, middle and lower socio-economic areas of Karachi. Assessment of breast-feeding knowledge and attitude. The percentage of correct answers by teachers of upper class area for 27 questions was 33.23%, of middle class area 32.36% and lower class area 43.00%. The overall percentage of correct answers was 34.4% with no significant difference between the three groups. We documented that deficit in the knowledge was significant in all the three groups. When analyzed according to the five main topics of breast-feeding, we found no significant difference in knowledge between the three socio-economic groups although knowledge of one or the other group was significantly better regarding individual questions. The overall knowledge of teachers about the subject of breast-feeding was markedly deficient with no statistically significant difference between the teachers of three socioeconomic areas

Mediastinal enteric cyst

A 4-week-old female baby admitted with respiratory distress in Neonatal unit was found to have a mediastinal cyst on radiologic examination. It was successfully excised and turned out to be an enteric cyst. This emphasises the need for proper radiologic evaluation in newborn infants with respiratory distress

Hepatitis A in Saudi Arabia: a comparative sero-epidemiological study

To determine the prevalence of Hepatitis A Virus infection among Saudi children [1-12 years] in 1997. To compare the results with our previous study in 1989. This is a randomized community-based study involving all of the regions of Saudi Arabia. All children were tested for antibody Hepatitis A Virus immunoglobulin [IgG] class. The prevalence of anti-Hepatitis A Virus IgG among 5355 Saudi children tested ranged from 10% in Taif to 82% in Gizan regions with an overall prevalence of 25%. There is a reduction of the overall prevalence from 50.5% in 1989 to 25% in 1997. This study shows a marked decline in Hepatitis A Virus infection in Saudi children 8 years after the first study. There is an almost 50% reduction of the overall Hepatitis A Virus prevalence. This dramatic decline in Hepatitis A Virus infection among the Saudi children will lead to a later exposure of elderly population groups to the Hepatitis A Virus infection and a new preventive strategy needing to be adopted

Schistosomiasis as a possible risk factor for acquiring hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection among Saudis

Risk factors for acquiring hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection have been elucidated in many developed countries but the picture is still not clear in many Middle Eastern Countries including Saudi Arabia. Aim-To investigate possible risk factors for acquiring HCV among Saudis. Methods-Various demographic and medical risk factors that might be associated with the spread of HCV among Saudis were investigated. The population studied included 20 anti-HCV-positive with chronic liver disease [CLD], 30 anti-HCV-positive patients without CLD and 272 anti-FICV-negative Saudi blood donors. All people investigated were of the same age group [>40 years of age]. Results-None of the demographic parameters studied [type of job, type of housing, education] was found to be significantly associated with acquiring HCV infection among our Saudi patients, On the other hand up to 40% of the anti-Hey-positive patients and irrespective of the condition of liver disease had a history of surgery, and 25% of them had a history of multiple injections. Furthermore, at least 20% of our anti-HCV-positive patients had a history of schistosomiasis which is significantly higher than schistosomiasis among the blood donors [Pc0.005]. Conclusion-In addition to blood and blood products, schistosomiasis seems to be a possible risk factor for acquiring HCV among the Saudi population. The association between schistosomiasis and enhancement of HCV infection need to be further elucidated

Jaundice in the new-born

A prospective study of neonatal jaundice was carried out from January 1977 to June 1980 in Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi. Of 414 neonates studied 108 were found to have physiological jaundice taking a total serum bilirubin level of 12 mg.% and conjugated serum bililrubin level of 10mg% as upper limits of physiological along with other usual criteria. The remaining 306 with pathological neonatal jaundice have been analysed further. Rh haemolytic disease of the new-born accounted for 15.7% permaturity with or without infection for 42.5% sepsis in mature infants for 16.3% enclosed haemorrhage for 4.9% and miscellaneous causes for 3.6%. The frequency of kernicterus among infants with pathological jaundice was 11.4%