ABSTRACT
Eighteen adult patients of systemic sclerosis were included in this prospective study from Rheumatology Clinic of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka during the period of July 1997 to December 1999 to observe the effectiveness of treatment with methotrexate (MTX) versus placebo. Among the eighteen patients 9 patients were randomly assigned to MTX and 9 to placebo therapy. Nine patients were dropped out (6 in placebo and 3 in the MTX group), because of toxicity and non-compliance. Clinical improvement following treatment was observed in 33.33% of the patient in MTX group but none in placebo group, but this difference was not statistically significant. Anorexia, nausea and occasional vomiting were common side effects in MTX group and subsided in most cases with the passage of time despite the continuation of therapy.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Antirheumatic Agents/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Male , Methotrexate/therapeutic use , Middle Aged , Respiratory Function Tests , Scleroderma, Systemic/drug therapy , Statistics, Nonparametric , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Prevalence of asymptomatic Hepatitis B carrier state varies in different countries. Surgical procedures are an important mode of dissemination of Hepatitis B virus infection. Five hundred patients whose HBsAg status was not known and had undergone a major operative procedure in the Dhaka Medical College Hospital were screened for HBsAg. Of these, 43 (8.6%) were found to be HBsAg positive. Age, sex, and previous history of jaundice didn't show any relationship with the HBsAg status. But the HBsAg positivity was found to be positively related to the past history of blood transfusion, hospitalization and injections.
Subject(s)
Adult , Bangladesh/epidemiology , Blood Transfusion/adverse effects , Carrier State/blood , Female , Hepatitis B/blood , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/analysis , Hospitals, University , Humans , Male , Mass Screening/methods , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Surveys and Questionnaires , Surgical Procedures, OperativeABSTRACT
One hundred consecutive hypertensive patients with stroke admitted to the medicine units of Dhaka Medical College Hospital were studied. The main objective was to study the extent of drug compliance and control of blood pressure in hypertensive patients who had suffered a stroke. Detailed history and clinical examinations were performed in all patients and outcome was recorded. Of the 100 patients studied there were 73(73%) males, 27 (27%) patients had no formal schooling and 53 (53%) had some education. 48 (48%) patients were from middle class and 36 (36%) were poor, 66 (66%) patients were aware that they were hypertensive though only 8 (12.9%) were taking anti-hypertensive drugs regularly. 62% of the patients had suffered from stroke within 5 years of detection of hypertension, and 15 (15%) patients died in the hospital.