Malabsorption of nutrients in children with diarrhoea due to unknown aetiologies

Intake and coefficient of absorption of nutrients were measured in 72 children during acute diarrhoea and 2 weeks after recovery. No diarrhoeal pathogens could be identified in 18 [25%] children [group I]. Aetiology of diarrhoea was identified in rest of the 54 children [group II], Absorption of calorie, fat and carbohydrate during the recovery stage were similar in all 72 children. In group I, absorption of nutrients improved from acute stage to recovery stage as follows: fat from 62 to 85%, calories from 68 to 86% and carbohydrate from 81 to 91%. Absorption of nitrogen during the acute stage was significantly lower [P<0.01] in group I [mean +/- SD: 2% +/- 56] than in group II [mean +/- SD: 49% +/- 28]. The anion gap in the stool of group I children [32] was similar to those with shigellae [37] and rotavirus [38]. This could partially be explained by the possible loss of anionic proteins, fatty acids and/or lactic acids in the diarrhoeal stool. Results suggest that the diarrhoea due to unknown aetiology is possibly of the invasive type. Further investigation is necessary to define the mechanism of nitrogen loss in acute diarrhoea of unknown aetiology

Suggested reference ranges in clinical chemistry for apparently healthy males and females of Pakistan

Seven hundred and eighty six apparently healthy males [418] and females [368] aged 0-69 years were randomly selected for estimation of reference ranges of 24 serum analytes at the clinical chemistry laboratory of The Aga Khan University Hospital [AKUH]. Of the total study samples, 56% [439/786] were in the paediatric age group [0-14 years] and 44% [347/786] in the adult [15 >/= 60 years] group. Beckman Astra Ideal Autoanalyzer was used for all the estimations. Mean and standard deviations [SD] were calculated for each of the age groups. Reference ranges were calculated following standard methods of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry [IFCC] and International Committee for Standardization in Haematology [ICSH]

Prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in children of the urban slums of Karachi

A preliminary baseline survey was conducted to estimate the prevalence of anaemia in a group of 391 children aged 6-60 months, randomly selected from three urban slums of Karachi. Haemoglobin and the red cell indices including haematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RBC and red cell distribution width [RDW] were estimated for each of the selected children. Ferritin estimation was done on 354 [91%] children to assess the iron storage status. According to WHO criteria, the accepted cut-off point for anaemia screening in children is set at 11 gm/dl, 70 fl and 20 pg for haemoglobin, MCV and MCH respectively. Following these criteria, 118 [30%] children were classified as normals [Hg =/>11 gm/dl] and 273 [70%] as anaemic [Hg =/< 11 gm/dl]. Of the 354 ferritin estimations, 225 [64%] children had ferritin levels lower than normal [< 11 ng/ml] and 128 [36%] had ferritin levels within normal limit [11-120 ng/ml]. From this group, a total of 61% [214/354] children were classified as microcytic hypochromic [MIH] and 11% [39/354] of which had normal ferritin levels suggesting the presence of thalassemia minor trait. The overall results obtained indicate that iron deficiency anaemia is highly prevalent among these children

Serum alkaline phosphatase in apparently healthy Karachi population

Serum alkaline phosphatase [AP] was estimated in a total of 786 [418 males and 386 females] apparently healthy people aged between 1-75 years selected randomly from a sample of the Karachi population. Reference ranges for AP level were obtained for the males and females stratified into ten successive age groups. The study population was also divided into two main age groups, a paediatric aged between 1-14 years and an adult group aged between 15 to over 50 years to see if the mean AP levels differ significantly between the two groups. Mean AP level for the male paediatric age group was 225IU/L, significantly higher [P < 0.005] than those of the male adult mean level of 83 IU/L. Similarly the mean AP levels for the paediatric female age group was 205 IU/L significantly higher [P < 0.005], compared to the mean AP level of 67 IU/L obtained for the female adult age group

Efficacy of a home made quality control serum

Neurological disorders were studied in 18 patients diagnosed to have AIDS and their findings are analysed. Amongst the problems seen were toxoplasmosis [9], cryptococcal meningitis [5], tuberculous meningitis [1], AIDS dementia complex [3], peripheral neuropathy [2], vertebrobasilar stroke, and a possible AIDS myelopathy in one case each. Their findings are discussed, and literature on the neurological disorders in AIDS reviewed