Treatable disease causing untreatable harm: anemia in school going childern

Prevalence of anemia in Pakistan is high. Magnitude of anemia is well studied in pregnant woman and infants in Pakistan, but we do not have enough data on school age children. The aim of this study was to find the frequency of anemia in apparently healthy primary school age population in Islamabad and its suburban area. All children between the ages of 5 and 14 years attending participating non-formulary schools in Islamabad and its suburbs were enrolled in the study. Children attending these schools belong to low to lower middle socioeconomic status. Hemoglobin level was determined in all subjects and a level <11.5 gm/dl was considered as anemia. A total of 319 children were enrolled. Eighty-seven [27%] children were found to be anemic. Mean hemoglobin concentration was 12.1 gm/dl. There was no significant difference between mean hemoglobin concentrations of males vs. female children. Anemia is a significant problem in our apparently health school going children of low to lower middle class. We suggest that primary school age children must be screened for anemia and treated

[Lectin histochemistry epididymal epithelium in mouse]

Introduction: Several different cell types have been identified morphologically in the epididymal epithelium in male mammals. They absorb luminal fluid and secret sperm-maturation glycoconjugates. Lectin histochemical method is useful for detection of glycocojugates with specific terminal sugars

Objective: This study surveys the distribution of glycoconjugates containing terminal sugals in cells of different areas of epididym and its canal sperms by the use of lectins

Materials and Methods: Sample of epididymal tissue was obtained from 30 adult male BALB/C mouse. After fixation and routine laboratory process, 5 microm sections was prepared from paraffin blocks. Slides were exposed to lectins with lectin-histochemistry. Then the slides were assessed by light microscope and graded reaction intensity in different cells

Results: Basal cells reacted to MPA, SBA and principal cells to all of lectins. Reaction intensity in essential cells was different as compared to various lectins and a special lectin in different areas of epididym. Narrow cells reacted to LTA, MPA and clear cells reacted to all of lectins. There wasn't any reaction in basal lamina and interstitial tissue except for MPA

Conclusion: epididymis secrets many sperm-maturation related glycoconjugates. Different reactions in different probably synthesieed glycoconjugates in basal cells due to inability to reach lumen and limited reaction in membrane, are used for repair and reconstruction of membrane. Faint or lack of reactions in caput of epididymis and appearance in corpus principal cells indicates that these cells in caput are involved in fluid absorption and/or glycoconjugates secretion in corpus. Epididymal sperm transit are accompanied with focuse content increasing and alternation in other terminal sugars

Prevalence of anemia in obstetrical population

To determine the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic and to asses the cause of anemia. Study Design: Temporal sampling technique. Place and Duration of Study: Antenatal clinic Unit II, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Services hospital, Lahore from 01.03.2001 to 01.03.2002. Subjects and Hemoglobin estimation was done in all subjects. Blood indices, peripheral smear, malarial parasite and stool examination were carried out in women with values less than 11gm/dl. Serum electrophoresis was done if the hemoglobin was less than 7gm/dl. It was found that 66% of the pregnant women were anemic. Anemia was more common in women with lesser education, low socioeconomic group and increasing parity. Iron deficiency anemia was found in 72.7% of anemic women. Effective steps should be taken to diagnose anemia early in pregnancy

Clinical study of rheum emodi, ammonium chloride and potassium nittrate in drug induced hepatotoxicity of tubercular patients

A number of anti-tubercular drugs are used for the treatment of tuberculosis for a long duration of time. Most common drug combination for the short course chemotherapy is Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, Isoniazid, and Ethambutol. In the long-term therapy, these drugs cause hepatotoxicity due to their adverse effects i.e. hepatitis, hepatic insufficiency, cholestatic hepatitis and fulminant hepatitis. Several Unani drugs have been reported as hepatoprotective agents, such as kasni, afsantin, zafran, nagar motha, gul-e-ghafis, naushader, shora qalmi, revand chini etc. In the present research work a powdered formulation containing revand chini [Rheum emodi], naushader [Ammonium chloride] and shora qalmi [Potassium nitrate] was prepared and studied clinically along with the anti-tubercular drugs during the first month of the treatment of tuberculosis in male and female subjects. The blood samples of the patients were collected before and after treatment and estimated for liver function tests i.e. serum bilirubin, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase [SGPT] and serum alkaline phosphates [SAP]. The patients were also observed for subjective/symptomatic parameters e.g. nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, flatulence and hepatomegaly. Hepatomegaly was examined by the physician and other parameters were recorded in the follow-up. Significant hepatoprotective effects were observed in both male and female subjects, although more prominent effects were observed in female subjects. The other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, flatulence and hepatomegaly were reduced in the ATT+Unani treatment groups as compared with anti-tuberculosis treatment alone. In conclusion, the Unani formulation along with the anti-tubercular drug treatment was found beneficial in reducing the side effects of anti-tubercular drugs on liver of the patients