Experience of malaria in children of a flood affected area: a field hospital study

To determine the frequency of malaria among children presenting with fever in a flood affected area, and the frequency of Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum among cases, this cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 September 2010 to 15 January 2011 in the Australian Field Camp and Ehsas Field Hospital, Kot Addu, Muzaffargarh District, Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Each febrile child aged >/= 15 years fulfilling the clinical case definition of suspected uncomplicated malaria was investigated by rapid diagnostic test. Of 20 288 children examined, 3198 [16%] febrile patients fulfilled the clinical case definition and 2406 [75%] cases were positive for malaria. P. vivax, P. falciparum,and co-infection were present in 1562 [65%], 759 [31%] and 85[4%] cases respectively. P. vivaxwas the most prevalent species followed by P. falciparum.Twenty seven [4%] cases of P. falciparumfulfilled the case definition of cerebral malaria. The age group most affected was 5-9 years [41%]

Alterations in lipid profile in old age hypothyroid patients

The current investigation was designed to study the changes of lipid profile in hypothyroid patients in local population and t o investigate the importance of thyroid profile in oId age dyslipidemia patients. Ninety five newly diagnosed untreated h ypothyroid patients [aged 4 9.21 +/- 12.47 years, BMI 3 0.36 +/- 5.8, 74 females and 21 males] were identified from thyroid OPD of INMOL, PGMI, Lahore. Patients were compared with 78 control subjects [aged 48.80 +/- 11.00 years, BMI 30.51 +/- 04.70, 54 females and 24 males] matched by age and body mass index [BMI]. Serum TSH, FT4, FT3, Triacylglcerol [TAG], total cholesterol [TC], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] and high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] were measured. Significantly increased levels of TC and LDL-C in overt hypothyroid patients were observed. No significant differences were found in HDL-C and TAG in overt hypothyroid patients as compared to the control group. Elevated levels of TC and LDL-C in hypothyroid patients represent an increased risk of ischaemic heart disease that requires therapeutic intervention. The deranged lipid profiles in hypothyroidism can not be corrected without the treatment for hypothyroidism in these patients. Therefore, all older patients referred for diagnosis and treatment of dyslipidemia should also be screened for hypothyroidism

Changes in electrolyte and blood urea in cirrhotic patients

Patients suffering from liver cirrhosis, age between 18 to 60 years both male and female were studied from Biochemistry Deptt, PGMI and Medical I, Services Hospital, Lahore. Out of total 49 patients were found to be positive for hepatitis B virus and 23 percent for hepatitis C virus. Serum bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase was highly significant [p<0.001, while alanine transferase moderately and total protein was non-significantly reduced. Blood urea was normal for majority of patients. Serum electrolytes were normal for potassium but decrease in sodium was non significant. Increase in serum bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase, slight decrease in serum sodium and normal potassium were frequent findings in liver cirrhosis

effect of essential hypertension on serum uric acid level

Patient with arterial hypertension and no definable cause are said to have essential, primary or idiopathic hypertension. A total of 100 patients suffering from essential hypertension and 100 control subjects with almost same mean age and sex distribution were enrolled in this study. Levels of serum uric acid, total cholesterol, TG, and HDL-c were determined by enzymatic colorimetric method. Serum LDL-c and VLDL-c was calculated by using Friedewald and Wilson's formulae. The study was aimed to find out the levels of serum uric acid and lipid profile in patients with essential hypertension and to compare them with levels of normal healthy individuals. Results show increased level of serum uric acid and lipid parameters except for HDL-c, which was significantly, decreased in patients with essential hypertension as compared to the control subjects. Variations in aforementioned parameters were also observed on comparing the obese and the non-obese patients. It can be concluded from the present study that the essential hypertension is associated with abnormalities in the levels of serum uric acid and lipid profile