Hepatic dysfunction is frequent in varicella infection

To determine frequency and severity of hepatic dysfunction in adult chickenpox patients admitted in our hospital. This was a hospital based descriptive study conducted from January 2005 to December 2007 at the Infectious Diseases Unit, Rashid hospital Dubai, UAE. The demographics, clinical information, radiological and biochemical changes observed in each patient were entered in a proforma. Full blood count, liver function tests, blood sugar, urea and electrolytes were done for all the patients, whereas, patients with clinical and/or biochemical evidence of hepatic dysfunction were subjected to viral hepatitis serology, coagulation profile, blood culture and ultrasound abdomen. Management was done as per standard guidelines for the management of chickenpox and its complications. A total of 105 patients were entered into the study. Serum alanine transaminases [ALT] levels were above the reference range in 50.9%. Among the 52 patients with raised serum ALT levels, 16 [30.7%] had levels > 3 times, 4 [7.6%] had > 5 times and 5 [9.6%] had > 10 times of normal levels. Serum bilirubin was increased above the normal value in 20% and was greater than 3-folds in 4.9%. High frequency of thrombocytopenia [p < 0.009], pneumonia [p0.004], impaired renal function [p < 0.01] and disturbed coagulation profile [p < 0.01] were observed in patients with hepatic dysfunction. Overall, five [4.9%] patients expired and two [1.9%] of them had acute fulminant hepatic failure. We observed that liver is frequently involved in adult chickenpox patients and the severity of hepatic dysfunction ranges from mild elevation of transaminases levels to acute fulminant hepatic failure

Effect of some feed additives on growth rate of hubbard chickens

The present investigation dealt with the possibility of adding some food additives, as dried cabbage leaves, dried onion and dried garlic, to poultry ration to study their effect on growth rate and feed efficiency in Hubbard chickens. Results are tabulated in graphs for each of the three food additives

Effects of prostaglandin F2 on some blood constituents, thyrotrophic hormone [TSH] and thyroid gland activity in immature chickens

Experiments were performed to show the effects of PGF [2 infinity] some blood constituents of immature male and female chickens. These constituents were red cell count, haemoglobin content, haematocrit [PCV], sedimentation rate and serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus and cholesterol. Biological assay of TSH was also made histological studies to evaluate the activity of the thyroid gland as a result of PGF[2 infinity] injection were made. The result indicated that PGF[2 infinity] causes a significant increase in red cell count, haemoglobin conteot and FCV. It also decreased the cholesterol level in the serum of male chickens. On the other hand, it did not affect significantly the serum calcium and phosphorus levels. Injections of PGF[2 infinity] increased the level of TSH in the blood of chickens and also had a stimulating effect on thyroid activity which was more evident in females, as shown by the histological result