Pleural fluid estimation and tubercular infection in the people admitted with pleural effusion

We prospectively conducted this study to evaluate the diagnostic value of Pleural fluid estimation and find the rate of tubercular infection in the people with pleural effusion in city of Lahore. Pleural TB is a common form of extrapulmonary disease and may occur in the presence or absence of pulmonary parenchymal disease on the chest radiograph. Prospective Study. This study was conducted in the Biochemistry Department, FJMC, Lahore from May 2010 to Nov. 2010. This study to evaluate the diagnostic value of Pleural fluid estimation and tubercular infection in the people with pleural effusion. All patients aged 22 years and older with clinical and radiographic findings consistent with pleural effusion due to TB admitted to the hospital were evaluated consecutively. The studies were performed on pleural fluid samples: glucose and protein were estimated. Specific gravity was calculated. Cell count, differential cell count, bacterial culture, acid-fast bacilli smear were performed using standard procedures. Specimen was cultured, if effusion contains more than 150 WBC/cumm. It was observed that the level of fluid glucose was increased in both sexes as compared to the normal reported values. Level of fluid protein was more in both sexes as compared to the normal reported values. However level of pH was neutral in both sexes. Present study found that pleural TB is still a major cause of pleural effusion in the city of Lahore, and microbiological and biochemical investigation may be helpful in diagnosing the disease

Detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical samples by smear and culture

To compare the smear stained by Ziehl-Neilsen [ZN] and Lowenstein-Jensen [LJ] medium for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical samples from different categories. This laboratory based retrospective study was carried out at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital /Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore over a 5 year period between January 2001and June 2006. A total of 798 clinical samples were collected from patients with a provisional diagnosis of tuberculosis. A ZN stain of smear and culture on LJ medium were performed for the detection of Mycobacterium. The specimen categories were sputum, pus, lymph node aspirate, urine and endometrial curetting. Out of 798 specimens received over the study period, only 46.3% [n=369] were respiratory whereas 53.7% [n=429] were non respiratory tract category samples. Among these, 3.578% were positive in ZN stain while 11.65% were positive on culture. Out of a total of 369 respiratory tract category samples, 38[10.3%] sputum samples were positive for AFB on both ZN and culture. Among the non respiratory tract category, 47[28.2%] pus, 26[31%] lymph node aspirates, 05[15.6%] urine, 05[3.42%] endometrial curetting were positive. Fifteen percent of clinical samples belonging to 05 different categories of specimens with a provisional diagnosis of tuberculosis, tested positive for Mycobacterium by both Zn stain smear and culture on LJ medium. Among these, 3.57% were positive for AFB on ZN smear and 11.65% were positive on culture on LJ medium. These conventional techniques have proved to be reliable testing tools for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in our setting

Helicobacter pylori: culture, urease test, histological and serological studies

Biopsy samples were taken from the antral gastric mucosa of 200 patients referred for endoscopy. Blood was also taken for serological studies. Helicobacter pylori was grown from 82 patients and the organism was seen in sections from 172 biopsies. The direct urease test was positive in 144, and the antibodv was found in 125 out of 186 cases, by the Elisa test. There was a strong correlation between the presence of the organism, a positive urease test, detectable antibody and the histological gastritis