Dyspepsia in a rural cohort

To determine the etiology of dyspepsia in the rural population of the province of Sindh, Pakistan. Design: Observational study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at Baqai Medical University and spread over three years from May 1998 to April 2001. Patients and All patients of age 14 and above, presenting with dyspepsia for the first time, were endoscoped and histopathological details of the susceptible as well as normal looking mucosa were obtained. A total of 446 patients, 206 males and 240 females, presenting with dyspepsia were studied. Male to female ratio was 0.9: 1.1 and mean age was 38.86 years [SD 15.52]. Overall, 59.9% [n=446] had gastritis and 9.2% had combination of gastritis and other pathologies. 15.2%, 44 females and 22 males had normal endoscopy. Histology revealed gastritis in 75% [51] and 3.81% had normal endoscopy and normal histology. Peptic ulcer accounted for 9.5%, while 1.57% had oesophageal varices and 0.44% had gastropathy and oesophageal varices. Gastritis is the commonest cause of dyspepsia in a rural population of Sindh. Peptic ulcer is significantly uncommon accounting for only 9.5%. Gastritis is responsible for considerable morbidity leading to poor quality of life and socioeconomic setback

Alterations in serum electrolytes after indomethacin administration: a sex related study

Rabbits of both sexes were injected with indomethacin 10 mg/kg. One hour after injections blood was analzed for serum electrolytes and osmolality. Administration of indomethacin caused increase in serum sodium [p<0.01], potassium [p<0.01], calcium [p<0.05], phosphorous [p<0.01]. chloride [p<0.01] and glucose [p<0.01] in both sexes. Two way ANOVA showed a significant treatment effect on sodium [p<0.01], potassium [p<0.01], calcium [p<0.01], phosphorus [p<0.05] and chloride [p<0.01]. It is concluded that the ingestion of indomethacin can have a major effect on serum electrolytes and osmolality, that may influence the clinical data in patients taking this drug. The present study on the serum electrolytes balance show a possible involvement of greater increase of serum potassium, calcium, phosphorus and chloride concentration in male than in similarly treated female rabbits, because of the slow absorption capacity of this drug in females