Association of lipoprotein- alpha with obesity in children and adolescents in district Swat

Studies have demonstrated that atherosclerosis has its silent beginning during childhood. Coronary artery disease, particularly when it presents early in adult life has been observed to have a familial tendency. Lipoprotein-alpha [Lp-alpha], has a strong genetic association and raised levels when combined with obesity increase the risk of premature coronay heart disease. Thus in adults, has emerged the possibility of preventing or delaying the coronary artery disease when appropriate measures are applied early in life. In our study, we assessed the prevalence of overweight and obesity and its association with Lp-alpha in the child population of district Swat. The study was carried out in Saidu Teaching Hospital and Biochemistry Department, Saidu Medical College, Swat, from May to July 2007. Both boys and girls between 10-20 years of age were included. The prevalence of obesity was detected in 200 subjects by using body mass index. One hundred subjects were selected to compare the anthropometric and cardiovascular parameters of obese subjects with control group. Lp-alpha was measured in children of both the groups. The prevalence of obesity in adolescent boys was 6.7% and that in adolescent girls was 10%. The prevalence was higher in female subjects, compare to male subjects. Obese subjects had significantly higher weight, body mass index, blood pressure values and Lp-alpha levels as compared to control group. Lipoprotien-alpha level is higher in obese children and adolescents than in non-obese

Prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection in multitransfused thalassaemia major patients in northwest frontier province

To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection in multitransfused thalassaemia patients. A prospective study. Department of Pathology, Khyber Medical College Peshawar and Fatimid Foundation Peshawar from January 2000 to January 2001. This study was carried out on 250 multitransfused thalassaemia major patients. They were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] and anti hepatitis C virus antibodies [anti-HCV antibodies] by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA]. The patient's ages ranged from 1[1/2] year to 19 years. Majority of the patients included in the study had received more than 10 transfusions. The males were 180 [72%] and the females were 70 [28%]. Out of these 21 patients [8.4%] and 142 [56.8%] have been screened positive for HBsAg and anti HCV antibodies respectively. It has been recommended that properly screened blood, using a reliable method like ELISA, be only transfused to thalassaemic subjects in order to avoid / reduce transfusion associated infection

Cutaneous maingestations of systemic lupus erythematosus in pakistani patients

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus [SLE] is an autoimmune process in which cutaneous lesions occur in majority of patients. This study from Karachi, Pakistan was conducted to determine the pattern and prevalence of such lesions in SLE in Pakistani patients. One hundred ninety eight patients with SLE fulfilling the clinical and laboratory criteria of the American Rheumatology Association were examined between 1986 and 2001' for the presence of cutaneous manifestations. Skin changes noted were: noncicatricial diffuse alopecia [22%], malar rash [31%], mucosal lesions [20%], discoid eruptions [15%], photosensitivity [33%], vascular lesions [20%], pruritis [17%], and pigmentary changes [22%]. Peripheral gangrene,chronic ulcers, Raynauds phenomenon, urticaria, chilblains, thrombophlebitis, palmar erythema, and erythema multiform were rare. Anti ANA and anti dsDNA were positive in 93% and 83% patients respectively. A different clinical pattern was noted in our patients than reported previously

Serum Lipoprotein [a] in Offspring of Patients with Premature Myocardial Infarction

To compare serum Lp[a], lipids: TC, TG and lipoproteins: HDL-C and LDL-C levels of offspring with history of paternal myocardial infarction with the serum levels in offspring without paternal history of myocardial infarction. SETTING: Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. METHODS: Thirty offspring between the ages of 8-25 years with the history of paternal myocardial infarction were randomly selected from population and were matched with offspring having no history of parental myocardial infarction. Offspring of fathers who had a myocardial infarction tended to have a significantly raised level of Lp[a] [p < 0.001] compared with those without parental history. None of the other lipoprotein variables we examined exhibited a significant difference between the two groups of subjects. The offspring of fathers with early myocardial infarction have higher mean values of Lp[a] than control subjects suggesting that this lipid variable may strongly predispose to CAD