Comparison of lactose breath hydrogen test and milk breath hydrogen test in the diagnosis of lactose malabsorption

In both clinical and field situations, breath hydrogen analysis has been widely used in evaluating lactose malabsorption. It is as accurate as other tolerance tests and has an advantage of being noninvasive. The use of milk (360 ml) as a test meal for breath hydrogen test was evaluated in 16 adult subjects (8M:8F), age ranging from 20 to 50 years. Lactose (17.6 g) breath hydrogen test was used as standard test. Of 16 subjects tested, 5 subjects were found to be lactose absorbers and 11 subjects were lactose malabsorbers by lactose breath hydrogen test. In milk breath hydrogen test, the same 5 subjects were found to be lactose absorbers and 8 out of 11 subjects (lactose malabsorbers) were detected as lactose malabsorbers. The present study demonstrates that breath hydrogen test using milk (360 ml) as a test meal has a sensitivity of 73 per cent and a specificity of 100 per cent and could be used as an alternative test in the diagnosis of lactose malabosorption.

Serum calcium in normal and preeclamptic pregnant Myanmar women

To study the changes during normal pregnancy and in preeclampsia, serum calcium concentration was measured in 26 apparently healthy pregnant Myanmar women and in 15 preeclamptic patients. They were 20-40 years of age. In healthy pregnant women, serum total calcium levels measured at 24th week, 28th week, 32nd week and 36th week of gestation were 2.45 + or - 0.30 mmol/1, 2.47 + or - 0.29 mmol/1, 2.41 + or - 0.29 mmol/1 and 2.46 + or - 0.29 mmol/1 respectively and ionized calcium levels at these periods were 1.24 + or - 0.15 mmol/1, 1.23 + or - 0.14 mmol/1, and 1.20 + or - 0.16 mmol/1 respectively. In preeclamptic patients, the mean serum total calcium level (2.26 + or - 0.24 mmol/1) was significantly lower than that (2.52 + or - 0.23 mmol/1) of 0.27 mmol/1) and ionized calcium level (1.23 + or - 0.14 mmol/1) of preeclamptic patients were not significantly different from those (2.43 + or - 0.24 mmol/1 and 1.24 + or - 0.13 mmol/1 respectively) of control.

Evaluation of preoperative nutritional assessment in elective gastroduodenal surgery

This study is aimed "To evaluate the role and significance of nutrition in surgical practice, especially in the prediction of post-operative complications". Eighty-five patients electively operated for gastroduodenal disease in Y.G.H were studied during a period of six months, from 1-4-93 to 30-9-93. The nutritional assessment included Clinical, Anthropometric, Biochemical and Immunological parameters. Clinical malnutrition was 49.4 percent in total patients and 90 percent in complicated group during post-operative period. History of weight loss more than 20 percent was significant to predict post-operative complication. Mid-Arm Circumference (MAC), Tricep Skinfold Thickness, (TSF) and Hand Grip Strength (HGS) were also predicted nutritional markers. Serum Albumin (< 3.4 g/dl) and Total Lymphocyte counts (< 1400/dl) were also significant for prediction of post-operative morbidity. This study confirmed that preoperative nutritional status well correlated with the operative outcome and had reliable predicted capacity for the risk of postoperative complications. Hippocrates, the father of Medicine, was one of the first to recognize the association between the Nutrition and diseases. Malnutrition is one of the major causes of surgical complications. Buzby (1079) and Muller (1982) found that preoperative parenteral nutrition in gastric surgical patients reduced the postoperative mortality and morbidity. Many nutritional assessments and parameters were developed to select the proper patients for nutritional support before surgical intervention.

Time usage and energy expenditure of volleyball players during training

Fifteen male Myanmar national volleyball players, selected for 11th Asian Games, 1990, were studied during training. This is the first assignment of energy expenditure on Myanmar volleyball players. The average daily training period of the players was 4.23 h. They utilized 1508.8 kcal for training activities out of the 24 h energy expenditure of 3088.6 kcal. The mean + or - SD energy intake was 3965.3+ or - 469.4 kcal per cent day and was found to be sufficient for twenty four-h energy expenditure. The individual training activities belonged to heavy type of activities but the daily training period was short compared to those of other countries.