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.

Role of intramuscular anti-snake venom administration as a first-aid measure in the field

Effectiveness of intramuscular (i.m) anti-snake venom (ASV) administration immediately after bite as a first-aid measure in the field followed by standard hospital treatment in the management of Russell's viper bite patients was studied in 12 victims and was compared with that of standard hospital management alone in 82 victims. there was a marked reduction in the number of patients with systemic envenomation ie. disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), clinical proteinuria, oliguric acute renal failure (ARF), systemic bleeding, hypotension and fatality rate of Russell's viper bite victims who received initial i.m ASV prior to the hospitalization compared with those who did not. It is recommended that i.m ASV could be administered to the Russell's viper bite patients at the site of incident as a first-aid method in places where no facility for giving intravenous ASV therapy prior to hospitalization.

Potential use of Kyethingha-thee (Momordica charantia L. fruit) in the treatment of maturity onset diabetes mellitus

The hypoglycemic efficacy of Kyethingha-thee dired powder capsule was conducted on five uncomplicated type II non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients, who were admitted to the No. 2 Military Hospital, Yangon. Preliminary study revealed that it has hypoglycaemic effect with minimum effective dose of 3 grams for each patient and the time of maximum effect was 4 to 6 hours respectively. Kyethingha-thee was found to be 79.94 percent as effective as tolbutamide and 154.53 percent as effective as TMF 32. So far no adverse side effects were observed in any of these patients.

Clinical trial of intramuscular anti-snake venom administration as a first aid measure in the field in the management of Russell's viper bite patients.

Efficacy of intramuscular anti-snake venom administration immediately after bite as a first aid measure in the field followed by standard hospital management versus standard hospital management alone in the therapy of Russell's viper bite patients was studied. There was a definite reduction in the number of patients with systemic envenomation, complications following disseminated intravascular coagulation and in fatality rate of Russell's viper bite victims who had received first aid intramuscular anti-snake venom prior to hospitalization when compared with those who had not.

Antagonism of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin by quinacrine in rats

Escherichia coli strain W 165-1/82 which produce heat-labile toxin (LT) was used in preparation of enterotoxin. Ligated intestinal rat model using wistar rats were used to obtain the maximum secretory response after challenging with the toxin. It was found that quinacrine inhibited the secretory response and also reduced the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) level in the intestinal fluids. The maximum secretory response was obtained with 125 ug of crude LT toxin in 61-80 grams of rats. It was also noted that 500 ug of quinacrine produced a maximum inhibition in rats.

Essential element contents of surface and artesian well water in Yangon area

A total of 91 samples of water collected from 18 townships within Yangon area comprising 31 numbers of surface wells and 60 numbers of artesian wells were chemically examined. All samples were determined for their concentrations of elements such as iodine, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc with the corresponding depths of wells. Average iodine contents of water was found to decrease as the depth of well increased. Magnesium concentration was also observed in the same manner as iodine. Calcium concentration was more in surface well water and no difference among artesian wells water. There was no relationship between calcium concentrations and the depths of the wells.

Psychiatric sequelae of female sterilization

Prior to sterilization 272 cases were subjected to assessment of their personality. Six months after the operation 190 respondents were interviewed regarding the post-sterilization sequelae at the Central Women's Hospital. Housewives were the commonest occupational group, and the socio-economic problem being the most frequent reason besides the basic medical and psychological reasons for sterilization. Belief in the rumours of post-sterilization complications was found to be insignificant contrary to our suspicion. Over half of the sterilized cases were found to suffer post-sterilization sequelae either in isolation or in multiple of symptoms, the most outstanding symptoms being that of nuchal neuromuscular tension. Unstable personality types were more prone to have post-sterilization sequelae singificantly than the stable types.

Anticholinesterase activities of some anthelmintic agents and some medicinal plants

It is known that anthelmintic drugs are potent cholinesterase inhibitors. A biochemical system for measurement of anticholinesterase activity of chemical agents and some reputed medicinal plants was established. Some of Myanmar medicinal plants were found to be cholinesterase inhibitors. Lettokegyi, an antidysenteric medicinal plant which was found to contain high anticholinesterase activity, can therefore be considered as a potential anthelmintic drug.

Endemic goitre in Pindaya and Falam Townships (1991-1992)

Baseline field studies including clinical and biochemical assessments on goitre had been conducted in Pindaya Township, Shan State and Falam Township, Chin State during November 1991 and March 1992. The subjects were school children of both sexes between the age of 5 to 14 years from both urban and rural areas. Clinical assessment was done on 1553 subjects from Pindaya Township and 1224 subjects from Falam Township. Moreover, 135 urine samples from Pindaya and 90 samples from Falam had been collected for laboratory analysis of iodine. 55.4 percent and 62.5 percent total goitre rates were observed in Pindaya and Falam respectively and the mean urinary iodine excretion indicated that the subjects were moderately deficient in iodine.

Chemical composition of home-based fluids commonly used in Myanmar

Rehydration measure should be instituted as early as possible when lifethreatening dehydration state due to diarrhoea or severe fever is suspected or detected. Home-based fluids are usually given under such circumstance and thus chemical compositions of syrups (m=9), soft drinks (n=5), fresh fruit juices (n=3) and plant decoctions (n=7) were analysed by using published methods and atomic absorption spectrophotometer. High concentrations of total sugars (8.67 to 34.87 g/100ml) and free reducing sugars, mainly as glucose and fructose (1.97 to 21.49) g/ 100ml) were detected in syrups and soft drinds. Potassium was found to be rich in plant decoctions (34.08 to 273.10 mg/100ml) and sodium in soups (140.0 to 475.0 mg/100ml). Soft drinks were found to be acidic (pH = 2.76 to 3.63) whereas soups and plant decoctions have pH values 5.29 to 8.91. Colours used in syrups and soft drinks were found to be permitted dyes.

A Study of Drug Utilization in Mandalay General Hospital

A durg utilization study was carried out to evaluate the pattern of drug prescribing in Myanmar. The case records of 1130 admissions in a medical ward were analysed retrospectively with regard to utilisation of drugs. Drugs were classified according to WHO therapeutic categories. The study revealed that 185 therapeutic agents were prescribed during the study period and the average number of drugs prescribed per patient was 5.03. While drug prescribing pattem in relation to age was similar to those of other countries over prescribing, as detemined by the number of drugs prescribed per pattent, was observed. The three most often used drug categories ware anti-infectives followed by vitamins, and solutions correcting water and electrolyte disturbances. Among anti-infectives, Penicillins were the most commonly used drug group while tetracyclline was the most frequently used individual drug. Irrational use of tetracycline was discussed.

Effect of dietary iron defiency on some enzyme levels in growing rats

Primary derangement in the levels of iron enzymes in iron deficiency have been reported by various workers. The present study was undertaken to deternime whether secondary derangements in the levels of other non-iron enzymes could accompany in the primary derangement. Three groups of rats were fed synthetic diet for 85 days. Group I received the iron deficient diet ad libitum, group II was pair fed with group I but received supplemented iron and group III received the iron supplemented diet ad libitum. The following were the mean values of some biological data at time of sacrifice. Body weight of group I, II and III were 82.5 g, 96.5 g, 108.5 g and haemoglobin , 7.2 g

, 14,1 g

and 14.8 g

respectively. Enzyme levels were measured in different tissues of the three groups of rats. The levels of hepatic iron enzyme, catalase, as well as non-iron enzymes, glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), glutamate dehydrogenase (GD) and malate dehydrogenase (MD) were significantly decreased in the iron deficient group. The decrease was more pronounced in the levels of catalase. However, lactate dehydrogenase did not show any significant changes. The enzymes were unaffected in kidneys and spleen except catalase, which decreased in group I.

Calcium and phosphate homeostasis among normal Myanmar people, patients with pathologic bone fractures and recurrent renal stones

The serum calcium, phosphaye, alkaline phosphatase and urinary exdretion of calcium and phosphate were measure to judge the homeostasis status among apparently healthy Myanmar, pathologic bone fractures and recurrent renal stones. The calcium and phosphorus homeostasis was found to be the same as in literature among apparently healthy Myanmar of various age groups ranging from 10-90 yr of both sexes. The values decreased with advancing age and a rise was found around menopause in females. The levels of serum and urinary calcium, phosphorus, and serum akaline phosphatase found in the pathologic bone fractures suggested that high risk due to low bone density and malformation of matrix plays a major role, instead of hyperparathyroidism, in causing the fractures. The cause of recurrent renal stones in the majority of the subjects with normocalcemia and normocalceuria were found to be due to low GFR.

Interrelationship among glomerular filtration rate, fractional sodium excretion and albuminuria in Russell's viper bite patients

The interrelationship among Ccr, FENa percent and Ualb were observed in 38 Russell's viper bite patients for 5-days clinical course. Degree of albuminuria had strong hyperbolic relation with glomerular filtration rate (Ccr) on day 1 after bite but not from day 2 onwards. The extent of albuminuria and fractional sodium excretion (FENa per cent) level was found to indicate the severity of renal insult. Albuminuria (Ualb) was associated with impaired Ccr and renal sodium handling. Ccr value below 40 ml/min or albuminuria (Ualb) above 2.07 g/24 hr on day 1 after bite was found in oliguric renal failure patients.