Frequency of hepatitis B and C seropositivity in prisoners

This study was conducted on prisoners of Central Jail, Bahawalpur and on blood donors at Blood Bank Bahawal Victoria Hospital [BVD], Bahawalpur from Ist August 2005 to 30th November 2005. The intension was to study the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C in prisoners and to note risk factor if any predisposing to the infection. All the prisoners of central jail Bahawalpur present during the study period, aged more than 18 years of either sex were included as the study group and a comparative group was blood donors presenting to blood bank BVH, Bahawalpur during this period. All the cases in study group [2086] as well as control group [9714] were screened for hepatitis B [HBs Ag] and hepatitis C [anti-HCV] infection detected on serum by One Step Test Device. All the positive cases were confirmed by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay. After an explanation, verbal consent was taken and a questionnaire was filled before taking samples from all the study group cases. On the basis of screening, prisoners were de vided into seropositive group and sero-negative group. The different variable applied on both the groups were age, sex, occupation, residence, marital status, self shaving / by barber, family history of [H/o] jaundice, H/o blood trans-fusion, operation, tattooing and body piercing, drug abuse, same sex/ extramarital sex and hepatitis B vaccination status. Total prisoners screened were 2086. Out of them 2072 were males [99.3%]. Mean age was 34 years. Total seropositive cases were 249 [11.9%] While during the same period seropositivity in blood donors [control group] was 5.9%. Seropositivity of HBV was 5.6% in study group and 3.1% in control group [p<0.001], HCV was 6.3% Vs 2.8% [p<0.001], statistically very significant difference. Risk factors analysis among prisoners revealed that drug abuse was significantly associated with seropositivity [27% Vs 12%, p value <0.001]. Among drug abusers, very high percentage of intravenous drug users was positive [89.2%, 25 out of 28]. Prisoners shaved by barber were also a t higher risk than self shaving [p value <0.001]. H/o operation [p<0.02] and rural origin [p<0.02] were other significant risk factors. Other risk factors evaluated were not statistically significant. Seroprevalence of hepatitis, both B and C is more in prison inmate than healthy blood donors. Main risk factor in them i is drug abuse, especially intravenous. Other significant risk factor is shaving by barber. There s a need to make some strategy to reduce the risk factors

Frequency of hepatitis C infection in diabetes mellitus

The study was conducted at diabetic clinic B.V. Hospital/Q.A.M.C Bahawalpur from December 1st, 2004 to March 15th, 2005. Diabetes mellitus and hepatitis C infections are common and emerging problems of the society. Either diabetes mellitus is common in chronic hepatitis C patients as reported initially by Ellison and co-workers or hepatitis C infection is more frequent in diabetes mellitus. We want to study the frequency of hepatitis c infection in diabetes mellitus. To study the frequency of hepatitis C infection in diabetic patients and to note any risk factors of diabetic patients predisposing to hepatitis C infection. A cross-sectionalObservational-descriptive analytic study. A total of 250 consecutive diabetic patients of either sex were compared with 6574 blood donors for hepatitis c infection. They were evaluated for hepatitis C infection by using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay [ELISA-3] which is an anti-HCV anti body test. On basis of this test, the patients were divided into two groups, anti-HCV +ve and anti-HCV -ye. Different variables of these patients were studied and compared in these two groups Variables studied were as follows:- Age, Sex, BMI, Mode of therapy area of their residence[rural or urban] Duration of diabetes mellitus, Blood pressure, Nephropathy and Control of diabetes mellitus. Among a total of 250 patients, 120 [48%] were male and 130 [52%] were female. Two hundred and forty-four [97.6%] patients were of type-II DM and 06 [2.4%] patients were of type-I DM. 22 [8.8%] patients were on insulin therapy while 228 [91.2%] were on oral hypoglycemic agents. Anti-HCV test was positive in 69 [27.6%] diabetic patients as compared to blood donors 41 [0.62%]. In anti-HCV positive group, longer duration of diabetic mellitus [15yrs 15.94%], poor control of diabetic mellitus[87%], insulin therapy[17.39%] hypertension[91.3%] and nephropathy[94.2%] were the significant vari ables while BMI, age, sex and whether they were belonging to either rural or urban area were not significant in both the groups. Hepatitis C infection is common in diabetic patients as compared to control group [27.6% vs 0.62%]. Out of diabetic patients HCV infection is more common with longer duration of diabetic mellitus, poor control of diabetic mellitus, hypertension, nephropathy and insulin therapy

Relation of hepatic and muscle iron uptake with plasma iron levels in a land monitor, varanus bengalensis [reptilia]

Attempts were made to relate radioiron uptake of the liver and the muscle with plasma iron levels of Varanus bengalensis using regression and correlation coefficient analysis. With increasing time after radioactive treatment of this lizard, the radioiron uptake increased in the plasma, liver and muscle. However, correlation between plasma radioiron levels and those of liver or muscle decreased with increasing time after treatment. It is expected that the demonstrated relationship between plasma and the tissues examined will be useful in routine estimation of quantity of iron in the liver and muscle of Varanus bengalensis on the basis of known plasma iron values