Hair distribution on the phalanges of the hand among Punjabis in Pakistan

Data on the frequency and patterns of hair distribution on the hand are available from different parts of the world. The present study was undertaken to document the findings from Pakistan. A random sample of 500 male and 548 female medical students aged between 18-25 years of Punjab province studying in King Edward Medical College Lahore, were examined. All the cases considered in this study had Punjabi parents. It was interesting to note that absence of hair on proximal phalanges, a rare finding in Nigerians [4% in males and 5% in females] was comparable to Pakistani population [2% males and 20% In females]. Incidence of absence of hair in proximal phalanges was highest in Pakistani Punjabi females. the incidence of absence of middle phalangeal hair in Pakistani population was found very high [75.2% in males and 81.2% in females was compared to Turks and other populations. Hair were not observed on distal phalanges in this study as reported by other workers. The frequency order of presence of hair on proximal phalanx in Pakistani population was found to be 3>4>2>5 and on middle phalanx it was 5>4>3>2> which differs from 4>3>5>2> as reported in other populations. Frequency of phalangeal hair In Pakistani population [21.7%] lies in between lowest found in Africans [21%] and highest found in Europeans [70%]

seroepidemiological study on human immunodeficiency virus [HIV infection]

A total of 1601 serum samples including general population [1050] and high risk individuals for AIDS such as prostitutes [60] passive homosexuals eunuchs [30] blood donors [60] blood transfusion recipients [60] haemophiliacs [20] parenteral drug abusers [30] patients with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy [60] and expatriates/visitors of U.S.A. [200] Europe [30] and Bangkok [1] were tested for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus. Three commercial ELISA kits namely Flow laboratories, Wellcome and Behring were used for HIV antibody detection for each serum sample. All ELISA positive sera by any of the above three kits were confirmed by the immunoblot assay [western blot]. No evidence of HIV infection was found in general population aned high risk individuals for AIDS. Only one case was positive by three ELISA kits and was confirmed by the western blot and that was a case of AIDS imported from Qatar. Out of 1601 serum samples tested Flow lab. Kit gave ten false positive results, Wellcome one and Behring kit gave no false positive Behring kit gave no false positive result. The predictive values of ELISA positive tests by the above three kits for the detection of HIV antibodies were calculated. It was found that the predictive values of positive ELISA tested by Flow Lab Wellcome and Behring kit were 9.09%, 50% and 100% respectively. The best kit in our study was the Behring kit