Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Among Blood Donors in Eastern Saudi Arabia: Results From a Five-Year Retrospective Study of HBV Seromarkers

BACKGROUND: Transfusion-transmissible hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major problem worldwide. Recently, confirmatory nucleic acid tests (NATs) for HBV DNA have been employed in several countries. We assessed the prevalence and yearly trends of HBV infection in blood donors in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, screening for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody against HBV core antigen (anti-HBc), and HBV DNA. METHODS: Between 2011 and 2015, a total of 22,842 donors were screenedfor HBsAg, anti-HBc, and HBV DNA using the HBsAg Qualitative II kit (Abbott, Ireland Diagnostics Division, Sligo, Ireland), ARCHITECT Anti-hepatitis B core antigen antibody (HBc) II Assay kit (Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Wiesbaden, Germany), and NAT Procleix Ultrio Elite Assay kit (Grifols Diagnostic Solutions Inc., Los Angeles, CA, USA), respectively. RESULTS: A total of 739 (3.24%) donors were HbsAg(+), anti-HBc(+), or HBV DNA(+); 63 (0.28%) were HbsAg(+), anti-HBc(+), and HBV DNA(+). Twelve (0.05%) were anti-HBc(+) and HBV DNA(+) but HBsAg(−); they were considered to have occult infection. Further, 664 (2.91%) were HBsAg(−) but anti-HBc(+), indicating chronic or resolving infection. HBV prevalence increased significantly from 2011 to 2012, increased marginally till 2013, and showed a decreasing trend from 2013 (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The five-year prevalence of HBV infection among blood donors in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia (3.24%) is lower than that reported for other regions in the country. The occult HBV infection rate of 0.05% emphasizes the importance of NATs in isolating potential infectious blood units.

Evaluation of the effect of smoking on complete blood counts, serum C-reactive protein and magnesium levels in healthy adult male smokers

To examine the effect of smoking on complete blood count, serum C-reactive protein and magnesium levels in male smokers. The prospective case-control study was conducted in two villages of Matiari district in rural Sindh, Pakistan, from July to December 2013, and comprised healthy adult male smokers and an equal number of matching non-smokers as controls. The complete blood count, serum C-reactive protein and magnesium levels in all the subjects were measured to assess the effect of smoking on these parameters. The two groups had 48 subjects each with an overall age range of 20-40 years. The results of complete blood count were comparable except for lymphocyte, which was significantly higher [p<0.001], and neutrophil, which was lower [p<0.001] in smokers than in the non-smokers. Serum C-reactive protein concentrations among the cases [14.62 +/- 0.16mg/L] compared to the controls [4.81 +/- 0.38mg/L] were significantly higher [p<0.001]. However, reverse was true for serum magnesium levels which were significantly higher [p<0.001] in the controls [2.52 +/- 0.18mg/L] as against the cases [1.09 +/- 0.38mg/dl].Serum C-reactive protein-to-magnesium ratio was significantly higher [p<0.001] in smokers than in the non-smokers. Lymphocyte count was higher while neutrophil count was lower in smokers. Smoking also caused significant increase in serum C-reactive protein concentration concomitant to decrease in magnesium concentration in the smokers

Periodontal health status of patients attending Isra dental college OPD using CPI index

To assess the periodontal health status among patients attending Dental OPD of Isra dental college Isra University Hyderabad. To predict for planning of periodontal care programmes for population attending Dental OPD of Isra dental college Isra University Hyderabad. Cross sectional study. This study was carried out in dental OPD of Isra dental college Isra University Hyderabad. Duration of study was six months. The study was conducted on 500 subjects. For the assessment of the periodontal status of a population visiting OPD of Isra Dental College, CPITN recording were made for patients visiting within 6 months and selected at random without consideration of sex, religion, education, socioeconomic condition and systemic health at filtration clinic of OPD. The subjects were examined by a single examiner with the help of a plane mouth mirror and CPITN Probe. The index teeth were selected for examination. A total of 500 subjects were surveyed in the study who visited filtration clinic of Dental opd of Isra dental college out of them 190 [38%] were female and 310 [62%] were males [fig 1]. [Fig.2] showed the percentage of CPITN code 1 was highest [54.8%] which shows bleeding gums, followed by the percentage of code 2 [27.2%] which represents the presence of supra and sub gingival calculus. The percentage of code 3 was found to be 8% denoted by presence of periodontitis having pathological pocket depth of 4 to 5 mm. About 10% patients were found having healthy periodontal tissues. Using the research results, a greater effort can be made in providing periodontal health to the population of at or around the city of Hyderabad. Systemic diseases and environmental or genetic risk factors were not included in this study. A further broad scale study is needed to measure an accurate prevalence of periodontal diseases among the patients of at or around city of Hyderabad

Analysis of anti phospholipid antibodies in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion

Objectives: To analyze antiphospholipid antibodies in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion

Study design: A Case-control study

Place and duration: Isra University and Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro from 1st June to 31st December 2010

Methodology: Sixty three subjects with history of three spontaneous abortions in their first three months of pregnancy were included in this study and 63 women of corresponding age, with one or more alive babies having no record of any first trimester spontaneous abortion were taken as controls. Coagulation tests platelet count, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastic time were done by standard methods. Antiphospholipid Antibodieswere estimated by ELISA method using specific kits

Results: Mean serum Antiphospholipid antibodies level was 7.10 +/- 3.47 in patients and 6.30 +/- 2.02 in controls. The difference in serum level of two groups was significant. Mean platelet count; mean prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time revealed no significant difference between patients and controls

Conclusion: There is strong association of antiphospholipid antibodies in the patients having recurrent spontaneous abortions so there is a strong need of including this test in the primary screening of such disease in the pregnant women who have history of previous abortion

Quantitative and imlorphometric study of adipose tissue from abdomen in adult women of Hyderabad

To determine adipocytes count per unit area in the superficial subcutaneous layer of the abdomen of an adult woman. Cross sectional study. This study was conducted at Department of Anatomy, Isra University Hospital Hyderabad from July 2011 to December 2011. 80 adult women including 40 obese and 40 non obese for different abdominal surgeries visited in the Isra university hospital Hyderabad. Superficial subcutaneous layer of the abdominal adipose tissue were obtained during surgery. Tissues were processed for routine HandE staining. After processing, the number of adipocytes was counted through ocular grid microscopy method. In obese, the mean number of adipocytes was 119.02 +/- 5.81 with range of 100-140 and in non-obese, the mean number of adipocytes was 79.02 +/- 6.02 with range of 50-98. The result showed a significant [p<0.05] increase number of adipocytes in obese women as compare to non obese women. From this study it was conclude that in obese women there is increased number of adipocytes as compare to non obese women. As increased number of adipocytes enhance the cardiovascular as well as metabolic diseases and producing fatal health risks. Therefore there is need to elaborate the cause of disorder and its proper diagnosis through counting or assessment of adipocytes which helpful for management of diseases

Gall stones; frequencies of gall stones in the patients attending surgical OPD at ISRA hospital Hyderabad

Recognition of various gall stones in the patients attending surgical OPD by biochemical analysis of gall stones. Cross sectional study. ISRA Hospital, Hyderabad and Institute of Biochemistry Sindh University Jamshoro. Duration of study was 18 months. Cases were patients with gall stones who were diagnosed on ultrasonography. Gall stone analysis was done from Institute of Biochemistry Sindh University Jamshoro. A total of sixty nine subjects were included in the study. In the present study the mean Age was 35.81+ 8.12 years. Frequencies in different age groups are 15-24 [11.60%], 25-34 [24.64%], 35-44 [53.63%], 45-54 [8.69%], 55-64 [01.45%]. Age distribution is shown in Graph III-1. In the present study 49[71.0%] were females and 20[29%] were males with the female to male ration of 2.45:1. gender distribution is shown in Graph III-2. In the present frequencies of different types of gall stones was, cholesterol stones 38[55.07%], pigmented stones 20[28.99%] and mixed type of stones 11[15.94%]. Frequencies of different types of gall stones is shown in Graph III-3. In our study the frequency of cholesterol gall stone is more as compared to pigmented and mixed gall stones. A total of 55.07% of cholesterol gallstones were found in our study with the female predominance

Role of coagulation profile in predicting fatal coagulopathies in carcinoma prostate

Objectives: Recognition of fatal coagulopathies in patients with carcinoma of prostate by carrying out platelet count, PT and APTT

Study Design: A case-control study

PLACE AND DURATION: Samples collected from patients attending ISRA University Hospital, Hyderabad, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Hospital Hyderabad and NIMRA Jamshoro from June 2011 to November 2011. Study was conducted in the Pathology department, ISRA University Hospital, Hyderabad. Duration of study was six months

Methodology: Cases were patients with prostatic carcinoma who were diagnosed on biopsy examination. Controls were normal healthy randomly selected age matched adult males from Hyderabad without prostatic carcinoma. A total of one hundred subjects were included in the study. They were divided in two groups as follows; Group-I: Patients-Diagnosed cases of carcinoma of prostate. Group - II: Control - Normal subjects of the same age group

Results: A total number of 50 cases with the history of prostatic carcinoma were included according to the criteria mentioned in the material and method section. The frequencies of different variables were taken for platelet count, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. In Group -1 [Cases], the mean platelet count was 197.52 x 10[3] in patients with advance age and in Group - II [Controls], the mean platelet count was 286.06 x 10[3]. The mean platelet count of cases and control is shown in Table -1.In the Group -1 [Cases] the mean PT value was 16.95 seconds and in Group - II [Controls] the mean PT value was 11.92 seconds. The mean PT of cases and control is shown in Table - II. In the Group -1 [Cases] the mean APTT value was 36.88 seconds and in Group - II [Controls] the mean APTT value was 30.94 seconds. The mean APTT of cases and control is shown in Table-III

Conclusion: Early analysis and recognition of coagulopathies in patients with carcinoma of prostate by carrying out platelet count, PT and APTT should be sorted out to help the patients in terms of treatment or diagnosis or prevention of fatal complications. Disseminated intravascular coagulation is the most frequently reported disorder but, in spite of its long-time recognition, its treatment remains controversial. Our results suggest that platelet count; PT and APTT are altered in patients with prostate cancer. Further study is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanism and clinical significances of such a phenomenon among patients with prostate cancer

Significance of platelet count and D-dimers level in carcinoma prostate

Analysis and recognition of coagulopathies in patients with carcinoma of prostate by carrying out platelet count and D-dimers level. Case-control study. This study was conducted at ISRA Hospital, Hyderabad, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Hospital Hyderabad and NIMRA Jamshoro for a period of six months from from June 2011 to November 2011. Cases were patients with prostatic carcinoma who were diagnosed on biopsy examination. Controls were normal healthy randomly selected age matched adult males from Hyderabad without prostatic carcinoma. A total of one hundred subjects were included in the study. In Group I [Cases], the mean platelet count was 197.52 x 103 and in Group II [Controls], the mean platelet count was 286.06 x 103. In Group I [Cases], the mean D-dimers level was 0.692 mg/L and in Group II [Controls], the mean D-dimers level was 0.146 mg/L. Coagulopathies are frequently associated with prostate cancer and should be known to urologists and oncologists because they may compromise short-term prognosis and influence therapeutic strategies. Our results suggest that platelet count and D-dimer levels are altered in patients with prostate cancer