Comparison of Urinary Protein Creatinine Index (uPCI) and Dipsticks for the Prediction of Renal Dysfunction in Chronic Cigarette Smokers.

Background: Proteinuria is recognized as one of the earliest sign of renal function deterioration in chronic smokers. Proteinuria occurs due to alteration in glomerular permeability and later due to failure of reabsorption of filtered protein by the tubular cells. Normally, most healthy adults excrete 20 – 150 mg of protein in urine over 24 hours. However, it is difficult to collect 24 hrs urine samples. Objectives: To advocate the use of PCI (protein creatinine index) in assessment of proteinuria and to compare dipstick result with PCI in the assessment of proteinuria in chronic cigarette smokers. Material & Methods: A total of 30 cigarette smokers and 40 age and sex matched controls were included for the study. A random specimen of urine collected from each cigarette smoker and non- smoker was tested quantitatively by manual sulfosalicylic acid colorimetric method for the estimation of protein concentration. Creatinine concentration in each specimen was measured by modified Jaffe’s method and the urinary PCI was calculated. Results: Normal range of PCI which has been established in this study is 50 to 259. Significantly higher amounts of protein were found to be excreted in urine in chronic smokers (9.313 ± 4.003 mg/dl) as compared to healthy non smokers (7.738 ± 2.05 mg/dl). On comparison of PCI between healthy non smoker and chronic smoker subjects, PCI has been found to be significantly elevated in chronic smokers (healthy non smoker- 118.32 ± 56.86, chronic smoker- 180.1 ± 88.23) (p=0.001). Conclusion: PCI of random urine sample can provide a very useful, simple and convenient method for the quantitative assessment of proteinuria to confirm the advent of kidney damage, avoiding the drawbacks of 24 hrs urine collection.

Evaluation of a rapid dipstick test for identifying cholera cases during the outbreak.

Background & objectives: Intermittent cholera outbreaks are major problem in many of the states of India. It is essential to identify cholera at the earliest for timely mobilization of public health responses and to abort the outbreaks. The present study was a part of a diarrhoeal outbreak investigation in Secunderabad, India, during May 2009 where the usefulness of Crystal VC rapid dipstick kit was assessed for detecting the aetiologic agent of the outbreak. Methods: Stool specimens were collected from 15 hospitalized patients with acute watery diarrhoea and analyzed for detection of cholera vibrios using Crystal VC rapid dipstick kit and the usefulness of the kit was determined by comparative analysis of the same set of specimens using both microbiological and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) based assays. Results: Detection of Vibrio cholerae O1 from 10 of 15 specimens was recorded using dipstick assay. Microbiological methods detected V. cholerae O1 positivity among 11 specimens. However, RT-PCR based assay showed all 15 specimens positive for the presence of V. cholerae O1. In addition, the same assay showed that the pathogen load in the dipstick as well as RT-PCR positive specimens ranged from 106 colony forming units (cfu)/ml or more. Interpretation & conclusions: Crystal VC kit had the potential to identify cholera cases in 10 min in field conditions without having good laboratory support. Therefore, dipstick kit may be considered as cholera detecting tool in diarrhoeal outbreak investigations. Specimens from clinically typical cholera cases, if negative by dipstick, should be reanalyzed by culture based methods.

Reagent strip testing for antenatal screening and first meaningful of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of reagent strip test as a screening test for asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) in pregnant women. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Three hundred and sixty asymptomatic pregnant women who attended their first antenatal appointment at Rajavithi Hospital from August 1st to October 31st, 2005 were enrolled Those with symptoms of urinary tract infection within one month, those who had been prescribed antibiotics during the previous 7 days, and those with medical or obstetric complications, vaginal bleeding and a history of urinary tract diseases were excluded Urine specimens were collected by clean-catched midstream urine technique for urine dipstick and culture. RESULTS: The prevalence of ABU was 10.0% The urine dipstick nitrite leukocyte esterase and combined test had a sensitivity of 16.7%, 75.0% and 16.7%, specificity of 99.1%, 67.9% and 99.4%, positive predictive value of 66.7%, 20.6% and 75.0%, negative predictive value of 91.5, 96.1% and 91.5%, accuracy of 90.8%, 68.6% and 91.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Reagent strip testing indicated a fair sensitivity for routine antenatal screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women

Effect of fluoride varnish on Streptococcus mutans counts in plaque of caries-free children using Dentocult SM strip mutans test: a randomized controlled triple blind study.

Dental caries is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases and although of multifactorial origin, Streptococcus mutans is considered the chief pathogen in its development. Fluoride is one of the most effective agents used for the reduction of dental caries apart from oral hygiene maintenance. AIMS: The aim of this study was to estimate the counts of Streptococcus mutans and to evaluate the effect of Fluor Protector fluoride varnish on these counts in the plaque of caries-free children using Dentocult SM Strip Mutans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty caries-free subjects were selected for the study based on the information obtained from a questionnaire and were randomly assigned to the control group consisting of ten subjects and the study group consisting of twenty subjects. Plaque samples were collected on the strips from the Dentocult SM kit and after incubation, the presence of Streptococcus mutans was evaluated using the manufacturer's chart. The study group was subjected to a Fluor Protector fluoride varnish application following which the samples were collected again after 24 hours. RESULTS: The average Streptococcus mutans counts in the primary dentition of caries-free children before and after the application of Fluor Protector fluoride varnish were 10(4)-10(5) colony forming units (CFU)/ml and <10(4) CFU/ml respectively. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the study group had a statistically significant reduction in the plaque Streptococcus mutans counts than the control group.

Evaluation of microalb immunoturbidimetric test for albuminuria screening.

Microalb, an immunoturbidimetric test for screening urinary albumin levels was evaluated for its potential as a screening test for microalbuminuria in diabetic patients. It was compared with the current standard, the radioimmunoassay (RIA). The results showed that the test lacks sensitivity while its specificity was acceptable. Therefore, it can not replace the RIA as the screening method. This study also showed that the first early morning urine could be used if a 24- hour collection was not possible, as its albumin content fairly correlated (r = 0.78) with the 24-hour urine collection of the diabetic patients.

Spot diagnosis of aluminium phosphide ingestion: an application of a simple test.

Silver nitrate impregnated paper test was performed with the gastric fluid and in breath in 50 patients of aluminium phosphide poisoning. The test was 100% positive with gastric fluid but was positive in 50% patients in breath. The test is simple, reliable and sensitive method to detect phosphine (PH3) for bed side diagnosis of aluminium phosphide (AIP) ingestion.