Association of mean platelet volume with glycemic control and macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetic patients.

Diabetes is a major global health problem. Vascular complications of diabetes include both macro-vascular and micro-vascular pathologies. Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) is an indicator of average size and activity of platelets. Platelet hyper-reactivity is a characteristic feature of diabetes and it plays a pivotal role in its overall prothrombotic state. A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out on 88 cases of type 2 diabetic patients presented to Yangon General Hospital and New Yangon General Hospital during 2013. Glycemic control was detected by HbA1C and MPV was measured. The subjects were interviewed and assessed for family history of diabetes, duration of diabetes, body mass index and presence of macro-vascular complications. Among the 88 patients in the study, majority of them were in the 60 - 69 years age group. Mean age was 64 years. Sex distribution was equal among the selected 88 patients. Macro-vascular complications such as cerebrovascular disease, ischaemic heart disease and peripheral vascular disease were found in 28.4%, 55.68% and 19.32% respectively. Mean MPV was 8.45 fl and it had a significant association with HbA1C (p = 0.0367). However, no signifi cant association was found between MPV and the presence of macro-vascular complications (p = 0.462).

Effect of sunlight in decontamination of coliforms and faecal coliforms from drinking water

Drinking water samples were collected during December 1997 to March 1998 from Mingalar market, Nyaungbinlay market, Thaketa, Pazundaung, Botataung, Lanmadaw, Anawrahta, Ahlone, Sanchaung and Papedan Townships, Yangon. The presumptive coliform and faecal coliform counts were tested on all water samples. The pH and temperature were also recorded during the experiment. The coliforms and faecal coliforms were identified by multiple tube method and the count of coliforms ranged from 17 to > 2400 MPN/100 ml and faecal coliform count ranged from <2 to 140 MPN/100 ml. The temperature ranged from 40 to 47C during the experiment. There was no association between coliform counts and temperature variation. Forty percent and 90 percent of the samples became free of coliforms after exposure to sunlight for six hours and seven hours, respectively. When exposed to sunlight, 33 percent and 77.8 percent of the samples became free of faecal coliforms after four and six hours respectively. Coliforms and faecal coliforms were totally absent after exposure for 12 hours. It was effective by using clear transparent plastic bottles but the opaque plastic bottles were not. After exposure to sunlight for 12 hours; regrowth of coliforms and faecal coliforms were not observed up to three months, provided that the exposed bottles were tightly closed.

The association between faecal leukocytes and pathogens present in stool of children with diarrhoea and dysentery

A total of 378 cases of children with diarrhoea and dysentery admitted to Yangon Children's Hospital from March to mid-September, 1996 were studied. The study population comprised 233 males and 145 females. Faecal leukocytes were identified under a high power field microscope by wet mounting of methylene blue staining method. Those cells clearly identified with either round nucleus or as polymorphonuclear were noted and degenerated cells that could not be clearly identified were ignored. The bacterial pathogens and protozoal pthogens were identified by standard methods. Faecal leukocytes were present in 31.2 percent of total cases (diarrhoea 28.5 percent, dysentery 45.8 percent). The association between the presence of faecal leukocytes and isolated pathogens from the stools was analysed. It was found that faecal leukocytes were seen in stools which were associated with Shigella (25 percent), Shigella and Entamoeba histolytica (71.4 percent), Entamoeba histolytica (29.6 percent), enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and Entamoeba histolytica (41.7 per cent), enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (9.8 per cent ), Klebsiella spp. (50 per cent ) and Vibrios (50 per cent ).

Cryptosporidiosis among children with diarrhoea and dysentery from Yangon Children's Hospital

Cryptosporidiosis among children who attended Yangon Children's Hospital from March to October 1996 was studied. A total of 396 stool samples were collected after admission to the hospital. Simultaneously, a set of questions was filled to ascertain the duration and motion of diarrhoea of children. Stool characteristics were also recorded. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected by staining with Kinyoun's acid modified method by Haley and Standard 1973. Random samples of 238 male and 158 female children of ages ranging from one month to ten years old were included in this study. It was found that the duration of diarrhoea ranged from one to 150 days. Number of motions also ranged from one to 40 times per day. Diarrhoea with either blood or mucous (dysentery) was found in 61 cases (15.4 per cent). cryptosporidium oocysts were found in 5 cases (1.3 per cent) of children; three were from watery diarrhoea cases and two from dysentery cases. From the cases detected, the age range was from 10 months to five years and the duration of illness was from 3 to 30 days. Four cases were with moderate degree of dehydration and one case was associated with HIV infection.

Cost analysis of hospitalized malaria patients in Taikkyi Township

A hospital-based study was conducted in Taikkyi Township to elicit the various types of cost incurred and factors influencing these costs. data were obtained from malaria cases of different severity admitted to two hospitals from July to October, 1995. All study subjects were interviewed by using a pretested standardized questionnaire. the total costs of illness per patient for one episode of malaria were estimated as kyats 2582 for uncomplicated malaria case, kyats 4568 for other severe and complicated malaria case and kyats 4758 for malaria with other disease case. In the cost before and during hospitalization, direct cost was more than indirect cost. Cost for income lost and drug cost were the highest. Multivariate analysis revealed that days of illness and days of absence from work before hospitalization, malaria parasite density status, income lost of patient and total attendant's cost before hospitalization, family income, distance between home and hospital and days of actual illness were important determinants for various types of cost incurred for hospitalized malaria patients. This study will focus on the need for large-scale similar studies in the country in future.

Assessment of the erythrocyte protoporphyrin test for screening of iron deficiency anaemia

A total of 84 apparently healthy children between ages of 1-12 years were screened for iron deficiency with the erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) test. Serum iron, total iron binding capacity in serum, percent transferrin saturation, haematocrit and haemoglobin values were also determined together with the screening test. Comparing the relationship between EP and percent transferrin saturation, using a percent transferrin saturation value < 10 percent as the criterion of iron deficiency, the optimal cut off limit for the EP test appears to be 80 ug/dl of rbcs. At this level, this screening test showed a sensitivity of 74 percent and specificity of 95 percent and the positive and negative predictive values were 82 percent and 93 percent respectively. thus EP assay which is less expensive and easy to perform can be used as a screening test for the detection of iron deficiency.