Current prevalence of Opisthorchis viverrini infection and associated risk factors in Nakhon Phanom Province, Northeastern Thailand

@# Opisthorchiasis caused by Opisthorchis viverrini infection is a major public health concern in Thailand. Despite many decades of national campaigns in place to reduce and control opisthorchiasis in Thailand, the infections remain to exist particularly in the northern and northeastern parts of the country. This study aimed to evaluate the current prevalence of O. viverrini infection in rural communities in northeast Thailand. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and October 2018 in three districts (Na Kae, That Phanom and Wang Yang) in Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand. Demographic data were collected using a standardised questionnaire. Stool samples were collected and processed using the Kato-Katz technique to determine the presence of O. viverrini and other intestinal parasites. In total, 564 individuals were enrolled. The overall intestinal helminth infections were 15.2% (95% CI: 12.4–18.5). Species distribution included a majority of O. viverrini mono-infections (12.9%), followed by Strongyloides stercoralis (1.4%) and Taenia spp. (0.4%). The prevalence of O. viverrini was significantly higher in Wang Yang district (P = 0.022), in males (P = 0.004) and those previously positive with helminth infections (P<0.001) and received treatment of anti-helminths (P<0.001), than in their counterparts. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that being male (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.77, P = 0.035) and those who previously tested positive for helminth infections (aOR 8.69, P<0.001) were significantly associated with a higher odd of O. viverrini infections, but lower in those who had previous stool examination (aOR 0.22, P = 0.001). This study demonstrated that the updated prevalence of O. viverrini infection is still high in rural communities in northeast Thailand. The data of this study will be useful to guide and improve strategies for future O. viverrini and other helminths prevention and control in this region.

Clinicopathologic manifestations and outcome of dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever.

During the peak period of outbreak from July through October, during the year 2000 through 2002, a total of 390 cases of either dengue fever (DF) or dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) were collected from medicine outpatient department (MOPD) of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Shahbag, Dhaka to study their clinicopathologic manifestations and management outcome. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Almost all of the patients presented with fever (100%), headache (98.2%), bodyache (97.7%), anorexia (100%) and nausea (100%) and the vast majority had skin rash (78.5%), backache (78.2%) and retro-orbital pain (79.7%). Mean +/-SD of duration of total illness was 7.57 +/- 1.11 days and that of fever and skin rash were 5.40 +/- 0.86 and 3.02 +/- 0.78 days respectively. Mean +/-SD of platelet count was 69643.59 +/- 32043.97/mm3 of blood and that of haematocrit was 41.18 +/- 2.65%. Almost all of the patients (97.7%) developed thrombocytopenia but only 4.1% developed leucopenia at sometime during the course of the disease and anaemia was found in 49.4% of the patients. Both anti-dengue IgG and anti-dengue IgM were positive in 55.1% of patients and either anti-dengue IgG or anti-dengue IgM was positive in 23.6% and 21.3% of patients respectively. Management outcome of the patients was quite satisfactory without any case fatality.

Prevalence of type 2 diabetes in urban slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

This cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of type 2 diabetes along with its risk factors in urban slum population of Dhaka, Bangladesh. A random sample of 1555 slum dwellers of Dhaka city (age > or = 20 years) were included in the study. Capillary blood glucose levels, fasting and 2-h after 75g oral glucose load (for a selected subjects, n = 476), were measured. Height, weight, waist and hip circumferences, blood pressure and some other important socio-demographic information on age, sex, education, income, and occupation status were collected. The overall prevalence of type 2 diabetes was found to be 8.1 percent, and the prevalence for men and women were 7.7 percent and 8.5 percent respectively. Prevalence of diabetes was found to be lower following 2-h glucose values in the selected population compared to the FBG procedure. Age, sex, literacy and waist to hip ratio for men were found as significant risk factors following both fasting blood glucose and 2-h post glucose values adjusted for a number of confounding variables. Poor to moderate agreement was observed between fasting blood glucose and 2-h glucose (kappa 0.41, p < 0.001). The agreement was even poorer between impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance. Poor agreement between FBG and 2-h BG may raise concern for the dependability of diagnostic procedures. Higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the urban slum may indicate an epidemiological transition due to fast urban migration and possibly urbanization. However, this issue needs further exploration.

Comparison between the effect of cimetidine and ranitidine on serum prolactin and testosterone levels and testicular structure in male albino rats

The effect of cimetidine and ranitidine [as H[2] receptor antagonists] on serum prolactin and testosterone levels and testicular structure in albino rats were investigated. Thirty healthy male adult Albino rats were used, they were divided into three groups, ten animals each, a control group, and 2 experimental groups [cimetidine and ranitidine groups]. Long term administration of doses equivalent to human therapeutic dose range of both cimetidine and ranitidine were used. In cimetidine group, a dose of 8 mg/Rat was administered intraperitoneally daily for one month. It produced highly significant increase in serum prolactin level [P < 0.001] and also highly significant decrease in serum testosterone level [P < 0.001]. Microscopically the testis showed a decrease in size of the seminiferous tubules and reduction in germinal layers with arrest of spermatogenesis in level of spermatid. Neither Sertoli cells nor Leydig cells showed any significant changes as compared with the control group. In ranitidine group a dose of 3 mg/Rat was administered intraperitoneally daily for one month. This group showed normal serum prolactin and testosterone level, and normal microscopic structure of the testis as compared with the control group

A new combination chemotherapy for recurrent Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Thirty seven Hodgkin's lymphoma patients with recurrence after first remission induced by radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy with mustine, oncovin, procarbazine and prednisolone (MOPP) were randomised to treat with a new combination chemotherapy comprising of doxorubicin, oncovin, procarbazine and prednisolone (DOPP). While the other group received further cycles of MOPP. Twenty two patients received DOPP and out of them 14 (63.6%) showed complete remission (CR). Other group of 15 patients were treated with further cycles of MOPP and among them two (13.3%) showed CR. However, the overall response rate including CR and partial remission (PR) in both the groups were almost same, 90.9% with DOPP and 86.6% with MOPP. It is concluded that DOPP combination is satisfactory and most likely superior to MOPP for producing CR in patients treated with radiotherapy and/or MOPP.

Cancer morbidity.

In the present study, 1736 cases of cancer has been analysed by major sites, sub-sites and mortality trend. The most common cancerous lesion in the male was in the lungs and in the female in the uterine cervix. The second common lesion in male and female were larynx and breast respectively. In children, retinoblastoma was the commonest type of cancer.

Malignant neoplastic lesions in Bangladesh (an analysis of 2064 cases).

Analysis of 2,064 cases of malignant neoplasms was done to determine the male/female ratio and site distribution. Attendance of female patients with malignant conditions were less in number and the male/female ratio was 2.3:1. In the females malignant neoplasms of the sex organs (cervix uteri and breast) were more prevalent and in the males malignant neoplasms of the trachea, bronchus, lungs, larynx and oropharynx were more frequent.