Health status of Indochinese refugees in Japan: statistical analyses on anemia, eosinophilia and serum alkaline phosphatase.

Detailed statistical analyses were attempted on anemia, eosinophilia and elevation in serum alkaline phosphatase in the Indochinese refugees in Japan. A high statistical correlation was found between hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit for most of the refugees except the Cambodian females. Refugees with parasitic infections, particularly hookworm infection had significantly lower values for hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit. Significant eosinophilia was observed in the refugees infected with hookworms, Strongyloides stercoralis, Rhabditis sp., Endolimax nana and/or Hymenolepis nana. However, these parasites were found in the same subpopulations more frequently than expected by chance. Elevation in serum alkaline phosphatase was observed in young Cambodian immigrants. Analyses showed that the variations of this enzyme could be well predictable by those of enzymes such as serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, which are good markers for liver functions, in Cambodian immigrants, 13-24 of age, whereas no such correlation was observed in non-Cambodians of the same age group.

Estudio comparativo de la incidencia de infeccion por virus de hepatitis B entre descendientes de japoneses y nativos bolivianos en Santa Cruz, Bolivia. / Comparative study of incidence of HBV infection in Japanese descendants and native bolivians in Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Se realizo un estudio comparativo epidemiologico de la incidencia de HBsAg, anti-HBs y anti-HBe en sujetos asintomaticos entre descendientes japoneses, (n-300) y los nativos bolivianos (n-184) en la poblacion de la Colonia San Juan de Yapacani Santa Cruz (Bolivia). Los metodos empleados fueron el RPHA, PHA y RIA.El HBsAg fue positivo en 6,4% en los adultos japoneses y 10,4% en los menores de 16 anos mientras que en la poblacion boliviana fue negativo tanto en menores como en adultos. El anti-HBs fue de 44,9% en descendientes japoneses adultos y 26,7% en los bolivianos, mientras que en los menores de 23,6% en descendientes japoneses y solo 3,8% en bolivianos. Este resultado sugiere una infeccion ya contraida en Japon al ingreso a Bolivia y una transmision vertical materno-infantil antes que una infeccion en el area estudiada