Human sperm count detrimental effects of occupational and environmental factors

Reports from many parts of the world suggest that chemical and physical agents in the environment, introduced and spread by human activity may affect fertility in men. The objective of this article is to highlight the environmental factors and their association to male sperm quality and count as well. This study focusing on exposure to environmental factors affecting the semen quality of the workers working in different factories for a period of 5 to 7 years in Lahore. The results from this study suggest that there are many environmental factors which may affect semen quality and sperm count. It is necessary to prevent parental exposure to the agents associated with those hazards

Endogenous depression; total triiodothyronine [T3] levels in patients with first episode

The aim of this study to determine the levels of Total triiodothyronine [T3] in patients with first episode of Endogenous depression [prior to medical treatment] and in matched controls. Punjab Institute of Mental Health. Between Jan. and Dec.2011. 100 newly diagnosed depressive patients in the age range of 18-65 years were included in the study. 60 healthy controls were taken from dermatological clinic. Total triiodothyronine [T3] was estimated using enzyme - immune assay. The results obtained were analyzed using Statistical package of social sciences, Version 7.0 [SPSS 7.0]. No significant difference in levels of Total triiodothyronine [T3] was found in depressive patients and control. Lower levels of T3 in depressive patients could lead to subclinical hypothyroidism and refractiveness. Therefore, thyroid profile in refractive patients is suggested

Identification of the types of pre-analytical errors in the clinical chemistry laboratory from jan-2012 to dec-2012 at Jinnah hospital, pathology department

Objective: To evaluate the leading causes of pre-analytical errors in a clinical chemistry laboratory

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the results obtained from the clinical chemistry laboratory for errors in the pre-analytical phase has been carried out to summarize data regarding the frequency of the main factors affecting the pre-analytical quality of results. Laboratory personnel were asked to register rejections, and causes for rejection of ward as well as out-patient samples collected in the laboratory

Results: Of the 1,54,554 tubes received during the data collection period, 2505 samples were found unsuitable for further processing. This accounted for 1.52% of all samples collected in the laboratory. Rejections arose as a result of the following reasons: 0.48% were rejected due to hemolysis; 0.92% were specimens without proper requisition slips; and 0.14% had insufficient sample quantity

Conclusion: Of all the samples received in the lab, the overall percentage of rejection is 1.62%

Serum anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies in patients with endogenous depression

A total of 80 subjects were divided into two groups. Groups A included 20 normal healthy control subjects and group B included 60 subjects with endogenous depression Anti-TPO antibodies were performed by commercially available kits. Results were analysed by using students T test and level of significance was done. Anti-TPO antibodies were significantly raised in patients with endogenous depression