Effect of race, gender and age on thyroid and thyroid stimulating hormone levels in north west frontier province, Pakistan

Thyroid is one of the ductless endocrine gland, which is located immediately below the larynx on either side of and anterior to the trachea. The principal hormones of thyroid gland are thyroxine [T[4]] and triiodothyronine [T[3]]. The current study was carried out to investigate the impact of race, gender and area on the levels of Thyroxine [T[4]], Triiodothyronine [T[3]] and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone [TSH] in normal healthy individuals. Serum levels of T[4], T[3] and TSH in 498 normal healthy individuals belonging to different districts of North West Frontier Province, Pakistan, were examined. Serum T[4] and T[3] were analysed by Radio Immuno Assay [RIA] method whereas TSH was estimated by Immunoradiometric assay [IRMA] method. Levels of T[4], T[3] and TSH ranged from 53 to 167 eta mol/L, 0.6 to 3.1 eta mol/L and 0.3-4.8 micro IU/L respectively. The levels of these hormones show significant change from the reference values that are used in clinical laboratories as well as in Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine [IRNUM], Peshawar, Pakistan. It is concluded that the age, gender, race and area, all have an appreciable effect on the levels T[4], T[3] and TSH

Pattern of lipid profile in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients

To know the pattern of lipid profile in obese and non-obese type-2 diabetes mellitus patients as compared to a control group One hundred [50 obese and 50 non-obese] diagnosed patients having diabetes mellitus minimum for the last three years were randomly selected from the outdoor patient department of medicine, Khyber teaching hospital, Peshawar during the year 2002. Obesity was taken as body mass index of more than 25 kg/m[2]. One hundred healthy individuals were selected from among the staff of Khyber medical college, Khyber College of Dentistry, and Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar to constitute the control group. They had no history of any chronic illness. Subjects suffering from cardiovascular diseases, kidney disorder and hepatic disorders were excluded from the study. Fasting serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, and VLDL-C were determined by enzymatic calorimetric method and calculated by using Friedewald [1972] formula. The levels of serum triglycerides [170.15 +/- 10.3 mg/dl vs 159.01 +/- 10.11mg/dl], total cholesterol, [191.61 +/- 18.61 mg/dl vs 182.61 +/- 17.6 mg/dl], LDL-C [113.12 +/- 11.01mg/dl vs 102.69 +/- 11.17 mg/dl] and VLDL-C [34.03 +/- 2.03 mg/dl vs. 31.80 +/- 0.2mg/dl] were higher in diabetic patients as compared to the control group, while HDL-C [43.39 +/- 6.41 mg/dl vs. 57.69 +/- 7.06 mg/dl] was lower as compared to the control group. Dyslipidemia is a significant finding in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients

Effect of noise on heart rate

The objective of the study was to observe the effect of short-term noise on heart rate. One Hundred and seventeen [117] medical students were selected as subjects. Subjects having normal resting heart rate and blood pressure were included in the study. Subjects with, hearing defect were excluded from study. Auditory aquity was confirmed by audiometry before the start of experiment for each subject. A noise of a 90 dB intensity and 4000Hz frequency was produced for 10 minutes. Heart rate was recorded before, during and after exposure to noise. Heart rate increased in 104 [88.9%] subjects, with an average rise of 8.938+ 1.037. In 73 subjects [70.19%] it came back to basal level within 02 minutes. Increase in heart rate was observed in more number of males as compared to females; however, the difference was statistically insignificant. Heart rate increases during exposure to noise