Toxoplasmosis in an immunocompetent patient

Toxoplasmosis is an obligate intracellular, food borne parasite disease with variable clinical presentation. Although the neurological presentation of toxoplasmosis in immunocompetent patients is uncommon, broad differential diagnosis should be kept in consideration when attending to similar patients. Twenty years old man with no known co-morbid conditions presented with fever and unilateral limb weakness for three weeks. It increased gradually, associated with altered level of consciousness for the last five days, diagnosed as acute toxoplasmosis. MRI Brain showed multiple ring enhancing lesions in frontal, parietal and temporal lobes. Serology for toxoplasmosis denoted raised IgM levels 36IU/mL [cut off value > 18IU/ mL]. This case report describes the clinical presentation and management of neurological toxoplasmosis in immunocompetent patient. Early diagnosis and prompt management can resolve the symptoms at an earlier stage

Differences in various biochemical and clinical parameters with respect to family history of non communicable diseases in fourth year MBBS students of Karachi, Pakistan

To observe the differences of various biochemical and clinical parameters with respect to Family History [FH] of Non-communicable Diseases [NCDs] in fourth year Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] students. This observational study was conducted at Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology from December 2013 to January 2014. Total 50 medical students from Dow University of Health Sciences [DUHS] participated in the study. Statistical Package for Social Sciences [SPSS] version 13 was used to analyze the data. For cross tabulation and mean comparison z-test and t test were applied. Out of 50 subjects, there were 26 [52%] females. Mean age of the study population was 21.56 +/- 0.90 years. Mean serum cholesterol levels with positive FH of NCDs was significantly higher than negative FH of NCDs [p=0.005]. Mean value of low density lipoprotein [LDL] of positive family history of NCDs was found higher than those with negative FH [p=0.006] being statistically significant. The insulin levels in subjects with positive FH of NCDs were higher than subjects with negative FH of NCDs [p=0.685]. However, serum leptin and plasma renin showed no significant difference with the negative FH of NCDs being higher compared to positive FH of NCDs [p=0.068] and [p=0.884] respectively. However, Waist circumference, Body mass index and central obesity in subjects with positive FH of NCDs shows increasing trend but no statistically significant difference [p > 0.05] was observed. In our study of various biochemical and clinical parameters with respect to FH of NCDs, Serum Cholesterol and LDL levels were observed higher and statistically significant