Levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides in type 2 diabetic sudanese patients

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. This study aimed to estimate the levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides as control markers of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Sudanese patients. Seventy Sudanese controlled NIDDM patients of age 42-80 years and of diabetes duration 1-27 years, 30 non diabetic subjects age and sex-matched taken as a control group. Fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides [TG] were measured and the results obtained were statistically analysed. There were no statistically significant differences between diabetic group and control group observed in TG levels. The total cholesterol in the diabetic group showed significant increase than the control group [P=0.04], also this study showed, 64.3% of the diabetic group had FBG>140mg/dl, 24.3% had cholesterol level >240 mg/dl and 9% had Triglycerides level >200mg/dl. This study suggests the need for improving glycemic control in Sudanese diabetic patients, that might lead to improvement in lipid values and decrease the diabetes-associated complications

Biochemical and clinical assessment of thyroid status in patients with thyroid disorders referred to El-Obied Regional Health Laboratory

This study aimed at assessing the thyroid status in Kordofan region [western Sudan] where the prevalence of goitre was not clearly defined. A cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted in Elobied regional health laboratory on 150 thyroid patients [136 female, 14 male] referred during the period between May-November 2003, their ages ranged between 6 to 65 years. A matching control group of 50 subjects [39 female, 11 male] without symptoms or signs of thyroid disease, were included for comparison. After clinical evaluation and data collection through a questionnaire, serum concentrations of TSH, total triiodothyronine [TT3], and total thyroxine [TT4] were measured by radioimmunoassay. The frequency of thyroid disorders was higher in females [90.7%] than in males [9.3%], among the age group between 25-34 years. The percentage of patients with euthyroid was significantly higher [62%] compared with 28.3% of hyper and 9.3% of hypothyroidism. 69.3% of the thyroid patients had stage II goitre. TT4, TT3 and TSH showed significant differences [P < 0.001] in hyper and hypothyroidism compared with the euthyroid patients and the control group. Serum TT[4] values correlated negatively with TSH [r = 0.272, P = 0.001], and positively with TT[3] [r = 0.693, P = 0.000]. The prevalence of thyroid diseases was found higher in this area, with strong association with the food intake and genetic background, a problem needing to be considered seriously

relationship between prolactin level and the duration of lactational amenorrhoea in lactating Sudanese women

This study aimed to assess the relationship between the prolactin [PRL] level and the duration of lactational amenorrhoea in lactating Sudanese women. Sudanese women [135] from Omdurman area with different ages [18- 41 years] and stages of lactation were included, 61 of them participated by giving venous blood samples and filling a questionnaire, while the others by filling the questionnaire only. Pregnant women, contraceptives users, and hypothyroid patients were excluded. The subjects were divided into lactational amenorrhoeic [Group I], and lactating menstruating subjects [Group II]. Then each group was subdivided according to the duration of lactation into: - Lactating for six months or less. Lactating for more than six months. Prolactin level was measured using radioimmunoassay [RIA]. In this study the mean prolactin level in-group I [2934.99 mU/L] was significantly higher compared with group II [707.46 mU/L] [P<0.05]. For the duration of lactation, PRL level in the first six months was higher [4414 mU/L], [1506.60 mU/L] in group I, and group II respectively, while this level decreased after six months [1538 mU/L], [517.19 mU/L] for the two groups. Also we found that factors like breast-feeding patterns, utilization of supplementary foods, and the number of parities had a significant effect on the duration of lactational amenorrhoea. There was a positive relationship between PRL level and the duration of lactational amenorrhoea [r=0.39]

Serum uric acid concentration and urinary excretion of uric acid in Sudanese patients with gout

To assess the relationship between serum uric acid concentration and urinary excretion of uric acid in patients with gout. Fifty three Sudanese patients with gout were included in this study; thirty three of them were gouty subjects not under treatment, twenty subjects were under treatment. Twenty normal subjects were used as control. The biochemical parameters included in this study were: serum uric acid, urine uric acid. Urine volume, pH, specific gravity, and urine crystals were also determined. Serum uric acid concentration in gouty subjects not under treatment was significantly higher [p<0.01] as compared to control group. While serum uric acid concentration in gouty subjects under treatment was not significantly higher than the control group, the difference between means was statistically significant between gouty subjects not under treatment and control group. No significant differences were found for urine uric acid excretion. There was a weak positive correlation between serum uric acid concentration and urinary excretion of uric acid in gouty groups; however control group gave a weak negative sign. The risk factors, which were considered, were obesity [over weight], ethnic origin, and age. The difference between means for body weight and height was significantly higher [P<0.05] in gouty subjects compared with control group, and the difference between means for urine volume, urine specific gravity, and urine crystalls showed no significant effect on the three groups, while urine pH showed significant mean difference between these groups. The determination of serum uric acid is of good diagnostic value, whereas estimation of urine uric acid is of little diagnostic value. Urine crystals can be used only for screening for the investigation of urine uric acid crystals

Clinical and haematological findings in Sudanese patients with sickle cell disease attending the hospitals in Elobeid, Kordofan

This study aimed at assessing the clinical features and haematological parameters in sickle Sudanese patients attending El Obeid Hospitals in North Kordofan, Sudan. Eighty five patients with homozygous sickle cell [SS] disease, [both sexes] were included in this study. Their age ranged between 6 months to 42 years. Forty persons were used as control. Clinical manifestations were recorded at examination. Freshly obtained blood samples from patients and control were used to estimate haematological parameters which included: haemoglobin concentration [Hb], packed cell volume [PCV], red blood cell count [RBC], white blood cell count [WBC], mean corpuscular haemoglobin [MCH], mean corpuscular volume [MCV], and erythrocyte sedimentation rate [E.S.R]. The clinical investigations revealed that all patients presented with painful crisis, 96.5% had chronic anemia, 84.7% had recurrent malaria and 81.2% had different infections [76% was chest infection], 32.9% of the sickle cell disease [SCD] patients had no blood transfusion, while the rest had blood transfused once to five times. Haematological measurement indicate that all SCD patients in this study were reported anaemic, and their Hb, PCV and RBC count were significantly lower [P<0.001] compared with the control group, while WBC count of and MCV were significantly higher [P<0.001, P<0.01]. In this study the prevalence of SCD in Misseria tribe [24.7%] was highest compared to other tribes. This study affirmed the problem of sickle cell disease in Kordofan state, which should draw attention toward the need of further studies

Iron status of first year medical students at Gezira University

To determine the iron status of first-year medical students at Gezira University and identify influence of ethnic group and gender on the iron status. Cross-sectional community based study. The sample consisted of 160 students aged 16-20 years with a mean [ +/- SD] age 18.56 +/- 0.94 of both sexes [70 = males, 90 = females]. Blood samples were collected from each student and questionnaire was completed. Haemoglobin [Hb], packed cell volume [PCV], serum iron and total iron binding capacity were determined by cyanomethaemoglobin method, microhaematocrit centrifuge and colourmetric methods respectively. Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration [MCHC] and transferrin saturation were calculated. The mean [ +/- SD] concentration of Hb, serum iron and transferrin saturation of all male students was 14.86 +/- 1.29 g/dL, 102.46 +/- 30.5 micro g/dL and 39.72 +/- 11.23% respectively. The mean [ +/- SD] concentrations of Hb, serum-iron and transferrin saturation of all female students was 12.57 +/- 0.92 g/dL, 57.51 +/- 11.8 micro g/dL and 21.12 +/- 5.4% respectively. Haemoglobin level, serum-iron and transferrin saturation were within normal levels according to WHO criteria. There were significant differences between mean values of biochemical parameters and sex of students and father income P<0.05. There was no significant association between iron status parameters and family size and ethnic groups. There was positive correlation between subject iron status and diet [meat, liver, fruits and hilba]. Iron status of first-year medical students at Gezira University is within normal reference values. This is in line with the health status of the students

Serum iron, zinc and copper status of severely malnourished children in Wad Medani, Sudan

To determine status of iron [Fe], zinc [Zn] and copper [Cu] in severely malnourished children in Wad Medani, Central Sudan. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to assess the serum concentrations of iron, zinc and copper in ninety children- sixty severely malnourished children and thirty control. The children were selected randomly from patients admitted to the nutritional section at Wad Medani Children Teaching Hospital in Gezira State, Central Sudan. The age range of the studied children was 3-37 months. The malnourished children were diagnosed and classified into two groups: marasmus and kwashiorkor with 30 patients in each group. Their anthropometric measurements including weight and height were measured. Total serum protein, serum albumin, haemoglobin concentrations and haematocrit were determined using standard methods. Analysis of variance between the three groups showed highly significant differences in all measured biochemical parameters [p<0.001]. Positive and significant correlations were observed between serum albumin and zinc levels [r = 0.4, p=0.01], and between serum copper and haemoglobin levels [r = 0.3, p=0.01]. The nature of the association between these trace elements status and their implications for malnutrition pathophysiology are discussed. The association is established between trace elements [Fe, Zn, Cu] status and malnutrition in children suffering from marasmus and kwashiorkor in the Gezira state

Calcium status in Sudanese cancer patients attending the institute of nuclear medicine, molecular biology and oncology

The aim of this study was to study the incidence of hypercalcaemia together with the related biochemical parameters and anthropometric measurements in Sudanese cancer patients attending the Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Molecular Biology and Oncology [INMO], Gezira State, Sudan. The study was a prospective study performed on 100 cancer patients [age ranging between 4- 70 years]. The study period was from 15/4/2003 to 1/9/2003. Another 100 persons [age and sex matched] were used as control group. The biochemical parameters measured in this study were serum calcium, serum inorganic phosphorus and serum albumin. Calcium, inorganic phosphorus and albumin were measured by Spectrophotometery. Anthropometrics measurements determined were weight and height. A questionnaire was filled in order to obtain information regarding: age, sex, residence, tribe and information about education, occupation, marital status and past medical history. Type of cancer, date of diagnosis, stage of cancer, treatment, and present complaints were recorded. Hypercalcaemia was detected in ten of the patients [10%]. This is similar to the internationally published rates. The types of cancers associated with hypercalcaemia were cancer of the breast [20%], skin [20%], prostate [10%], bladder [10%], rectum [10%], unknown primary [10%] and hematological malignancies [20%].Mean serum calcium [9.48 +/- 1.07 mg/dL] and inorganic phosphorus [4.45 +/- 1.01 mg/dL] were higher in the cancer patients than the control group [9.03 +/- 0.56, 4.13 +/- 0.72 mg/dL respectively]. However, the difference is statistically not significant. Serum albumin concentration was similar in the patients and control groups [4.97 +/- 0.63 and 4.93 +/- 0.41 g/dL respectively]. The differences of weight and height were not significantly different in the two groups. It is concluded that the calcium, phosphorus and albumin levels among Sudanese individuals were similar to the internationally published levels. Hypercalcaemia is not a rare condition among cancer patients and should be checked whenever there is a symptom because it can lead to many serious complications

Obesity and hyoerlipidaemia in adult males in a semi - urban community in Jordan.

To describe the relationship between obesity and hyperlipidaemia. Cluster sampling technique-probability of households from Sareeh area. A total of 400 apparently healthy adult males aged 30-50 years were invited to participate in the study, of whom 306 completed the study. A pilot tested interview questionnaire was designed in the study to collect the dietary history. Height, weight, waist circumference, triglycerides [TRIG] and total cholesterol [CHOL] were measured. Obesity was categorized into three groups as indicated by BMI-C based on WHO [1997] for generalized obesity and for classifications of central obesity using waist circumference categories based on [Lean et aI, 1995]. The means of plasma triglycerides and total cholesterol increased significantly with increasing levels of waist circumference and BMI categories [P<0.05]. There was an increase in the prevalence rates [PRs] of hypertriglyceridaemia and hypercholesterolaemia with increasing levels of obesity and its duration. The proportion ratios of hypertriglyceridaemia and hypercholesterolaemia for subjects with high and moderate obesity levels compared with subjects with normal levels were [10.1-11.6] and [6.7 -8.1] times respectively; whereas for subjects with duration of overweight>20 years compared with subjects with duration of obesity <10 years ranged [2.11-2.96] times. Also odds ratios [ORs] of hypertriglyceridaemia and hypercholesterolaemia after controlling for confounded factors were increased with increasing levels of obesity and its duration, the highest [OR] in high obesity levels ranged [11.59-19.18, 95% CI, P< 0.001] whereas for duration of obesity >20 years ranged [16.78-20.94,95% CI, P<0.001]. Central obesity had a potential risk on hypertriglyceridaemia and hypercholesterolaemia more than generalized obesity. Conclusions: amount of body fat, location and duration are the major risk factors on hypertriglyceridaemia and hypercholesterolaemia which emphasizes the need for concentrated effort to prevent and treat obesity rather than just any associated co-morbidities