Hepatitis and hepatitis B surface antigen in health-care personnel

The frequency of hepatitis, Hepatitis B surface antigen [HbsAg] and antibody [HbsAb] among health care personnel [HCP] was 'compared with that of matched controls with no exposure to blood or blood products. Nine of the 11 HbsAg positive HCP but none of the controls presented with classical acute viral hepatitis. Hepatomegaly was present in 6 HbsAg positive HCP presenting with acute hepatitis while, it was absent in the solitary HbsAg positive control. Hepatic enlargement was noted in 36 [9.7 percent] HbsAg negative HCP and 4 [5.30 percent] controls. Serum transaminases abnormalities without the presence of HbsAg or HbsAb were present in 61 [16.7 percent] HCP and in 9 controls [12.3 percent]. The frequency of HBs antigen in 383 HCP was 2.8 percent and in 76 controls 1.3 percent. Frequency of antibody was 27.5 percent in HCP and 38.1 percent in controls by the RIA method and by the CIEP method it was 1.5 percent in the former and 3.9 percent in the latter indicating that the general population is more likely to develop antibodies probably due to exposure to the Hepatitis B virus in small doses by the non-parentral route

Serum aspartate animo transferase and alanine amino transferase levels in apparently healthy population in Karachi

The reference values for AST and ALT were determined at 37°C in 0.2 ml serum from 339 apparently healthy individuals [188 males and 151 females]. The normal ranges for AST and ALT varied from 1-50 units in both groups irrespective of age. Males had significantly higher levels of enzymes than females. Age had no effect on enzyme levels in males but levels were significantly higher in females above 15 years. Using the formula [mean +/- 2 SD] most of the values of two enzymes in both groups were in 95 percent confidence intervals

Dietary and serum calcium in pregnant women

Dietary and serum calcium were estimated in 200 normal pregnant women between 37-41 weeks of gestation and in cord blood of their new born. Calcium intake per person per day was low, 11.8mmol/L, as compared with the daily recommended allowance of 30 mmol/L Mean maternal serum calcium level was also low [1.9 mmol/L] and only 20% of mothers had serum calcium within normal range. Mean calcium value in cord blood was at lower limit of normal range, being 2.3 mmol/L; 38.5% of cord samples [77] were below the normal range

Vitamin A and carotene levels in patients with xerophthalmia

Thirty patients of xerophthalmia were studied to determine vitamin A and carotene levels and effect of vitamin A supplementation. The pretreatment levels of plasma vitamin A were low in all 30 patients and significantly low as compared to controls. The clinical deficiency correlated well with the low levels of vitamin A which also indicate dc dietary deficiency of this vitamin. Most of the patients had defective visions. Flowing intensive vitamin A therapy, the ocular lesions responded well in patients with conjunctival xerosis, Bitot's shots corneal ulceration and night blindness. No changes were noted in patients with partial and total. keratomalacia. Recurrence was observed in four cases