Cholesterol and triglycerides levels in Thai diabetics.

One thousand, one hundred and twenty-five diabetics, aged 17-90 years (456 males, 669 females), underwent cholesterol and triglyceride determination showing the cholesterol value of 64 per cent or 717 diabetics was over 200 mg/dl and the cholesterol value of 7 per cent or 74 diabetics was lower than 200 mg/dl, but triglycerides were over 200 mg/dl, of which HDL and LDL cholesterol had been determined; and in 30 per cent of diabetics or 334 patients, the cholesterol and triglycerides values were lower than 200 mg/dl, which suggested no hyperlipidemia. From these results, the authors suggest hyperlipidemia be screened in all diabetics to prevent atherosclerosis. The clinical laboratory should have cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol available for routine check up of diabetics of prevention of atherosclerosis complications and to decrease the mortality rate of the diabetics. Primary screening of cholesterol and triglyceride tests, also HDL and LDL cholesterol, should be determined if cholesterol is over 200 mg/dl or triglycerides are over 200 mg/dl.

Nutritional status of low socioeconomic school children at Srakaew Temple, Ang Thong.

Nutritional deficiency in school children is one of the major health problems in Thailand. This study was undertaken to investigate the nutritional status in 240 poor adopted school children who were classified as low socioeconomic. Biochemical parameters were measured for detecting early signs of nutritional deficiency before the clinical signs developed. Serum protein and albumin levels did not show statistically significant different between the protein energy deficiency group and the normal group (p greater than 0.05, p greater than 0.05). Fifty-four point five per cent of these children showed sign of vitamin B2 deficiency, 13.6 per cent of them with activity coefficient greater than 1.8, indicating the low protein intake of this group of children. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the vitamin B2 level between the normal and protein calorie malnutrition groups (p greater than 0.05). According to our study, the prevalence of anemia among these children was 53.1 per cent. Moreover, the difference in hemoglobin level between these two groups was found with statistical significance (p less than 0.05).

Serum immunoglobulin levels before and after hepatitis B vaccinations.

Our study has shown that there was no change in the amount of immunoglobulin, immunoglobulin G, M, A after the first, second and third injection, compared to pre-vaccination, but the amount of specific antibody (anti-HBs) increased statistically as shown in another report of the same group of subjects which was more than 40 IU/L. So, prevention of hepatitis B viral infection should be done by vaccination with a specific vaccine. A specific hepatitis B immunoglobulin is necessary for anyone in Thailand who is accidentally injected with hepatitis B virus since the Thai population is at high risk for hepatitis B infection, approximately 7-15 per cent. Prevalence surveys have shown that the average HBsAg carrier rate in the Thai population ranges between 7-15 per cent. There are no significant variations in HBsAg carriers among different geographical areas. It is necessary for everyone, especially hospital personnel, children and the family of HBsAg carriers to have hepatitis B vaccination.

Serum alanine transaminase levels in hospital personnel and effect before and after hepatitis B vaccination.

Alanine transaminase (ALT) levels in healthy hospital personnel were studied. ALT levels in pre and post vaccinated sera were compared. In this study, all sera showed normal values of ALT, lower than 36 IU/L. Hepatitis B vaccination did not cause any change.

The incidence of phenylketonuria in Thailand.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a congenital defect involving failure to metabolize phenylalanine to tyrosine because of the absence of phenylalanine hydroxylase. Untreated PKU causes severe mental retardation, musty odor, hyperactivity, seizures, eczema and hypopigmentation. Without therapy, the child may develop with an IQ of less than 20. Restricting dietary phenylalanine before the onset of brain damage is necessary, to maintain the phenylalanine concentration at 3-8 mg/dl. Thirteen thousand three hundred and ninety-seven mentally retarded outpatients, aged 4 months to 24 years, from the year 1963 to 1987 were studied for PKU. Seven patients had positive PKU test by ferric chloride test and Phenistix, six PKU confirmed by paper chromatography. Two PKU by fluorometry and one PKU by amino acid analyzer. The incidence is 1:1,900 mentally retarded patients or 1:1,200,000 population. So, the incidence seems to be lower than in other countries which have neonatal screening for PKU. Because early diagnosis is essential in order to avoid the severe effects of PKU, neonatal screening has become widespread in the U.S., Australia, Great Britain, and other European Countries. The incidence of 1 PKU out of 1:1,200,000 Thai population seems to be not important enough for initiation of a PKU screening program in Thai newborns.

Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in Wat Srakaew school children.

Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus carrier in adopted school age children is 12.5 per cent. When it is compared to Bangkok and Ayutthaya children, its prevalence is higher than children in Bangkok, but it is lower than children in Ayutthaya.

Simple test for screening protein in cerebrospinal fluid.

The comparison of qualitative tests in determining normal and abnormal protein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were studied. The albumin level in 50 cases was should to be 74% and 42% positive by Albustix and Nonne Apelt, albumin method, respectively. The globulin level in 80 cases was also show to be 40% and 46% positive by Pandy and Nonne Apelt, globulin method. All qualitative tests were compared quantitatively with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and Ponceau S dye binding method. The Albustix and Nonne Apelt, globulin method provided earlier detection of abnormal protein in CSF. The Albustix test was also proven to be more rapid cheaper for screening large samples for positive protein results.

Comparison of quick method to malloy – evelyn method for determination of bilirubin.

The determination of serum bilirubin by quick method is useful in estimating the bilirubin value in neonatal jaundice and hepatic coma in case of sudden treatment. A study by quick method in 143 patients gives good correlation to Malloy – evelyn method in which r = 0.82, p < 0.001. The coefficient of variation in variation in this study is 1.77 to 8.07, which is an acceptable coefficient of variation. The quick method is also easy, convenient, using instruments available in most laboratories. So, it should be the method for estimation the bilirubin value in case of emergencies.

The quantitative determination of total calcium in normal Thai and nephrotic syndrome patients by direct method.

The determination of serum calcium by direct method is suitable for laboratories because it needs only simple instrument, available in most laboratories. The individual serum calcium was determined by direct method in 60 normal Thais (males = 24, females = 37). The value for male was 8.68 – 11.08 mg/dl in female. There was statistically difference between sexes. In one hundred nephritic syndrome patients (male = 46, female = 54) were ranged from 6.59 – 10.71 mg/dl and 6.52 – 11.08 mg/dl in female. Both were statistically different in the same sex, from the normal value. The nephritic syndrome patient had the lower serum calcium than the normal.

The quantitative determination of glucose in normal thais and liver diseases by 0 – toluidine method.

The ortho – toluidine method for glucose determination is suitable for routine laboratories because it needs only single reagent and react directly with serum. The individual glucose was determination in 100 normal Thais (males = 53, females = 47). The value was 73 – 96 mg/dl. There was no difference between sexes. In patients with liver diseases (obstructive jaundice, cirrhosis, carcinoma of liver, viral hepatitis, hepatic precoma, hepatomegaly), Those were no statistically difference from the normal value. But infections hepatitis was statistically difference from the normal value.