Identification of sensitive and specific markers for typhoid fever: the rapid detection

Typhoid fever is common in Pakistan and several developing countries, especially among children. There has been a continuous search for a simple and reliable test that can be carried out in a small laboratory, for an early and rapid diagnosis. For this purpose, Typhidot test and TUBEX test have been evaluated in the present study. Blood samples from 131 patients with age range of 2-10 years presented with 4 days of fever. The patients were recommended for the detection of 1gM and IgG antibodies to Salmonella typi. Typoidot test was positive for both IgG and 1gM antibodies to S. typhi in our samples. Typhidot test gave a sensitivity of 100 percent and specificity of 80 percent when bacteraemic patients were analyzed. It has been concluded that the Typohidot is a quick and easy-to-perform test that requires no special equipment and training of staff for interpretation of results. The ELISA results for 1gM and IgG were more sensitive and specific than any combination of the Widal test, and hence it could be a useful tool for the serologic diagnosis of typhoidal fever with a single blood sample

Does LH/Testo and Testo/LH ratio affect male fertility?

This study was designed to determine the levels of serum LH and Testosterone along with their ratios, among men with varying sperm quality. Two hundred fifty married men, presenting with a complaint of infertility, which had been evaluated for their seminal profile. LH indicated inverse/negative correlation to sperm concentration, while decreased testosterone levels were associated with depleted sperm conc. The mean levels of LH [mlU/ml] and testosterone [nmol/L] for the groups were 13.85 +/- 2.33 and 11.86 +/- 0.70 [azoospermia], 10.92 +/- 3.79 and 11.88 +/- 1.06 [oligozoospermia], 3.92 +/- 1.17 and 16.24 +/- 2.05 [asthenozoospermia], while the levels in normozoospermic men were 7.24 +/- 1.02 and 17.29 +/- 1.02, respect. Similarly, the LH/T and T/LH ratios were 1.17[ +/- 0.28] and 0.86[ +/- 2.70] respectively in azoospermia, 0.92 [ +/- 0.28] and 1.08[ +/- 0.17] in oligozoospermia, 0.30[ +/- 0.10] and 4.14[ +/- 10.4] in asthenozoospermia 0.42 [ +/- 0.08] and 2.34[ +/- 0.48] in normozoospermic men. The present data indicate that disturbance in LH and testosterone ratios also causes infertility, since these hormones act together by maintaining a feedback control system

Protein calorie malnutrition in children

Malnutrition and under nutrition are still grave problems throughout the world. About 50% of children in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin American suffer from protein calorie malnutrition. Study seas designed to observed prevalence of protein calorie malnutrition in children of ages 2 to 4 Years. The parameters it-ere age. weight, age by weight ratio, total protein, albumin, globulin and AG Ratio. It was noted that all parameters were decreased in patients when compared with controls. These low levels warranted attention on the children's diet especially protein

Anaemia of pregnancy in rural areas: recognition by simple laboratory methods

Anaemia of pregnancy directly or indirectly contributes to a significant proportion of maternal deaths. According to a recent report of WHO, the prevalence of nutritional anaemia in women indicates that about half of the pregnant women in the world suffer from the nutritional anaemia. In developed countries, 56% women are anaemic.lt was planned to study the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in rural areas and establish inexpensivee techniques which can be used in these areas. The study observed that the Haemoglobin content. PCV, red blood cell count, erythrocyte indices [MCV, MCH, MCHC] were very low in 100 pregnant female subjects, showed a moderate to severe anaemia whereas most cases of female control subjects also showed a moderate anaemia. Due to poverty, lack of education, long distances from proper hospitals it is suggested that the laboratory facilities should be provided to rural areas with easy techniques and prevent both child and mother from complications of anaemia