Prevalence of Blastocystis hominis infection in asymptomatic individuals from Bangkok, Thailand.

Fresh stool examination was performed from 2,230 participants who enrolled in annual check-up programs of the Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University in 1999-2000 and 2004. In this study, Blastocystis hominis infection was diagnosed by culturing in Jones' media. A total of 21% of fecal specimens (in 1999-2000) and 13.7% (in 2004) were positive for B. hominis. The vacuolated form was the predominant form found in culture solution after 48 hours of incubation. The distribution of infection was highest between the ages of 21-30 years (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in infection between male and female groups. Other parasites, eg Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba coli, Endolimax nana, Trichomonas hominis, Strongyloides stercoralis, Opisthorchis viverrini and Taenia species, were also found by fresh stool examination.

Subchronic toxicity of murdannia ioriformos.

One hundred and twenty male and female rats, 150-200 gm of body weight, were randomly divided into 4 groups and acclimatized to controlled conditions for 2 weeks. One served as a control group and the others were orally given fresh juice “Yaa Bei-jing” every day for 3 months. The dose given were 700, 1750, 3500 mg of plant per 250 gm of body weight were equal to 1, 2.5, 5 times of therapeutic dose used in man multiplied by 7. Body weight was observed every week to show their normal growths. Ten rats from each group were sacrificed every month to determine blood chemistry, CBC, pathological findings of the lungs, kidneys, livers, spleens, testes or ovaries. Up to 4, 8 and 12 weeks of experimental period, no abnormal results occurred.

Trace elements and cations in human seminal plasma.

Seminal plasma from 203 specimens were analyzed for metal (zinc), and cautions : sodium, potassium. Magnesium and calcium. The concentrations of the analyzes except sodium of oligoasthenospermia or poor motility were significantly difference form normospermia at p < 0.025. The level of zinc, potassium and magnesium in oligospermia are significantly lower than normospermia. There are significantly lower of trace metal and caution except calcium in azoospermia. However after comparing individual of vasectomized group, all of cautions and trace in post-vasectomized men are significantly higher than per-vasectomized at p < 0.025.

Screening health of battary manufacture workers.

Eighty male (32.4 + 7.1 years, 59.3 + 8.9 kg) and 17 females (32.5 + 6.5 years, 56.7 + 11.9 kg) from a battary factory were investigated. From personel history taking and physical examination it was found that the workers showed no signs of physical abnormalities. Laboratory results that were found to be abnormal are as follows (number of cases) : glucose 2, creatinine 1, uric acid 12, triglycerides 14, cholesterol 13, SGOT 2, SGPT 2, y-glutamyl transferase 21, calcium (high) 2, Calcium (low) 25 inorganic phosphate (high) 5, 6, inorganic phosphate (low) 8, ESR 30, haemoglobin (high) 2, haemoglobin (low) 7, haematocrit (high) 5, haematocrit (low) 1, white blood cell count (low) 7, eosinophil 19, monocyte 2, basophillic stippling 8. Abnormality in urinalysis found are : albumin 11, sugar 1, white cell 2, coproporphyrin (+ ve) 23 and ๐-aminolevulinic acid (urine) 30, ๐-aminolevulinic dehydratase (red cell) 16, and hepatitis B antigen positive 7 the results of such investigation can be of help to factory administrators in setting up preventive measure for maintenance of optimal health of workers.

Analytical errors due to lipaemic serum.

Besides methodology, instrumentation and equipment used, error of clinical laboratory results may be affected by turbid specimen. The study of serum having various degree of turbidity showed that a 1+ turbidity resulted in an error of 3.51-68.18% for urea nitrogen, 3.3-80.0% for SGOT, 0-100.6% for SGPT and 0-27.3% for alkaline phosphatase; 2+ turbidity resulted in an error of 3.9-133.4% for urea nitrogen, 16.7-55.6% for SGPT, 0-200% foe SGPT and 3.5-33.3% for alkaline phosphatase; 3+ turbidity resulted in an error of 11.1-205.9% for urea nitrogen, 6.5-114.3% for SGPT, 3.2-200.00% foe SGPT and 2.5-20.8% for alkaline phosphatase from 4+ turbidity specimen, urea nitrogen from 3+ turbidity specimen and SGPT from 2+ turbidity specimen are significantly different (p<0.01) from result corrected for turbidity.

Elevated serum gamma-glutamyl transferase and other enzymes in alcoholic.

Serum from a total of 119 workers from Thailand Tobacco Monopoly Company were studied. The subjects were divided into three groups: control, alcoholic who smoke. The enzymatic activities of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase were determined. The average enzymatic activity in all three groups was found within normal limits. Individual with alcohol consumption showed higher enzymatic activities of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (p<0.0005), alkaline phosphatase (p<0.05), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (p<0.0005) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (p<0.0005) when compared with controls. There was no significant difference in the ratio of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase to glutamic pyruvic transaminase in alcoholics compared with controls. While the ratio of gamma-glutamyl transferase to glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase in alcoholics was significantly higher (p<0.0005) when compared with controls.