Serum concentration of zinc in healthy pregnant women versus pre-eclamptic pregnant women: a case control study in Lahore, Pakistan

Objective: To find out serum zinc level in healthy pregnant women and pre-eclemptic pregnant women

Study Design: Ramdomized controlled trial study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Department of Pathology, Lady Willingdon Hospital, Lahore and at Lahore College for Women University, Lahore from March 2015 to September 2015

Materials and Methods: Size of sample was determined statistically by using table and119 [102 experimental group[51 pre-eclamptic pregnant women and 51 normal pregnant women] and 17 control group] blood samples were collected randomly

Results: The average zinc concentration in healthy pregnant group was found 1.44 +/- 0.14 mg/l as compared to pre- eclamptic pregnant group 0.25 +/- 0.02 mg/l. In pregnant women average zinc concentration was found to be decreasing with trimester. The average systolic blood pressure in healthy pregnant women was 113.83 +/- 1.74 mm/Hg as compared to the pre-eclamptic pregnant women was 145.34 +/- 1.68 mm/Hg. Average diastolic blood pressure in healthy pregnant women, was found 75.23 +/- 1.46 mm/Hg as compared to pre-eclamptic pregnant women, which was 92.76 +/- 1.80 mm/Hg

Conclusion: Zinc level in the blood serum of pre-eclamptic pregnant women was found lower as compared to healthy pregnant women. Low blood serum zinc level is associated with the elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure also

Prevalence of hydatidosis in animals in different abattoirs of Punjab, Pakistan from 2004-2008

Hydatidosis is a zoonotic public health problem globally and in Pakistan also causing illness in human and animals. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of disease. None randomized prospective study. This study was conducted in different abattoirs of Pujab [Faisalabad and Lahore], Pakistan from 2004-2008. In present study 39738 male and female animals [sheep, goats, buffaloes, cattle and camels] were examined. Liver and Lungs were main visceral organs with bigger size of cyst collected and processed on Real Time PCR. Highest prevalence [%] was found 7.29 [102/590] in camels and lowest 5.18 [155/2990] in cattle. Prevalence of fertile cysts was also determined and found highest [95%] in camels and lowest [75%] in cattle. Sterile, calcified and under developed cysts were also seen but without any significant number, except in cattle sterile cysts were significantly high [P<0.05]. Study showed high prevalence in two [Faisalabad and Lahore] out of six abattoirs visited in different big cites. It is concluded that in Punjab hydatidosis is significantly prevalence. The major cause of this prevalence is improper disposal of infected organs and unhygienic conditions of abattoirs