International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences ISSN 2167-0404 Vol. 5 (8), pp. 258-269, September, 2015.  © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Socio-economic, demographic and geographic indicators on the malaria rapid diagnosis test (RDT)

*Trevor F. Vermaak, Bokang Schmidt and Jano Majoro Mixwell

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 18 July, 2015

Abstract 

This study evaluates the effects of socio-economic, demographic and geographic indicators on the malaria rapid diagnosis test (RDT), using the baseline malaria indicator survey of 2007. This survey covered the Amhara, Oromiya and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia. A total of 224 clusters of, on average, 25 households each were selected. In total, 28,994 individuals participated in the survey. A generalized linear mixed model was used to analyze the data where the response variable was the presence or absence of malaria using the RDT. The results showed that for households with toilet facilities, clean drinking water and more living space, the chances of testing positive for malaria RDT decreased. Moreover, using malaria nets and spraying the house walls with anti-mosquito were found to be effective control measures.

Key words: Cluster sampling, interaction effect, mixed model, odds ratio, rapid diagnostic test.

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences ISSN 2167-0404 Vol. 5 (7), pp. 238-244, August, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Clinical diagnostic indices of hypertensive patients

*¹Obimba, Kelechukwu Clarence, ²Ozougwu, Jevas Chibuike, ³Ihedimbu, Chiamaka Perpetua and ⁴Nwakamma, Gerald

 ^1,3Department of Biochemistry, School of Science, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.

²Physiology and Biomedical Research Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, Rhema University Aba, Abia State, Nigeria.

⁴Department of Optometry, School of Health Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri. Imo State. Nigeria.

Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 11 August, 2015

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of the use of some clinical indices as diagnostic parameters of hypertension. Twenty (20) healthy, normotensive human subjects and twenty (20) hypertensive patients were subjected to diastolic (D) and systolic (S) blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), serum creatinine (C), serum magnesium (Mg²⁺), serum sodium (Na⁺), serum total cholesterol (Ch), serum triglyceride (T), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and fasting blood sugar (FBS) analyses.  The experimental design is a single factor completely randomized design (CRD). Results recorded of the healthy human subjects and hypertensive patients, expressed as mean ± standard error (S.E) (unit) were as follows : (D) 75.6±1.7 and 98.11±0.9 (mmHg), (S) 120.52 ± 9.14 and 156.87 ± 11.23 (mmHg), (BMI) 15.3±0.7 and 27.01±1.7(kg/m²), (C)1.2 ± 0.1and 1.8 ± 0.2 (mg/dl), (Mg²⁺) 2.4 ± 0.1 and 1.11±0.63 (mm/L), (Na⁺)138 ± 1.16 and 149± 0.23, (Ch) 175±1.2 and 225±8.1(mg/dl), (T) 76±1.3 and 125±2.1(mg/dl), (AST) 12.18 ± 1.16 and 22.5 ± 2.16 (U/l), (FBS) 82.18 ± 9.16 and 98.87± 14.23 (mg/dl). The mean values of D, S, BMI, Na⁺, Ch, T, AST and FBS were significantly higher (p<0.05) : but those of Mg²⁺ were significantly lower (p<0.01) in hypertensive patients compared with healthy human subjects. Incidence of hypertension correlated positively and significantly (p<0.05) with significant increase (p<0.05) in S, D, BMI, FBS, AST, Ch, T, and Na⁺; and significant decrease (p<0.01) in Mg²⁺. The statistical regression and correlation between serum total cholesterol  and systolic blood pressure of hypertensive patients were significant (p<0.05), r = 0.975. Observed values of systolic blood pressure could be used with high precision to predict serum total cholesterol levels of  hypertensive patients.

Key words: Normotensive, hypertension, diastolic, body mass index, high blood pressure.

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences ISSN 2167-0404 Vol. 5 (7), pp. 245-246, August, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of prevalence of prostatic cancer among forensic autopsy cases

*Kam C.W, Saich T.A and Tien S.O

Department of Clinical Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. E-mail: [email protected].

Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China.

Accepted 27 January, 2015

Abstract

In the aging society, elderly people often suffer cancer, which is associated with increased rates of fractures due to osteoporosis from cancer. In the present study, the prevalence of prostatic cancer, so-called “latent adenocarcinoma”, is investigated among forensic autopsy cases. Retrospective histo-pathology was performed on 114 subjects (61.8 ± 13.3 years old). Forth-four specimens (38.6%) harbored carcinomas with Gleason combined scores ranging from 3 to 9. The detection rate increased in accordance with age, in which the highest rate (8/13, 61.5%) was evident in the group of ≥ 80 years of age. However, no significant associations were apparent to age (P = 0.13) or body mass index (P = 0.36). Majority (34, 77.2%) displayed solitary lesions that were located mainly in the peripheral zone. Advanced capsular invasion was evident in five cases. The prostate that is not familiar to forensic pathologists should be examined in extrinsic fractures of the elderly because cancer might affect injury severity.

Key words: Forensic pathology, prostate, gleason score, histopathology, elderly.

Key words: Mite, pollen, allergy, rhinitis.