Prevalence of hypogonadism in transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia patients of Bangladesh: investigating the role of serum ferritin level as a diagnostic tool

ABSTRACT Introduction: Hypogonadism is one of the most frequent complications in transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients and early recognition and treatment is the core element in restoring impaired gonadal function. Despite the high burden of disease, relevant studies are scarcely addressing the gonadal function of such patients in Bangladesh. The pattern of gonadal function in transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients must be characterized before planning a generalized management plan. Moreover, since iron overload is a key reason behind hypogonadism in thalassemia patients, investigating the role of serum ferritin level as a diagnostic tool for hypongadism was also an aim of this study. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Transfusion Medicine of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 94 patients were enrolled in this study. A detailed history and thorough clinical examination were carried out in each patient and recorded using a pretested structured questionnaire. In addition, the laboratory assessment of serum ferritin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone and estradiol in serum were also performed. The data were analyzed using the STATA (v.16). Results: The mean age of the patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia was 18.81 ± 4.65 (SD), with 53.3% of the patients being male. The overall prevalence of hypogonadism was 35.11%, 18.1% being normogonadotropic, 11.7% being hypogonadotropic and 5.3% being hypergonadotropic. The serum ferritin level was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients with hypogonadism (Eugonadal: 2,174.79 (± 749.12) ng/ml; Hypogonadal: 3,572.59 (± 1,199.49) ng/ml). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of serum ferritin was high (0.83) and the p-value was highly significant (< 0.001). Conclusion: Therefore, the serum ferritin level and gonadal hormone analysis of transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients can be considered a screening tool for assessing gonadal function and early detection and prevention of hypogonadism.

Frequency of A2B Among the AB Blood Group Donors

Objective: The aim of the study is to detect the frequency ofA2B blood groups among the AB donors.Method: This cross-sectional observational study which wascarried out at Transfusion Medicine department, BangabandhuSheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka from January 2018 toJuly 2018 over 142 subjects. After selection of healthy donorsblood group was detected by standardized tube technique.Anti- A1 lectin study was done for all blood donors with bloodgroup AB. Based on the serological reactivity, blood group wasclassified into A2B and Rh-D negative or positive.Results: In the study, it was found that among 142 AB bloodgroup donors, majority blood donors were male 130 (91.5%)and rest were female 12 (8.5%). Among 10 A2B blood groupdonors 25% were female and 5.38% were male. More than halfdonors 78 (54.9%) belonged to age 21-30 years. The meanage was 27.68 SD±6.76 years with ranged from 18 to 50years. It was observed that 132 (93.0%) belonged to A1Bsubgroup and 10 (7.0%) belonged to A2B subgroup. The studyalso revealed that 126 (95.5%) A1B individuals were Rhpositive, 6 (4.5%) A1B individuals were Rh-negative. All A2Bindividuals were found Rh-positive.Conclusion: From our study we found that, the frequency ofA2B among the female donors is more than four times higherthan the male donors. As the A2B is the rare subgroup but thefrequency of this subgroup in this study recommend the extraattention for the physician and staff working in the TransfusionMedicine department.

In vitro Antioxidant Potential of Momordica charantia Fruit Extracts.

This research investigated the antioxidant potential of Momordica charantia fruit extracts in ethanol and ethyl acetate. The extracts have been assessed for DPPH free radical scavenging effect, FeCl3 reducing power and superoxide scavenging effect. In DPPH method IC50 value of ascorbic acid, ethanol and ethyl acetate extract were found 2.19 μg/ml, 111.87 μg/ml and 157.03 μg/ml respectively. In power reducing method, IC50 value of ascorbic acid ethanol and ethyl acetate extract were found 50 μg/ml, 931.63 μg/ml and 754.86 μg/ml respectively. In super oxide scavenging method, IC50 value of curcumin , ethyl acetate and ethanol extract were found 29.51 μg/ml, 331.26 μg/ml and 489.77 μg/ml respectively. The results of all three in vitro antioxidant assays exhibited that M. charantia possess relatively moderate antioxidant property than standards. The data obtained in the in vitro models clearly establish the antioxidant potency of the fruits extracts.

Arsenic exposure from drinking-water and carotid artery intima-medial thickness in healthy young adults in Bangladesh.

Epidemiological studies have linked high levels (>200 microg/L) of chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking-water with elevated risks of several vascular diseases. In this pilot study, the association between low-level arsenic exposure and carotid artery intimal-medial thickness (IMT) was evaluated among 66 healthy, normotensive, relatively young individuals (mean age 35 years) participating in the ongoing Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study in Bangladesh. Participants with a higher carotid IMT (>0.75 mm) in general had higher levels of past chronic exposure of arsenic than those with a lower carotid IMT (< or = 0.75 mm). Although the differences in average arsenic exposure between the two groups were not statistically significant, the findings suggest a possible association between low-level arsenic exposure from drinking-water and carotid atherosclerosis, warranting the need for larger studies.