Association between Morphological Changes of Nail and Nail Arsenic Level in Patients with Arsenicosis.

This case-control type of analytical study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh to find out the association between morphological changes of nail and nail arsenic level in arsenicosis patients. Majority of arsenicosis patients were male (56.67%). The mean age of the cases was 43.07+/-13.73 years. Nail changes were found in 26.67% of cases, most were nail dystrophy (23.33%) and rest were Mee's line (3.34%). There was significant difference between cases with or without nail changes and nail arsenic level. But cases with or with out nail changes had a significant difference between duration of intake of arsenic contaminated water. There was no correlation between nail changes and nail arsenic level for nail dystrophy and Mee's line. The study result failed to establish association between the morphological changes of nail and nail arsenic level.

Serum zinc level in preterm low birth weight babies and its comparison between preterm AGA and preterm SGA babies.

Low birth weight (LBW) is a major child health problem in Bangladesh and continuing to great threat to child health and child survival in Bangladesh. LBW is a silent emergency but crisis is real and its persistence has profound and frightening impact on neonatal mortality. This observational study was conducted in Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh during July 2004 to June 2005. Serum zinc levels were estimated between two groups: group-I preterm AGA (n=50), group II preterm SGA (n=50) babies. Blood samples were collected from the study population in neonatal unit and serum zinc levels were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry in Atomic Energy Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Observed data were made comparison among groups by Students 't' test. It was observed serum zinc level (60.2+/-15.2) in group I and (62.1+/-12.4) in group II. Serum zinc level was in lower limit of normal range in both groups with more lower level in preterm AGA babies but their difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). So zinc supplementation may enhance the growth of preterm LBW babies in their early months of lives.

Diagnostic efficacy of Aldehyde test in late cases of Kala-azar.

This case control study was carried out in the Paediatric wards of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for a period of one year from April 2002 to March 2003 to determine the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of Aldehyde test in the diagnosis of Kala-azar. A total of seventy five febrile cases of Kala-azar from Paediatric wards were enrolled in the study and Seventy five controls having splenomegaly with or without fever were also included from the same source. Aldehyde test was done in both cases and controls. Diagnosis of Kala-azar was confirmed by demonstration of Leish-man-Don-o-van body (LD) in bone marrow or splenic aspirates. Out of 75 parasitologically proven cases of Kala-azar, AT was positive in 56 cases. The sensitivity irrespective of duration of illness was 74.6%. We found sensitivity of AT increases with the duration of illness where AT was sensitive in 34.7% cases having fever for less than 3 months, 90.90% with fever for 3 months to less than 6 months and 100% with fever for 6 months or more in duration. Specificity of AT was calculated as 96% with positive and negative predictive values of 94.9% and 79.1% respectively. So AT is a very sensitive and specific test with high positive and negative predictive values. Considering the cost, availability, simplicity, sensitivity, and specificity we would recommend the Aldehyde test as an important diagnostic tool for field diagnosis of Kala-azar especially after three months of febrile illness.

Cutaneous tuberculosis--a study of 400 cases.

A prospective study was conducted on 400 cases having clinical manifestation of cutaneous tuberculosis from 1992 to 2001 in the department of Dermatology and Venereology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), formerly Institute of Postgraduate Medicine and Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination. Among 400 cases, 260 (65%) were males and 140 (35%) were females with a male to female ratio 1.86:1. Age ranged from 10 to 70 years. Majority of the cases 200 (50%) were diagnosed as Tuberculosis verucosa cuties, 160 cases (40%) and 40 cases (10%) were diagnosed as Lupus vulgaris and Scrofuloderma respectively. All patients received combined antitubercular therapy.

Effectiveness of montelukast in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

Leukotriene receptor antagonist ( montelukast) are recommended for the treatment of asthma, and have proved anecdotally successfully even in atopic dermatitis.In this open randomized clinical trial, the efficacy and safety of montelukast were assessed in the atopic dermatitis. Out of 31 enrolled patients all completed the study among which 16 in the montelukast group and 15 in the control group. No patient dropped from the study. Statistically significant SCORAD improvement (P = 0.003) was observed in montelukast group but in the control group SCORAD improvement was not statistically significant (P = 0.088).According to the patients impression pruritus was the most influenced SCORAD item by montelukast group immediately followed by sleep loss and inflammatory signs. On the contrary montelukast seemed to be completely devoid of activity on xerosis. No adverse effect of montelukast was observed in the present study.