Full blood count values in adolescents and its comparison by gender and ethnicity in Seremban district, Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is when an individual undergoes development and growth. Many studies suggest variations in the number and size of blood cells during this period in various individuals. The full blood count (FBC) is often the starting point of medical investigations, which help diagnose a wide range of illnesses, infections, and diseases. This study aimed to report the mean FBC values and compare them by gender and ethnicity, using blood results from the thalassemia screening programme in Seremban District, Malaysia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study used secondary data from the thalassemia screening programme on Form 4 students aged 15-16 years from January 2018 to October 2018 by the Seremban District Health Office, Malaysia. These students participated in the thalassemia screening programme in which their blood samples were taken for FBC analysis. The data were extracted for this study. RESULTS: There were statistically significant gender-based differences for total white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophils, lymphocytes, mixed WBC, and platelets. It was also observed that ethnic-specific differences were statistically significant for RBC count, platelets, platelet distribution width and mean platelet volume. CONCLUSION: This study was able to report the mean FBC values among Malaysian adolescents with respect to their gender and ethnicity, of which there is a lack of published data.

FUNCTIONAL LIMITATIONS AND ADIPOKINES IN HIV-INFECTED OLDER ADULTS.

BACKGROUND: There is a significant increase in the number of HIV-infected older adults (HOA). This population may experience functional decline at a much younger age. Little is known about the relationship between functional limitations and systemic adipokines in HOA. OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to evaluate the relationship between functional limitations and systemic adipokine levels in HOA population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Academic hospital-based infectious disease clinic. PARTICIPANTS: The study investigated community-dwelling HIV-infected adults >50 years old and compared this group with age, gender and BMI comparable healthy controls. MEASUREMENTS: We measured functional status, body composition and plasma concentrations of adipokines. RESULTS: Fifty-four HOA were studied (mean: age 57 years, BMI 29 kg/m2, CD4 604, duration of HIV 17 years) and compared with thirty-two age, gender and BMI comparable healthy controls. The HOA group showed significantly higher functional limitations compared to the age, gender and BMI comparable controls (p<0.05). Levels of adipokines were significantly different between the two groups (p<0.05). Multiple regression analyses indicated that adiponectin and visfatin were significantly correlated with several physical function measures after controlling for age, sex, and metabolic comorbidities. Adiponectin was negatively correlated with functional limitations, and this relationship was stronger in the control group compared to the HOA group. Conversely, visfatin was positively correlated with functional limitations only in the HOA group. CONCLUSION: HOA have significant functional limitations and alteration in adipokine levels compared to controls. Adiponectin and visfatin were associated with functional limitations. Visfatin was a correlate of physical function only in the HOA group. Prospective longitudinal studies could provide further insight on the role of adipokines in HIV-related functional decline.

A T-shaped selenenyl halide.

The title selenenyl halide complex, 3-iodo-2-phenyl-3H-3-selenaindazole, C(12)H(9)IN(2)Se, has an almost planar conformation and a nearly ideal T-shape for the Se(INC) moiety [Se-I 2.8122 (12), Se-C 1.881 (7) and Se-N2 2.051 (6) A; C-Se-N 79.6 (3), C-Se-I 96.8 (2) and N-Se-I 176.17 (17) degrees ]. This arrangement, together with the two selenium lone pairs, leads to a distorted trigonal-bipyrimidal geometry about the Se atom. Intermolecular interactions are largely limited to stacking forces.

Haemorrhage from the bovine penis during erection and ejaculation: a possible explanation of some cases.

Leakage of polyester resin from the cavernous spaces of the corpus spongiosum penis (csp) into the terminal part of the urethral lumen was demonstrated in one post mortem specimen. No information was available on service performance or semen characteristics immediately before slaughter. It is suggested that haemorrhage from the csp into the urethral lumen may cause spurting of blood from the apex of the penis at service.