Background and objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected millions of people world-wide. It is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Increasing evidence has shown abnormalities of different hematological parameters with the severity of the diseases. The present study was undertaken to determine the red blood cell (RBC) profile in different categories of COVID-19 patients. Materials and methods: The study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2020. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive COVID-19 patients were enrolled. Patients were categorized into mild, moderate and severe COVID-19 cases. Blood samples were analyzed by Automated Hematology Analyzer for hemoglobin concentration, total erythrocyte count and RBC indices. ANOVA followed by Bonferroni test, Chi square test, Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient test were performed as applicable using SPSS version 25.0. Results: A total of 100 RT-PCR positive COVID-19 patients were included in the study. There were 25, 38 and 37 mild, moderate and severe cases respectively. The mean age of the study participants was 44.68 + 13.16 years (range: 18 to 65 years). There were 67 (67%) males and 33 (33%) females. No significant difference in hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), total RBC count, red blood cell distribution width (CDW) was observed among the three groups. Significant negative correlation of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH); rs-0.362 & -0.255 respectively) was observed with disease severity. Conclusion: The study showed low MCV and MCH were significantly related with the severity of the COVID-19 illness. Therefore, comprehensive analysis of the RBC profile would be helpful to understand the disease course. Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2021; 15(2): 26-31

Background and objectives: The prevalence of anxiety disorders is increasing in the world. Studies revealed that generalized anxiety disorder may lead to change in circulating catecholamine levels. Thus, the changes of catecholamine metabolite like urinary vanillylmandelic acid may increase the future risk of thrombotic diseases in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The aim of this present study is to evaluate urinary vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) levels in patients with generalized anxiety disorder. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in the Department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from July 2019 to June 2020.After obtaining ethical clearance, a total 144 individuals were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria with age ranging from 18-50 years. Group A was study group selected from Out Patient Department of Psychiatry of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka diagnosed by the experienced psychiatrist. Group B was control group who were apparently healthy adults selected from different area of Dhaka city. The subjects were interviewed and detailed history regarding personal, family, medical and drug history were taken. Prior to sample collection, informed written consent was taken from the participants. Urinary vanillylmandelic acid levels were measured in the Department of Endocrinology, BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka. Statistical analysis: For statistical analysis, Unpaired Student’s ‘t’ test was considered using SPSS 25.0 version. Results: Urinary vanillylmandelic acid of generalized anxiety disorder patients was significantly higher (p< 0.001) than control group. Conclusion: It can be concluded that generalized anxiety disorder patients may have more chance of thrombotic diseases due to significantly higher urinary vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) levels than healthy adults.

Coronavirus is affecting millions of people world-wide. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is declared a pandemic by WHO. Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2(SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent. The clinical presentations of SARS-CoV-2 infection range from febrile illness to pneumonia, ARDS and multi organ failures. Increasing scientific evidences have shown that abnormalities in routine laboratory test, particularly haematological parameters influence the outcome of the disease. Here variations in WBC profile in several clinical forms of COVID-19 patients are observed, The clinical course of the disease may change with haematological parameters such as lower total count of WBC, lymphocyte, higher neutrophil count, eosinophil count etc. By investigating haematological parameters of different clinical stage of RT-PCR positive 100 COVID-19 patients, statistically significant association (p value 0.001) of lymphocyte count with disease severity was found. It is also found that higher level of total count WBC, neutrophil count in severe group in comparison to mild and moderate groups but failed to reach any statistical significance. Moreover total count WBC and neutrophil count showed positive correlations but lymphocyte count, eosinophil count and monocyte count showed negative correlation with severity of disease. So, complete analysis of the haematological parameters will be very much helpful for early detection of complications & better control of the disease.

Background: The prevalence of anxiety disorders is increasing in the world. Studies revealed that generalized anxiety disorder may lead to change in platelet size, volume and functions. Thus, the changes in platelet indices may increase the future risk of thrombotic diseases in patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Aim: To evaluate platelet indices (total count of platelet, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, plateletcrit) levels in patients with generalized anxiety disorder. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in the Department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from July 2019 to June 2020. After obtaining ethical clearance, a total of 144 individuals were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria with ages ranging from 18 -50 years. Group A was the study group selected from Out Patient Department of Psychiatry of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, diagnosed by an experienced psychiatrist. Group B was the control group who were apparently healthy adults selected from different areas of Dhaka city. The subjects were interviewed and detailed history regarding personal, family, medical and drug history were taken. Prior to sample collection, informed written consent was taken from the participants. Platelet indices (total count of platelet, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, plateletcrit) were measured in the

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Background: ABO blood group distribution defers with racial and geographic variations. They are related to diseases like cardiovascular diseases, cerebral thromboembolism. ABO blood group system may influence coagulation factor VIII which may increase the future risk of thrombosis. Aim: To assess the relation of ABO blood group with coagulation factor VIII in healthy adults. Material and Methods: A prospective type of analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from July 2019 to June 2020. After obtaining ethical clearance, a total of 190 healthy adults were selected from different areas of Dhaka city based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, with ages ranging from 18 -45 years. The subjects were interviewed and detailed history regarding personal, family, medical and drug were taken. Prior to sample collection, informed written consent was taken from the participants. Individuals of blood group A were selected as group A, blood group B as group B, blood group AB as group AB and blood group O as group O.

Background and objectives: ABO blood group distribution defers with racial and geographic variations. They are related with diseases like cardiovascular diseases, cerebral thromboembolism. Prothrombin time may varies among ABO blood group system which may increase the future risk of thrombosis. The present study is to assess prothrombin time among ABO blood groups in healthy adults. Materials and methods: A prospective type of analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from July 2019 to June 2020. After obtaining ethical clearance, a total 190 healthy adults were selected from different areas of Dhaka city based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, with age ranging from 18-45 years. The subjects were interviewed and detailed history regarding personal, family, medical and drug were taken. Prior to sample collection, informed written consent was taken from the participants. Individuals of blood group A was selected as group A, blood group B as group B, blood group AB as group AB and blood group O as group O. Prothrombin time was measured in the Department of Hematology and BMT Unit, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka. Blood grouping was done in the Department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka.For statistical analysis, One way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni test were considered using SPSS 25.0 version. Results: In this study, blood group B was most common (33.2%). Prothrombin time was lower in blood group A (12.93±0.30 sec), B (12.92±0.61 sec), AB (12.98±0.54 sec) than blood group O (13.08±0.39 sec) which was not statistically significant. Conclusion: It can be concluded that blood group A, B, AB individuals may have more chance of thrombosis due to lower prothrombin time than blood group O individuals.

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