The present study was devised to assess the effects of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) administration on certain andrological, endocrinological and biochemical alterations in adult male rabbits (n=24). The animals were assigned to control (n=8) and experimental (n=16) group. Experimental group was orally administered with 1.5 mg/kg body weight of CdCl2. The trials were carried out for a total of 5 weeks and blood sampling was carried out on weekly basis. A gradual decrease was noticed for body weight in the experimental group from week 1 to 5, being significantly lower in week 4 and 5 (P<0.05). A similar decremented trend was noticed for serum testosterone level being significantly lower in experimental group in week 4 and 5 (P<0.001). Significantly lower values were noticed for prolactin in experimental group in week 4 and 5 (P<0.05), than in the control. On the contrary, serum cortisol level showed a gradual increase in experimental group, from week 1 to 5, being significantly higher in week 4 and 5 (P<0.05). Regarding the biochemical attributes, all the parameters under study revealed a gradually ascending trend. Statistical significance was, however, achieved in varying weeks and at varying levels. The total protein and albumin were significantly higher in week 4 and 5 (P<0.01); alanine aminotransferase in week 2 (P<0.01), 3 (P<0.001), 4 (P<0.01) and 5 (P<0.001); aspartate aminotransferase in week 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 (P<0.01); and alkaline phosphatase in week 1, 2 (P<0.01), 3, 4 and 5 (P<0.0001), respectively. Overall mortality rate in experimental group was 68.75 (11/16). In a nutshell, Cd exposure results in adverse effects on all physiological parameters of body and may lead to lethal consequences.

Objective: To evaluate parathyroid hormone (PTH) status among end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on maintenance haemodialysis (MHD).Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was done in the Department of Nephrology, BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka, from April to September 2011.Results: A total of 50 patients were included in this study with a 3:2 male predominance. Mean age was 54.6 (range 34-76) years. Mean duration of ESRD was 3.73 years. All the patients were diabetic and other common co-morbidities were hypertension (76%), dyslipidaemia (56%), ischaemic heart disease (48%) and stroke (12%). They were receiving calcium (72%), vitamin D (40%), both calcium and vitamin D (38%) supplementation and 20% were not on any medication for treatment of chronic kidney disease mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD