Background Malaria remains endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa. Hematological changes that occur have been suggested as potential predictors of malaria. This study was aimed at evaluating the diagnostic relevance of hematological parameters in predicting malaria. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 370 patients with signs and symptoms of malaria was conducted at Mulago Hospital, Kampala, from May, 2012 to February, 2013. Thin and thick blood films were prepared for each patient and stained with Giemsa to aid the detection of malaria parasites. Patients’ hematological parameters were determined. Results Out of the 370 patients, 61 (16.5%) had malaria. Significant differences in the hematological parameters between P. falciparum malaria parasitemic patients and nonparasitemic patients were only observed in mean (±SD) of the differential monocyte count (10.89 ± 6.23% versus 8.98 ± 5.02%, p = 0.01) and the platelet count (172.43 (± 80.41) ×103 cells/μl versus 217.82 ± (95.96) ×103 cells/μl p = 0.00). The mean (±SD) values of the red blood cell indices (hemoglobin count, MCV, MCH, and MCHC), the differential neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, and the mean platelet volume (MPV) did not significantly differ between the two groups. Conclusion Hematological changes are unreliable laboratory indicators of malaria in acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Background The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is rapidly increasing worldwide, with low-and-middle income countries bearing the heaviest burden. In these countries, majority of newly diagnosed DM is incidental, with many new patients unaware of their prior glycaemic status; which increases the likelihood that they may present with DM-related complications, like diabetic retinopathy (DR). The mechanisms underlying the development of diabetic retinopathy are still not fully understood, although elevated glucose levels are thought to be responsible for alterations in retinal vessel architecture, leading to perfusion abnormalities. The current study sought to determine the relationship between hemodynamic flow in the central retinal artery and long-term glycaemic control as measured by serum haemoglobin A1c. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving 140 diabetic patients attending an outpatients DM clinic at Mulago National Referral hospital. Color Doppler imaging (CDI) of the orbit was used to determine hemodynamic flow parameters (end-diastolic velocity (EDV), peak-systolic velocity (PSV), resistivity index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI)) in the central retinal artery. The hemodynamic flow parameters in these patients where compared to the levels of haemoglobin A1c, which was used as measure of long-term glycaemic control. Results Generally, the mean central retinal artery hemodynamic flow parameters --peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistivity index-- did not differ significantly among diabetic patients with either normal (<7%), well-regulated (7-8%), or poorly regulated (>8%) glucose levels upon HbA1c measurement. However, the mean pulsatility index of the right retinal artery differed significantly among diabetics with varying degrees of glycaemic control (P < 0.05). Additionally, the duration which an individual has been diabetic was negatively correlated to the EDV in both the right (r = -0.201, n = 140, p = 0.017), and the left orbit (r = -0.181, n = 140, p = 0.033). Conclusion Our findings of no significant correlation between hemodynamic flow in the central retinal artery and HbA1c may indicate that the effects of glucose on ocular hemodynamic flow in DM are possibly short-lived and not long-term.