This cross-sectional comparative study was aimed at investigating the iron status of a group of post-menopausal women with and without diabetes. Thirty-five post-menopausal women in each group were selected purposively from among patients attending the out-patient department of Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM), a specialist hospital, and two of its satellite clinics, all in Dhaka. Patients were enrolled based on their existing records. The subjects were matched on age, menstrual status and fasting status at blood draw. Ferritin, serum soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR) and fasting plasma glucose were measured by standard methods. Dietary information was collected by a specific food frequency questionnaire. No significant difference in plasma ferritin [62.02 ng/ml, (range:4.68-288.89) vs 54.25 ng/ml (range: 4.58-137.17); p=0.28] was observed between the groups. But a higher level of plasma sTfR was found in diabetic women [(21.12 nmol/l (range: 7.91-39.79) vs 17.63 nmol/l (range: 10.30-110.00); p<0.01]. TFR-F index showed no difference between diabetic and control (p=0.25). Significantly a lower hemoglobin level [10.58±0.67 g/dl vs11.76±1.5 g/dl; p<0.01] was detected in diabetic women. Plasma sTfR (log) did not show any significant association with the dietary parameters and iron indices. No significant association between fasting glucose, ferritin and sTfR was seen except for haemoglobin (r=0.39, p=0.05). Total iron intake recorded was more than the requirement, and was significantly higher in control group [38.11mg/day (range: 19.83-105.63) vs 56.65 mg/day (range: 29.75-109.54); p<0.01)]. More than 97 % of total iron was of plant origin. No differences in heme iron [0.85 mg/day (range:0.09-4.07) vs. 0.96 mg/day (range: 0.04-4.34), p= 0.17] and vitamin C intake was observed between the groups. Iron indices of non-diabetic women were within the normal range. A higher level of sTfR and a lower level of hemoglobin in diabetic cases is suggestive of iron deficiency anaemia rather than iron overload.

This descriptive cross-sectional study is aimed at studying the comparison on knowledge and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS among the Malaysian undergraduate students at SEGi University, Kota Damansara, Malaysia. Data was collected from a stratified random sample of 180 students using a validated questionnaire survey which included a socio-demographics section and four sub-sections of 36 questions which assessed the general knowledge, general public perceptions, the respondent’s views on the measures to prevent the disease and misconceptions related to the disease. The data were analysed by using the SPSS software, and Chi-square test was used to find the p-value for each of the questions. The average mean score assessing the knowledge of the Malaysian students in SEGi was 81.48%, where the Health Science students scored 44.31% with a standard deviation of 0.015 and the Non-Health Science students scored 37.17% with a standard deviation of 0.036. When comparing each question using the Chi-square test, most of the answers of the Health Science students and Non-Health Science students showed a significant difference where the p-value was <0.05. From the results of this study it is clear that the Health Science students had better knowledge and fewer misconceptions about HIV/AIDS than the Non-Health Science students. Thus, more emphasis should be directed toward raising awareness and eliminating misconceptions among the Non-Health Science students.