HYDERABAD, Oct 27 The Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) has made an important addition to its Diagnostic and Research Laboratory (DRL) by installing dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) machine at a cost of Rs10 million to diagnose osteoporosis disease - the condition of brittle bones caused especially by hormonal changes or deficiency of calcium or vitamin D.

The DRL functions at Civil Hospital Hyderabad and the test would cost a patient Rs1000 which, otherwise, is being done in the market at Rs 3,000. According to Professor Dr Khaleeq Ahmed Siddiqui of orthopaedic ward, the machine would be utilised for five different research projects of the university.

He said that the machine would help detect indication of disease much before it afflicts the patient and put him in trouble due to severe weakness of bones. It is first public sector hospital where it is installed, he said.

The disease is caused due to derangement of metabolism among people and a large number of people in the society suffer from it despite the fact that they have exposure to sunlight and have intake of vitamin-D, he said.

He said that multiple factors contribute to osteoporosis.—Staff Correspondent