Background: Hematogenetic disorders are commonly encountered in Orissa state in Central-Eastern India. Hemoglobinopathies and G-6-PD deficiency are the most frequently occurring hereditary hemolytic disorders causing high morbidity and mortality in vulnerable people. Aims: There is no study available reporting combined condition of hemoglobinopathies and G-6-PD deficiency in a single individual from India. This study aims to assess the coincidence of G-6-PD enzyme deficiency with different hemoglobinopathies and β-thalassemia and to evaluate the influence of combined conditions on the hematological expression. Settings and Design: The study was carried out in rural Orissa with a random sampling procedure. Materials and Methods: Following the standard methodology and techniques, this study highlights 29 tribal cases of compound occurrence of hemoglobinopathy with G-6-PD deficiency in a randomly conducted study in Sundargarh district of Orissa. Statistical Analysis: Results were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: Both female heterozygotes and homozygotes of G-6-PD deficiency in association with different hemoglobinopathies showed reduced values of hematological indices: hemoglobin level, MCV, MCH, MCHC and RBC in comparison to normals. Red cell indices were found further reduced in male G-6-PD deficiency concurrence with hemoglobinopathies in homozygous condition, i.e. sickle cell disease (HbSS) or hemoglobin E disease (HbEE). Hematological indices were significantly lower except WBC counts and fetal hemoglobin in male G-6-PD deficiency with co-existing homozygous sickle cell disease in comparison with counterpart sickle cell trait and normal controls. Conclusions: Hemoglobin polymorphism with G-6-PD deficiency is advantageous to the community against lethal effects of malaria especially against Plasmodium falciparum at population level, but their combination is harmful at the individual level because of low levels of red cell indices to cope with the routine human physiology.

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Aim: To determine the frequency of hypothyroidism in women with recurrent pregnancy loss in first trimester in the Indian population. Settings and Design: The study included 163 non-pregnant women with recurrent pregnancy loss in a gestational age up to ≤12 weeks verified by a pregnancy test or ultrasonography, and a total of 170 age matched women with at least one successful pregnancy and no history of miscarriages were selected as controls. Methods: Levels of thyroid hormones T3, T4 and TSH were estimated in non-pregnant women with RPL and controls. Results: Hypothyroidism was found in seven (4.12%) women with RPL and one in control group. The differences in the levels of serum T3, T4 and TSH between euthyroid and hypothyroid women were found significant in women with RPL in first trimester. Statistical Analysis: The statistical analyses were performed with the use of student's two-tailed t-test. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that hypothyroidism has a statistically significant relationship with recurrent pregnancy loss in the first trimester and suggests that diagnosis of hypothyroidism could help couples with recurrent pregnancy loss to have a successful outcome in subsequent pregnancies.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF] [CITATIONS]  [PubMed]

[FULL TEXT]  [PDF] [CITATIONS]  [PubMed]

[FULL TEXT]  [PDF] [CITATIONS]  [PubMed]

[FULL TEXT]  [PDF] [CITATIONS]  [PubMed]

Background: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a less invasive modality and may be equal or superior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in visualizing the biliary tree. Its role and feasibility in children need to be accurately defined. Aim: This study aimed at evaluation of EUS in assessment of children with chronic liver disease (CLD) in comparison with ERCP. Materials and Methods: The present study was carried out between September 2004 and February 2006 on 40 children suffering from CLD. Patients were selected from the Pediatric Hepatology Unit, Cairo University Children's Hospital, Egypt. They were included if they had: sonographic (n = 8) or histopathological evidence of biliary pathology (n = 2); autoimmune hepatitis with high gamma glutammyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels and/or not responding to immunosuppressive therapy (n = 15); cryptogenic CLD (n = 13); neonatal cholestasis with relapsing or persistent course (n = 2). They all underwent EUS and ERCP. Results: Three of six cases with intrahepatic biliary radicle dilatation had Caroli's disease by EUS and ERCP; and the other 3 had sclerosing cholangitis. EUS was equal to ERCP in diagnosis of biliary pathology. However, one false positive case was described to have dilatation and tortuosity of the pancreatic duct by EUS as compared to ERCP. EUS could detect early pancreatitis in 5 cases. One case with cryptogenic liver disease proved to have sclerosing cholangitis by both EUS and ERCP. Conclusion: EUS is an important diagnostic tool for biliary pathology and pancreatitis in children with pancreatico-biliary pathology. ERCP should be reserved for therapeutic purposes.

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Background: Urinary incontinence is a common but neglected problem of women. Aims: To ascertain the treatment seeking behavior of north Indian women having urinary incontinence (UI). Setting: Two residential colonies of Chandigarh. DESIGN: Cross-sectional face-to-face interview based study. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted by a trained nurse during April 2005-July 2005 among women aged 18 years and above. Women with UI were identified in a screening survey. They were interviewed individually regarding their treatment seeking behavior and socio-demographic data. Statistical Analysis Used: Percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square test. Results: Of the 220 enlisted incontinent women 20% (44) women consulted some health agency. Only 8.6% (19) women had heard about pelvic floor muscle exercises. Seventy-two percent (158) cases had UI for more than one year. The most common reason quoted for not seeking treatment was, 'UI was considered as 'normal', 'did not take it seriously' and 'shyness.' Many (153;70%) women reported that UI affected their daily routine as well as social activities like shopping and visiting friends. Conclusion: Urinary incontinence seriously affected the quality of life of women. Still, consultation rate for UI was low in the north Indian women.

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