Iodine contents in salt collected from a rural village in the endemic area of iodine deficiency disorder in Indochina

2016-10-04T15-37-48Z
Source: Advance Laboratory Medicine International
Allerno Giovani, Dorion Pierro.
Iodine deficiency disorder is an important health problem in Thailand. Due to the geographical limitation of marine salt, Northern and Northeastern Regions of Thailand are the endemic areas of this disorder. In this study, a cross-sectional survey on the daily use of salt by the domestic people in a rural village in central part of Laos PDR was conducted. Salt samples from each home in the village were collected. Of interest, 100 % of the samples showed negative results with the iodine test.


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High dose of green tea infusion normalized spiral artery density in rats treated with the depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate

2016-10-04T12-55-11Z
Source: Journal of Intercultural Ethnopharmacology
Emilda AS, Nora Veri, Alchalidi Alchalidi.
Aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of green tea on the spiral artery density and endometrial thickness in female rats treated with the depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA). Material and Methods: A total of twenty-four female rats were randomly divided into four groups: the control group (no treatment), the DMPA-treated group and the group treated with DMPA and green tea of various doses (165 and 330 mg/gram of body weight per day). Spiral artery density and endometrial thickness were subjected to histopathological analysis. Results: Spiral artery density decreased in the DMPA-treated group, despite the insignificant difference (P > 0.05). With regard to the administration of green tea at doses of 165 and 330 mg/gram of body weight per day, only green tea at the high dose was capable of significantly preventing a decrease in spiral artery density (P 0.05). Meanwhile, the administration of DMPA and/or DMPA with green tea did not cause significant changes in endometrial thickness relative to the control group (P > 0.05). Conclusions: DMPA induced a decrease in spiral artery density, despite the insignificant differences, and these changes could be normalized by the administration of high doses of green tea. Therefore, green tea could be a candidate herb to prevent the adverse effects of the contraceptive DMPA.


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Geraniol attenuates hydrogen peroxide-induced liver fatty acid alterations in male rats

2016-10-04T12-55-11Z
Source: Journal of Intercultural Ethnopharmacology
Ahmet Ozkaya, Zafer Sahin, Ahmet Orhan Gorgulu, Abdurrauf Yuce, Sait Celik.
Background: Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an oxidant agent and this molecule naturally occurs in the body as a product of aerobic metabolism. Geraniol is a plant-derived natural antioxidant. Aim of the present study was to determine the role of geraniol on hepatic fatty acids alterations following H2O2-induced oxidative stress in male rats. Methods: After randomization, male wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=7 each group). Geraniol (50 mg/kg, dissolved in corn oil) and H2O2 (16 mg/kg, dissolved in distilled water) were administered by an intraperitoneal injection. Administrations were performed during 30 days with one day interval. Results: Administration of H2O2 resulted with a significant increase in malondialdehyde and a significant decrease in glutathione peroxidase and glutathione level; geraniol restored its effects on liver. However, hepatic catalase activities were significantly higher in H2O2, geraniol and geraniol+H2O2 groups than control group. The ratio of hepatic total saturated fatty acids increased in H2O2-treated animals compared with control. In addition, hepatic total unsaturated fatty acids reduced in H2O2 group compared with control. The percentages of both hepatic total saturated and unsaturated fatty acids werent different between geraniol+H2O2 and control groups. Conclusions: H2O2-induced oxidative stress may affect fatty acids composition in liver and body. Geraniol can partly restore oxidative hepatic damage because it cannot completely reverse the H2O2-induced increase in hepatic catalase activities. Moreover, this natural compound can regulate hepatic total saturated and unsaturated fatty acids percentages against H2O2-induced alterations.


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A community based cross sectional study on gender preference, awareness and attitude regarding sex determination among married women in rural field practice areas of North Karnataka, India

2016-10-04T06-23-23Z
Source: International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health
Rajesh R. Kulkarni, Manjusha Bandireddy, Nagamani Sahiti Bayyapu Reddy.
Background: Female infanticide has been practiced in India since 1789. The child sex ratio in India is declining from 947 to 927 girls for 1000 boys within a span of ten years. This decline can be attributed to arrival of affordable and widespread adoption of Ultrasound in the early 1990s in India. Like other countries around the world, India is patriarchal. A set hierarchy prevails in all tiers of its social order, and a fanatic preference for male children is especially common in India. Still in India value system based son mania prevails. In this view our study regarding awareness and attitude towards gender preferences was relevant. Objective of the study was to evaluate gender preference, awareness and attitude regarding sex determination among married women in rural field practice Areas of North Karnataka, India. Methods: Community based cross-sectional study conducted by interviewing married women of reproductive age group attending general OPD and antenatal clinics in rural field practice areas. Statistical analysis was done by tables and charts in percentage. Results: In this study when asked about gender preferences most (49.4%) of the study subjects showed interest towards male child. Majorities (91%) of study participants were unaware about the pre natal sex determination, 4.5% were aware and 3.8% knew that sex determination was done in both private and government hospitals. When enquired about the method of sex determination majority (84%) were unaware, 15% knew that it is done by Ultrasonography. Among the study participants 75% were unaware about the fact that sex determination is considered as a crime in India and in the remaining, only 13% knew that there is a 13% knew that there is a strict punishment or penalty exists in India for sex determination. Conclusions: In present study we found that son preference is still more in rural areas. Government should impose High fines and should take strict judicial action against parents who try to kill their unborn baby girl. More IEC activities to create awareness about ill effects of female feticide among rural women.


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Treating anaemia in chronic kidney disease improves cardiovascular outcome by improving left ventricular mass index

2016-10-04T04-02-43Z
Source: International Journal of Advances in Medicine
Kavita J. Rawat, Kavita S. Joshi, Rahul D. Arora.
Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a high global prevalence of 11 to 13% with majority in stage 3.This has increased the burden on health care. Anaemia is important and independent risk factor for adverse cardiovascular outcome in CKD. Methods: Prospective observational study conducted over one year at KEM Hospital, Mumbai a tertiary care centre. Inclusion criteria were newly diagnosed patients with CKD above 18 years and excluded pregnant women, patients previously diagnosed as CKD, Ischemic heart disease and on maintenance haemodialysis. Complete haemogram, renal function tests, liver function tests, serum albumin, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, serum parathyroid hormone level, ECG and 2DEchocardiography were recorded. It was repeated at the end of one year after correcting Hb with human recombinant erythropoietin. Results: In all 102 patients, anaemia and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) are negatively correlated with each other at the start and end of the study with a correlation coefficient (r) of - 0.3 and 0.56 respectively. The change in haemoglobin and change in LVMI are also negatively correlated with correlation coefficient (r) of - 0.65. All the correlations are statistically significant. There was a significant improvement in haemoglobin, and there was a significant decrease in LVMI in all the patients. There was a partial regression in left ventricular hypertrophy with partial correction of anaemia in these patients. Conclusions: Anaemia and LVH in patients with CKD are negatively correlated. Treatment of anaemia with erythropoietin has been shown to induce a partial regression of LVMI.


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